Japan 蛋奶素選擇 出汁 美食之旅(7)

It's an exceptional opportunity for every foodie to watch, how mochi is pounding. Even more so to participate in it! We really enjoyed the interesting insights, and discovering the whole process – not to mention the unique deliciousness of the fresh mochi. We could even try four different types of it! The organisation of the whole event was very smooth: easy communication, clear itinerary, friendly and nice hosts, professional chef by the soup making (actually, it was a complete lunch), lot of further tips and informations on the traditional Japanese cuisine. Marie, our host is actually an advocate of the fermentation and traditional way of cooking ("washoku"), so she has a broader point of view on this topic. Through her experience, we could also get a deeper understanding on the usage of the ingredients and their health effects. It was a pleasure to meet her and participating on this experience. I would warmly recommend to all food lovers and enthusiasts! (The location is within reachable distance of many famous sake breweries and also not far from the Fushimi-inari shrine. So you can schedule nicely into your plans.)

Bruce and Ling were great, knowledgeable guides! We booked the izakaya and ramen tour and they showed us some great hidden spots we never would have thought to visit, and the food was excellent. Recommend booking a tour at the start of your stay in Fukuoka so they can provide other recommendations for restaurants and sites to visit.

It was great meeting Bruce; the conversation was easy. It was interesting to hear his perspective, as he has lived in Japan for nearly forty years. The restaurants we visited were top-notch. Both were off the beaten path; it is difficult to imagine finding them on my own.

If I could give Bruce thousands of stars for a review I would! Bruce texted us in the USA shortly after we booked our food tour. He continued to check in on us several times before our tour. When we met Bruce in person he seemed like a long lost friend. He is fluent in English and Japanese. My husband uses a cane and he made sure the walking wasn’t too much for him. We started our tour in a quaint restaurant that he made a reservation for. It’s one of those places that you would NEVER find unless you knew it was there. We enjoyed salad, sashimi and fried chicken. It was all AMAZING!!! We finished our evening at a Hakata ramen restaurant. Really good! The next morning he texted us to wish us well on a day trip we had planned. I told him we had to cancel because I lost my medication on our travels. Without it I get physically ill. Not only did Bruce find me a doctor to get my medication. He actually picked me and my husband up at our hotel!!! After I got my meds, we all went to lunch and finished the afternoon at the Fukuoka gyoza festival! We will NEVER forget his kindness and caring as well as an amazing culinary experience. I feel as though we made a friend for life and will return to Fukuoka someday😊