Celery, Shiitake, Takenokoi no Nimono

(celery, dried shiitake mushroom, takenokoi-bamboo shoots)

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Celery, Shiitake, Takenokoi no Nimono

The owner and head chef of Domo Restaurant has a big heart and sincerely wishes to share his experiences growing up in Japan with his guests at Domo. This NIMONO side dish could be called the “joys of spring” because these ingredients have their best flavor when they first sprout in spring. In “The Folk Art of Japanese Country Cooking; A Traditional Diet for Today’s World, Gaku Homma describes his childhood joys of hunting for wild herbs and mountain vegetables in the melting snow and sunny days of early spring in northern Japan. This side dish is an original creation at Domo and has been a popular favorite for more than a decade.

Originally, this dish was made with fuki (butterbur), a wild vegetable for which the city of Akita, (the hometown of Domo’s owner) is famous. Since fuki is not available in Denver, Domo uses celery, which resembles the native fuki in Japan. The celery is cut lengthwise and boiled to remove bitterness, cold-rinsed and seasoned Japanese style. The results have been so successful they have even tricked native Japanese visitors who exclaim, “I did not know you could find fuki in Colorado!” Even guests at Domo who say they don’t like celery find favor with this Domo side dish.

Another key ingredient in this side dish is takenokoi (bamboo shoots). The delicate takenokoi root is best when eaten shortly after harvesting. In Japan, fresh takenokoi are available in the markets in early spring. Most takenokoi are cooked soon after they are harvested and are available year round pre-cooked. These cooked takenokoi are also available in the United States in local Asian markets.
       
Guests at Domo Restaurant often show their appreciation for Domo’s effort to offer authentic and traditional Japanese dishes and for combining tradition with practicality by using ingredients that are readily available in the Colorado area. This side dish is truly a testament to both Japanese country tradition and American ingenuity!

One serving of CELERY, SHIITAKE, TAKENOKOI NO NIMONO provides approximately:
50 calories (3%),  8 grams carbohydrates (2%) , 1.5 grams dietary fiber (6%) ,  1.6 grams protein, 1.2 grams fat (1%), 0 % cholesterol, 1% vitamin C, 1% iron, 10% potassium, and 7 % sodium.

Supplier: Shamrock Foods, Nishimoto Trading Co.
Product origin: Japan, USA, Taiwan