Monday, October 17, 2011

Potluck party with neighbors on a windy autumn's day

We had the honor of hosting the 3rd potluck party for our neighbors last Sunday...
Seven families got together for a day of yakking and for delicious, homemade food...
The wind was pretty strong and the temperatures, somewhat chilly...
But that didn't stop us from having a ball of a time...


First, home-made buckwheat noodles aka soba made from scratch...
According to our friend, the combination was 90% buckwheat flour and 10% wheat flour...
Excellent, excellent taste...

Some salad, oriental style with cucumber, tomatoes, egg, ham...

 Fried dumplings... crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside...

Ginko nuts... peeled and lightly fried in oil, and served with a pince of salt...

O-yaki... in other words, Japanese yam, lotus root, glutinous rice flour, and seaweed fried in light oil over a flat pan...
This dish was new to us and while the dish did not look that 'photogenic', the taste was good... my missus ended up asking for the recipe...

Update for Alice:
(Managed to ask our neighbor about the recipe... )

Grate Japanese yam(山芋), lotus root and keep aside...
Mix with 上新粉(top-grade rice flour)
Add seaweed (after softening in water)
Blend all ingredients in bowl and make into patties...
Fry over flat pan over some sesame oil until slightly brown...

Serve with some soy sauce...
Braised(?) pork with fresh veggies done up by one of the husbands...

Our contribution... horse mackeral, deep fried outdoors in our garden...
Fire and utensils were prepared by yours truly while the lady of the house took charge of the cooking...

The fish was immediately dipped into a concoction of vinegar, Japanese rice wine, and lots of fresh vegetables...
And left to season for one night for better taste...
I ate the fish whole... bones, fish head, fins, meat and all...

Plus, vinegrette Spanish Mackeral... also prepared by my suweeto haato on the previous day so as to 'enhance' the flavor...
This dish proved to be very popular among the attendees...

The sweets, various types, were brought all the way from Kobe...

Besides these goodies, there were drinks soft and hard, chocolates, persimmons, grapes, and freshly brewed black mint tea...  

We were very happy that our neighbors enjoy the party as much as we did...
And we are looking forward to hosting the fourth gathering for sure...

21 comments:

  1. Such a lovely spread of excellent food at the potluck party. I'm drooling over them.

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  2. Anonymous10/17/2011

    Really yummy.
    When I was a child, I don't like Ginkgo nuts.
    However, my wife and I love it now.
    It is the taste of fall. :)

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  3. Have not tried ginko nuts lightly fried before. Oh all lovely yummy and healthy food. Great gathering even the wind and chilly weather couldn't stop you guys.

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  4. lina... yeap, excellent food it was...

    coco... I like the taste of ginko nuts too...

    bananaz... think the fresh ones taste better than the dried ones we get in Msia...

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  5. It sounds like a great get-together with lots of delicious food. Neighborhood gatherings are special.

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  6. George... they are also an excellent way to establish rapport with the neighbors...

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  7. Good way to get to know neighbours, make friends. A successful one always has people asking for more! Muhibbah!

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  8. Keats... have always enjoyed organizing potluck parties wherever I am... it is fun and I get to eat the goodies...

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  9. Looks like a delicious feast, with so many different dishes to enjoy.

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  10. Wandering Thought... ate too much that day, for sure...

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  11. Wow it must really be great. But i don't know what ginko nuts are. Is it the same as Gingko biloba? By the way, i haven't told you yet, i love the area in your header, near a semi-forest. It must be very good staying there!

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  12. Long time didn't drop by. Wah, whenever I pop in, I see food and you partying. Btw, did your sweeto haato managed to get the recipe for oyaki> Can please share? I am interested in cooking it too.
    (From Alice who wishes she lives next door to you).

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  13. Looks delicious and more importantly very healthy except for the few deep friend items.

    I must try the fried gingko. You know what is also very tasty when deep fried? Brussels sprouts!

    Looks like you should have this potluck more often alreadee..

    Stooi

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  14. Lrong

    The food looks delicious and more importantly healthy apart from the few fried items.

    Fried gingko? This is something new and I should try it. You know what is good? Deep fried Brussels sprouts.

    You should be having this potluck more often awreadee...

    Stooi

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  15. Andrea... think ginko trees can only be grown in temperate areas... they are reputed to have medicinal value... my area is semi-forest, as you notice correctly... and the beauty is, parts of the forests are actually protected areas...

    Alice... oops, shall have to consult my sweeto haato about the oyaki... am now out-station, actualy, so chotto matte kudasai...

    Braadaa... danke for you comments... the fried stuff, yeap, we try to minimize their intake...
    Deep fried Brussels sprouts? I have one plant in the potager and I hope we can harvest some in due time...

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  16. Anonymous10/28/2011

    excellent food...with neighbors in to visit...a wonderful combination! I enjoy eating fish when you can eat the whole thing bones and all...Don and use to buy smelt, dip them in tempura batter fry in the wok and eat whole...delicious! I used to have a set of Singapore cookbooks...and a beginners Chinese cookbook...we enjoyed eating Asian for a long time!

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  17. This looks delicious! Perfect way to spend a sad autumn day.. :D

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  18. Katy... thank you for coming by... hope your autumn days are bright and enjoyable...

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  19. I'll skip the fish head eating - vegetarian, me!

    What do ginkgo nuts taste like? I see cocomino says 'the taste of fall'. In spirit at least, like Europe's chestnuts??

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  20. Theanne... had a smile reading about your husband and your adventures with Asian cooking... and your eating the fish whole...

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  21. Elephant's Eye... hmmm, the taste of gingko nuts? Chewy... with a faint, very faint bitter taste... it is lovely, actually... and chestnuts too...

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