World Vegan Day

an-an wants to celebrate World Vegan Day on 1st November.

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It's the afternoon tea time! As I make a lot of traditional Japanese Vegan Sweets, I would like to introduce all about Wagashi (和菓子Traditional Japanese Sweets).

You can choose one your favorite Tea/Coffee or any other drink under £2.00 to go with your tea.

Then, a small Vegan Bento box (懐石Kaiseki) with many seasonal vegetable, followed by 4 of Seasonal sweets (季節菓子 Kisetsugashi) and 2 of special sweets (上生菓子Jo Namagashi) for tea ceremony. (extra £2.00 for Matcha Tea)

 　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　

£12 per person.

Please choose the session below and make a booking.

Only 8 seats for each session available.

Morning Tea ；10:00 - 11:30

Afternoon Tea ; 16:30 - 18:00

High Tea ; 18:30 - 20:00

I look forward to seeing you on the day!

October sweets and events

It's already in the middle of October!
I thought I have just had a long holiday in Japan, but I feel I need to have another one very soon!!! 😆

After the autumn equinox, the day gets shorter and shorter...
So, it's the beginning of the long dark season in the UK.

No way! We have so many events to look forward to! So I am standing at the kitchen of an-an and cooking away comforting meals for you (almost) every day!

There are two news this month... well, one of it seems to be postponed to the next month, though...

At first, Cafe an-an had a training to serve Small Batch Coffee! Of course, it's official!

About these few weeks, I was practicing making coffee which I was trained to make with tasty Small Batch Coffee beans. Sometimes, I fell in caffeine over-dose, Sometimes had a bit of stomach clump...But I made it!

So, you may find it's funny to serve Small Batch Coffee at an-an, although there is the Small Batch Coffee Roaster around the corner?
Yes, we are at the short distance which we can smell when the coffee is roasted.
That's really handy to us.
We can get the freshest roast coffee from the roaster, anytime.
More over, our beans are from SBC, but we serve coffee from the beans different from one they serve at their cafe.
We get supply of coffee thought to go with Japanese sweets, Wagashi.
It taste less sourness and simple and deep. I like it with milk or soy milk.
I hope you find it interesting to find SBC in an-an style.

The second news is ... all about redesigning menu!
I was going to issue the new menu on thee 1st October, but ... but.. but...
I am still working on it!!!
More Vegan menu
Okonomiyaki & Night Cafe menu added
and some information about starting the an-an royalty card scheme.
It will be A3 size Jumbo sized menu!!!
Just watch this space!!!

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October sweets

Otsukimi Dango　£1.00 each
Japanese Moon Festival last until 1st November, which is the 13th night moon.
It will be different from the completely round moon on 15th night moon on 4th October. It wouldn't be round. Japanese feels a little missing moon is really beautiful. The moon was shining in the sky beautifully on 4th October, so hopefully another clear sky on the night of 1st November.

Rabbit Maju　£1.50 each
This is another sweets from Moon Festival. Japanese believe a rabbit live on the moon. Steamed wheat cake with white bean paste inside. (this contains gluten.)

Kimi Shigure ￡1.50 eacg
This steamed custard cake like sponge crumble out in your mouth. (This contains eggs)

Daifuku Mochi (Smooth or Chunky)　￡1.00 each

Dorayaki（smooth・Chunky・Green tea）　£1.50 eacg
This contains Egg, Wheat, Gluten and Honey。

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Events in October
Thursday 19th Sorry No Okonomiyaki night as private function is planned.

Tuesday 31st It's Halloween! Planning to bake tarts and sweets with Pumpkin.
You might find something interesting in front of the shop... maybe.

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Japanese style afternoon tea is planed on the 1st November.
There will be another blog to announce with the detail of the afternoon.
Let's have fun and enjoy autumn festivals for now!

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September sweets and events

I am baaaaack！
Please come baaaack！

I spent really hot summer in Japan. Sorry that I left the cafe closed for three weeks in August.
Although I just came back a week ago, I already feeling the days in Japan didn't happen in real.
I always feel the life in Japan is a bit like in another world, as if the speed of time there is a bit different from one in the UK. After I come back, the feeling I have is like..."was it a dream?". Funny,isn't it?

There were so many things I found them bizerre in Japan this time, I am going to introduce them a bit by bit here.

Well, here is a photo of the cafe door. I bought this signage in Japan this time!
Have you noticed the door of an-an cafe opens to outside? In normal British way, doors open towards inside. So most of customers pushed the door to come in and thought "closed?" as door was not opening...
So now no one would confused. You need to pull to open the door!!!
Just a small thing happened to be "very Japanese" in cafe an-an.

Cafe an-an is business as usual... from Tuesday 5th September.

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September sweets

Strawberry Mochi　￡1.50 each
British Strawberry season is almost coming to the end...
If you want to eat tasty Strawberry Mochi, now is the last chance!

Kuzu Mochi　£2.00 per case
It's been cool, but still a bit of summer left. Before it's get really cold, let's have a Kuzu mochi revival.
It contains Soy.

Ohagi　￡1.50 each
Higan is coming in mid September.
Please chose from Chunky or Smooth Adzuki bean paste, or Roasted Soy flour and smooth Azuki bean paste. It contains Soy.

Dorayaki　￡1.50 each
Please chose from Chunky or Smooth Adzuki bean paste, or Matcha Green tea paste. It contains Eggs and Wheat flour.

Daifuku　£1.00 each
Please chose from Chunky or Smooth adzuki bean paste.

Sanshoku (Three colour) Dango　￡1.50 each
It will take 15 mins to be steamed after ordered. If you are eating in lunch, please order at the same time.

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September Events

Sunday 3rd September
Okonomi yaki Day was scheduled on this day. However, due to family affair, it needs to be cancelled. 
Monday 4th September is scheduled to close.
Next opening time is at 11:30 on Tuesday 5th September.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

We have Okonomi Yaki night Every Thursday!
Please book a table if you would like to use Tabletop Hotplate.
No need to book the counter seats or outside sittings.
Take away is also available. It may take time to prepare, so I recommend to order on phone in advance.

Every other Thursday, We have delivery from Namayasai, Japanese Organic farm. Their box scheme is really reasonable and full of seasonal vegetables. The owner is keen to introduce Japanese vegetable and the box includes information and recipes. please order the box scheme before Monday night.
Cafe also have some individual vegetable on the counter or table.
Please come and chat about Japanese cooking using those vegetables.

Saturday 23rd September an-an Japanese sweet has a table top sale at Japanese School in Croydon.
Public are allowed to enjoy the table top sales full of Japanese goods, some are commercial, some are homemade...from 10 to 12 am... (Please note; 40 mins from 10:45, only pupil time, so no public can enter)

Thank you for many requests about Japanese afternoon session.
Cafe an-an will have new member from this month, I should be able to make more time for Japanese sweets...
I will let you know as soon as the date announced.
Please watch this space!!!!

arigatou! [(_ _)]

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I am still away... but I am not ”off”, though!

Here is me in Japan some miles away trying some old and new foods and trends.

I have to say Sushi is tasty as always.
MUCH tastier than ones I make at the cafe. (well, I don't mean my sushi is not tasty, though!!!)

Noodles... there are so many choice.
Not only Ramen, there are so many kinds of noodles as well as methods of eating.
Udon, Soba, Somen, etc.etc.

It's been already one week since I landed.
Although I need to travel with my children, they are low-teen and pre-teen.
I need to compromise quite a bit as they have allergy and dislike.

However here is the first report I ate so far...

 

shaved ice with Matcha Green tea ... mochi and Adzuki bean paste 

Matcha American Scone and Hojicha Latte @Starbucks. Both are a bit too sweet.

Good old Tamago (Akashi) yaki. Much simpler than Takoyaki... you only get a piece of octopus in each ball. takoyaki is often asked on Okonomiyaki night recently...

It seems to be one of the latest trend. Serving Japanese sweets in mess... @Hands Cafe.  Monaka plates with two kinds of Warabi Mochi, Azuki icecream, whipped fresh cream with a half of frozen strawberry. topped with a Dorayaki pancake. Drizzle of black syrup finishes the deco. total "pick and mix" of favorite Japanese sweets...

... the list is still goes on...

August Sweets and Events

Ok, it's the top of Summer holiday!
I hope you enjoy this.... ummm.... summer like warm weather.

an-an is a bit overwhelmed with busy day and night ... as well as weekends. To be honest, I cannot win the speed of filling up fridge/ freezer to make Chicken Gyoza, Chicken Katsu and Beef Croquets! Thanks to you all my favorite customers💛

So, this weekend is going to be the last weekend an-an is open.
...well, no worry, I will still open Sunday 3rd September, which will be Okonomiyaki Day! (Although, I have to close on Saturday 2nd, as my daughter's Japanese School in London will starts on the day.)

It will be very short, but here are some August sweets and events.

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August's Sweets

Mizu Yokan　Smooth Adzuki or Green Tea　￡1.50 each
Smooth and cold Agar Jelly with Adzuki beans or white beans with Matcha green tea flavor. Suitable for Vegetarian/Vegan.
We can serve this with a scoop of vanilla icecream at the cafe. Please request on order. (50ｐ＋）

Strawberry Mochi ￡1.50 each
I am struggling to find the right size strawberries, but I carry on making this till British Strawberries disappear from the shop shelves. Suitable for Vegetarian/Vegan.
We can serve this with a scoop of vanilla icecream at the cafe. Please request on order. (50ｐ＋）

Strawberry & Agar Jelly　£1.50 each
Strawberries in Vanilla flavored Agar Jelly. Suitable for Vegetarian/Vegan.
We can serve this with a scoop of vanilla icecream at the cafe. Please request on order. (50ｐ＋）

Dorayaki 　Smooth Adzuki bean paste, Chunky Adzuki bean paste or White bean paste with Matcha Green Tea flavor ￡1.50 each
Japanese sweet pancake sandwich with fillings. This contains Eggs, Wheat flour, Gluten and Natural honey. Suitable for Vegetarian.

Daifuku Mochi ￡1.00 each
Smooth Adzuki Beans paste or Chunky Adzuki Beans paste.
Suitable Vegetarian/Vegan.

Sanshoku Dango ￡1.50 each
this will need 20 mins after ordered, as we steam it. If you are eating in, please order with your meal.
Suitable Vegetarian/Vegan.

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August Events

Thursday 3rd　Okonomiyaki night　18:30～21:00

Sunday 6th 　Okonomiyaki Day　11:30～15:00　（Each Okonomiyaki needs more cooking time than other menu, so please don't forget to have plenty time for getting ready to attack... or please make pre-order by phone.)

Monday 7th ～ Monday 28th CLOSED

Thursday 31st Okonomiyaki night　18:30～21:00　（fully booked）

　　　　　　There are still some seats left outside or accept take away order.

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I am prepare for more improved service on my return.
So, Please, please be patient with us!
I really appreciate your supports on Cafe an-an!!!

Summer Holiday Opening Hours

Summer Holiday has started!
However, my son is still at school for two more days😁

Recently, more customers visit cafe an-an from quite far away.
I really appreciate it and am happy to serve more people, I would not know if I were not at this cafe.

So I need to make sure no one would be disappointed by this awkward Summer Holiday opening hours!
Please, please check this calendar before planing to come to my cafe.

Green is the Open, and pink is close.
Instead of opening 3 weekends, 3 Mondays are closed.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

July Sweets and Events

an-an is into the 4th year, and still very busy as usual.
Thanks for coming to the Tanabata Festival at Hove Cornerstones Church on 1st July. I could see some familiar faces there and made me so happy!
Weather was excellent and it was a success!

Well, I again didn't have time to take photos, I borrow other's. Thanks for letting me to use your photos.

Photo from Step Up Japanese 
Here is the website for Step Up Japanese



And, Wagashi ya an-an is…

Photo from Food Standard Agency

awarded !!!  °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°　
Apparently, there is no certificate, so I just got sticker... but I don't have anywhere to stick it. I don't think it's right to stick on the cafe window as this is not for the cafe, it's for my home kitchen where I make Japanese sweets...

At the moment, the cafe has got 4* because of very minor reason. I am waiting for another inspection to get back 5* with polishing and scrubbing fridge/freezer and recording temperature on the diary. Last month's hot day made the freezer overworking and build a huge layers of frost making the doors hard to closed. Now my first job in the cafe is crushing frost in the freezer every morning. Apart from it, the freezer keeps well below -18 degree and working perfectly.

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July Sweets

* If you are eating in the sweets, you can have 1 scoop of vanilla icecream with £0.50. Please request on the order.

Star Kuzu sweets　￡1.50 each *

This will be twice as large as ones I made this for Tea ceremony in the Cornerstone's event. Two stars, represent Orihime and Hikoboshi in the Kuzu Ball. Available till 10th.


Kanten Cubes with Fruits　1cup　￡1.80 *
Kanten cubes with the seasonal fresh fruits (Strawberries, Apricot pieces and Cherries etc.) in a cup. Mix with Azuki bean paste and home-made Morasses sauce.  Sorry I don't have the photo, so please come to the cafe!

Strawberry Daifuku Mochi　￡1.50(£1.80）*

The most popular sweets anywhere I go!
If you haven't tried any of Japanese traditional sweets, Wagashi, this would be the one to try!






Dorayaki  ￡1.50 each
Smooth Azuki Bean paste,
Chunky Azuki bean paste,
Matcha Green Tea flavored paste
It's contains eggs, Wheat and Gluten.

Waka ayu (Sweet Fish)  ￡1.50 each
Representing a young fish strongly swim up a stream in the early summer.
Yuzu flavored sweet mochi inside.
It's contains eggs, wheat and Gluten.

Daifuku Mochi  ￡1.00 each
Smooth Azuki Bean paste or Chunky Azuki Bean paste available.

Sanshoku (3 colour) Dango　￡1.50 each
this will need about 20 mins as this needs to be steamed on order. If you are eating meal at the cafe, please order with your meal.

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Events in July

Saturday 1st　Tanabata Festival＠Hove, Cornerstones Church 1:30～4:00pm　
　　　　(This event is finished.）
Thursday 6th　Okonomi Yaki Night　6:30pm～9:00pm　
　　　　　with Japanese savory pancake. Please reserve seats for eating in.
Friday 7th　Tanabata Festival (I am planning to do some celebration...still thinking.)
Thursday 13th　Okonomi Yaki Night　6:30pm～9:00pm　
　　　　　with Japanese savory pancake. Please reserve seats for eating in.
Saturday 15th　Summer Festival at Maeda Gakuen, Acton　
　　　　　Time：12:00～4:00pm　ticket sold at the entrance. No parking.
　　　　　Place：Queens Drive Playing Field, Queens Drive, London W3 0HT
　　　　　　I have donated a Wagashi workshop worth £100 for the raffles!
Thursday 20th　Okonomi Yaki Night　6:30pm～9:00pm　
　　　　　with Japanese savory pancake. Please reserve seats for eating in.
Saturday 22nd~ 　Changed to Opening hours of Summer Holiday.
　　　　　　Detail of Summer Holiday opening hours will be in the next newsletter.

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There are more to let you know... (don't say any more💦）
1) Card payment- No matter the amount you spend, ￡0.50 will be charged. Itemized receipt will be sent by email. Please type in your mail address. Sorry for the inconvenience.

2) Opening hours on Tuesday is changed to 11:30 to 2:30pm. It's due to school time change. It will be back to normal once Summer holiday Opening hours starts.

Thank you. See you at the cafe or in London!