Flowers in Bloom Collection - New for Spring 2011
February 23rd, 2011 by tomonoHow have you been? The day light is getting longer and longer here in the U.K.
I saw some daffodils started popping out on our street. I feel so grateful after a long grey winter.
To launch the New Collection, we are now working on beautiful 3 new designs at the moment. The fabric are absolutely gorgeous! You can see some images of the fabrics on our facebook page.
They will be ready to purchase from 1 April with special offer, so please do not forget to sign up our newsletter to get special offer while stock lasts!
Cooking with a Toddler
February 8th, 2011 by tomonoAlthough the days are getting longer and brighter, it was a really, really cold day again here in the U.K., so I stayed at home in the afternoon with my son Oscar.
On this kind of day, what can you do witha super active 2 year old? Well, we decided to cook!
We had just bought some very fresh sprats from the fishmonger, so we made Nanbanzuke.
He was supposed to be helping me but his favourite part of cooking is nibbling and taking all the tupperwear out from draws!
How do you entertain your toddler at home in this kind of weather…?
Oscar helps line up the sprats
Catch them with your chopsticks!
Stealing carrots to nibble
Tupperwear all over the place
Mmmmm yummy!
T x
Cocoro Visits Borough Market in London
January 30th, 2011 by lewisOne freezing Saturday in January, we made a trip to Borough Market with friends.
It’s the place you can try local produced foods and foods from around the world. Everything you need to create great nose bag is here! (thanks to my friend Rick for teaching me this expression).
To warm ourselves up, we tucked into Bratwurst with German mustard and hot Apple and Ginger drink (If only I weren’t pregnant, I would definitely have grabbed a pint of beer!). Also had Caribbean chicken curry and fish soup for lunch. There were so many lovely foods I wanted to try. Wishing really hard that if only I had 4stomachs just like a cow….
My friend bought lovely sweet Balsamic vinegar from Belazu She told me that this Balsamic complement with salads and was also good to sprinkle on ice cream.
What I bought was Spanish Padron Peppers and spicy corn nuts. I will stir fry those peppers with extra virgin oil and serve just with French rock sea salt tomorrow!
Umm yum yum.
Waiting for the train to London Bridge
Oscar tucks into a Bratwurst
Lovely buns and cakes!
Boys having Caribean curry for lunch
Stopped by the Fuzz
Take-home treats!
Tomono x
Imperial Garden in Tokyo
January 26th, 2011 by lewisA good friend of mine lives near Shibuya in Tokyo. Skyscrapers are everywhere, a motorway is just above your head but just walking into a little alley there are lots of houses next to each other and it is surprisingly quiet.
One morning she took us to Imperial house and garden. It’s located just few minutes away from business and financial capital of Japan Marunouchi. It was very strange to see massive garden and space and skyscrapers are next each other.
As soon as we started walking, we started to sweat pints! The strong sun also makes me feel bit nauseus….
After we had been walking for about 30mins, Oscar started sleeping in his pram so I asked my friend “ Can we quickly go for nice lunch before he wakes up?”
She took us back to ‘Maru building’ and we had a lovely Tempura course lunch in a fully-air conditioned room.
I love Buckingham Palace, but the Imperial garden in Tokyo is definitely on my must-visit place list!
It’s free to enter, so please try if you live near there or visit Tokyo!
Imperial Garden Tokyo
Walking through the bean tunnel
Entrance to the gardens
Beautiful flowers in the garden
Tomono x
Do you like Japanese gardens?
January 10th, 2011 by tomonoI was taken to many gardens when I was little but never appreciated them, and all I thought about was what kind of local dish I could try for lunch and dinner later….
However, when my family came over from UK, we visited to Ritsurin park in Kagawa Prefecture.
It was such a warm sunny day in March and made such a lovely memory with my 4year old nephew Joshua. I think that was the time I started getting interested in Japanese gardens.
Every season they attract you with seasonal flowers and beautiful landscape. I wish I could go back there for Sakura season one day!
Koi Carp
Having fun with my nephew
Green, green, green
Happy New Year from Cocoro!
January 2nd, 2011 by tomono2011 is the year of the rabbit!
How did you enter 2011? Some of you might have been partying! Not me, I was in bed reading a book with my hubby and nodded off at 12:05! How great to be tired mum!
We have O-sechi Ryori on 1st January, which is traditional Japanese food. It usually comes in a box with three layers. My mum usually serves it with a big plate of sashimi (raw fish) and Ozoni soup (rice cake in miso soup). O-sechi Ryori contains many dishes with vinegar and salt, which helps to preserve it for longer, so Japanese mums don’t have to cook anything once it’s made and can have some rest! What a good idea, hey?
Do you have any traditional food to have on New Year’s Day?
But this year I was in the U.K., so we had some Indian Curry!!
I wish you a happy and prosperous 2011!
Tomono x
p.s. Don’t forget Cocoro sales is still going on till 31 January! And of course no effect of VAT rise!
Traditional O-sechi Ryori
Ozoni - Miso Soup with Rice Cake
And more O-sechi Ryori
Sashimi - Served with O-sechi Ryori
A visit to see Father Christmas
December 13th, 2010 by tomonoWhen did you realize that Father Christmas was actually your dad? Most children keep the fantasy alive until they are almost 10 but unfortunately I have an older brother who spoilt it for me at a very early age.
We took our 2 year old to Santa’s Grotto in Selfridges last week. I think I might have got too excited and actually enjoyed the experience more than he did.
It felt like we were going into Disney land or something like that, as the whole place was decked out in lovely christmas decorations. After entering the themed attraction we went on the ‘Santa Express’ ride to North pole and finally met ‘Father Christmas’ in his house.
Oscar received a lovely book and really enjoyed meeting him.
Tomono x
Lovely Japanese Cafe in London - Tombo
November 29th, 2010 by tomonoWhere’s your favourite Japanese restaurant? We haven’t got any authentic Japanese restaurants where we live, so every time I visit London, I try new Japanese restaurants.
A friend of mine Yuko introduced me to a place called Tombo cafe in South Kensington. It it a small cozy cafe you can get an Obento box take away, or eat in along with nice Japanese tea and cake. The food they serve reminded me of my mum’s home cooking. Earthy, healthy and unpretentious.
For that day’s lunch deal, I had a choice of salmon or chicken or Tofu and picked 3 side dishes.
The tea I ordered was free to refill so I a had nice relaxing time reading a book of essays by Mariko Hayashi.
There were lots of high chairs for children, so I’d love to take my son next time!
Tombo Cafe
Home style cooking
If you find a nice Japanese restaurant near you, please tell me all about it!
Tomono x
Our trip to ‘The Crooked Billet’ in Stoke Row, Oxfordshire
November 15th, 2010 by tomonoMy hubby took me to a lovely Gastro Pub called ‘The Crooked Billet‘ for lunch today. It’s a hidden place near Henley-on Thames and unless you know where exactly it is, you will never find it (unless you have the postcode and a satnav of course).
It is a small cozy place with a real fireplace, and it feels like you are at your own dining room. All the staff were so friendly and they even gave Oscar a little tour into their kitchen.
All the silver was well shined, the space between the tables was just wide enough. The custard was hot and fresh cream was well chilled. You could tell chef and staff were concerned about the little details.
The luncheon deal was 3 courses for £25. I went for my favourite Fishcake to start, and then Grilled Sea Bass, and Apple Crumble for pudding (I had half of my hubby’s sticky toffee pudding, too). The grilled prawn that came with the main dish was cooked perfectly! The lunch was over 2 hours but Oscar behaved really well and the family next to us was so impressed how he behaved. As long as he has food, he never complains no matter how long the meal is! Like mother like son…
The Crooked Billet
Fish cakes to start me off...
Then the Sea Bass with gorgeous prawns
And I stole half my husband's treacle pudding
Lovely apple crumble too!
Tomono x
Bonfires and Fireworks
November 8th, 2010 by tomonoIn the U.K. we celebrate Guy Fawkes night with fireworks and a big bonfire on 5th November. My son was so scared of fireworks last year when he was only 1.5 years, but we took him to see a firework display in small town called Marlow on Saturday. There were lots of fun things going on and we even went on boat ride on the Thames.
We took a picnic and a warm blanket and enjoyed the beautiful fireworks. We enjoyed a 30min display but Oscar was so bored after 15mins and really wanted to have apple juice at home. Although it was a bit difficult to take our little one out when it was really his bed time, we had fabulous time.
In Japan we usually have fireworks displays in summer, but because they are so popular I heard they start planning to have fireworks not only in Summer.
However, I must say that the best fireworks I ever seen was in Bilbao Spain in Summer 2002. I wish I could go back there someday for the August festival.
Oscar and Daddy on the boat
Enjoying our picnic under the blanket
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