Cooking with Kozo

For today, I had booked a walking tour / cooking class with Kozo, a native of Hiroshima. He’d spent some time in the U.S. so his English was fluent. Google translate was not necessary.

We were the only two people on the tour. We started at the Peace Memorial, moved on to Hiroshima castle and shrine, then to Kozo’s apartment to learn how to make the savory Japanese pancake, okonomiyaki.

It was a rainy day but no matter. We had our Airbnb provided umbrellas. The large, clear plastic kind that give you full coverage.

We had tried okonomiyaki in Osaka.  Loved it. Turns out there are two styles. Osaka and Hiroshima. Hiroshima style is layered and has noodles. Osaka style everything is mixed together. Sometimes noodles, sometimes not.

Best to prep everything ahead of time. A mound of shredded cabbage, handful of bean sprouts, bonito flakes, salt and pepper, thinly sliced pork belly (optional), batter (flour, butter, water), whisked egg, cooked and stir fried noodles (any kind will do, can even use instant ramen). 

Batter first to form a crepe, sprinkle with bonito flakes, cook for a minute or two. Pile on the cabbage and bean sprouts next, let it cook. Flip using the dish over frying pan method, cook. And so on. 

Kozo would demonstrate one layer, then we’d do it, then he’d show us the next layer and back to us…and so on.

The sauce is the highlight. Hiroshima brand but apparently available on…yeah…Amazon.

See that mini spatula in the picture above? Sort of looks like a shovel. That’s what you eat with. Cut a piece with the edge of the implement then shovel it into your mouth.