As I have said in my earlier post more than half the month of July was quite uneventful. On the 29th we went for a short community service as it was my father’s death anniversary.
Being quite far away from our home, nearing lunch time, we decided to grab a quick bite nearby. B-I-L selected a Japanese restaurant close by but instant reservation was not available there. So we went a little further down to Kofuku – again a Japanese restaurant tucked inside a Mall.
The usherer welcomed us in Japanese (which was kind of unintelligible because we don’t know the language) , seated us and the servers helped us select from an array of dishes. We chose sticky rice, a Tofu curry (Tofu Katsu Curry) and a Balinese curry along with a plate of Sushi. The side dishes were kimchi (as usual strong and spicy), very finely sliced, crisp lotus stem fries and baby potatoes dipped in brown sauce which tasted like molten jaggery. The lotus stem fries were also sweet to taste (perhaps honey coated). But the portion of side dishes were very small unlike ours.
The (shrimp) Sushi (Shrimp Tempura Roll) was good but I’d prefer vegetables anytime. The tofu curry was light and nice. The Balinese curry had broccoli, brinjal, beans, zucchini and chicken in a thick, creamy coconut gravy with a very strong flavour. Overall the dishes were prepared in a way to suit the Indian palate.
This was the first time that I had Sushi and sticky rice and I enjoyed both. But next time I wouldn’t go for a coconut based gravy which is too heavy. Though we Bengalis do use desiccated coconut and coconut milk in our preparations but the flavour of coconut is subtle in our dishes and balanced with other lighter spices. The Balinese curry had an overpowering presence of coconut which did not quite agree with me and even my sister.
Also, surprisingly, I and Didi (elder sister) felt extremely sleepy on our return. Didi had a mild fever in the evening, B-I-L was also feeling indisposed and I had the beginning of a sore throat. A good rest made us feel better the next morning but we all seemed to have had some kind of allergic reaction maybe to the food.
Incidentally, Kofuku means happiness, bliss or well-being – a combination of two words: ko means fortune or luck, and fuku means blessing or good fortune.
The humid weather this part of the globe enervates easily. The last two days of the month were spent resting.
Written for Natalie The Explorer’s July Wrap Up
Any cuisine is usually customized to thenlocal taste! I feel that with Indian food here and Mexicans say the same. Nice you tried something new. It is fun.
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Yes, true. But where the community is settled the food is more authentic like in Tyangra, in Kolkata, the Chinese community is settled and the outlets over there are known for their authenticity – the food is blander and not like the ones available here in the North , fried and spicy.
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I’ve never had Japanese food. I am not sure I’d like it. I love Indian food though especially the curry!
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You can try. Sushi is good light and nice and crispy but I guess you have to get used to the spices and sauces
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We don’t have any japanese restaurants here but chinese food is common ,it may be due to the people of ladakh who have settled here.
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Yes, it is possible. However, the Indo-Nepal and Tibet border has a similar culinary culture. The chefs of the restaurant were from Darjeeling, Tibet and Nepal and the waiting service was from the North East. No strict Japanese connection.
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I have a local restaurant that serves Indian tikka masala chicken filled with curry, Chapati bread with curry flavor, and curry-flavored rice, alongside all other food in the menu. It’s an only Indian food served in this restaurant, but it was very delicious.
However, as far as I’m aware, we have no Japanese restaurants in my country, Syria. Almost all local restaurants, however, serve Mediterranean dishes, especially shish and kebab with a variety of appetizers, which is absolutely mouthwatering.
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I have read that Mediterranean cuisine is very delicious and suits the Indian palate.
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I totally agree, they are very delicious. They’re one of my favorite dishes. 👍
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Your coconut is not intrusive in your cooking
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Yes, thank you very much Derrrick 🙏
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I enjoy curries and have tried them from different cultures. Japanese curry always seems like the sweetest version (at least, from what I’ve had here in the U.S.). It’s not for everyone, but it’s a nice change every now and then.
Glad you had a restful end to your month!
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Since we have a curry based culinary culture, therefore, perhaps we are more critical about them made in other parts of the globe. Or we seek our taste in them.
Yes, I was surprised to find that even the Japanese side dishes are also sweet. Our side dishes are usually tangy and spicy.
Since Japanese people use coconut in their gravy that is why most probably there’s a sweetness in their curries.
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Haha, the tiny side dishes and the big story made me smile! 😄 Wishing you a healthier and happier August. 🦋✨
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Thankya Rajeshwari….Happy Weekending…
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A lovely and very candid July wrap-up, Natalie. I especially enjoyed how you turned an ordinary lunch outing into such an interesting little cultural and culinary experience.
Your observations about the Japanese and Balinese flavours, and the comparison with the more subtle use of coconut in Bengali cuisine, were particularly interesting. And “Kofuku” meaning happiness, bliss and well-being was such a delightful detail. 😊
I’m glad you all felt better after some much-needed rest. Wishing you, Didi and B-I-L good health and a more energetic August ahead.
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Thank you Vijayji.A small correction though. I am Geeta and not Natalie. Thank you once more.
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😂😂😂😂😂
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I’m glad you all felt better after some rest. I love Japanese food but I am selective where to eat it. Thank you for linking up with my Monthly Wrap-up.
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Even I am selective about eating places. This has a good review and rating too. But sometimes our constitution does not agree with the food which we are habitual to eat.
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Maybe something in the food didn’t agree with you
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Yes, that’s true. Not used to their souces, spices or preservatives.
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Yes, exactly
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Your first sushi and sticky rice experience sounds lovely, Geeta ji 😊 The Balinese curry may have been a little too rich, though! Glad you all felt better after some rest. 💛
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Yes, Maha the Balinese curry was rich but it was a good adventure 😁
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My first experience at a Japanese restaurant was horrid. I am a vegetarian (a Bengali vegetarian) and the restaurant had boiled mushrooms! Oh the horror. With time however I had discovered some good veg sushi and with the right sauce they taste great.
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I stopped having non veg for a long time then started having again sporadically or whenever I had a terrible urge. But now I have to have on the doctor’s advice but only avday or two in a week and to be very honest I prefer vegetarian anytime.
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