"Come on, pal! Washoku me!"

[Mulboyne]

LATimes: The past, deliciously present
...At stylish Yuzu in Torrance, the spirit of washoku, one of the latest buzz words in culinary circles in Japan, emerges as you sit at the gleaming, lacquered counter watching the action in the open, country-style kitchen. Washoku is a revival of pure Japanese flavors and traditional cooking methods. (Wa is the calligraphic symbol for things indigenous to the Japanese culture). Although everyday Japanese eating has absorbed global influences and a certain fondness for pizza and fast-food, the retro washoku trend has fostered a new appreciation for artisanal ingredients and the minimalist preparation styles that coax out their best flavors...more...

[milQuetoast]

washoku, one of the latest buzz words in culinary circles in Japan...

Ugh, that is just pathetic. Hey, maybe we can start writing our own series of articles:

"Yamato-damashii, the latest catchphrase among Japan's cognizenti, signifies..."

[cstaylor]

[Greji]

[gkanai]

Trust me- I worked in Torrance for 4 years.

There AINT nothing "stylish" in Torrance.

[Captain Japan]

Tokyo Dining Can Be Easy, Even for Foreigners: Richard Vines
Bloomberg

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Japan is tough for visitors.
Your mobile phone doesn't work. Your cash-machine card isn't accepted. And language is such a problem, your world can shrink to a bubble of hotels and taxis whose windows offer you views of a well-ordered society from which you feel excluded.

I first went to Tokyo -- one of my favorite cities -- in 1984 and was surprised this month to find it is still such hard work. In many eateries, a non-Japanese speaker orders by pointing at plastic models of dishes. Small wonder that foreigners tend to eat in up-market restaurants with English-speaking staff.

Then you bump up against the sensibilities of expatriates who are dismissive of such places. But a few days in Tokyo leave little time to seek out that exquisite local eatery, especially as Japanese street numbering makes Sudoku look simple. Here are some decent places where you can eat without leaving your bubble. ...more...