After shopping, I found a food event at the Matsuya department store basement! For those who love food events, be sure to stop by the department store basement. I bought some perfect fu manju for this season from a shop called Ono, famous for Kyoto-style fu. They had fu manju with smooth red bean paste, fu manju with matcha bean paste, and fu for soup toppings. There weren't many options, so I couldn't buy a lot. I shared them with my husband. The fu manju had a bouncy texture, a fragrant nori seaweed flavor, and a refined sweetness in the red bean and matcha bean pastes. They were so soft that we finished them quickly. The fu for soup toppings was sold frozen, so I immediately put it in a bowl. It was a perfect dessert for this season, and we enjoyed the Japanese sweets.

I was participating in a food event at Takashimaya Shinjuku. On a hot day, I couldn't resist the charming appearance of the bamboo leaves, so I ended up buying two types of fu manju: Matcha Bamboo Leaf Fu Manju and White Bamboo Leaf Fu Manju. The staff at the serene Kyoto dialect shop kindly taught me how to eat them - by dipping them in water before eating and letting them sit out of the refrigerator for about 5 minutes to avoid them becoming too hard. Although I forgot to dip them in water and ate them right out of the fridge, they were delicious! The fu manju was so soft, fluffy, and tasty, with a perfect texture and refreshing taste. I especially liked the Matcha flavor, which was fragrant and paired well with the bamboo leaf aroma. They also had various other fu products available (I was curious about the fu for cooking), so I would love to visit again during the event. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

When I went to Kyoto, I bought some fresh fu (wheat gluten). This is highly recommended! The shop is a bit hard to notice, like a small local factory. The prices are very reasonable, and I bought sesame fu, millet fu, vegetable fu, and fresh yuba for myself. My family also enjoyed eating them. I will definitely visit again.

About a 7-minute walk from Kyoto Municipal Subway "Imadegawa Station," you can find "Kyosei Fu Ono," a renowned shop for its fresh fu (wheat gluten). The shop has a tradition of about 40-50 years, and the second-generation owner, Mr. Ono, is known for his warmth and sincerity. The shop mainly offers various types of fresh fu, such as Shiso Maki Fu (fu dumplings wrapped in red shiso leaves), Sasamaki Fu (fu dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves), Kinchaku Fu, Chumaki Fu, and creative variations like Kazarifu (decorative fu) and Temarifu (hand-shaped fu). They also sell fresh yuba (tofu skin) and Kumiage Yuba. I tried their Sasamaki Fu (fu dumplings with red bean paste filling) for 780 yen, which was delicious with a smooth texture and a delicate sweetness. Despite the shop's unassuming appearance, Mr. Ono welcomes customers with a friendly smile. If you're interested, it's worth a visit as it's within walking distance from Imadegawa Station and the Imperial Palace West area.

Ono was participating in an event at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi. This was my first experience with their fresh wheat gluten. Although my family loves the fresh wheat gluten from Fuuka, I learned that they have mainly supplied restaurants and delis rather than retail. They offer not only wheat gluten such as Awafu (700 yen per piece excluding tax), but also matcha wheat gluten manju (230 yen per piece excluding tax), and various types of vegetable and gluten mixes (300 yen per piece excluding tax, including ginkgo nuts, fresh yuba, black beans, wood ear mushrooms, and safflower, all covered in wheat gluten, meant to be used as soup ingredients). The mugwort wheat gluten I sampled was quite delicious, and the matcha wheat gluten manju, although a bit sweet, was tasty with its rich matcha flavor. The vegetable and gluten mix, when cooked in soup stock as a soup ingredient, was quite interesting. With slightly sweet ingredients like black beans, it seemed to pair better with white miso soup than regular ingredients.

When it comes to nama-fu (fresh wheat gluten), it is a traditional Kyoto food represented by well-established shops such as "Fuuka," "Hanbei Fu," and "Futai." This shop, although relatively new at around 40 years old, offers nama-fu and yuba (tofu skin) with the distinctive praise of Kyoto. Located about a 7-minute walk from Kyoto Municipal Subway "Imadegawa Station," the shop doesn't have a typical storefront appearance, with a modest noren (curtain) hanging outside. Inside, it has a direct sales-like space with no product displays. When you call out, the second-generation owner, Mr. Ono, greets you with a gentle and kind demeanor. The prices are posted on the wall, with a variety of nama-fu products like Fu-manju (steamed buns with wheat gluten), Sasamaki Fu, Chirashi Fu, Kinchaku Fu, Chimaki Fu, and creative creations like seasonal decorative Fu, hand-rolled Fu, yakifu (wheat gluten with vegetables), and hirosu Fu. They also offer fresh yuba and kumiage yuba. The pamphlet provided explains how to eat the products, and Mr. Ono will kindly guide you as well. Although they used to run a restaurant, they now only offer takeout. They focus on inheriting techniques from the first generation and using high-quality ingredients and water. Due to the factory direct sales, the prices are reasonable, but the packaging is simple with plastic and paper bags. Some popular items include Sasamaki Fu (Fu-manju) with red shiso or yuzu miso paste for 655 yen for a pack of 5, and Awa Fu (Sagara Fu) for 500 yen (tax included), which is nama-fu mixed with nori seaweed and filled with koshi-an (smooth sweet bean paste). Kyoto's familiar Sasamaki Fu is known for its smooth texture of nama-fu, fragrant nori flavor, and elegant sweetness of homemade koshi-an. Awa Fu is cut and grilled on all sides, offering a unique texture and flavor when paired with miso or soy sauce. This nama-fu and yuba from here are said to be used in famous restaurants and have a good reputation on online shopping sites. They also offer gift sets and ship nationwide.

The pickled yuba was delicious! When I gave it as a souvenir from Kyoto, it was very well received. It may not be from a mainstream retail store, so the container is simple packaging, but the taste is excellent. It's different from products for tourists. If it's not just a souvenir, I want to give something really delicious without the fancy packaging. I want to buy it again for gifts and for myself.

I purchased some manju from Takashimaya in Shinjuku, Tokyo. I don't remember if I've ever had manju in Kyoto before, so I decided to try it in Tokyo. The skin was soft like mochi and didn't stretch out too much, making it easy to eat without worrying about choking. The size was small, so it was perfect for sharing with family. I had the red bean paste filling, and it was delicious.

"Kyoto Namafu Ono," located in Shinjuku Takashimaya's "Delicious Collection," is currently operating as a pop-up store from September 17th (Thursday) to 23rd (Wednesday) for the first week only. They are selling fresh wheat gluten and wheat gluten steamed buns. The steamed buns come in three flavors: smooth red bean paste, sweet potato paste, and matcha green tea paste. They are available in packs of five, but you can also purchase them individually. I bought three each of the "Wheat Gluten Steamed Buns (Smooth Red Bean Paste)" for 231 yen and the "Wheat Gluten Steamed Buns (Matcha Green Tea Paste)" for 231 yen. Once you carefully unwrap the bamboo leaves, you will find the adorable wheat gluten steamed buns inside. The aroma of the bamboo leaves is delightful. Made with fresh wheat gluten, the buns are chewy and delicious. The smooth red bean paste has an elegant sweetness that is just right. The matcha green tea paste has a hint of bitterness, offering a sophisticated flavor. Both are tasty, but I personally prefer the smooth red bean paste. Although they are a bit pricey, the chewy wheat gluten makes it a dish worth trying again. Additionally, the staff from Kyoto is very polite and welcoming. Just listening to their explanations makes you feel the essence of Kyoto and puts you in a good mood."

First Meal 202010 (No.2148) I visited the food collection at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store. When it comes to fu manju, Fugoka Fuchomae Honten is famous, being a specialty shop for fresh fu established during the Bunka-Bunsei era (1804-1830)! This place, however, seems to have an unknown history and low ratings on Tabelog (lol). The sweet potato paste fu manju for 281 yen was decently delicious. Due to various reasons, I probably won't be able to visit Kyoto for a while, so who knows when I'll be able to enjoy really delicious fu manju again. Thank you for the meal.

When I visited Mitsukoshi, they were having an "Autumn Kyoto Exhibition" so I decided to check it out. They were offering samples of grilled "Nama-fu" so I tried it, and it had a unique texture and taste. While asking the staff about the difference between "fu" and "Nama-fu," I came across my daughter's favorite, a "Matcha Fu Manju for 270 yen." When I recommended it to my daughter, she wanted to try it, so we bought it and ate it right outside the store. After taking a bite, I found the matcha flavor to be incredibly rich. My daughter was delighted and said it was delicious.

I encountered this shop at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi event. I love Fu Mochi. I asked where to buy it without going to Kyoto, the original place to buy it (lol). There were other customers ahead of me, so I checked out other shops and came back. I ended up buying the Sasamaki Fu Mochi. The owner was very friendly and bright. He asked if I liked Matcha, and when I said yes, he let me taste the Matcha Fu Mochi. The rich Matcha flavor gently spreads in your mouth. It's made with very good Matcha without any bitterness. The owner said he chose this Matcha for its color, flavor, and aroma. He was told by a tea shop owner that he chooses very good products. He said this Matcha Fu Mochi might only be available this time. Without hesitation, I added another one to my purchase. There were many other types of Fu that could be used for cooking, but I didn't know how to cook them and didn't have the confidence to consume them all, so I reluctantly gave up. The white Sasamaki Fu Mochi has an excellent filling that melts in your mouth in a Kyoto-like way, giving a refreshing feeling. The Matcha used is of very good quality, without bitterness, allowing you to fully enjoy the greatness of tea. I look forward to encountering this shop at other events or visiting it when I go to Kyoto.