JAPAN

1.  Choose any country in the world. Explain why?

We choose japan because we think it’s a great country with a great gastronomic culture. The ingredients are so different than the ingredients that we have here.

2.  Find some of the typical desserts and make a brief description.

Mochi -> A little biscuit made with rice gluten and sugar, filled with many types of another ingredient like anko, chocolate, truffle or ice cream.

Fried ice cream -> Fried ice cream is a dessert made from a breaded scoop of ice cream that is quickly deep-fried creating a warm, crispy shell around the still-cold ice cream.

Dorayaki -> A red-bean pancake which consists of two small pancake-like patties made from castella wrapped around a filling of sweet Azuki red bean paste

3.  Learn about the most famous pastry chef of that country. (personal information, studies, best dishes, etc)

We choose a Japanese pastry chef who lives in Barcelona and his name is Takashi Ochiai:

Since 1983, in Barcelona, the Ochiai pastry offers an assortment of Japanese pastry like ice cream, chocolate, cakes and other specialties. Takashi arrives to BCN in 80’s. In japan he was a pastry, but he want to learn more about the European pastry. He studies in Belgium and London for about five years.

In 2013 won the title of The Best Croissant of Spain with a Matcha Tea Croissant.

Mochi recipe:

-          250 gr of Glutinous rice flour

-          100 gr sugar

-          300 ml cold water

-          Corn flour

Fill:

-          250g azuki beans

-          250g sugar

-          25g glucose

-          Salt

-          Strawberry

Method:

1-      Mix the rice flour with the water and sugar slowly.

2-      Mix well since there is not lumps and the mixture is sticky and elastic.

3-      Bake with a steamer for about 20-25 minutes.

4-      Let it repose 45 minutes.

5-      Knead it.

6-      Make little pieces and fill it with the azuki paste.