With just a small bit of ingenuity, turn everyday food into something cute using Kaori’s Easy Recipe! With a few simple ideas, an ordinary recipe magically transforms into a cute dish.

Today, I’ll be showing you a dreamy recipe on how to make the healthy Taiwanese snack douhua topped with Yukimi Daifuku mochi ice cream.

Ingredients

400ml soy milk
2-g Lakanto (Zero-calorie natural sweetener)
Pinch of salt
8g gelatin (dissolved in 1 tbsp water)

Pre-preparations

Stick bear-shaped sliced chocolate around the side of a glass and leave to set in the refrigerator.

1.

Warm soy milk and Lakanto in a saucepan until the Lakanto is completely dissolved.

2.

Add the gelatin and mix until fully dissolved.

3.

Leave the mix to cool. Once cooled, remove the glass from the refrigerator and pour the mix into the glass. Place back into the fridge until it sets.

4.

Add sliced almonds and use a chocolate pen on Yukimi Daifuku to create Korilakkuma’s face, or a face of your choice.

5.

Remove the glass from the fridge and add the Yukimi Daifuku. Choose your choice of toppings, like soy flour and brown sugar syrup, then enjoy!

Kaori invites you into her world of character-themed food dishes in her recipe series. Be sure to check out her Instagram where she has uploaded many pictures of her character dishes!

Japanese tea shop Susumu Chaya started up a takeout service for shaved ice on Tuesday (July 7) at all of its branches including in Kagoshima as well as Jiyugaoka and Shibuya’s DESCENTE TOKYO in Tokyo.

The shaved iced takeout service was originally only available at the two Tokyo branches, but now customers in Kagoshima can enjoy the tea-flavoured desserts.

Matcha Shaved Ice: ¥750 (Before Tax)

Made using Susumu Chaya’s “koicha,” a rich and full-bodied matcha variety.

Houjicha Shaved Ice: ¥750 (Before Tax)

The houjicha shaved ice is made using only first-grade tea leaves picked by Susumu Chaya. It has a refreshing taste.

The shaved ice can be ordered for takeout or eaten inside the cafes. Enjoy the full flavour of Japanese tea coupled with a refreshing portion of shaved ice.

Fresh fruits and vegetable company yoloz is selling an exquisite cheesecake produced by chef Masato Yamazaki. The cheesecake is made using exotic mangoes sourced from Hentonanoen – an exotic orchard located in Okinawa. Preorders are now being accepted.

The new cheesecake takes the name “tabi suru cheesecake” which literally means “travelling cheesecake” – a fitting name for a cheesecake made with ingredients sourced from across Japan. The name also reflects chef Masato Yamazaki’s experience of travel. Each month, chef Yamazaki creates a new limited edition flavour with the goal of “delivering the passion of fresh food producers to their consumers”. This month, Yamazaki and yoloz are teaming up to deliver a delicious cheesecake made with fruits fresh from Japan’s sunny paradise island of Miyako.

Whole: ¥4,980 (After Tax)

Half: ¥2,780 (After Tax)

This is the sixth collaboration by chef Yamazaki. The sun-soaked mangoes are sourced from Hentonanoen – an exotic orchard located on Miyako Island, Okinawa. The cheesecake enjoys a subtle splash of white wine for a refreshing aftertaste. Eggs with white yolks are also used to complete its refreshing image. Enjoy the contrast of the tangy yoghurt and ripe, sweet mangoes – the perfect summer treat. The sweet aroma of farm-fresh mangoes will instantly fill you with those cheerful summer vibes. 

Tadashi Hentona (From Hentonanoen)

Hentonanoen is located on Miyako Island of Okinawa. For more than 20 years, we have been working our hardest to harvest the most delicious mangoes using our own unique farming methods. One step in our procedure is caring for the soil. We periodically analyse the soil of our mango trees, enriching it with the very best nutrients it needs. Our procedure includes taking natural salts from the ocean to further enhance the quality of the soil. We always give it our best when caring for our produce. We hope you enjoy the delicious flavour of Miyako Island mangoes.

Just one bite of this cheesecake will take you on an unforgettable journey to sunny Okinawa. You just have to try it!

Japanese black tea brand Lipton is opening two pop-up tea stands this summer called “Lipton TEA STAND Fruits in Tea.” They will open in Daikanyama and Osaka from July 10 and Kichijoji from July 22.

Lipton opened its two permanent tea stands “Lipton TEA STAND” in Nagoya and Hakata in winter 2018 in an effort to make black tea more accessible to people. The drinks menus at these stands are diverse, ranging from simple black tea to their “Fruits in Tea” range which are teas filled with fresh fruits, royal milk tea, desserts, and more.

Iced Parfaits

Passion Fruits: ¥1,200 (Tax Included) (+¥150 for honey milk) / Strawberry: ¥1,200 (Tax Included) (+¥150 for condensed milk)

Lipton’s “Fruits in Tea” opened as a new way for people to enjoy black tea in summertime. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lipton has decided to whip up some refreshing “Happy!” new iced parfaits for beating the hot weather. Their popular custom menu lets you a variety of vitamin-packed fruits, herbs, and more to your iced tea.

Frozen tea is the base of the iced parfait and retains the original flavour of the black tea. Added to that is ice and fruits inside a tumbler, all of which is layered to look like a parfait with a shaved iced quality to it. The “Passion Fruits” flavour is topped with passion fruit syrup and frozen lemon, orange, and kiwi, while the sweet and sour “Strawberry” is a mix of strawberry syrup and frozen strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Both options are sure to keep you cool during the hot Japanese summer.

Original Iced Tea “Fruits in Tea”: Tumbler ¥1,000 (Tax Included) / Cup ¥600 (Tax Included)

Lipton’s popular custom menu lets you choose from four tea bases, like Earl Grey and green tea. You can then pick your base fruits, like pineapple or strawberry, topping fruits such  as kiwi and mango, and then a special flavour like mint. Finally, choose your syrup, such as lemon, and you’v got your own custom beverage for the summertime.

MILK, a fresh cream shop in Harajuku, is set to hold a new summertime fair this year called “Milky Soft Fair” which will begin on July 8, 2020.

From Left: Kiwi ¥650 / Peach ¥650 / Strawberry ¥650 / Mango ¥650 / Condensed Milk Coffee Jelly ¥630

MILK’s “Milky Soft Serve Parfait” usually only comes in one simple flavour, but for the Milky Soft Fair, they are serving up juicy mango, strawberry, and kiwi flavours, fruity peach, and bitter coffee jelly. The summery parfaits are made with fresh cream, fresh fruit, and rich soft service ice cream. The perfect dessert for keeping cool in the hot Japanese summer!

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train is an upcoming anime film set for release on October 16, 2020. The film is a direct sequel to the 2019 anime series adapted from Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

In the run up to its release, the film is being promoted in collaboration with Japan’s annual Tanabata festival which takes place every year on July 7. A special website opened today which features wishes written in Japanese and illustrations drawn by 31 voice actors and actresses from the anime series—as well as the main characters, including Tanjiro. It is customary on Tanabata to write a wish on tanzaku, which are small pieces of paper, and tie them to bamboo. Additionally, three special announcements have been made to celebrate Tanjiro’s birthday on July 14.

The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba manga has sold over 80 million copies. Along with its highly successful anime adaptation from last year, the series has won the anime community the world over, earning a high reputation for its thrilling fight scenes and memorable characters. The film was announced at the end of the anime’s final episode, teasing the “Mugen Train” arc of the story. Today, the day of Tanabata, marks just three months until the release of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train.

As well as the voice cast, five of the anime’s main characters have posted their own wishes over on the special Tanabata website. Tanjiro, a kind and gentle soul who is devoted to family, wrote: “I pray that everyone can live happily!” Such a wish is just like Tanjiro, who shows kindness to everyone even if they’re a demon. His sister, Nezuko, who is a demon herself and who can’t write, instead just tied her tanzaku paper up. You can tell she puts all of her trust in Tanjiro with whom she has a strong bond. Zenitsu simply wrote, “I wish that I can get married!!!!” Inosuke drew a picture of his favourite food, tempura, and Rengoku wrote the mantra “Daily Diligence!!”

You can check out the rest of the cast’s wishes over on the official Demon Slayer Tanabata website, all of which are written in Japanese.

Finally, to celebrate Tanjiro’s birthday which falls on July 14, three special things have been planned in Japan. Firstly, a special “Tanjiro Birthday Party” show will air on ABEMA on July 14 at 21:00 (JST) where the main voice cast Natsuki Hanae (voice of Tanjiro), Akari Kito (Nezuko), Hiro Shimono (Zenitsu), and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Inosuke) will appear. Secondly, there will be a marathon of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime series on ABEMA on July 11 and 12. Lastly, ufotable Cafe will be collaborating with the series for Tanjiro’s birthday, serving food inspired by the anime and more.

©Koyoharu Gotouge/Shueisha・Aniplex・ufotable

Kyoto-based chocolate bar BEL AMER Kyoto Villa is serving up the perfect line of new chocolatey bites for summer 2020.

The entire line-up is a delight to look at, from a mountain of chocolate piled on top of shaved ice, a summertime mango and melon dessert, and more.

Chocolate Noir Shaved Ice x Matcha: ¥1,540 (Tax Included)

Shaved ice is the quintessential summertime dessert in Japan, and since this one is being served at a shop specialising in chocolate, what better way to serve it than drizzled in a mountain of the stuff? The shaved ice is covered in rich chocolate cream and chocolate sauce and is topped with chocolate nibs. It’s also served with a side of matcha sauce which you can pour over yourself, creating a delicious harmony of flavours.

Mille-Feuille au Chocolat Exotic With 196℃ Chocolate Ice Cream: ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

This summertime dessert is made with lots of mango and melon. In the centre of it all is even more mango, as well as pineapple and coconuts, for a flavourful layered experience. Served on the side is ice cream made from BEL AMER Kyoto Villa’s own original couverture chocolate.

Summer Pavlova: ¥1,320 (Tax Included)

This piece of art of a dessert is a must for lovers of matcha and melon. It’s made from fluffy meringue topped with white chocolate, matcha mousse, and chocolate cream, which itself is then topped with refreshing melon and grapes for a refreshing kick.

Chocolate Croquette Sandwich: ¥990 (Tax Included)

BEL AMER Kyoto Villa is also serving up a very unique dish indeed which mixes together chocolate and croquette—a flavour that actually works, combining sweetness and bitterness. The croquette is made from potatoes. The brioche sandwich also contains cheese and bacon.

These are just some of the delights on show at BEL AMER Kyoto Villa this summer. If ever you’re in Kyoto, be sure to stop by, especially in the summer.

The cheesecake—a popular dessert with a flavour that is both rich and refreshing. The number of shops in Japan specialising in cheesecakes has been on the rise recently, all of whom are baking up their own unique versions. Here are three summertime cheesecakes available online in Japan from three popular cheesecake shops.

Mr. CHEESECAKE

This summer, Mr. CHEESECAKE has whipped up a seasonal “Hirami Lemon” flavoured cheesecake which they are selling in limited quantities via their official LINE account from July 12 to 19. The cheesecake is packaged in a special box featuring an illustration of the summertime ocean.

Made with refreshing hirami lemons, the cheesecake has a sour and slightly bitter kick to it. By combining Japanese sansho pepper and olive oil, the sourness of the hirami lemon is elevate to new heights. Mint is also added to up the refreshing flavour, and salt from Okinawa heightens the sweetness of the cheesecake.

Mr. CHEESECAKE hirami lemon

Price: ¥5,400 (Tax Included)
Official Website: https://mr-cheesecake.com/

Neko Neko Cheesecake

Neko Neko Cheesecake, a cheesecake shop which opened in Tokyo in May, serves cat-shaped cheesecakes. This summer-only cheesecake is made using setonai lemons. It was released on Friday and will be sold in limited quantities only.

​The cheesecake has lemon jelly in the middle and is topped with sliced lemons grown in the Seto Inland Sea area that are baked together with the cake. It’s finished with a smear of lemon jam and cream, making for a real summertime treat.

Neko Neko Cheesecake ~Setonai Lemon~
Online

Release Date: July 1, 2020

Price: Single ¥3,800 / Lemon & Plan ¥5,980

Online Store: https://hbantique.official.ec

In-Store

Release Date: July 3, 2020

Price: Single ¥2,200

Available: Neko Neko Cheesecake in Jiyugaoka, Tokyo

LeTAO

Confectionery shop LeTAO has released their popular “Melon Double” cheesecake again this summer.

A popular cheesecake released every year by LeTAO, the Melon DOuble is a sweet baked cheesecake made with individual layers of melon puree and mascarpone cream cheese. The refreshing sweetness of the melon goes hand in hand with the cheese.

Melon Double ~Hokkaido Melon~
Price: ¥1,728 (Tax Included) *Shipping fee ¥890
Available: Until August 31, 2020
Product Details: https://shop.letao.jp/item/F695.html

For this summer only, a limited-time gourmet shaved ice shop called “VERMICULAR PREMIUM SHAVED ICE SALON” is opening up inside VERMICULAR VILLAGE in Nagoya from July 2 to September 13.

The exquisite shaved ice options are topped with fruit confitures which are made without any water involved, allowing for the original flavour of the fruits to come through, as well as adzuki beans cooked with Vermicular cookware, and more. The shaved ice is served inside Vermicular’s high quality mini pots, which have been kept cool, meaning the ice doesn’t melt when it’s put inside, meaning it stays nice and fluffy until the end.

There are three to pick from, and underneath each the shaved ice is a blancmange which goes hand in hand with the shaved ice flavours.

Strawberry, Pistachio, & Condensed Milk: ¥1,300 (Before Tax)

This ice pot is topped with a strawberry jam which was made using no water, and pistachios—which go really well with the fruity confiture. At the very bottom is a condensed milk blancmange, making it delicious down to the last spoonful.

Nishio Matcha, Adzuki Beans, Brown Cane Sugar Warabimochi, & Houjicha: ¥1,500 (Before Tax)

Next is a matcha flavoured shaved ice pot made with adzuki beans and matcha grown in Nishio, Aichi. Sat at the bottom of the pile is a houjicha tea blancmange and brown cane sugar warabimochi.

Mango, Passion Fruit, & Coconut: ¥1,300 (Before Tax)

Lastly is a mango and passion fruit sauce covered shaved ice with coconut milk and a topping of fresh mango. At the bottom is a coconut blancmange.

Shiseido Parlour began its annual “Midsummer Parfait Fair” at its Ginza, Tokyo branch on Wednesday which will run until August 30 and be divided into two different slots serving different parfaits. The cafe is serving up a selection of parfaits made from ice cream and local seasonal fruits under the trust that the chefs and farmers have built over the years.

2020 Midsummer Parfait Fair: Slot ① July 1, 2020 – July 31, 2020

Furano, Hokkaido – Furano Melon Parfait: ¥2,100 (Tax Included)

This parfait is made using Furamon melon which is grown in Hokkaido’s city of Furano between the mountains where there is a major temperature difference. The melon is ripened after being harvested and so make it nice and soft, giving a sweet and juicy flavour and fragrance.

Sakai Nouen, Wakayama – Arakawa Peach Parfait: ¥2,300 (Tax Included)

The “Arakawa” peach is a brand of peach grown in Wakayama Precture. The peaches are grown until their nearly completely ripe while in the tree, giving them a soft texture. Inside the sweet flavour is a sour kick, both of which explode with the juiciness of the peach in the parfait.

Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa – Apple Mango Parfait: ¥2,700 (Tax Included)

The “apple mango” is a type of mango grown in the hot climate of Okinawa. The mango has a super soft, melt-in-the-mouth texture and a sour tinge which elevates its rich sweetness.

Hatake Kobo, Nagano Prefecture – Koihime Strawberry Parfait: ¥2,000 (Tax Included)

The “koihime” is a type of summer strawberry grown in-house by Shiseido Parlour. The strawberries get plenty of water, air, and sunlight so they grow into red jewels packed full of sweetness.

The second slot of the 2020 Midsummer Parfait Fair will run from August 1 to August 30.

Q-pot. and Q-pot CAFE. introduced a special cherry parfait to its menu on June 27 to help support cherry farmers whose work has been affected by COVID-19.

Due to less people travelling and sightseeing around Japan as a result of the lockdown and self-isolation practices, orders for cherries are being cancelled, and many festivals across Japan too are being cancelled, all of which is having a huge affect on the country’s cherry industry.

The current season is the best time to enjoy Japan’s juicy cherries, and so Q-pot CAFE. has teamed up with a cherry farm in Yamagata, a prefecture famous for its cherries.

Cherry Cherry Parfait (w/Drink): ¥1,850 (Tax Included)

The “Cherry Cherry Parfait” is topped with snow-white whipped cream, crunchy meringue, and cherries for a gorgeous contrast of red and white.

The cherries used are considered a high-grade type called “satonishiki” which has been dubbed the “King of Cherries.” They sit gracefully atop their kingdom of sweet ingredients including salt milk ice cream, chocolate, cherry jam, sponge cake, and panna cotta.

The cherry farmers are taking all the necessary safety precautions against COVID-19 while they continue to delivery delicious cherries to the people of Japan.

For this year’s summer season only, Tokyo-based Italian restaurant Terrace Dining TANGO is serving three original shaved ice desserts from July 1 to August 31.

Terrace Dining TANGO is a restaurant located in The Place of Tokyo, a wedding venue that faces Tokyo Tower. Every summer, the restaurant serves special limited-time shaved ice. They use water with absolutely no impurities that is frozen slowly over a period of 48 hours. This is turned into fluffy shaved ice which the restaurant’s patissiers drizzle in specially-made sauces. This year includes their popular brown sugar syrup-drizzled brown bear shaved ice which is always well received for its cute appearance, as well as their regular strawberry milk flavour, and a new apricot kernel and mango sauce shaved ice.

Brown Bear w/Brown Sugar Syrup: ¥950 (Before Tax/Service Charge)

An original shaved ice conceived by Terrace Dining TANGO which never fails to put smiles of the faces of its customers every year. This year they are adding a Japanese taste to it with a houjicha tea syrup sauce. Inside the fluffy shaved ice is condensed milk and chewy tapioca. If you let the shaved ice melt it becomes like bubble tea with the tapioca pearls.

Strawberry Milk: ¥850 (Before Tax/Service Charge)

A classic serving of TANGO’s strawberry milk shaved ice, doused in a specially-made strawberry syrup and rich condensed milk. Hidden in the centre is a condensed milk cream, strawberry jelly, and fresh strawberries.

Apricot Kernel Milk w/Mango Sauce: ¥850 (Before Tax/Service Charge)

This shaved ice is topped with melt-in-the-mouth apricot kernel cream and lots of fruity mango sauce for a sweet and sour punch.

Terrace Dining TANGO is a great place to visit after going to Tokyo Tower, so if you’re in Tokyo this summer then cool yourself off with some refreshing shaved ice.