Cold Noodles Part One: SŌMEN

Jun 18, 2020 | Kitchen Culture, Summer, Year-Round

Survival strategy for hot, humid days: Chilled Sōmen Noodles-on-the-rocks!

DOWNLOAD information on buying, storing and cooking sōmen 

and serving the noodles.

© Photo by Leigh Beisch
Styling by Karen Shinto

ネバネバそうめん
Slithery Sōmen Noodles

Mouth feel (the way a food feels in the mouth) often defines a food culture. The Japanese have an affinity for sticky, viscous items that string, like nattō (sticky fermented soybeans) and okra. The Japanese also love slithery, slippery foods that can be slurped.

The Slithery Sōmen Noodles that appear on page 59 of KANSHA (Ten Speed Press, 2010) combines both. Collectively the Japanese refer to these textures as neba neba; those who remain unappreciative are more likely to call it: Never! Never!

New Beginings

New Beginings

In Japan, April is the time for new beginnings -- the start of a new school year, a new fiscal year, and changes to many established programs on TV, radio and other media outlets. In tune with this custom, I've made some changes at A Taste of Culture this month. I...

PROJECT Springtime Sweets

PROJECT Springtime Sweets

洋菓子・yōgashiWestern-Style Confectionery Japan's food culture includes ingredients, techniques and dishes that have been adopted and/or adapted from non-Japanese sources.  One large category is confectionery. Earliest influences were from the Portuguese in the 16th...

Celebrating Sakura

Celebrating Sakura

The Japanese take great pleasure in celebrating the seasons and SAKURA (cherry blossoms) are emblematic of spring. From the time buds (tsubomi 蕾) first appear to the official pronouncement of blooming (kaika 開花) it is often less than a week. And from there to...

PROJECT Temari Sushi

PROJECT Temari Sushi

This KITCHEN PROJECT  features temari-zushi, bite-sized spheres of tart rice topped with various ingredients. HINA MATSURI is celebrated on March 3 and during the weeks leading up to it, and for several weeks thereafter, scattered chirashi-zushi and/or temari-zushi ...

Recent Posts & Projects