This page is dedicated to indexing various food related information which can be found throughout the Mie Guidebook as well as guiding users to food related resources around the internet. As more information is added to the guidebook, please update the information here.
Cooking Resources
Coming up with meal ideas can be tricky enough. Add to that the complexity of shopping for ingredients in a foreign language as well as locating suitable substitutes and you're likely to be left in a stupor. Perhaps cooking isn't your forte or maybe you just need some inspiration. Here is a list of some simple resources to get your juices flowing. Each website and their accompanying search engines have their own pros and cons, so make sure to explore them all.
- 101 Cookbooks
- 101 Cookbooks is a cooking blog of sorts, one that causes you to lose yourself in the journey associated with the recipe. Although there are some easy recipes buried in the recesses of 101 Cookbooks, it's designed more for the adventurous, soul searching cooks out there.
- Allrecipes
- This database is a good starting point for many a meal. Not only can you search by meal names, you can also search by ingredients or time. Here's a quick link to their quick and easy recipe index for those just getting started. They also offer many how-to-guides and tutorials.
- Chowhound
- Chowhound is an awesome forum and recipe database site. Their test kitchen puts every recipe to the test before posting it. If you have some questions about a certain recipe you're cooking, this is a good place to go and get it vetted.
- Cooklet
- One of the unique features of Cooklet is that you can specify your level of difficulty when searching for a recipe. This search engine is an excellent resource for the beginning chef.
- Epicurious
- Even if you haven't used it, you've heard of it. Epicurious is a massive database of recipes akin to Allrecipes. Here is a quick link to their quick and easy recipes. Like Allrecipes, they also offer a fair amount of step-by-step guides and tutorials.
- I'll make it myself
- Written by a former expat living in Japan, the author of this blog has some great insights into what works, what doesn't, and what you can substitute to get a recipe to work for you in Japan.
- The Reluctant Gourmet
- Not only is the Reluctant Gourmet a website that offers up easy to use recipe, it also provides a some great cooking technique guidelines. The foundation of all successful meals comes from the techniques you employ in the kitchen.
- YouTube
- An always faithful source of inspiration. Search around for tutorials on what you hope to accomplish.
Foreign food supermarkets
Although many supermarkets - especially Æon - are beginning to carry a wide variety of foreign foods, you may still have a hard time finding exactly what you're looking for there. Perhaps you need a specific cheese or particular spice for a dish you're preparing. You may need to head to a foreign food store (usually a world liquor store).
Shopping for food online
Can't find what you're looking for in a brick and mortar store? You can also order many foreign foods online. Generally, payment is easy and can be done either at a conbini, on delivery, or via PayPal/credit card. Here's a list of online resources for all your food-related needs.
Special dietary needs resources
Supermarkets by city
Restaurants by city
Restaurants by region and style
Northern Mie
Central Mie
Eastern Mie
Western Mie
Southern Mie
Outside Mie
Craft beer, pubs, and izakaya
General Shopping
