平安 · 794–1185
The Heian table
The court perfects ritual eating — food as calendar, poetry, and quiet medicine.
麺Noodles · 65 min · Intermediate
Sanuki Udon, Kake Style讃岐うどん
Kagawa's proudly chewy udon in hot iriko dashi — hand-kneaded, properly rested, and eaten with the speed and reverence Shikoku demands.
丼Rice & Donburi · 50 min · Beginner
Nanakusa-gayu七草粥
The seven-herb rice porridge Japan eats every January 7th — a Heian court ritual that survives because it's exactly what a body wants after the holidays.
基本Foundations · 20 min · Beginner
Shibazuke Quick Pickles柴漬け
Ōhara's violet eggplant-and-shiso pickle from north Kyoto — a fast vinegar version for tonight, plus the honest path to a true lactic ferment.
甘味Sweets & Wagashi · 30 min · Intermediate
Uji Warabi Mochiわらび餅
Uji's cool, quivering bracken-starch jelly dusted in roasted soybean flour — a Heian-era Kyoto sweet, and an honest lesson in real warabiko versus the fakes.