@aaskelter 28 October 2021

Would You Try These Peculiar Treats? Yay or Nay?

If you have known me long enough, you would probably notice by now how I am really fond of anything that’s **matcha green tea**. I even have posted a couple of matcha-related articles in here, from my recent finds to those that I have discovered as I travel here in the neighboring Asian countries. *ICYMI, here are the links:* **Matcha-dventures in Japan** **🇯🇵** https://read.cash/@aaskelter/matcha-dventures-in-japan-28ddfb57 **Matcha-dventures in Taiwan** **🇹🇼** https://read.cash/@aaskelter/matcha-dventures-in-taiwan-8e475815 **Matcha-dventures at Home** **🏠** https://read.cash/@aaskelter/matcha-dventures-at-home-ff8da040 I love matcha to the point that I judge a good milk tea shop or any tea house by the authenticity of the matcha latte and other matcha concoctions that they offer. It is also usually the first thing that I check whenever I view the menu for drinks or desserts in particular. Loving matcha is not just a fad that would eventually go away, at least for me, but I am aware that liking it is such an acquired taste and not everyone really gets to appreciate its leafy aftertaste (that can be described as bitter to some but to be honest, they might be just consuming a low-grade matcha powder). Some even despise its fame, but yes. to each their own. In my mind, whenever I hear such comments I am like, *“Sure, I don’t really mind because you are not the one who’s going to be satisfied consuming all these matcha, anyway.”* And we all have our favourite comfort food. Say, I don’t even eat crabs while my best friends are so into it. In the end, it’s all about what’s making us full and contented with whatever we eat and consume. Not only was I on the minority (of those who actually genuinely like matcha), I also am so fond of trying out those that you can call the most random and the weirdest snacks/dishes. This post is all about that. They are not even really weird, but they are a bit unusual especially if you are not from Japan. **Oh, Japan.** What a matcha heaven. God-willing, I really want to come back and try every matcha that I can get a hand on. The said food originated from that lovely country that’s why I am so fond of the place (and a whole lot of other reasons). Anyway, let us start the short list, shall we? MATCHA TONKATSU Yes, you read that right. A *tonkatsu* with matcha.

*Tonkatsu* is a Japanese dish of fried, breaded pork. Usually there’s a side dish of grated cabbage and a slice of fruit (a pineapple or watermelon) that go along with a serving of it. This particular dish can be found in Osaka Osho restaurant (if you are curious and if you want to try.) **The verdict:** To be honest it just might sound weird because who would have thought you can season your pork or chicken chop with matcha, right? But it is indeed edible and possible. There’s a faint hint of matcha in it but it is still fried pork and it tasted exactly just like that. But nothing out of the ordinary and I just ordered it for the sake of trying it. Tonkatsu is already good as it is, anyway (especially the cheese-filled ones). Now I am getting hungry. ——— MATCHA PASTA If there’s a pork dish, there’s also a pasta dish that could go along with it from the same restaurant.

**The verdict:** The garnish and overall appearance look so appetizing! The pasta came with a side *tonkatsu* dish (that isn’t matcha flavoured because that would be overkill, I think.) But taste-wise, it is…. pasta. Hehe. Aside from the colour which would be the evidence of mixing matcha with the standard pasta noodle and you know how all noodles kind of taste the same and usually just differ in texture? There isn’t really much difference, to be honest. But I’ll still order and eat it again, if it is back in their menu, for the ‘gram. Nah, because the price is almost the same as the usual combo meal, so why not go for something grand, right? ——— BANANA WITH MATCHA ALMOND

This banana with matcha almond is home-made and an experiment made by me, that’s why it doesn’t look too appetizing (at least like something that would be coming from a resto or whatever but I think it’s pretty decent?) I recently bought a **Feliz Green Tea Almond Spread** online (it is a Korean brand) and it tasted so good (might be the best one yet!!!) on pastries and so I decided why not put it in a banana as well. We used to put Nutella chocolate and peanut butter on bananas as well and it isn’t any different than that. **The verdict:** Well. Bananas gotta banana and do their thing. I don’t know what’s up with this fruit but anything that is being mixed with banana will turn up tasting like a banana, let’s say on milkshakes, fruit shakes and other concoctions. Not that I am complaining, though because banana is full of fiber and it is healthy to be eaten. So yeah, with a small hint of matcha and just enough crunch from the almonds, it tasted real well. Can’t wait to do one again!

Bonus: This isn’t really weird or anything but I am just amused by the name: a wordplay mixing green tea and mamon (a kind of a fluffy bread), hence, **Greenteamon from Pan de Manila.** I used to buy one every morning as there’s a Pan De Manila neat our office. I miss it sometimes but I am grateful for the work from home setup now as I can just order any matcha powder and try them at home (and even bake my own matcha pastries when I have the time).

WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD? Let me know! —— This is by far one of the easiest prompts ever with me being a foodie and all. Although I did have a hard time trying to figure out what food that I can share and expound on. So in the end I chose the one that I truly love the most. If you want to do your own take, here are the simple rules that you may follow: Write anything about **food** Write **100% original** content **Join and submit** your story to **PromptlyJonica** **Tag** : @JonicaBradley **Have fun!** You can read her original post **here**. https://read.cash/@JonicaBradley/writing-prompt-20-food-46d50a1e See you around! A *End Note: All photos are taken by me unless credited otherwise.*