Honestly, if I gave them a thought at all, I thought about sweet potatoes maybe once a year. And even then, only in the context of a single meal. When I was a little girl, there was nothing I looked forward to more at Thanksgiving dinner than my grandmother’s sweet potato soufflé. (Her mac’n’cheese being a very close second.) When she finally shared the recipe with me one afternoon when I was a teenager, the first thing we did was go to the grocery store. There she taught me to select a good sweet potato, guiding me toward tubers that were smooth and free of knots and eyes. Granted the other ingredients, which include sugar - and I mean a LOT of sugar - and sweetened condensed milk, ensured that if nothing else, the dessert would be sweet, but without a good sweet potato? What are we even doing?
This brought back lovely memories of my childhood in Tokyo in the 60's, when the yaki imo man would herald his arrival by singing "Yaki imo, yaki imo!" through a megaphone. The cart he pulled had a charcoal brazier on it, and he would pull the sweet potatoes from the coals with tongs and wrap them in newspaper. They were our favorite treat, and hard to come by because we had find the money and then run down our long driveway to catch up to him. Toward the end of our time in Tokyo he started using a battery-powered megaphone, but otherwise nothing changed
Yes! I've been waiting for this since the mention of the yaki imo truck song in a previous piece. Effortless weaving of food, memory, and culture -- from Grandmother's Thanksgiving sweet potato soufflé to "perfectly roasted sweet potatoes beautifully gift-wrapped in a box". I love sweet potatoes, and reading this makes me realize there is so much more to explore.
Z! All your colors, sights, smells and textures transported me! I’m adding roasted sweet potato to the long list of delicacies to try in Japan! Can’t wait to read the next post ♥️
Absolutely gorgeous, Zakia, and so good to hear your voice again through your writing. Sweet potatoes never featured big in Australia, but I was introduced to them when living in London. Roasted sweet potatoes remind me of easy meals with my first born. Good memories.
This brought back lovely memories of my childhood in Tokyo in the 60's, when the yaki imo man would herald his arrival by singing "Yaki imo, yaki imo!" through a megaphone. The cart he pulled had a charcoal brazier on it, and he would pull the sweet potatoes from the coals with tongs and wrap them in newspaper. They were our favorite treat, and hard to come by because we had find the money and then run down our long driveway to catch up to him. Toward the end of our time in Tokyo he started using a battery-powered megaphone, but otherwise nothing changed
Such an evocative description of yaki imo in all of its iterations! I miss Japan so much.
A great read and just gorgeous. Really excited about you writing! XO
Yes! I've been waiting for this since the mention of the yaki imo truck song in a previous piece. Effortless weaving of food, memory, and culture -- from Grandmother's Thanksgiving sweet potato soufflé to "perfectly roasted sweet potatoes beautifully gift-wrapped in a box". I love sweet potatoes, and reading this makes me realize there is so much more to explore.
Really touching and full of great taste information. Makes me want to tour Japan even more - particularly for sweet potatoes.
Z! All your colors, sights, smells and textures transported me! I’m adding roasted sweet potato to the long list of delicacies to try in Japan! Can’t wait to read the next post ♥️
Hi Zakia!!
I just learned about your blog from Veronica. What cool information you’re sharing!
I hope you are doing well and the kids are happy & having fun!!
Best, Terrie
Hi Zakia!!
I just learned about your blog from Veronica. What cool information you’re sharing!
I hope you are doing well and the kids are happy & having fun!!
Best, Terrie
I love this so much!
I love learning more about Japan, even living just down the street from you! Okay, you have to share, what was your grandma’s nickname for you?
Absolutely gorgeous, Zakia, and so good to hear your voice again through your writing. Sweet potatoes never featured big in Australia, but I was introduced to them when living in London. Roasted sweet potatoes remind me of easy meals with my first born. Good memories.
So lovely to hear about your sweet potato history at home and abroad! I would like to visit in Autumn and eat roasted Beni haruka with you!