Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Seasonal Foods-Enoki mushrooms】

Autumn and winter are great seasons for so many ingredients and one of them happens to be Enoki mushrooms. These mushrooms are those thin white ones all in a bunch. They are crunchy and have a mild flavor that goes well with any seasoning. It is an ingredient that can be found in supermarkets all year round, but its actual season is fall and winter! Low in calories and rich in dietary fiber, it is a good food for people on a diet. Their white, thin appearance may make you wonder if they are nutritious but despite what you think, they are full of nutrients including vitamin B group, potassium, iron, and other nutrients.

Fukuoka Prefecture produces a brand called "hakata-enoki", and ranks first in western Japan in terms of production volume. The best way to eat them is to cook them without washing them. Washing with water is not recommended, as the aroma, flavor, and nutrients of the mushrooms will be washed away. They are delicious stir-fried with meat, in soups, or even cooked up by themselves.

They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, but freezing is recommended. Cut them into bite-size pieces, place in a storage bag, and freeze. The key is not to thaw them before using them. Heat them while frozen. Why freeze them in the first place? Freezing will break down the cell walls of the mushrooms, increasing the absorption of nutrients and flavor.

 【Fukuoka City Information】

Now, I have some information from the Fukuoka City International Foundation about a new service they are offering.

The Fukuoka City International Foundation does have an official LINE account

From the Foundation's official LINE account, you can make an appointment for consultations on daily life or free professional consultation using the LINE call feature. Telephone consultations are available in 22 languages, so please feel free to contact them. In addition, the Voom function of LINE is used to send out information on the Foundation's events and announcements from Fukuoka City. Please add the Foundation's official LINE account to your friends' list from the Fukuoka City International Foundation website. The foundation will not accept consultations via LINE talk, but you can use the inquiry form on the foundation's website.

Also, the Fukuoka City International Foundation will be closed for a period of 6 days, from Thursday, December 29^th  to Tuesday, January 3^rd . It will reopen on Wednesday, January 4^th 2023 at 9 am.

The first session in 2023 for the free legal advice service for foreigners will be held will be on Saturday, January 7^th.  You do need an appointment before you go, so please call to make an appointment as soon as you can.

For more information please call 092-262-1799. Again, that number is 092-262-1799. The call is free to make. You can also check the Fukuoka City International Foundation's website for information.

The staff members at the Fukuoka City International Foundation hope to continue being an

antenna to gather and provide a wealth of information and support to you, the foreign

residents of Fukuoka, in order to make life here in the city even more comfortable in 2023!