Sep 7
2009

Pop Quiz!

in Uncategorized

When my brother and his friend came for my BLT Dinner, they brought a few Japanese goodies for us.   He lives near Little Tokyo in LA and stopped by Nijiya (a Japanese grocery store) on his way to our house.  They were such fun items that I thought we should have a little guessing game/quiz.  I have two Microplane Graters/Zesters (one of my favorite kitchen tools!) to give away.  Want one?  In the comments put your answers/guesses for each item and I will enter you into a random drawing for one of the Microplanes (only entries that attempt to give an answer for each item will be entered).  It doesn’t matter if your answers are correct or not (it will be fun to see what you guess if you don’t know what something is)!  I’ll keep the comments open until this Thursday, September 10, 2009, at 10pm PST. (*Now closed*) I’ll announce the winners and the answers to the quiz on Friday, September 11, 2009  Make sure you leave me a way to contact you!

Contest open to my overseas readers as well!

Coming Next: Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake

{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }

Cameron Blazer September 7, 2009 at 1:43 pm

Number 1 looks like shiso leaf. Number 2 looks like some kind of either syrup or vinegar made from lychees. Nummber 3 could be…pickled quail eggs….or umeboshi plums, maybe?

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Jen September 7, 2009 at 2:02 pm

1. shiso [crazy!]
2. ramune – best childhood soft drink EVER
3. mochi dango

:)

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Mara @ What's For Dinner? September 7, 2009 at 2:27 pm

1) Shiso leaf
2) ramune drink with the marble
3) natto

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Vicki September 7, 2009 at 2:30 pm

I love Nijiya, was just at the SD one yesterday!

1) Shiso leaf
2) Ramunae
3) Takoyaki?

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TZel September 7, 2009 at 3:39 pm

Previous commenters really know what they're talking about! I had no idea about any of the items, but I wanted to hazard my own guesses- I am sure that they are totally crazy!
1. Leaves- mint?
2. Lychee soda
3. Chestnuts in sugar syrup
I know that I am probably way off, but thank you for forgiving my ignorance! ;-) I have been reading your blog for quite awhile and truly enjoy it!

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Nolwenn September 7, 2009 at 4:48 pm

Coool :)

1) shiso leave, the green ones
2) something with lychees… ramune soda lychee ?
3) mitarashi dango (I looooove these sweets, my favorite)

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tokyoterrace September 7, 2009 at 5:03 pm

1. Shiso leaves
2. Ramune!
3. Mochi

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K and S September 7, 2009 at 5:28 pm

1. shiso
2. ramune
3. mitarashi dango

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Fuji Nana September 7, 2009 at 5:33 pm

1. Poison ivy leaves for your worst enemies.
2. I don't care what's in it, but it's a really neat bottle and I'd buy it just for that, so my response is "cool bottle."
3. I would say marzipan, but I'm not sure you can buy that at the Japanese grocery store, so I'll say takoyaki.
Do I get points for originality?

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Holly September 7, 2009 at 6:17 pm

I'm writing down my guesses before I look at anyone elses, so I'll probly learn a thing or two :)

1. Some sort of japanese herb? It looks like a large, rough mint or basil leaf…
2. Lychee carbonated beverage of some sort(soda?)
3. Chestnuts?? Or perhaps a vegetable or something…

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Liz September 7, 2009 at 6:52 pm

1. Shiso leaves
2. Ramune soda with the marble
3. mochi

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Bekah September 7, 2009 at 6:52 pm

1 is Shiso leaves. Have you ever had them tempura? Yum.
2. Ramune, lychee flavored? Never had that.
3. Dango. Mochi balls on a stick with a teriyaki type sauce. Miriam's teachers were astounded when she turned up her nose to it.

Bummed we didn't get to see you before we left. Maine has Pocky and that's about it. Sigh.

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Mallory September 7, 2009 at 6:59 pm

1. Cherry blossom leaves
2. Rice WIne Vinegar
3. Pickled Plums

I truly have no idea, but I love all things Japanese so I can't wait to find out!

[email protected]

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Leah September 7, 2009 at 7:12 pm

I'm really enjoying your blog and am happy I found it. For the contest, I think my guesses would be as follows:
1 – shiso leaf
2 – lychee vinegar
3 – quail eggs (pickled?)

I'll be interested to see what they really are and what others guess. :o)

Thanks for the giveaway!
Leah

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momijitomitsukoshi September 7, 2009 at 7:19 pm

Hey LFM. I can' honestly enter, 1. because I don't know the answer to all three and also, I have a microplane, so that's OK.
However, I just had a very strange experience. I read your post and thought, well, I don't know what any of those are, so I went on to read another blog 'Melbourne Gastronome' and there was her description of a starter "The other appetiser was a juicy nugget of salmon cured in kaffir lime and vodka, with a blob of sour cream pannacotta, a sprinkling of shiso leaf and a few pearls of Yarra Valley salmon roe"
I just thought "hmmm, I might google that leaf and see what it looks like". And sure enough, there it was! The answer to one of the questions. Spooky!

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ShellyLynn September 7, 2009 at 7:37 pm

Hmm. Not really sure.

1. Leaves of some kind
2. Lychee soda (I hate lychees, but like those sodas where the marble pops in!)
3. Looks like an Indian dessert called Gulab Jamun, so I'm going to hazard a guess and say it's dough balls soaked in syrup and put on a skewer. :)

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Dana September 7, 2009 at 7:47 pm

I couldn't even begin to guess. I live so far out in the boonies that I have never seen or can I readily go and see any of the above. But I'll guess:
1) leaves for some sort of sushi preparation
2) carbonated lychee water
3) marinated lychee (I was gonna say eyeballs of some exotic sea creature but that would just be crazy talk, right??!!??)

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lisa September 7, 2009 at 8:01 pm

My knowledge of Japanese foods comes almost entirely from your blog so I have no idea. I'll guess anyway!
1. herb of some kind? maybe related to basil?
2. lychee juice?
3. this looks like a sweet I love that has figs in it, so maybe it is some kind of dessert with figs and dough or nut paste surrounding it?

I will learn something I'm sure!
Lisa

[email protected]

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Julie September 7, 2009 at 8:48 pm

1. Butt wipes (this was Alex's guess)
2. Strawberry flavored vodka
3. Marinated cat eyeballs

You promise this drawing is random?

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Jen (jglee's food musings) September 7, 2009 at 8:50 pm

1. shiso leaves
2. Ramu-something – that Japanese drink with a marble
3. mochi

I've been wanting a microplane zester ever since I tried one at my friend's house. They are great!

Thanks for the wonderful blog. I do look forward to all your posts

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Mel & Seigo September 7, 2009 at 8:58 pm

1. Shiso leaves
2. Ramune soda
3. Mitarashi Dango

Thanks for the quiz! :)

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Tamakikat September 7, 2009 at 9:31 pm

Hi there.

If I didn't know I'd probably guess:

1. Fuji family fig leaves(!?)
2. Alcohol-maybe vodka with lychee flavoring
3. Quail eggs in some sort of sauce

Real deal:

1. Shiso leaves
2. Lychee flavored 'ramune'
3. Mitarashi dango

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chrisandabbie September 7, 2009 at 10:21 pm

1. Shiso
2. The fun soda withe marble in the top…don't know the real name, that's just what I call it!
3. Mochi, maybe with anko (bean paste) in the middle, but maybe not.

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chrisandabbie September 7, 2009 at 10:24 pm

P.S. Didn't mean to do this in 2 separate comments, please only count me once…but just wanted to mention that I'd be so happy for the Microplane zester! I'm in Japan and it's the one thing I really miss about my kitchen back home! :) Keeping my fingers crossed!

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Bob September 7, 2009 at 11:12 pm

Heh, nice. I have no idea, but here we go anyway:
1) Modesty leaves. You know, like in all those paintings of Biblical folk.
2) Lychee flavored water. Just don't ask me what lychee is…
3) Looks like olives on a skewer.

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floresfamily8 September 7, 2009 at 11:18 pm

1) shiso
2) lychee flavored ramune
3) kushi dango

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Liz September 8, 2009 at 12:25 am

1) grape leaves?
2) Ramune soda (yum!)
3) mochi balls?

I'd love a microplane grater!

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nicole September 8, 2009 at 8:32 am

1. Shiso Leaves
2. Lychee Ramune
3. Dango!

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Rane September 8, 2009 at 9:07 am

1. shiso
2. ramune lychee flavored.( I prefer original flavor..but the marble is great…it keeps little kids from getting too much drink at a time…dont like the marble…turn it so the endents are at the bottom…it catches the marble and you can drink freely. ( you know this but other may not…) **I always think this bottle reminds me of a pig… so cute!**
3. mochi dango (sauce is sweet soy?)

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Bec September 8, 2009 at 10:32 am

Ok, here's my go …

1. Shizo leaves
2. Ramune – Lychee
3. pickled quail eggs? – I don't have a clue really.

Thanks!

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C.R. September 8, 2009 at 10:55 am

1. shiso
2. ramune
3.marinated fish cake balls

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Totoro September 8, 2009 at 11:21 am

1. shiso leaf
2. ramune
3. dango

I just found your blog and I am loving it!!!

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LollyChops September 8, 2009 at 1:01 pm

1) Sushi leaves? For decorating bento…? Maybe.
2) Lychee syrup?
3a) ummmmm
3b) ummmmmmmm
3c) ummmmmmmmmm hazelnuts soaked in brown sugar syrup?

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LollyChops September 8, 2009 at 1:05 pm

P.S. Don't enter me in the contest!!! I already have a planer (as does every member of my family thanks to me giving them one). It's the greatest thing on the planet.

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Carolyn September 8, 2009 at 1:16 pm

1) Shiso
2) "Lemonade" with the scary chokeable marble (do they still make them like that??)
3) Mochi dango

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kenna September 8, 2009 at 6:44 pm

1. shiso
2. lychee-flavored ramune soda! delish!
3. kushi dango

ps. peach-flavored ramune is the most delicious soda ever created.

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stella September 8, 2009 at 9:22 pm

#1 is food to feed your silkworms.
#2 is the liquid you pour down your dragons throat to make him breathe fire.
#3 is green tree frog eyeballs on sticks so they don't move around watching your every movement.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Stella

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Frieda September 8, 2009 at 11:09 pm

Have no clue…
1: a leaf
2: a drink
3: mushrooms??

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Emily September 8, 2009 at 11:55 pm

Well, since my whole entire knowledge of Japanese food consists of tempura and sushi (mmmmmm, sushi) I'm gonna go with um, yeah. What they said. But I really want that zester since I still don't have one despite asking Santa repeatedly, so I'll go with my original thoughts.
1) Some sort of Japanese leaf, probably not found in America.
2) Lychee soda. Really, you should have covered up the Lychee part, then I would have thought it was sake!
3) Sticky buns on a stick! I gotta try that. Everything tastes better on a stick.

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Kathy September 9, 2009 at 6:15 am

1. Shiso (perilla or beefsteak plant) leaves

2. Ramune – a lemon-lime flavoured pop with a cool marble in the top that you push down to 'open' the bottle and then it rolls around making a 'cooling, summery' sound every time you take a drink.

3. Mitarashi dango – rice balls made with steamed glutinous rice flour mixed with jyoshinko & topped with a salty-sweet sauce made from similar ingredients to teriyaki sauce.

Or is that too much info? ;)

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Jamie September 9, 2009 at 6:18 am

Shiso leaves
Lychee syrup
Preserved quail eggs

(okay, I cheated on the first one)

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catchat105 September 9, 2009 at 10:26 am

1. Shiso leaves
2. Ramune- fizzy soda that comes in a funky bottle w/ glass marble inside!
3. Chicken?

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MisiNawi September 9, 2009 at 2:25 pm

1. Shiso
2. Lemonade (lychee flavour)
3. Tako Yaki

:)
xo xo
Anna ([email protected])

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[email protected] September 9, 2009 at 3:27 pm

1) perilla or shiso leaves
2) ramune soda – lychee flavored
3) some type of dumplings – dango w/red bean paste or mitarashi w/soy sauce syrup?

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Christine September 9, 2009 at 5:49 pm

1 – shiso leaves
2 – ramune soda drink
3 – caramelized dough balls? dont' know what that is.

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asn September 9, 2009 at 6:19 pm

shiso leaf
ramune
dango

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Nila Rosa September 9, 2009 at 7:42 pm

1 Shisho leaves
2 Ramune!best drink ever
3 mitarashi dango.So yummy

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Feeder of the Hungry Beans September 9, 2009 at 9:03 pm

I was trying not to look at other comments, but I admit I saw "shiso," so…

1. Shiso leaves
2. Lychee-flavored water
3. Some kind of tapioca-ball dessert

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Courtney September 9, 2009 at 9:31 pm

1. shiso leave
2. soda with the marble in it
3. dangos with a shyoyu sauce

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Ros September 10, 2009 at 7:27 am

1. A leaf of some sort.
2. Lychee syrup.
3. Quail eggs????

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