"What were they doing....

with the TV camera?"

These few days, some of my customers ask me.

Yes, they were TV crews and they were filming me, as a Japanese wife got married to some one non-Japanese person living outside of Japan.

i.e. They are making a small documentary about me why I started living and how I live in the UK.


It was in the early July I got a phone call from Japan.
The person on the other side of the phone was a Director of the program asking if the program feature me as a person who make and try to introduce Japanese sweets, Wagashi.

First of all, I didn't know about the TV program, as I left Japan 22years ago.
It turned to be a very popular nationwide series. Later on, I was very surprised almost everyone knows about the program in Japan!

So, the TV crew arrived at my cafe at the end of July and they were with me almost all the time for two weeks.

It was in the Summer holiday, so it's a kind of quiet period for an-an.... no festivals or no events. So first they asked me was to arrange some kind of events I can sell/introduce wagashi, so they could film people in the UK eating wagashi and giving their thoughts. 
that;s why I went to Kantenya in the central Brighton to sell my sweets on Saturday 6th.

So, every thing has done and waiting nervously for the day the program is on TV at the moment.

Thanks so much to who came to the afternoon session and Kantenya sales.
I would not tell you a lot here, as I should be able to put the link to watch the program on line in September.

Anyway, tomorrow 20th is the last Saturday opening this Summer.
My daughter's Japanese Saturday school will starts next week... She hasn't done her homework, at all!!!

As the last blog announced, Cafe an-an is closed for a week from 22nd August.
My kids are very patient, especially my son helped me so much at the cafe, so I will take my children to a Camping trip. Oh, well, don't mention about the weather. I have already checked. We got waterproof close and shoes to get through any weather!

Then, Wednesday 31st Cafe is closed as no school during weekdays, yet. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Then.... well August is done, finished!

The TV program will be On-Air on Tuesday 6th September.
I am planning to have another Japanese Afternoon Sessions later on in September, due to the demand. Please check up the detail on the next blog.

This year's Summer holiday wasn't that bad. I thought blue sky was above us more than usual. I hope everyone has enjoyed this summer.  the day children go back to school is not so far away.til

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August special menu

Cold Salad Noodles £4.50 for vegetarian
Cold Salad Noodles with toppings (please choose from Seamed chicken, Chicken Katsu, or Prawn Kats) £5.50 

It available till 31st August..

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August Wagashi (Japanese sweets)

Strawberry Mochi ￡1.50/each

Agar Jelly (Adzuki or Matcha Japanese Green Tea)￡1.50/each

Shaved ice with Matcha syrup (with adzuki paste & condensed milk)　￡2.00 eat-in only　

Daifuku Mochi (smooth or chunky)　￡1.00/each

Dorayaki (smooth, chunky or Matcha green tea)  ￡1.50/each

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So Have you spotted something new this months?

Some people already mentioned it. (I designed and made by Brighton & Hove Plastics on Boundary Road, ）

　
Good, isn't it?

So, what would be the next new thing at the cafe?

August Opening Hours

Please note, this month an-an cafe is with still the special opening hours due to school holiday.
2 more saturdays!!!

On the Brighton Pride day, Kantenya (Japanese grocery shop) kindly offered a space for me to sell Japanese sweets, Wagashi.

Please pop in to taste Japanese summer.

... and, i have made some special sweets, which I made for Brighton!
Please vote for the one you think very Brighton and still tastes good.



Mon 1st 　11:00-14:30
Tue 2nd   11:00-14:30
Wed 3rd   Closed
Thu 4th   11:00-14:30
Fri  5th    11:00-15:00 (Japanese afternoon sessions at 4pm and 6:30pm.)
Sat 6th    10:00- till the last sweets are sold at Kantennya Brighton.　Cafe is closed.
Sun 7th    Closed

Mon 8th   11:00-14:30
Tue　9th  11:00-14:30
Wed 10th  Closed
Thu 11th 11:00-14:30
Fri   12th 11:00-15:00
Sat  13th 11:00-15:00
Sun 14th  Closed

Mon 15th 11:00-15:00
Tue 16th  11:00-15:00
Wed 17th  Closed
Thu 18th  11:00-15:00
Fri   19th  11:00-15:00
Sat  20th  11:00-15:00
Sun 21st   Closed

 Mon 22nd -
         Mon 29th (bank holiday) Closed

Tue 30th　11:00-15:00
Wed 31st  11:00-15:00

September
Thu   1st  11:00-15:00
Fri    2nd　11:00-15:00
Sat   3rd 　Closed
Sun  4th    Closed

Mid-summer Japanese afternoon tea (sorry! such a short notice!!!)

Because of a reason, I am having only two sessions for this summer afternoon tea this Friday...

Yes, it's This Friday!!!! 
on 5th August!!!

16:00-18:00
or
18:30-20:30

Ichinno sara (1st plate)
Zaru soba with Vegetable tempura
Nino sara (2nd plate)
4 kinds of Mochi and Manju
San no sare (3rd plate)
2 kinds of Jo-Namagashi
(I will ask you to chose the sweets which is very Brighton.)
With Japanese tea or coffee
£10.00 pp

All are suitable for Vegetarian.
This time, 1st plates contains Soy, wheat or eggs. 
If you do want to change to Soy, wheat or eggs free, please let me know on the booking.
Each session is for 8 people maximum. Please book your seat as soon as possible to info@an-an.co.uk

I will look forward to seeing you there!

(The reason why it is so short notice is because... please ask me on email if you want to know the reason.)

July's sweets and events

Wow! It's a half of year finished already! ...well... and 5 days (sorry for the late update.)
Time goes by quicker and quicker...

What a month it was! June was fantastic!

cafe an-an had the second birthday and got into the third year!!!
I cannot thank enough to all my friends and family, of course, my favorite customers.
Some of them are from the days the cafe was run by previous owner.
It was lovely to talk about all the stories of opening this small cafe.

Hisako, who supported me through the second year, had gone to Japan to stay for a few months.
cafe an-an seems to have a bit of change, too.
We need to move forwards... please help me pushing my heavy back.

I am counting on you!!!

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July Sweets!

Strawberry Mochi　　￡1.50/each

　　As long as I can get tasty British Strawberries, I keep making this popular sweets. It doesn't keep so long. Please consume on the day you purchased.

Sweet Fish　　￡1.50/each

　　This sweets is another popular one from my cafe. Some of you are not fund of bean pasts, you should try this. Yuzu seasoned sweet Mochi is wrapped by fish shaped pancake skin. it looks sweet as it tastes. Please eat in two days after you purchase.

An-Mitsu  　￡2.00/cup

　　Fat-free & sugar-free agar jelly served with seasonal fruits and sweet adzuki bean paste. You can sweeten it more with Black Honey (KuroMitsu). Please keep it in fridge and consume on the day you purchase.

Daifuku Mochi　　￡1.00/each

　　Tsubu-an (Chunky paste), Koshi-an(smooth paste) or Yomogi Tsubu (Japanese magwort seasoned Mochi with chunky paste). 

Sanshoku (Three colour) Dango　　￡1.50/each

　　Three coloured sweet rice dumpling on a skewer. Please order in advance to steam on request. 10-30 min to be steamed.

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July's Events

This month an-an is going to London to sell a bulk of sweets. Two weekend events are at Japanese schools, but anybody is welcome during the sales. If you live close by, please pop in.

Saturday 9th July

Croydon Japanese School - Second-hand book sales 10:00-10:30 and 11:30 to 12:00.

You can also buy the second-hand Japanese books.

Saturday 16th July

Acton Maeda Gakuen - Summer Festival (Natsu Matsuri)

Taiyaki Machine will come to the ground with me. Watch how Taiyaki are made!!! 

Queens Drive Playing Field, Queens Drive, Acton W3 0HT

12:00-16:00

There is no parking space. Please park on the street near by or use Underground (nearest station is North Ealing Station. 

Saturday 23rd & 30th July

Summer Holiday starts!!! 

an-an will be open on Saturdays during Summer Holiday. 

Wednesday 27th July

Instead of opening Saturday, an-an is closed on Wednesdays during Summer Holiday.

I will put up the holiday calendar on this blog as well as on cafe window.

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Well, I was announcing about a new menu... cold noodles salad... However, I need to delay the plan. At the moment, I am a bit struggling to put things in order after my trusted helper, Hisako left.

It's not cancelled, but postponed a bit. I will let you know here again, so please keep watching this space. 

To improve the cafe service, I am renewing something new every month.

Have you noticed what in June?

It's the A-shaped signage on the pavement.  Isn't it lovely???

One of my customer helped me making this. 

Please spot something new this month!

June sweets and events

This month did not start very well... Although, it is an celebrating month of cafe an-an!!!

It started slowly with children's half-term. Then my health had gone down really worse to worst.
I could not move my neck and arms. My upper body and head was in pain and felt really sick at one point.

Now I am slowly better as I did some exercise including Pilates. The side effect of Pilates was still here on my tummy... my tummy muscle is screaming...

 Half term's bad weather had gone and summer again. Lovely sunshine.

It's finally SUMMER!!!

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Sweets of June

Ichigo (strawberry) Daifuku Mochi　　　　　　￡1.50 each
British Strawberry season has arrived! It's really tasty. Not only sweetness, I can taste refreshing sourness and juiciness.  It's the best strawberry Daifuku in the UK.

Warabi Mochi with Kuzu　　　￡2.00 each
Very summer sweets. Kuzu jelly is not sweet, so please sprinkle plenty of Kinako (Roasted Soy flour) and black honey. prepared on only Tuesdays and Fridays.

Waka Ayu (Young Sweet Fish)　　　　　　　　　　　￡1.50 each
Before the river fishing is open in July, we can see a lot of young sweet fish swimming up the treams. Those powerful young sweet fish is the model of this sweet. Yuzu flavored sweet mochi is wrapped by Dorayaki skin.

Yomogi (Japanese Mugwarts) Daifuku
This mochi is made with Yomogi, which is still used as herbal remedy, from Organic Japanese Vege farm Namayasai. My kitchen is filled with this very refreshing mint like aroma. Chunky Adzuki bean paste inside.

Thankfully, more customer puchasing Wagashi. If you are buying more than 5 sweets, could you please let me know in advance. As the cafe has very limited space and shop's temperature is very high in late afternoons, I don't make sweets in bulk.　if you like to purchase sweets more than 5, please ring or email (order@an-an.co.uk) the cafe to order two working days in advance.

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Events in June

This month, Wa cafe an-an is having the second birthday.
It's been a whole year since we did the first anniversary!!!

Those events I introduced as anniversary special became frequent occasions.
Have you tried Japanese Afternoon session or Okonomiyaki weeks?

Japanese says a good restaurant is trained by it's customers.

i would like to thank you all the patient customers. So, I would like to invite some of you to the special events.


Hisako is going to Japan to stay for a while for her son. So I need to do the events before hand.

Monday 13th June (! Wow, it's already today???)
an-an Birthday Cake Buffet
It's postponed to Friday 24th. 
But I will try to be there around 10am. Not necessarily have any cakes, though...


Thursday 16th & Friday 17th June
Japanese Afternoon Tea "Summer has come???"
I will make a lot of early summer sweets.
Do you have any request for the 1st plate? How about cold noodle?
The second and the third plates are as usual.
You can enjoy variety of Summer sweets on this occasion.

Please choose time and make a booking.
Thursday 16th : Morning session (10:00 - 11:30), Evening session (18:30-20:00)
Friday 17th : Afternoon Sesson (16:00 - 17:30)
Each session will have maximum of 8 people.
Children who take a seat will be counted as one.
Please book as soon as possilbe.


24th June (Friday)
an-an  Birthday Buffet - Bring your homemade cakes Buffet

Please bring your homemade cakes. It needs to be something you can proud of, as it will have your name on the display! You will be exchanging some tips of baking cakes.
If you are not good at baking cakes, don't worry! If you pay £5.00 to cover the baker's drinks.

I will keep eyes on the food safety during the buffet, however, an-an cannot take responsibility of sudden weight increase, and etc... Please consume cakes and sweets on your own risk!!!

There will be another blog to come soon.

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I am a bit scared of large events in July... but I want to enjoy this anniversary month with an-an's lovely customers.

Bank Holiday Monday

cafe an-an is closed on bank holiday Monday. Since I have no help this week because of the half term school holiday, service will be slower than usual. sorry for the inconvenience.

和カフェあん庵は、5月30日の祝日はお休みです。
今週はハーフタームのため、人手が足りなく、お待たせすることがあります。申し訳ありません。

Okonomi-yaki week again!

I have got so many requests for having Okonomi-Yaki as regular menu.
I cannot make it as regular, but I can make it as a regular event.

So, here comes Okonomi-Yaki Week, again!

From Monday 23rd to Friday 27th of May, I will serve Okonomi-Yaki as well as usual menu.

...AND, I will have Okonomu-Yaki Night on Tuesday 24th, as my husband can look after kids.

Starts at 7:30 and finish 9:30.

Okonomi-Yaki Night is Adult Only. This time you will have Teppan on the table to cook Okonomi-Yaki by youeselves. Its just like Okonomi-Yaki Bar in Jaapan. 

Please book your seat... yes, seat, as you may need to share table and Teppan with other customers. 8 persons maximum. Eat as much Okonomi Yaki and Yakisoba with one drink for £10.00. As an-an does not own the licence to sell alcoholic drinks, please bring bottles only for yourselves.

This time you can order small sides (£2 per item) along the Okonomi-Yaki. Chicken or Tofu gyoza, Edamame, Miso Soup, white rice, Kimchi Fried rice, etc.etc.

If you like to book seats, please go to this link. info@an-an.co.uk.

I will reply you asap.

Look forward to seeing you!