MARKET TREND

Miyazaki Gyu

MIYAZAKI-GYU: TWO-TIME CHAMPION of JAPAN’S WAGYU OLYMPICS By: Naoto Yonezawa Wagyu and Kobe beef are popular items on restaurant menus these days but do consumers know where these beef actually come from? And what exactly is Wagyu? According to Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), specific stipulations must be met before beef can earn…
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The Only Hamachi, You’ll Ever Want to Eat

[caption id="attachment_5531" align="aligncenter" width="770"] “Fresher than Fresh”, Always Quality Premium Grade Japan-Harvest Hamachi (Image: Onsui Co., Ltd.)[/caption] NOT ALL HAMACHI ARE CREATED EQUAL. Cho-Rei-Kun Hamachi is naturally grown, and freeze-processed through a revolutionary system that enables the fish to maintain its “just caught” freshness until they’re defrosted for use.  Compare that to the majority of…
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2015 Top 10 Employees Most Popular Items

Mutual Trading employees reveal their top 10 favorite items for 2015. The two most note-worthy trends are the rice and quick-prep items like Kurobuta Sausage, Pork Belly Chashu, Katsuo Tataki and Saba Mirin Yaki. 1. Matsuri Rice California grown MATSURI GOLDEN KOSHIHIKARI RICE is closest to Japan’s prized Koshihikari rice harvested from the famous southern…
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2016 Top 20 Culinary Trends

The National Restaurant Association annually explores the top culinary trends for the coming year. Nearly 1,600 chefs were surveyed to forecast the hottest trends in foods, beverages and culinary themes. While food trends come and go, 2016's biggest culinary trends come as no big surprise. Here are the top 20 culinary trends: 1. Locally sourced meats…
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Trehalose: Revolutionizing the Food Industry

WHAT IS TREHALOSE?  Trehalose is a naturally occurring glucose found notably in mushrooms (shiitake, maitake, nameko), sunflower seeds, sea algae, and yeast (bakers, wine).  It’s about 38% - 40% sweet as sucrose, with a wide range of applications in foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries.  Its unique properties make it ideal especially for food applications:…
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Winning Customers with Oden & Warm Sake

As winter gusts whip through many parts of their island country, Japanese seek refuge in foods for warmth, comfort, and good company. Oden ( pronounced oh-den ) is the ultimate comfort food, a slow food, served hot, to linger onto one’s tummy, palate, and heart. Oden is an assortment of slow simmered foods including Surimi…
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Yakitori & Yakimono on the Menu?

Recent wave of Japanese casual dining style sweeping America has given boost to a familiar genre of Japanese foods: YAKITORI and YAKIMONO, consisting of chicken, meats, seafoods and vegetables, skewered and grilled over hot charcoal. Just like Sushi and other popular Japanese cuisine, there’s an element of artistry over these grilled foods which call for…
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New Style SAKE: Flavored Nigori & Sparkling Sake

The line-up of Sake at most Japanese restaurants in the US is improving, complete in covering a variety of prefectural regions and grades. And servers are increasingly becoming knowledgeable on flavor profile descriptions and food pairings. And while most guests may prefer traditional types of Sake, there is a growing population of those who have…
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Ramen Salad

The popularity of Ramen has grown tremendously in the US, with ramen shops popping up everywhere. This summer, add refreshing Ramen Salad to your menu! Served over a bed of salad greens and topped with delicious toppings, this low-cal and delicious salad is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Ramen Salad INGREDIENTS: Frozen Ramen Noodles [Straight #43135…
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