Japan’s “OISHI (delicious)” wrapped in OYAKI
At a corner of a building in Tokyo’s Shinjuku 3-chome is a lovely shop that arouses the curiosity of many, the “OYAKI Company”.
It serves “OYAKI” that are wrapped with fine selected ingredients from Japan, and aims to become the world’s healthiest fast food restaurant.
Oyaki is a local dish from Shinshu, a baked bun made from flour or buckwheat flour stuffed with ingredients such as vegetables. The Oyaki from OYAKI Company is made from 100% Japanese ingredients and is as big as the size of a hamburger.
Served together with the pesticide-free Hoji tea, you can taste the “stories” of the wheat flour, pickles, cereals, traditional vegetables, miso, soy sauce, etc. Things that we want to convey, protect and preserve, all wrapped together in an Oyaki, and could be felt from the first bite. It is an Oyaki which is packed with the pleasure of food.
The team which prepared the food is Nom-san and Tomo-san who have been working in the food industry for 10 years now.
Both formerly operated a dining bar in the area. As they desired to pursue “food that are really delicious and can be eaten easily in the big city!”, they opened OYAKI Company in December 2016.
The key in its deliciousness is the wheat flour from Mie Prefecture
The ingredients change depending on the season.
Gazing at the Oyaki which is being cooked on top of the flames from the charcoal, the smell of the wheat flour wafts towards me.
I once heard that the infrared effect of charcoal can ensure the umami flavour is contained and it can also grill the dough evenly to the insides.
When both sides of the Oyaki are grilled well to a light brown color…It is hard to resist the urge to taste the freshly grilled Oyaki. Taking a bite into a freshly grilled Oyaki, the taste is as great as what I heard.
Crispy on the outside and stuffed in the inside
The more you chew, the more you can taste the umami and the sweetness of the dough.
In fact, the wheat flour that is used to make the dough is the “Kuwana Mochi Wheat” grown in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture.
The starch of the wheat is glutinous, that’s why there is a rice-cake texture.
Now, this wheat flour is gaining more and more popularity.
According to Tomo-san who is responsible for the food preparation, after he got his idea from Shinshu’s Oyaki, to make sure the appropriate texture as well as the dough remain delicious even though is cold, he has tried out 7~8 types of flours, including tapioca flour.
Then at one time, a cooking expert told him about Kuwana Mochi Wheat.
The OYAKI Company’s Oyaki is finally complete because of the Kuwana Mochi Wheat.
Shinshu miso with living koji…
The content of the Tamago (Egg) Oyaki is amazing.
On top of the slightly sweet omelet, they use Shinshu Miso from Tawaraya Koji Shop in Nagano Prefecture which is founded 110 years ago.
The miso paste is made using Japan’s traditional method with the spring water and fresh clean air at the foot of the Northern Alps; the koji as well as the method have been improved over the years, and the miso tastes differently. Just like the Kuwana Mochi Wheat, this miso is also indispensable to OYAKI Company.
The sweet sake latte made from the additive-free koji is popular too. The living enzymes in it are lively.
Inside the juicy omelet is Hatokoshi Bean, also called the phantom bean, that gives the crunchy feeling. The name may sound dangerous, but it is a variety of bean from Hida Takayama with a history older than 100 years. Its name originated from the tale that it is so delicious that a pigeon rushed to eat and the bean, as it is big, was stuck at the throat.
And then…I was showed with this: “The favourite item ♡” of the owner. It is Abusei’s Kuwana Rice Oil from Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture. Abusei is founded in 1789.
It seems like they discovered the oil during their pursuit of good ingredients.
Aim for the world’s healthies fast food
The talk with Nom-san and Tom-san is well beyond the explanation of ingredients they discovered. It is already a story.
When I was chewing the vegetable and Oyaki, I felt somewhat a new yet nostalgic feeling. Putting aside my smartphone, I wanted to “ponder” about the ingredients carefully.
You can choose miso soup as a drink.
Eat-in is basically before noon. They focus on “delivering” Oyaki which one can eat easily with one hand and slowly taste “Japan’s flavor”.
For that reason, the two of them do not have much time. Their priority is to look for manufacturers who are sincerely involved in the making of delicious food. Then they will try to meet as much people as possible and to have them eat the food and get feedback. To make use of the taste of ingredients, they cook, fry, and more.
Firstly, they mix the Kuwana Mochi Wheat flour with natural yeast, then let the dough ferment. And to wrap as much as possible the ingredients in the dough, grill both sides with teppan (iron plate) and make it into a round shape. Then steam it in a steamer.
Finally grill it to crispy with charcoal flame.
Wow, amazing…Compared to the delivery of food using local made and pesticide free ingredients, it is their challenge to protect the landscape and environment where the ingredients are made, tradition and culture. Yes, what OYAKI Company aims at is:
“The taste of Japan with one hand”
And in it, there is a great cycle of the sun, climate, wisdom and the people who produce the food.
And, the love from Nom-san and Tom-san is amazing.
Here in OYAKI Company, you can feel the vast earth although it is just a small shop with only a counter.
The good feeling is not only from the food ingredients, but mainly from the atmosphere created by their personalities.
There are many who are fascinated by the love from Nom-san and Tom-san shown towards food and people.
As owners of a restaurant, the two of them constantly think of what to offer and to continue evolving.
“How good it is when there are more and more people joining us who relate to our thoughts, support us, and we have activities together and get excited through food.”
This is what I heard from them.
By the way, the URL for OYAKI Company’s blog is “nomusantomosan.com”, what a playful name♪
OYAKI, with plenty of love and dreams.
Through “Find Mie in Tokyo”, I have encountered this place where you can feel the happiness of “eating”, and be contented in both mind and body.
________________________________________
OYAKI Company- Address: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 3-1-32 2nd Floor
- Tel: 03-3356-2570
Fukuda Miki
Deputy representative of OTONAMIE. OTONA MASTER.
She works as the secretary to a CEO cum office work center head in a company in Tokyo. Since a few years ago, is a working adult as well as a student. Moved from Tokyo to Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture with her husband in 2014. After a brief sad period, curiosity for the new place was piqued. Since she is looking from the outside, she feels the charm of the place.
OTONAMIE http://otonamie.jp/
*This website is equipped with Google Translate feature.
Comments