Yummy Questionnaire: Rachael from La Fuji Mama

Racheal from La Fuji Mama incorporates this beautiful statement “Variety is the spice of life,” in her beautiful world rounded food blog called La Fuji Mama.  Racheal has not only lived all over the globe but has also been able to share with all of her readers all of the many recipes she has learnt through her travels.  Please help me to welcome her to ThatsSoYummy’s Questionnaire for the week.

* Sweet or Savory?

It depends on my mood!  Although I have a MAJOR sweet tooth, my “savory tooth” has grown a lot over the years.

* Which ingredient(s) do you use the most?

If we’re talking cooking ingredients, it’s probably a tie between garlic and ginger.  If we’re talking baking ingredients, then it would be flour.  I bake a lot of bread.

* What’s your favorite cooking smell?

The smell of baking bread.  It just doesn’t get any better than that!

* What is your most favorite cooking sound?

Although it’s not a true cooking sound, I’d have to say the sound of my 3-year-old’s chatter.  As she has gotten older, she has been helping me more and more in the kitchen.  I love hearing her cute little voice talking excitedly about what we are making.

* In the kitchen, what’s your most treasured possession?

My favorite wooden spoon.  I use it for everything!

* What do you look for inside a dish?

I have very eclectic tastes when it comes to food.  I just look for “good food.”

* What is a “faux pas” in your kitchen?

Putting my favorite knives or my wooden spoon in the dishwasher.  Those items are hand washed and dried immediately after being used.

* Is there a food you will not eat?

I have yet to eat anything that I can say I truly don’t like.  That’s not to say I haven’t had any bad meals—far from it!  Of course, there is food that I choose not to eat for health or environmental reasons.

* What food is your guilty pleasure?

Nutella.  Give me a jar of Nutella and a spoon and I’m a happy camper.  My oldest daughter agrees. I have to hide the Nutella jar from her!

* Have you ever changed how you feel towards a food?

When I was little I could not bring myself to eat sweet potatoes.  I would try them every year at Thanksgiving year where they were served topped with marshmallows and brown sugar, and every year I still hated them.  Then, when Mr. Fuji and I moved to Japan the first time, I got a taste of a roasted sweet potato and I fell in love.  I have since learned to like the Thanksgiving sweet potatoes, but I still prefer them roasted!

* If you could prepare a dinner for anyone, who would it be?

My closest friends and family.  There’s nothing better than cooking with love for those you love.

* If you could choose a living or historical cook to prepare a meal for you, who would it be?

Iron Chef Morimoto, especially if I could sit in the kitchen while he cooked.  He cracks me up!

* Which food website/ or blog would you die without?

That is such a hard question to answer! It’s like trying to choose a favorite child…I just can’t!  So how about I tell you ONE of my favorites?  Chocolate & Zucchini, this is the 1^st blog I ever started reading and I’m still reading it!

* What is your favorite food related word?

Unctuous.  I have yet to use it on my blog, but it is one of my favorite words in general!

* What is your favorite food shopping experience?

I love going to markets in other countries.  I could spend hours exploring this way.  So much to see, learn, and taste!  Culinary tourism is one of my favorite activities.

* If you could move, which country would you move to for the food?

Japan.  Out of any place I’ve lived or travelled to, Japan has consistently had the best food overall.  I found it difficult to have a truly bad meal, whereas it seems quite easy to do so in other places!  Plus, I have a weak spot for Japanese food.  I love the flavors.

* What’s the dress code in the kitchen when you cook?

I’m always barefoot (we don’t wear shoes in the house—a habit we picked up living in Japan) and wearing my favorite apron that my mother-in-law made for me.  Other than that, there is no dress code!

* What would you request on the menu if it was your last supper?

My answer to this question would probably change every week!  I’m always finding new favorites.  Today, it would probably include an amazing dal and a flourless carrot cake that I had recently at a restaurant in Los Angeles.  Other than that, I’d probably request a bowl of miso soup, a spicy tuna roll (my favorite sushi roll), a simple baby arugula salad, some homemade bread, and some kind of really rich dark chocolate dessert.  I mean, if this is my last supper, I’ve got to have more than one dessert, right?

* What food would you prepare to seduce someone?

Homemade bread.  I think that homemade bread is one of the most wonderful things on the planet.

* What food are you craving right now?

Chocolate.  I’m always craving chocolate!

* What is your comfort food?

Chocolate.  Do you see a trend here?

(Image by Wordle)