We are hosting our monthly Japan Travel Meetup tomorrow night at Wet Paint Art in Saint Paul. at 6:30 pm. This month we are talking about the upcoming Art & Culture Tour this spring. Hope to see you there!
japan tours
A Culinary Guide to Japan Tour Video
Video by Jakfoto Films
March 2018 Newsletter
Happy March!
March is a month of celebration in Japan starting with Hinamatsuri (Doll/Girl’s Day) on March 3. It’s a day to wish and pray for girl’s wealth and happiness. March is also a month to celebrate early arrival of Spring. Cherry blossoms can be seen in many parts of Japan and it’s a reminder that Spring is just around the corner. Mizuna, bamboo shoots, udo, burdock and strawberries become available. How about sakura wine from Yamanashi prefecture?
Here is what is happening with Tanpopo Studio this month.
Tanpopo Studio Monthly Meetup
The first monthly meetup was a delicious success talking about all things ramen. Thank you for all the people who came and contributed to the meeting. This month’s meetup is scheduled for March 20th from 7-8pm at Quixotic Coffee Shop in Highland Park, Saint Paul. The topic is Travel Japanese. Learn some essential Japanese language skills for traveling. All are welcome. No experience necessary.
It is free, but space is limited. Please send us an email if you are interested in attending.
Upcoming Tours to Japan
June – Culinary Tour of Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market is planning to move this summer and this might be your last chance to see it all. Hope to see you there as this is a great time of the year to travel to Japan. On the 4th night of the tour, we will be relaxing at a traditional Onsen Ryokan, and enjoy a kaiseki style dinner.
June – Tokyo Ramen Crash Course
We still have room for this one of it’s kind ramen adventure. Bring a friend along and learn the “know how” of ramen.
Please send me an emai, if you are interested.
Make A Reservation Online
Or send an email to travel@tanpopojourneys.com
Classes and Workshops
Sake it to me!
March 9th at 6pm at Cooks of Crocus Hills, St. Paul
Spring Sushi
March 17th at 6pm at Seward Coop Franklin Store, Mpls
Crash Course on Ramen
March 31st at 4pm at Seward Coop Franklin Store, Mpls
Happy Travels,
Koshiki and Benjamin Smith
ニュースレター：２０１8 年３月号
３月になりましたが、ミネソタではまだまだ寒い日が続いています。
みなさまお元気ですか？
先月に引き続き、今月もイベントやワークショップが盛りだくさんです。
今月のコミュニティーミーティングは３月２０日７時から８時を予定しています。
お時間のある方は是非ご参加ください。
今月のテーマは”旅行者に役立つ日本語”です。
６月のツアーにまだ空きがあります。お知り合いの方で日本旅行を考えている方、是非どうぞ。３月１５日までに予約を入れますと、無料日本語レッスン、もしくは日本のお食事2名分がつきます。
今月もワークショップを行っています。
日本酒と日本食のペアリング、春のお寿司、ラーメンと盛りだくさんです。
どうぞお立ち寄りください。
来月日本でお会いできる皆さん、楽しみにしています。
では、まだまだ寒い季節ですが、お元気で。
タンポポスタジオ
米村古紫季
Visiting Tsukiji Fish Market
The last week of October, I spent about three days in Tokyo meeting restaurant owners, going to cooking schools and checking out ramen shops. I spent the last day of my trip hanging out at Tsukiji – the world’s largest fish market. The day I visited Tsukiji, it was unusually warm, pleasant and sunny. I found myself relaxed and carefree as I strolled through the market admiring the shops and soaking up the spirit of the market.
On Monday, Tsukiji was bustling with energy, and everyone was preoccupied with their day’s business and driving their turret trucks at full speed. Tourists are everywhere. The coolers at food stalls were filled with catches of the season such as snow crab, pike fish, squid, salmon, mackerel and shelves with green tea, seaweed, bonito flakes, miso, pickled vegetables, wasabi roots and much more. As a matter of a fact, “Food Town” is a word used in Japanese to describe Tsukiji as one can find nearly everything you need for making traditional Japanese food. This is also where world class seafood auctions take place surrounded by a maze of retail shops and all kinds of restaurants.
Food at TsukijiI had a morning meeting with Mr. Noguchi who assisted me with planning a sushi workshop at near by restaurant for our guests during our tour. I was in luck that day as Mr. Noguchi treated me to a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the market. As you might know, due to its years of heavy use and also to make way for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, Tsukiji’s inner market is moving this summer to Toyosu, a man-made island near by (if you sign up with us for our April and June trips, you might still be able to see the inner market as a group).
Fish for Sale at TsukijiOne of the must to do thing at Tsukiji is to shop and eat at one of the many restaurants serving the freshest sushi you can buy. After my meeting with Mr. Noguchi, I squeezed myself into a counter seat at very busy sushi restaurant and indulged on some of my favorites at the market; charred fally tuna, sea urchin, sardine, mackerel and salmon.
Store at TsukijiHope to see you in Japan.
Happy Travels!
Tanpopo Studio
November 2017 Newsletter
Dear friends and family
Happy November!
We hope this letter finds all of you well and we apologize for not reaching out to many of you in recent months. We were fortunate to have this summer off to see many friends and family that we have not seen for a long time.
It has been 4 months since my husband and I departed from Tanpopo Restaurant and many of you might be wondering what we are cooking up for our next life. Today, please allow me to send this email to share some of my thoughts with you.
Over 17 years ago, Ben and I opened Tanpopo Noodle Shop to serve healthy, casual and affordable Japanese food to people in Minnesota. As you all know, I grew up in Japan and it was always in my best interest to be a bridge, sort of speak, between the two countries.
Seventeen years passed very quickly and during that time, there were many things we could not do because we were running the restaurant and raising small children. However, while at Tanpopo, we got the idea to do culinary tours to Japan and started making plans and now with our children older, we decided to take this opportunity to make it happen.
Ben and I just finalized our first five trip itineraries and wanted to share them with you. Our upcoming trips are posted on TanpopoStudio.com and online registration for the public opens November 15th for our trips starting this spring.
We are also keeping all food related post on Instagram and occasional blog post on our website. You can see some of pictures of Koshiki Island on our trip back to my home town last summer on our blog. Please check them out and signed up for our newsletter for all upcoming exciting events.
Happy Travels!
Koshiki & Ben Smith
TanpopoStuio LLC