[Mrshoujo]

For those who would like to start learning about cooking Japanese food and the like, I think I can help.

Start off by locating any Oriental or Asian food stores in your area. They will have the authentic ingredients you're going to need, like Kewpie Mayonaise and Okonomi sauce for Okonomiyaki. Your local phone books are a great place to start.

Visit them at your earliest opportunity to get an idea what they have, and perhaps bring some money in case you see something that looks interesting even if you don't quite understand what it is just yet. $30 should be a good budget to limit yourself (though I've been known to spend $50 or more).

I would start getting Japanese curry and make some of that. It's easy, not hot (Vermont Curry is slightly sweet), and it's a can't-miss first attempt. S&B has their Golden Curry and again, their Mild variation is just that. Lots of flavor but no burn. Japanese curry mixes come in these bars of stuff that you break up and dissolve in the pan after you've cooked everything else, and I try to keep the water down because I like my curry thick. ^_^ Get the double big boxes for money savings.

Also when there, look over the assortment of the cheap imported ramen packets. Incredible variety! I like the clear noodle vermicelli style. Fresh noodles are also fun and are usually refrigerated. Yakisoba noodles are not boiled if you get the fresh ones - you fry them up in a pan with a little oil and the seasoning packet that comes with them. Very tasty.

One store I go to has these Korean-made melon flavored ice cream pops. LOVE LOVE those. Try one. Highly recommended. They come in these green sleeve thingies, can't miss it. Ask if the people there know.

That's another thing - try to make friends with the people running the store. If you can get them to open up and talk to you, all the better. The lady where I go is an attractive Korean woman and she's very helpful. ^_^

RICE COOKER - By ALL means get one! They're made to never burn anything you put in there. I've done spaghetti many times and it's come out just fine, though I dump a can of kernel corn because I don't have a non-stick version. Rice Cookers are great for more than just rice and when you go to college later, it's handy in the dorms. ^_^ I got mine at a local discounter for about $20 (it has Martin Yan on the box), so you don't have to spend a lot. More expensive models are non-stick and have a clock with temp and timer controls. You really don't need those amenities. You put your water (or whatever) in and flip one switch and it'll boil water like mad until it senses it's done and it'll pop back into Warm mode, which is the very basic of its function.

COLLECT COOK BOOKS - OMG, the best way to find out some of this stuff is to collect cookbooks on Japanese food. One good one I'm waiting for is The Manga Cookbook from Manga University. $14.95 and should be out soon...!!! ARGH! A bit of a preview I've seen should make this an easy one to understand.

I did a panel on Japanese cooking at Anime North one year.

ja ne nyo deshi..