Food questions for those living in Japan

[prasantrin]

Is wheat bran readily available in Japan? I've been searching, and am having trouble finding it. I remember using it in my baking class, but haven't seen it since. I've even searched Kikuya, hoping they'd have it so I could tack it onto my order, but no luck!

[torakris]

I've always bought it at Tomizawa, I hope this link works:

http://www.tomizawa.co.jp/webshop/commodity_param/ctc/01-06/shc/0/grp/000018/cmc/00001800/backURL/https%28++www.tomizawa.co.jp+webshop+main/detail.html

[prasantrin]

I've always bought it at Tomizawa, I hope this link works:

http://www.tomizawa.co.jp/webshop/commodity_param/ctc/01-06/shc/0/grp/000018/cmc/00001800/backURL/https%28++www.tomizawa.co.jp+webshop+main/detail.html

Thanks! I'll need to wait until I have need for more baking stuff before I place another order. It's amazing how much prices differ between Tomizawa and Kikuya--some things are much cheaper at Tomizawa (dried cranberries--Y197/100g there vs. Y630/250g at Kikuya) but other are much cheaper at Kikuya (frozen cranberries--Y397/250g at Kikuya vs Y336/100g! at Tomizawa).

Hopefully I'll find some around here. I vaguely remember seeing some at Tokyu Hands, and maybe the Hankyu depachika, but it could just be my imagination (like the quinoa was).

[prasantrin]

So. . . it turns out the reason Kikuya's frozen cranberries are so much cheaper is because they're frozen red currants. That'll teach me not to read more carefully! (I think I stopped at the ク and just assumed the rest).

[prasantrin]

Is the mugi sold in the rice section the same kind of mugi used in soups (like beef and barley soup)?

I can't find barley anywhere except the stuff in the rice section!

[prasantrin]

Where'd everyone go?

Another question, has anyone tried to buy foie gras in Japan?

I found some on chefpride.co.jp, and am thinking of trying some. I've never cooked with the stuff, though, so I'd rather try to get a smaller quantity for my first try. Any suggestions?

[torakris]

Sorry! I was tromping around Gifu-ken for a couple days!!

I have never bought foie gras here so can't help with that, but as to the barley....

The stuff sold here is almost entirely oshi-mugi (pressed barley, it is smashed flat and it meant to be cooked up with rice. I have never used it for anything besides that. I am assuming it wouldn't have quite the same 'bite' as pearl barley since it has been smashed.

This person used it for a risotto(scroll down to pearl barley risotto).

Barley is one of the foods I pick up in the US every summer..

[prasantrin]

I hope you write about Gifu, too! I'm planning to go there in March (Shirakawago and Takayama).

Thanks for the info about the barley. I actually bought some in Canada last summer, but I accidentally left it behind.

I guess I'll just add the barley to my rice, and make fake risotto!

[prasantrin]

Just a FYI--I finally found a western-type leek at Hankyu Department Store. Y680!! And an acorn squash was Y1280!!

No, they weren't organic, just imported from the good ol' US of A.