Glico Tako Pretz

Japanese snack recommendation #7
Glico takoyaki Pretz

Mayo's travel tip is that when you are in Japan, always look out for their limited edition snacks or tidbits. Famous brands like Glico have strategically made their Pretz sticks to be of a certain particular famous food or flavor reflective of the state that they are in. Here is an example of the famous Takoyaki snack in Osaka but now available in Pretz form. You may dismiss it as clever marketing but I can assure you, it's oishii (delicious)!

Going Bananas!

During my recent visit to the restaurant Jones The Grocer, I couldn't resist buying a little snack for myself from their wide selection of interesting well stocked food shelves & baskets.

Introducing the 'GO bananas Bear' biscuits! Yummy & nutritional banana bits mixed into a buttery bear shaped cookie shape. It looked too cute to eat but soon my taste buds got the better of me & one by one the bears were disappearing from it's box. :p

Bananas + Bear = Bearnanas? :p

All that's left now is the packaging...

I also want to recommend this tasty banana jelly drink made by Minute Maid that I bought when I was in Japan. Soft jelly with a distinct taste of banana goodness is truly refreshing when consumed cold from the fridge. Have you guys tried this before?

Ok, this gadget may be extremely foreign to many of you but this is immensely popular in Japan! This is called a banana protector case! Well, some people love bananas to the extent of bringing one along to work as a breakfast or a snack but are afraid that the journey might destroy the fruit so some product designer created this cute tupperware for this highly nutritious fruit. Here are 2 examples of the many shapes & sizes of the casing. (The top one is mine & the bottom one belongs to my friend BZ)

Chocolat Blanc Et Langue De Chat

Japanese snack recommendation #6
Chocolat Blanc Et Langue De Chat

Now it's been said that one of the must buy snacks from Hokkaido, Japan is this box of biscuits. Affectionately named 'White Lovers', they are actually creamy white chocolate sandwiched between 2 pieces of oven baked biscuits. Just like love, they must be handled carefully as the biscuits crumble easily into multiple bits but if you treat it with tender loving care, you will be in for a chocolate treat that will leave you smiling.

http://www.shiroikoibito.ishiya.co.jp/

This is what it looks like with it's full wrapper on.

The box packaging in all it's glory.

Sealed with a kiss?

The deliciously light biscuit with white chocolate threatening to overflow with love. :p





Japanese love poem.. that makes not much sense.

Tip: If you are wondering what it taste like, go to your nearest Japanese or Asian convenience store and buy a box of Glico Collon (white cream) for a uncanny resemblance in taste.

Angels & Demons

Japanese snack recommendation #5
Tohato Devil Hot Rings

Immensely popular snack that is devilishly hot but also deliciously addictive. A must try if you can get your hands on it. Sells out everytime it hits the shelves.

Sneak peek inside. Strongly suggest having a glass of ice cold water on standby.

Was food shopping in Tokyo and when I was at the basement of major departmental store Matsuzakaya, I was offered a sample of these extremely refreshing & tasty fruit flavored Konnyaku/Konjac (Jelly). Couldn't resist buying several packets back.

Crepe Cheese Cake from Osaka

Japanese snack recommendation #4
Crepe Cheese Cake from Osaka


Simple but effective packaging.

Lost in translation.


Spot the mistake?



Soft fluffy cheese cake with a layer of crepe on the top.

Nice firm texture but soft when bitten into. Very addictive!

I <3 Mickey

Japanese snack recommendation #3
Mickey Mouse Biscuits

A happy Mickey face to greet you when you want to 'steal' a biscuit from the tin can.

This is what the biscuit looks like. Erm.. not very appetizing in looks but makes up for it with it's soft creamy taste. It comes in 2 different flavors, chocolate & butter. I somehow prefer the rich butter flavor better.





Here is another beautiful tin box containing Mickey Mouse goodies. It has the words Tokyo written on the sides of the tin box together with Mickey Mouse motifs with the work 'Bliss' floating randomly around each other.

Individually wrapped biscuits that makes it easier to consume and share with family and friends.



Close up of the cookie. Can you see the ingredients peeking out from within?

I <3 Tokyo Banana

Japanese snack recommendation #2
Tokyo Banana

Individually packed Tokyo banana cakes are beautiful & hygienic too.

Unwrapped & ready for consumption

Soft fluffy sponge cake with delicious creamy banana fillings are an ultimate combination. One is never enough! :p

Hori Corn Chocolate

Japanese snack recommendation #1
Hori Corn Chocolate

Now this is for all white chocolate lovers out there. This is yummy corn crisps covered with white chocolate that forms a mini bar for you to carry around and indulge sinfully in while on the go. Not overly sweet but enough to subdue that nasty chocolate craving once in a while.

I <3 Tokyo Disneyland

There's something magical about Disneyland. It somehow manages to transform adults into little children again. Seeing happy families, loving couples & cute chubby babies just brightens up your day. Here are some of the food to much on inside Tokyo Disneyland.

(From top left: Fish burger set meal, thick fish patty with generous vegetables, not so crispy fries, push cart stall selling the piping hot Smoked turkey leg, it's nice packaging, the Smoked turkey leg sneak preview, Winnie the Pooh popcorn machine, Winnie hard at work producing popcorn, our special takeaway Winnie the Pooh popcorn 'honey pot)