Life in Fukuoka "English"

【The Flavors of Autumn】

Now that summer heat has finally settled down, we can build up our autumn appetites  and enjoy the delicious flavors of autumn. This week, I'll talk about some of this season's best ingredients!

First, we have the classic autumn favorites: sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and chestnuts. Although they are available year-round, they are at their sweetest and most flavorful in the autumn. You can enjoy them in a variety of dishes, such as simmered dishes, tempura, mixed rice, stews, or simply steamed or roasted. You'll want to be sure to try out the seasonal sweets made from these ingredients that are only available this time of year. Just last Monday, I had a chestnut paste filled donut from Mr. Donuts. That was tasty!

We've also got root vegetables, like lotus root and burdock, in season at this time. They are also delicious in simmered dishes, stir-fries, or deep-fried into chips. They pair perfectly with ground meat and other meat-based dishes.

For something a little more indulgent, there are the fragrant and flavorful matsutake mushrooms. Though a luxury ingredient, they are worth enjoying grilled, in mixed rice, or as dobin mushi (steamed in a teapot) — delicacies that are only available in this season.

Moving on to fish, you can't go wrong with sanma (Pacific saury), simply grilled with salt to really enjoy its flavor. Also in season are the fatty mackerel, firm autumn salmon, bonito that is perfect for sashimi or tataki, and versatile red snapper. Be sure to try these seasonal fish while they are at their best. If you have a chance to try sanma sashimi, I recommend it. It is so rich and almost buttery, it just melts in your mouth. It's only during this season, if you can find it.

And of course, we can't get forget the fruits of autumn. Right now, we have pears, grapes, persimmons, and apples. They are great to eat as is, but they also work wonderfully in salads or as jams. I ordered a box of nashi, or asian pears, with Furusato Nozei and have already finished them. I've just received another box from a farm via Mercari, so I'll have pear for a few more weeks. We indulged in some shine muscat last month, they were really good, but something to eat sparingly, as they were quite expensive. Speaking of expensive, I'm hoping to have a few dishes with matsutake mushrooms this season, if I can find a nice course somewhere to enjoy! Are there any autumn dishes you are looking forward to trying?

Autumn is truly full of delicious ingredients! And remember, seasonal foods are packed with nutrients, so be sure to fully enjoy the flavors of autumn!

【Fukuoka City Information】

The Creators 2024

The event "The Creators 2024", will be on again this year. This is an event where you can experience creativity and entertainment with the latest in entertainment elements and technology-driven content.

There's a big change this year though. Before, it was only two days, but this year, the event will be held over two weekends: Saturday and Sunday, October 5th & 6th, and Saturday and Sunday, October 12th & 13th. With four days to explore, you'll have more time to leisurely experience all the various content, which was previously difficult to see in just two days.

During the first weekend, on October 5th (Sat.) and 6th (Sun.), at the Fukuoka City Science Museum,  the popular event called "Playable! Digital Art Exhibition,"  will be held. There,  you can immerse yourself in sound and visuals for a magical experience. You'll also find workshops where you can try programming and crafts, as well as an AI Dance Show featuring a 3D dance generation AI service called "Strongest AI Dancer," developed by creative companies in Fukuoka.

On the second weekend, on October 12th (Sat.) and 13th (Sun.), at the Fureai Hiroba on the west side of Fukuoka City Hall , you can enjoy live performances by creators and artists on a stage enhanced by large-scale lighting and screens. Additionally, there will be eSports battles between professional players and students, immersive experience booths, VR trucks, and more, offering a wide range of exciting content.

Plus, at the first-floor lobby of City Hall a new immersive space, a satellite branch of "Manga Dive" will be set up for you to experience the world of the popular manga "[Oshi no Ko]"  And at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, there will be events such as a screening of the popular movie "Summer Wars" and film-making workshops.

Admission is free at all venues, so get out and enjoy these four days of experiencing cutting-edge entertainment, culture, and technology in "Creative Fukuoka!"