LEAF me alone
By solxee
@sol_cee (38223)
Philippines
November 23, 2018 8:06pm CST
If spring is to cherry blossoms, fall or autumn is to the colorful maple trees in its beautiful splendor. Looking at them is like a healing potion for the tired body and soul. I tried capturing their beauty with my smartphone but I failed. I realized I just had to feast my eyes on them. Or taste them.
Introducing ‘momiji tempura’ a specialty dish which is basically maple leaves coated in a secret batter, deep fried and served as a slightly sweet snack. I heard that the locals collect young foliage off trees and then salt them for a year. That could have been the secret to not tasting the actual leaf. It is crunchy with sesame seeds popping in your mouth. Buying it though means enduring the very loooong line of people plus it was very coooold. I just have to pat myself on the back for patiently waiting in line for FRIED LEAVES.
Do you have any favorite local and seasonal delicacies?
Photo is of the maple leaf battered and fried.
20 people like this
23 responses
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
24 Nov 18
That must be so lovely to eat.
Last week I had the chance to eat a fried leaf of pechay. It was so crunchy that I didn't know it was veggie
2 people like this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
24 Nov 18
There is no limit to finding out what is edible and what is not. Never knew maple leaves are eaten (lol)
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
24 Nov 18
the only fried leaf i've tasted was at cabalen, a kapampangan restaurant. it was called crispy kangkong and i couldn't stop eating them.
i didn't know there were maple trees in japan, and i'm awed every time i read/hear about special food/drink/delicacies being left to "marinate" that long. i mean the patience it takes in anticipation of something.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Nov 18
I made the grandson's cups of homemade hot chocolate, that is what winter feels like to me.
2 people like this
@oahuwriter (26780)
• United States
24 Nov 18
Sounds so yummy! Locally nothing but pumpkin spice everywhere, but I find they have too much sugar. So I buy my sugar free mixes. I have none to note for special delicacies of the season for now. I like tempura too, but I will get some at Don Quiote or Times Supermarket for it's easier for me to just buy tempura now.
2 people like this
@oahuwriter (26780)
• United States
24 Nov 18
@sol_cee
Not near by but it's about a half hour to 45 min. ride on the bus from home. They got good sales, a okazuya a Japanese deli and plate lunches where you can buy a piece of tempura at a time too. I like their 1.99 aisles. Now Marukai Wholesale Mart and Donki has merged locally. Marukai is just a half block walk from home, but they don't have everything I need on sale.
@RasmaSandra (73408)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Nov 18
Sounds interesting. Never heard of this before. I guess anything seasonal would be what you can only get at a certain time. I know that the Christmas seasons brings with it many goodies.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11091)
• Calgary, Alberta
26 Nov 18
I love the seasonal ipon fish caught during summer ilocos sur. Cooked with vinegar and ginger served with boiled rice. Paksiw ...
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
26 Nov 18
Wow, I didn't know that maple leaves are edible! It might taste good!
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
30 Nov 18
First time I have seen this snack...It looks so good as must be the taste.
We fry curry leaves in batter but that's a salty snack
