Nagoya’s unique fermentation culture
I recently discovered more about Japan’s fermentation when Central Japan International Airport Co., Ltd. and Yamamotoya Co., Ltd. Had a presentation about these at Ikomai in Salcedo Village, Makati. This event was designed for members of the LTB Philippines Chefs Association, whose members had a unique opportunity to experience Nagoya’s traditional fermentation food culture through hands-on workshops and tastings.
There was a pre-event to the “Fermented Food Fair” at Mitsukoshi BGC (where some of these products are available), where participants explored a wide range of Japanese fermented products still produced today using traditional methods, including Hatcho miso, tamari soy sauce, white soy sauce, mirin, vinegar, and sake. The highlight of the event was a hands-on miso nikomi udon (miso stewed udon or thick noodles) workshop led by craftsmen from Yamamotoya, a long-established specialist restaurant from Nagoya.
This immersive experience deepened my understanding of Nagoya’s unique brewing and fermentation culture. Hatcho miso is a strong and dark red miso that is made with 100 percent soy bean and no grains. It goes through a very long fermentation process (24 to 30 months) and is supposedly the type of miso supplied to the royal family. Another highlight was salmon and tuna sashimi tasting with three types of soy sauce. We had koikuchi soy sauce, quite common since over 80 percent of the soy sauce consumed in Japan is called Koikuchi Shoyu, which means dark soy sauce. Then we tried it with tamari — a Japanese sauce brewed without wheat so it is gluten-free. It’s actually a byproduct of miso paste and making tamari involves a longer fermentation time than regular soy sauce, which results in a sauce that is thicker and darker and with a less salty, more umami-forward flavor. Then there was white soy sauce or shiro shoyu, which has a much higher ratio of wheat to soybeans (typically 90:10) and is fermented for no longer than three months, which accounts for its pale color. Its aroma and taste are very wheat-based with a higher sugar content than regular soy sauce, giving it a different flavor profile.
It was truly a day of learning more about Japanese cuisine. I immediately rushed to Mitsukoshi BGC the day after but was saddened to know the white soy sauce was already sold out! Please re-stock soon!
(Discover the Japanese cuisine of Ikomai located at 147 ACI Group Building, HV Dela Costa, Salcedo Village, Makati City. Call (02) 88164588 for inquiries or reservations.)
The lingering scent of Florence
Over a decade ago, I fell in love with the scent of the living room in a friend’s house. It was a sweet wine scent that I couldn’t describe. My nose traced it to a diffuser that filled up the whole room. The label read “Rosso Nobile by Dr. Vranjes.”
Dr. Vranjes is a fragrance house based and crafted in Florence. In 1983, Dr. Paolo Vranjes and his wife Anna Maria, founded the Antica Officina del Farmacista in Florence, a company specializing in cosmetics and spa treatments. Five years later, they launched their home fragrance diffuser, which was an instant hit.
In 2008, the company grew and became Dr. Vranjes Firenze. Their iconic octagonal shape, inspired by the dome of the Florence cathedral, becomes the seal of excellence for their collections. The company was acquired by the L’Occitane group in 2024 and just this year, they launched their eau de parfum collection as well as hand soaps and creams.
Recently, Dr. Vranjes Product Education and Training manager Matteo Manna flew in from Florence to explain to customers how these fine fragrances are made and what goes into their products. He did this at the beautiful Dr. Vranjes (pronounced vran-yes) boutique in Glorietta at Ayala Center. We smelled all the diffusers and candles and it was difficult to choose a favorite scent as all were almost equally fragrant. I ended up getting a reed diffuser for the house and a diffuser for my car.
Dr. Vranjes now has over 440 authorized dealers in 75 countries worldwide, including one in the Philippines (distributed by Prestige Brands Philippines). Check out their boutique, you will certainly love the scents as much as I do!
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