Tasting Nagasaki 長崎
Nagasaki's historical role as a trading port makes it unique among all the cities of Japan. Cultural exchange with Portugal resulted in tempura and castella being part of the Japanese food scene today. The thriving #Chinatown is the birthplace of several dishes and snacks. The shores are abundant in seafood. If, like me, you are visiting in May/ June, remember it's the loquat (biwa) season. #Loquat fruits and loquat products are ubiquitous around the city.
Nagasaki – try:
-🍜#castella カステラ, sponge cake based on the 16 century Portuguese cakes, popularized in Nagasaki and now popular all over Japan.
-🍜 #champon ちゃんぽん, fried seafood, pork & vegs in a broth with noodles.
-🍜 sara udon 皿うどん, a variant of champon with crispy fried noodles instead of the soup.
-🍜 kakuni 角煮, braised pork belly, Japanese version of Dongpo Pork.
-🍜 kakuni manju, a thick slice of kakuni (see above) in a soft bread bun (manjuu / mantou).
-🍜 hatoshi ハトシ, deepfried toast with shrimp paste, a Hong Kong “shrimp toast” introduced to Japan in Meiji times – “hatoshi” is a loan from Cantonese (蝦多士 haa dō si).
-🍜 "Turkish Rice", a baffling assemblage of Western-inspired goodies: pilaf rice, ketchuppy spaghetti, and pork cutlet topped with curry.
-🍜 Nagasaki oden, consists of “kanboko” (local name for “kamaboko” fish cakes) stewed in ago dashi (flying fish stock). Try it in an izakaya.
-🍜 Chirin Chirin ice cream; shaped like a rose, sold from street carts.
Nagasaki – see:
-⛩️ Nagasaki's Chinatown 長崎新地中華街, the oldest in Japan, now a grid of streets lined with restaurants and shops.
-⛩️ Tojin Yashiki (Former Chinese Settlement) 唐人屋敷 a stone's throw from the Chinatown; it was where the Chinese resided. Several small temples survive in this quiet neighborhood and make a nice walk.
-⛩️ Nagasaki Confucius Shrine 孔子廟, built in 1893, has a museum with Chinese artifacts, ¥660.
-⛩️ Meganebashi 眼鏡橋, a bridge constructed in 1634 by a Chinese Zen monk on the path to one of the temples
-⛩️ Kōfukuji Temple 興福寺, a beautiful Chinese-founded Zen temple from the 17th century, ¥300.
-⛩️ Sōfukuji Temple 崇福寺, another Chinese-founded Zen temple from the 17th century.
-⛩️ Oura Cathedral 大浦天主堂, Japan’s most famous church, built in 1853. It's inscibed on the list of World Heritage Sites, together with several other places scattered around Kyushu, as “Hidden Christian Sites”. Don't miss the museum housed in adjacent buildings. ¥1000.
-⛩️ Chanpon Museum ちゃんぽんミュージアム. Small exhibition on the 2nd floor of Shikairo – a Chinese restaurant said to invent both champon and sara udon. Free.
-⛩️ Glover House. Belonged to the Scottish merchant who introduced Western shipbuilding technology to Japan. Part of the „Meiji Industrial Revolution” #World Heritage Site. It's within the Glover Garden that also includes several other Western-style villas; cafe; shop; nice views of the harbor (don't foget to spot the century-old Mitsubishi Crane on the other side of the bay – it is also a part of the „#Meiji Industrial Revolution” WHS);. ¥620.
Nagasaki – example restaurants and shops:
-🍽️ Tsuruchan ツル茶ん, est 1925, must try Turkish Rice and frozen milkshake. Closed Wed.
-🍽️ Fukusaya Main Store 福砂屋 本店; a confectionery established in 1624, famed for castella.
-🍽️ Kagetsu, established 1642 as geisha house; a fine dining restaurant that exels in Japanese-Chinese-Portuguese mix cuisine; in a garden setting. Closed most Tue.
-🍽️ Shikairou 四海樓, est 1899. Has nice bay views, serves champon and sara udon, both claimed to originate from the restaurant.🍜🍜
Enjoy!
#deliciousfood #foodie #japanesefood #foodtravel #飲食文化