evening cafe an-an trial!

Tomorrow (Thursday) evening, I open the cafe in the same way as lunch time. 
Space limited and some menu are limited, too. 
You can bring some alcoholic drinks. (charge may applied.)
please make take away order on telephone in advance. 
Open at 6:30 and close at 9:00 pm.

October sweets and events

Sun shine has soften and trees turn the colour.
It's autumn... finaly.

As the summer was hot enough, so it has left a tasty gifts.
Sweet and tasteful Kabocha pumpkins and chestnuts.

In fact, there was a lovely delivery from Namayasay, Organic Japanese Vege farm in Lewes. 6 large pumpkins.💛

I have already use some of them for Roast Vege Curry, it's really sweet and tasty!
I am really tempted to bring next month's sweet, Pumpkin Kintsuba, earlier.

Then, Chestnuts!!!
an-an will start chestnuts peeling sessions in front of TV. I hope any good films on telly soon.

So much tasty foods, Lovely Autumn!!!


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October Sweets

Rabbit steamed cake ￡1.50/each
For Moon Festival on 13th October. White bean paste inside. Contains Wheat flour.

Tsukimi-Dango  ￡2.00 for 5 riceballs
You will need 13 balls if you want to properly decorated. Simplified one is only with 3 balls... so you can have two before the ceremony.

Kimi-Shigure  ￡1.50/each
With a lot of Egg York, this steamed sweets has a distinctive crumbly texture.
This sweet is actually my favorite.

Kintsuba (Kabocha pumpkin)  ￡1.50/eah　
Available after the Moon Festival.
Organic Kabocha Pumpkin is naturally sweet and doesn't need to add so much sugar.
Skin has a hint of cinnamon. Contains wheat flour.


Chestnuts Manju (baked cake) ￡1.80/each
Is it time for the popular Chestnuts Manju? Still looking for the tasty chestnuts at the moment. I will announce when it's ready on this newsletter. (contains wheat flour, eggs, and milk.)

Chestnuts Mochi ￡1.50/each
Don't be so sad about Strawberry Mochi has gone. Sweet chestnuts pieces in the Mochi with chunky adzuki bean paste.

DoraYaki (Pancake Sandwich) ￡1.50/each
You will find Tsubu (chunky) Adzuki paste with Chestnuts in this season!
Only during this season. Please try it! (contains Wheat flour and eggs)

Daifuku Mochi　￡1.00/each
smooth adzuki bean paste or chunky adzuki bean paste in the sweet mochi.


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October Events

Thursday 13th　
"The Thirteenth Night" The second Moon Festival
This Festival is for Harvesting chestnuts and beans.
This Festival might be more important for an-an...
We display 13 sweet dumpling and rabbit shaped cakes for celebrate the night.

Monday 17th ～ Fridday 21st
Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) Week
Thanks for supporting this events. There are more request for the popular menu.

Pork belly
Seafood
Chicken
Beef and yam cake
Modern (Fried noodle in pancake)
Sweetcorn and cheese

Okonomiyaki takes longer to be cooked than other normal menu. You can also order in advance by phone.

Thursday 20th 18:00～
Okonomiyaki Night
You can eat as many Okonomiyaki as you can.
Please book a seat. ￡12.00 with a drink.
(an-an doesn't have the licence, so you can bring your favorite alcoholic drink. )
Max 8 people. We may ask for shearing table.
Please make a reservation on order@an-an.co.uk

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Have you found ”Ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ　Ｎｅｗ”of September?

It was our new member
ヾ(￣∇￣=ﾉ♪Tomoko♪ヾ=￣∇￣)ﾉ♪
She is so lovely and smily... and kind to support me when I make mistakes. She works on Monday, Thursday and Friday.

Saki is a volunteer learning English at the cafe once a week.
So we are 4 of us in such a small cafe.
There is a reason why...

You need to check October's ”Ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ　Ｎｅｗ”.
We plan to reply for your request, hopefully this month.
Maybe, maybe...

The fifteenth night's moon

The fifteen night's moon

means the Full Moon.

Why THE full moon?

It's because of the most beautiful moon of the year... Japanese think.

It's a part of harvest festival in old days.
We celebrated the all the crops we got through the summer and thanking for the good harvest to the moon.

We eat Tsukimi Dango (Moon viewing rice dumpling).
Normally 15 Dango are placed on the table near a window you can see the moon really well.

Sweets with rabbit design are also eaten at this festival.
It's because Japanese people see a rabbit making mochi on the surface of the moon... can you see the craters making a pattern... maybe.

I have Usagi manju (rabbit shaped steamed bun)
£1.50 each.
White bean paste with steamed wheat bun.

I also have some Dango dumpling.
£2.00 for 5.
or £1.50 on skewer.

Strawberry Mochi, too!

Please pop in. 

September sweets and events

Ouch! I have written this blog and I forgot to publish on line!!!
It's already a week past!!!
Here is the blog I have written earlier... (sorry some of the event's has gone)

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It's September.

However, Brighton seems to be still in Summer.

I don't know how long it last, but this weather makes me stay in holiday mood.
Awww....

Yesterday was the last off during (my children's) Summer holiday.  As usual, only time passed so quickly and non of my job I was going to didn't get done. It was a kind bad luck that I found my important adzuki bean paste pot stopped working.

I switched on the machine with ingredients fully loaded. Only alarm and error message was shown and nothing happened. It had been working really well... for past 5 years. Finally, it threw a tantrum. It was the last when the TV crews came to see how I make Adzuki bean paste two weeks ago.

Now still not working.
I cannot guess how much the repair costs.

There was another shocking news...
It was from one of my suppliers announced price up all the products I buy, due to Brexit.
Isn't it happening in two years?
The price change starts from next week. Unbelievable.

So, I was going to announce something new in September here, but I now need to start saving money to purchase the THING again.
I don't know how manage all the expenses in all other cafes.

Can anyone teach how to run a cafe properly?

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September sweets

Ohagiーーー！
It's up to the adzuki bean paste which is still very runny in the large sauce pan.
Once the paste is ready, I will make this sweets.
Koshian, Tsubuan or kinako (Roasted soy flour ) £1.50 each

Strawberry Daifuku Mochiーーー！
This month is the last of the British Strawberry season.
If Indian Summer comes, we might have more Strawberry Mochi!
￡1.50 each

Moon Rabbit cake
Steamed wheat cake with White bean paste filling.
Starts 10th September
￡1.50 each

Moon festival dumplings
Kansai style (with smooth adzuki bean paste) 6 pieces
Normal style 15 pieces
￡6.00 per set

Daifuku-Mochi (Smooth or Chunky Adzuki bean paste)
£1.00 each

Dorayaki
Pancake sandwich with smooth or chunky Adzuki bean paste or Green tea flavored bean paste.￡1.50 each


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September Events

Tuesday, 6th
7 PM in Japanese Standard Time, the TV program which came to my cafe and house to make a documentary will be on air.  Apparently, a baseball game is going to be on the same time in Kansai area. If the game is cancelled, the TV program will be on air, but the baseball game is on, the program will be moved to 1PM on Sunday 11th September (in JST).

I am asking for a link or DVD from the producers. I will arrange the video to be seen in the UK, too as most of people who helped me are here in the UK!

Thursday 15th Moon Festival.
We Japanese believe this moon is the best in the year.
I will make some sweets to celebrate the festival. If you like to order the special sweets in bulk, please order by 13th to order@an-an.co.uk

Friday, 16th 　10:00～11:30　
Brighton Pride Japanese Afternoon Tea Revival.
As I promised, I am having another Japanese Afternoon Tea session. 8 people maximum per the session. If there are demands for evening session, I will have one more session from 6:30 PM.

Please make a reservation on info@an-an.co.uk

Saturday 24th September 10:00-12:00
Croydon Japanese School
from 11:00 to 11:45, only school children can enter, and Wagashi sales is stopped. so please avoid during the period.

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Am I planning so many things, again????

"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.)