May sweets and events

It's already half way of May!!!!
I am so sorry I thought I have published this English blog on the 1st day after I translated...
But it was still in the "Draft" box for 15 days...

To be honest, the last 2 weeks was to busy! I have been making sweets non-stop.
On top of that, My husband had been absent for a week in Germany for business... leaving two kids for me to chase their bottoms 24/7.

Anyway Okonomiyaki week was well received! now I know how much people love Okonomiyaki!!! I will do the Okonomiyaki week again sometime in Summer, so till then, please come to enjoy Okonomiyaki on Thursday evenings.

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May Wagashi sweets

Kashiwa Mochi　　￡1.50 each
Koshian (Smooth adzuki bean paste),
Tubuan (Chunky adzuki bean paste) with Japanese mugwort,
Misoan (Miso flavored smooth white bean paste)
* limited numbers left. as soon as the leaves are gone, this will finish.

Strawberry Daifuku Mochi　￡1.50 each
Popular one! British Strawberris are on season! They are soooo tasty in Mochi.
I try to make it everyday, but may not available if I could not find the strawberry in right weight and shape grown locally...
.＊please order in advance (2 days at least) if you would like to buy more than 5 on the day.

Wakaayu (Sweet fish)　￡1.50 each
Yuzu flavored mochi is wrapped in Dorayaki pancake.
If you don't like bean paste, this is the one! It goes so well with Coffee, too!
contains eggs and flour (gluten)

Dorayaki Pancake sandwich　￡1.50 each
Please chose filling from Koshian, Tubuan, Matcha Green tea.
contains eggs and flour

Daifuku Mochi　￡1.00 each
Tubuan or Koshian

Kusa Daifuku Mochi　￡1.20 each
Tubuan in Yomogi (Japanese Mugwort) flavored Mochi.
a hint of minty aftertaste.

Sanshoku Dango　1.50 each
Please give us 15 min. to steam after order at the cafe. If you are having meal first, please order with your meal.

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May events

Tuesday 2nd - 5th May
It was Okonomiyaki week!
Thank you for enjoying Okonomiyaki for lunch.
We will do this more in Summer!

Thursday 18th 18:30～21:00
Okonomiyaki Night
Please book table/seats. Seats are still available.

Thursday 25th 18:30～21:00
Okonomiyaki Night
Please book table/seats. Seats are still available

＆　There will be  a delivery of Namayasai(Organic Japanese Vegetable) at luch time. If you are interested in purchasing a box (please ask the contents nearer the time), please order at cafe or on line by Monday 22nd.

Monday 29th
Closed for Bank Holiday

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Cafe an-an will be 3 years old next month!!!
We would like to celebrate and thank to all our favorite customers!!!
What shall I do? is there any request???
Please let me know.

At the same time, I am planning to improve the shop front...
I hope you will see it very soon.
xxx

Tuesday 11th April

Cafe is closed today. Sorry for the inconvenience.
I had to go to London to get some stuff for the cafe yesterday, so I feel I have a proper day off at home with my children today finally.

Recently, I only write monthly newsletters, so I thought I shall write something more like blogging.

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On Sunday, the morning of Brighton Marathon, I had to leave home really early to catch the local people who cheer up the runners.

However, as I didn't have time to go shopping for my family, there was no loaf left in my house cup boards. So, I pulled out The Breadmaker (from Panas●nic, thought to be the best by Japanese), which was given as a Christmas present by my lovely husband 2 years ago.

I set all the ingredients and asked my husband to check if I pressed the right button to start baking.

I left house saying "Please enjoy once the bread is baked💛"
Well, such a capable wife, aren't I? ww








After I made so many cups of coffee and served a few cakes at my cafe, I received a text message with a photo from husband.

”What am I supposed to do with this? This is not what I expected..."

I, kinda, knew I am not good at baking. 
Well, I am so sorry I am a wife even cannot use Fully Automatic Bread Maker...
(ノД`)・゜・。

Cafe an-an is open tomorrow (Wednesday 12th) morning 11:30.

April sweets and events

Cherry Blossoms!
I found a Cherry tree, Somei-Yoshino, in a park near my home. Each flower is so big and gorgeous. This flour became the design of my Cherry blossom Tea set in my cafe.


So, Cherry Blossom Tea set is still available at my cafe.

Jo-namagashi (Yoshino-Sakura) and Petit Dorayaki with Sakura flavored bean paste + a choice of pot tea... this set only costs￡3.50!

Dorayaki contains gluten and egg, so mini-Hanami Dango can be chosen instead. (Suitable for Vegan)

Jo-namagashi seems to have a formal sweets to have in Tea ceremony, but you can enjoy it any time. You can also take away and enjoy under Cherry Blossoms.

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April Sweets

Sakura Mochi　　　￡1.50 each

Also called Domyoji in Tokyo area. However, this is "the Sakura Mochi" for Kansai (around Kyoto and Osaka) people. Smooth Adzuki Bean paste inside, and wrapped with a pickled cherry leaves, harvested in organic farm Namayasai. Please enjoy the aroma of cherry leaves.

Hanami Dango　　　　￡1.50 each
Well known as Sanshoku (tricolor) Dango　　
Green Dango with organic Japanese mugwort represenets grass, white one is air and pink one is cherry blossoms.

Mitarashi Dango　　　￡1.50 each
This is also one of sweets we want to eat under cherry blossoms. dango on skewers covered in sweet soy sauce. Tamari is used, so its gluten free. It contains Soy.

Daifuku (smooth or chunky adzuki paste)　　￡1.00 each
Kusa（mugwort）Daifuku　　￡1.20 each　
Organic mugwort from Namayasai is used. Please enjoy the minty aroma. with chunky adzuki bean paste

Dorayaki（smooth、chunky、Matcha green tea、Sakura(limited edition））　￡1.50 each
contains eggs and wheat flour, gluten

Easter♪
White Rabbit & Black Rabbit　￡1.50 each
White Rabbit with white bean paste with white (yellow?) skin. Black Rabbit with smooth Adzuki bean paste with Molasses flavored skin. Both are steamed buns, so Suitable for Vegan, but contains gluten.

Kashiwa Mochi　(smooth、mugwort ＆chunky adzuki、Miso bean paste)￡1.50 each
Ready from 24th. Miso bean paste contains Soy.

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April Events
This month, children are out of school for Easter Holiday for two weeks...
So, Opening hours are a bit (or a lot?) different from usual.
Please check here or Facebook page before setting off the trip to an-an.

Brighton Marathon is passing in front of the cafe on Sunday 9th!!!
I was in two minded, but now an-an cafe is open on this Sunday!

This time, I have a proper coffee machine, so if you haven't tried my coffee or Matcha Green Tea Latte, this is the chance!!!

Pan cakes and some other cakes are served as well.

It's already full of events for me...

5th May will be The Children's Day (Tango no Sekkku) so, I might plan something on the day.

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Weather is changeable so much in this season. please take care and enjoy this colourful season.

Brighton and Hove Japanese Club Open Day 2017

Thank you for coming to the sales at Brighton and Hove Japanese Club Open Day yesterday! As I guessed it was too busy to take any photos during the sales, so I borrowed some photos from Japanese Club's. Thank you.

You can see a bit of panicky feeling from these photos. ww
Almost all the time, there was a queue in front of us... (^_^;)

Most of sweets sold out before the half way of the sales... So sorry I could not make any more than those... (although I took more than 300 sweets.)

If you could not buy the sweets you were after, I will have the same sweets till the end of April at cafe an-an.

Cafe will be open on Saturdays till 15th April. Opening time will be extended on Saturdays, too. Please check before your visit.

And…。

There were a few customers asked about Strawberry Daifuku Mochi.
We are still waiting for tasty British strawberries in the market.
Till then, we still have a lot of spring sweets on sale. Please enjoy them for now.

The British strawberry season normally starts around late May to early June, but warm weather will bring tasty strawberry a bit earlier. Let's hope this spring will be a warm one.

March sweets and events

So, spring has comeーーー🌸
Well, I don't feel in that way as cold winds still blowing through the street in front of the cafe...
Storm Douris had gone with my cafe's outside tables blowing away into pieces...
On the other hand, snowdrops, crocus and daffodils are blooming brightly.

There are so many events in Japanese spring season.
So an-an is still really busy making sweets!!!

AND!
an-an opens on Saturdays! 
Please check below for the details.

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March Sweets

Uguisu Mochi(Nightingale Mochi)
Smooth Adzuki Bean paste is wrapped by soft Mochi. Sprinkled green powder is Green soy powder, which has flesh aroma.
This contains Soy.
￡1.50 each

Botamochi（Ohagi）
This really old and familiar sweets are made of half mushed glutinous rice and bean paste.
Specially, we commonly eat in this time of year for offering to ancestors, whose spirits are coming to see us from 17th to 23rd March.
an-an roast organic soy flour in-house.
Yellow Botamochi contains Soy.
Smooth Adzuki bean paste, Chunky Adzuki bean Paste or Yellow Soy flour (with smoothh Adzuki Bean pase inside) available.
￡1.50 each

Umenoka (Aroma of Plum blossoms)
White bean paste with Pickled plum juice is rapped by flower shaped Mochi.
￡1.50 cach


Hanami（Sanshoku）Dango
Pink is flower on tree, White is air and Green is lawn... This is the famous Sweet dumplings on skewers.
￡1.50 each

Dorayaki
Rich pan cake Sandwich. Please choose the fillings from Smooth adzuki bean paste, Chunky Adzuki bean paste or Matcha Green tea in white bean paste.
This contains eggs, wheat.
￡1.50 each

Daifuku Mochi
Mochi with Smooth adzuki bean paste or chunky adzuki bean paste.
￡1.00 each

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March Events

Thursday 2nd Okonomiyaki Night 18:30～21:00（last order）
                      fully booked, but take away available.
Friday 3rd      Girl's festival（Hina Matsuri）
　　　　　　　 Special Sushi for Hina Matsuri 3 pieces￡5.00

Thursday 9th Okonomiyaki Night 18:30～21:00（last order）
                      Booking seats highly recommended!
Saturday 18th Brighton and Hove Japanese Club Open Day! (Website）
　　　　　　　13:30～17:00　St. Paul's Primary School on St. Nicholas Road
Thursday 23rd  Okonomiyaki Night 18:30～21:00（Last order）
                        Booking seats highly recommended!
Friday 24th     Japanese Afternoon sessions
                        Please book seats in advance (8 people max in each session)|
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　　　　　　　　16:00～
　　　　　　　　18:00～
Saturday 25th Cafe is open on Saturday! 11:30～15:00 (normal lunch service)
　
April Events
Saturday 1st 　Cafe is open on Saturday! 11:30～15:00 (normal lunch service)

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I will work on Saturdays so much!!!
So, please pop into cafe on Saturday if you have never seen my cafe is in action!!!

This week is Okonomi Yaki Week!

This week, from 23rd to 27th, is the Okonomi Yaki Week!

Between 12:00 to 15:00, Okonomi Yaki （£4.50） and Modern Yaki （£5.00） in Kansai Style.

Here is the menu...
Chicken
Beef shin
Seafood
Cheese & Sweetcorn

Of course, you can get take it away. 

AS I seem to be recovered from the nasty cold, I will do the Night cafe on this Thursday.
I will take out hot plates on tables during night cafe. 

If you want to book a table, please tell me from 6:30 or 8:00. please bring your favorite bottles as an-an doesn't have the licences. 

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...and,

start taking orders for the festive Ehou rolled Sushi for 3ed February. 

Ehou Maki (rolled Sushi)
with Smoked Mackerel, prawns, Japanese omelette, Frozen dried Tofu, Dried Shiitake Mushrooms, cucumber and Daikon Radish

Vegetarian Ehou Maki
Japanese Omelette, Avocado, grilled red pepper, lettuce, cucumber, carrots, mozzarella cheese

*Eggs and cheese can be changed to Frozen Dried Tofu and Mushrooms.                                                                                              

All are ￡4.50 each.

This year's Ehou is.....
slightly right of North North West 
ｗ

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In Japanese Calendar, Spring starts from 4th February. Please take a good care of yourselves in this cold weather. Its not that long...💛

January sweets and events

Wow, I thought I have already published this newsletter in English...
Sorry for the delay.

As I have already announced in some places, I won't be able to have Okonomiyaki Night on Thursdays till the further notice. My condition is still not well enough to push in the evening.
Flue, I believe, gave me a miserable Christmas and New Year period... I ended up getting ant-biotics to concur chest infection.

Instead, I will have the Okonomiyaki Week later this month. So Okonomiyaki can be ordered for lunch.

I have put my resolution "a bit by bit, in my pace", but I haven't managed to get "my pace", yet. I, first, need to find "my pace". It's my first aim this year.

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January Sweets

Japan is still in New Year's period till 15th, so I will make so much for celebrating New Year's!

Black bean Mochi ￡1.50 each
Seven black beans in Mochi represents 7 gods(七福神). Chunky Adzuki bean paste inside. Hoping good health and luck in this coming year.

Hanabira (flower petal) Mochi ￡1.50 each
Burdock root in syrup and white miso bean paste in the pink mochi.
This started from the part of Osechi (お節 : celebration meal box for the New Year's Period). It is sweet, but savory as well. Available till 15th January.















Sweet adzuki bean soup with Mochi ￡2.00
Adzuki bean and Kuzu warm you up in the cold of January winds.
Available only for eat-in untill 15th January.

Usukawa Inaka Manju ￡1.50 each
Steamed yum potato cake with chunky adzuki bean paste. Candid Chestnuts through thin skin of Yum potato represent a rock with thin snow on top. Available from 16th January.

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

Dorayaki (Smooth, Chunky or Green Tea) ￡1.50 each


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January Events

I would like to celebrate the end of New Year's Period... Is there any good idea?

Okonomiyaki Week
23rd - 27rd January
Make Okonomiyaki with the usual lunch menu.
I cannot use Teppan on tables for health and safety reason.
However, if I feel well enough, I might open Thursday evening... Please watch this space.

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3rd February is  Setsubun (節分）
We will prepare for the special  Fat rolled sushi for welcoming the first day of spring. (Japanese regards the 4th February is the first day of spring.)
Order can be made from mid-January.

Ehoumaki(恵方巻き) ー smoked Mackerel, boiled prawns, Japanese Egg omelette, Freeze-dried tofu,Shiitake Mushrooms, Cucumber, Freeze-dried Daikon radish

Vegi-salad Ehoumaki(ベジサラダ恵方巻き) ー Japanese Egg omelette,avocado, Red sweet pepper, lettuce, cucumber, carrots, Mozzarella cheese

Please let me know if you have any food you need to avoid on order. 

£4.50 each roll.

Planing a Japanese afternoon tea in the later half of February. 
Please check the detail on February newsletter.

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It's got really cold suddenly. It's funny to say this, but "please give a break to yourself and be healthy"