Making Chinese Dumplings (Jiaozi) with Miao

Greetings From Kyoto

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Today Miao and I made a whole lot of Chinese Dumplings. I made the filling and Miao did the stuffing. We made three flavors: Pork and yuzu (with a light Japanese vinegar). Dried shiitake mushrooms reconstituted in Shaoxing wine (aged 5 years), fresh coriander, homemade pancetta (aged 1 year), Chinese garlic chives and Kyoto’s ‘kujo negi‘ scallions. (This one was amazing!!) Lastly, we did the traditional Chinese recipe. I can’t believe how many I ate. They were REALLY yummy!! We mostly boiled them the Chinese way but I did saute a few Japanese style.

Pork and yuzu jiaozi – Sublime
Pork and yuzu jiaozi – Sublime (Made with yuzu juice and peel)
Pork and yuzu jiaozi

dried shiitake, Shaoxing wine, fresh coriander, homemade pancetta (aged 1 year), Chinese garlic chives, ‘kujo negi‘ scallion jiaozi filling
Filling dried shiitake, Shaoxing wine, fresh coriander, homemade pancetta (aged 1 year), Chinese garlic chives, ‘kujo negi‘ scallion jiaozi. (Pink ones on left are pork and yuzu.)