Recipe: It Ain't Your Mama's Chicken Katsu!

OK... so it ain't my mama's either (she's from Georgia like me!), but if your mama is Japanese, it ain't like hers either ;) But it's GOOD!!! Serve with katsu sauce, of course!

Ingredients

1 cup of panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
1/4 cup flour
1 egg
1/8 cup of milk
3 tsp. garlic powder
3 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 lbs. boneless/skinless chicken breast filets
2 cups canola oil (for frying)

Directions

Cut breast filets into approximately 3 oz. portions (can usually be accomplished by cutting filets from the grocery store in half).

Heat canola oil in a large frying pan over medium-high to high heat.

Combine panko, flour, spices, salt, and parmesan cheese together in one bowl. In another, whisk the egg and milk together. Dip the breast filets into the egg wash first, then into the panko mixture, coating the filet thoroughly and as thickly as possible with the mixture. Working in batches, place into the hot oil frying for approximately 3 minutes on each side. Have a large paper bag (Whole Foods bags work well ;)) or line a baking sheet at least 4 paper towel layers thick ready to place the fried filets on to drain oil. Serve immediately!

Serves 4.

My Love of Japan

The gracious people and their impeccable politeness, the crazy teenagers and their whacked fashion on Takeshita-Dori in Harajuku, the insanely large palaces of European luxury on Omotesando and in Ginza, miniature gadgets we’ll never have at home in Akihabara, the gargantuan train stations where you always seem to be going against the herd, the endearing giggles one elicits when they mis-speak their Japanese - but most of all the amazingly complex and wonderful cuisine - keeps bringing me back to Japan. While the trip this week was all business, I did get to have a bit of fun and meet some wonderful new people in the process. I treasure every trip I get to make to Japan and those that know me know of my love for the country. But, back to the food...

I have several recommendations if you ever find yourself in Tokyo and, specifically, around the very hip neighborhood of Shibuya, here are some not to miss places:

• Gonpachi - great and diverse selection of yakitori in a jovial atmosphere; the beef short rib and duck marinated in wasabi yakitori are not to miss!
• Horaitei - on the top floor of the Tokyu Center department store you will find some of the best katsu ever; go for the katsu donburi at lunch - excellent!
• Paradise Macau - a tropically themed establishment that serves excellent Laotian and Indonesian dishes; they have a very good and inexpensive selection of Aussie wines by the glass
• Asahi Sushi - take-out sushi on the restaurant avenue level of the Shibuya Mark City office complex; great for a quick lunch with an impressively diverse selection of fresh fish, many of which you won’t recognize, so be adventurous
• Legato - swanky establishment on the floor above Gonpachi; floor to ceiling windows and a jazz pianist make this a great spot for dessert or an after dinner drink
• Keivi - a tiny little traditional gay bar just around the corner from Shibuya JR station; much better than average snacks included with your cover charge; tell Mama-san Toshi I said hello!

If you have not yet been to Tokyo, go - our dollar may be in the crapper, but their yen is persistently in the crapper so it is so much more affordable than going to Europe or even New York. There’s no other city in the world quite like it!