Osaka Prefecture

[torakris]

okonomiyaki and takoyaki are two of the first foods that come to mind.

there is a great article here

[beetee]

Hopefully one day I can find Takoyaki in a deparment stores basement in Canada :)

[torakris]

蒸しずし

mushi zushi (steamed sushi)

This dish from Osaka is very popular there in the winter as it is served warm. It looks like a chirashi zushi, but it is placed into a steamer and steamed for about 10 minutes to heat it up.

one variation

[torakris]

apparently people from Osaka love takoyaki so much they eat them in any way they can....

takoyaki candy and takoyaki youkan

according to this site that takoyaki youkan is the best seller this month...

[torakris]

To learn about some of the differences between food in Osaka (Kansai) and Tokyo (Kanto) take a look here.

[helenjp]

Forgot to mention...mushi-zushi or steamed sushi. I occasionally get all nostalgic and make it here. It's a donburi sushi, sometimes with a mixed rice base, and topped with egg - either thick-baked egg, or shreds, or whatever - anago, unagi, ebi, and usually green peas or sometimes just a sansho leaf.

Mushizushi with fish sausage

[Kiem Hwa]

A link discussing various cuisines from Osaka and other prefectures in Kansai:

http://www.kansai.gr.jp/KansaiWindowhtml/C...ryCode_002.html

Some from the Osaka list:

Udon Chili & Udon Suki -Originated in Minami, Osaka in early Showa period.

Hakozushi -vinegared rice in a rectangular wooden case, placing shrimp, sliced fish and other fillings on the rice, pressing them with the lid, then removing the case and cutting for eating

Kitsune Udon Noodles - Features tasty "age," boiled in soy sauce and sweet sake.

Shabu-Shabu - Originated in Kita-shinchi, Osaka, in the post-W. W. II. era.

Sukiyaki- Unique Osaka-style seasoning with sugar and soy sauce, instead of soup stock.

Tetchiri & Tessa- (Fugu??) Osaka is the largest consumer of blowfish in the nation. The licensing system for blowfish chefs originated in Osaka. "Tet/Tes" is old Japanese for guns, which are as fatal as blowfish toxin once you are caught.

Negiyaki - a type of okonomiyaki unique to Osaka using minced leek.

Harihari Nabe- a dish of whale meat and mizuna, a vegetable common in Osaka

Pickled Mizunasu- Specialty pickles from Senshu, made of soft and savory mizunasu eggplants.

Korean Grilled Beef & Cool Noodles - Grilled beef from Korea has been adopted and well-established in the culture of Osaka. In and around the Tsuruhashi district, you can find a number of Korean restaurants featuring grilled beef ("yakiniku") and cool noodles ("reimen").