Tag: store

Tokusen.Store – Shop Feature

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I have been wanting to try out Tokusen.store and their incredible selection of imported products for a long time now. They had a booth at the Asiasie Festival I went to recently and I figured it would be the perfect time to grab a variety of things to try. I then managed to haul them across the border in my suitcase and have been using them all regularly since I settled back in here in California and I am very excited to share the experience with you!

They pride themselves on bringing small-batch, proudly crafted products from Japan to Canada (and the US) and making sure these ingredients are accessible to everyone.

Our mission is to select the best local products from Japan, to promote the know-how of its artisans and to make their work accessible to all.

Our vision is that it should be natural to enjoy Japanese know-how right from home, in Canada.

To offer our customers a superior quality product, we select our products according to a value system rooted in Japanese culture:

源 · Gen Terroir as a guarantee of quality.

雅 · Ga The elegance of the product.

道 · Dō The way forward through hard work.

I decided to choose their Origin Box Set, Aka Yuzu Kosho paste, and Ramen Shichimi spice blend to try out and share, and here are my thoughts about each product.

White Dashi (origin box)

Dashi is a stock typically made with kombu and katsuobushi. This is a blend of concentrated dashi and light shoyu, and it imparts a beautiful umami and smoky flavour without feeling “fishy”. Until now I’d been using concentrated dashi granules but this product is an absolute game-changer. The granules still have their place in my pantry, both for their budget-friendliness and their shelf-stability, but when I need a more elevated and well-rounded flavour I will definitely be using this.

Yuzu Ponzu (origin box)

This is a delightfully crisp and clean blend of soy and yuzu citrus. It added a fantastic brightness to salmon I made and will definitely bring a summery vibe to noodles and fried foods. You can use it as part of a dressing or marinade, or a dipping sauce all by itself. It’s far more versatile than I was expecting, and has become a quick favourite.

Tamari (origin box)

A perfect balance of light and deep flavours; fantastic as a dipping sauce all by itself or a small splash at the end for adding a bit of umami.

Haizakura (origin box)

A rich, aged soy, well-balanced and well-rounded. Fantastic in  marinades or as dipping sauce for stronger flavours.

Usukuchi (origin box)

A very light but flavourful soy, perfect for dipping or using in lighter dishes. Perfect in tamagoyaki, for adding depth but keeping the omelette light and airy.

Ramen Shichimi spice blend

Hold on to your tongues here! This is a potent blend of shichimi spices with a potent dose of togarashi/capiscum that brings the heat. Use it sparingly, but defintely try it out in things other than just ramen. I put a pinch of it in the yuzu marinade I made for salmon and it was such a great balance with the clean citrus!

Aka Yuzu Kosho Paste

Oh look, more heat. Can you tell I like things spicy? This is actually a bit less potent than the ramen shichimi above but still brings a fantastic lightness to anything you use it in, thanks to the combined pepper and more yuzu.

A few things I have cooked so far using these wonderful products:

Ponzu-marinated salmon, tamagoyaki, teriyaki chicken and rice. I used a bit of the shiro dashi and usukushi shoyu when making the rice in both dishes and it adds an incredible depth of flavour without being overpowering.

Overall, I am incredibly impressed with the products Tokusen.store has chosen to focus on and bring to our doors. I will be stocking up every time I’m back in Canada, because they’re Montreal-based and the shipping is a lot more affordable. However you look at it though, if you’re in North America they’re going to be more accessible than ordering direct from Japan. I cannot recommend them enough and can’t wait to see what new products they bring to their storefront for us.

Field Trip – Wabi Sabi Japan Living, Palm Springs CA

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If you follow any of my social media where I post short-form videos, you have seen my quick 360 tour of Wabi Sabi Japan Living in Palm Springs recently. If you’re not following my socials, you might be missing out on fun things!

I have been wanting to check out this store since I first started visiting Keith here in southern California, but it just never worked out until recently. We’re typically in the Palm Springs area in the evenings and the shop closes at 5. But recently we made a point of heading out that way specifically so I could browse, and I’m so happy I did!

When you first walk in, you’re greeted with a beautiful abundance of handmade ceramics and a wall of more adorable chopsticks than you could begin to imagine. There is also a fantastic selection of books, from art and ikebana to a huge variety of cookbooks. I fell in love with Japan Style but could not justify it at the time, and then Keith sneakily grabbed me a copy for Christmas. As they say, to be seen is to be loved. ♥

 

Facing the back wall, there is an absolutely breathtaking assortment of Japanese ceramics and dishware, in a very reasonable range of prices. You can purchase individual plates or full sets if you’re setting up a home or redoing your entire kitchen. There were so many pieces I wanted to take home, but both money and storage space are at a premium in my life right now so I had to exercise restraint. I particularly fell in love with some of the more earthy, textured pieces and some delicate mino ware floral bowl sets. If and when we’re ever lucky enough to have a larger kitchen and room for entertaining, I know exactly where I will be going to stock up!

As you head deeper into this little treasure trove, you’ll find the food and drinks. There’s a fantastic selection of dry goods, condiments, teas, sauces, and then a more grown-up section featuring Japanese whisky, gin, and sake options as well as a few specialty liqueurs. I’m a sucker for whisky so I’ve added a few to my list of things to try when my current selection has run dry. Let me know if you’d be interested in reviews of Japanese brands of alcohol, particularly sake and whisky!

At the far end of the store you’ll likely find the staff. The shop is owned by partners Darrell and Osamu (Sam). I spoke to Sam briefly on the phone and met Darrell in person when I went, along with a few other lovely store employees. Everyone there is incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. They’ll be happy to welcome you in and either let you browse or offer up suggestions if you’re overwhelmed by the beautiful variety of products!

If you’re curious to see what treasures made it home with me, here is my haul!

As you can see, I couldn’t wait to crack into the crystallised shoyu. I put it on tamagoyaki and it’s so good. I can see it working with so many different foods! I will likely do more detailed reviews of the incense sampler and the tea in the future if you are curious!

If you’re in the Palm Springs area, I highly suggest checking out Wabi Sabi Japan Living! They’re open from 11 to 5 every day, and can be found at 300 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262.

Just for clarity, I was not compensated in any way for this post. I contacted them beforehand to make sure they would be alright with being featured, and making sure I had permission to photograph, but there was no other discussion or promotional agreement of any sort. These opinions are all straight from my heart, as always!