Theme: "Dashi"
The first theme: "Dashi." Bob is joined by his friend Mayu-chan as they search for "Dashi," said to give the food in Osaka its flavour. The setting? Osaka's Tenma area, a stuff-your-face-till-your-drop food district, and Osaka's leading marketplace. What will they find?
Dashi & Health
Various data says that dashi contains glutamine acid, which reduces salt. You can still get the same taste satisfaction from it, even with a reduced concentration of salt, ya know. Too much salt is one of the causes of lifestyle-related diseases. But dashi? Great for your health. There's lots of sea minerals in konbu dashi (made from kelp), much loved by the locals in Osaka. Kelp is packed with iodine, and is said to have big results in the prevention or cure of thyroid disorders. It's got more calcium than milk* and plenty of dietary fiber to get those sugar and cholesterol levels down. It's delicious, healthy and full of goodness; what more could you ask for, eh?
(*in the case of shade-dried kelp of the same amount, before cooking)
*Osaka Manabu*
Staff member at "Cafe de Osaka." Loves Osaka more than anything.
For more "UMAMI" information in English:
【Umami Information Center】
http://www.umamiinfo.com/
【wikipedia】
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami
【Guest】
Mayu Tsujinami
Food coordinator, chef, non-drinker and goes under the office name Gekuya Shokudo. Working on various food-related activities like "Konawaku," a flour-cooking workshop, cooking for business trips, catering and reporting.