3 March 2009 - 13:00 (Tuesday)
Kiyomizu Dera (Pure Water Temple) is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. Founded in 780 (Note the 3 digit year...), it stands in the wooded hills of eastern Kyoto. This temple was added to the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites in 1994.
In my opinion, it's one of the most beautiful places that Japan has to offer BUT NO.... this is a food blog, not a temple blog so i won't waste any more alphabets describing how beautiful it is, how it's heaven on earth, how the view from the temple top is magnificent, how everyone should visit this temple at least once in their life time..... It's seriously a DIE DIE MUST GO place when in Japan but NO..... i'm not wasting any more of my time writing about such an amazing place cos this is a food blog..... :P
Outdoor seating...
Nestled in the midst of Kiyomizu Dera is this little eatery that has both indoor and outdoor seating and they are famous for serving the silkiest of Tofus (Soy Beancurd). If you don't already know, Kyoto is famous for their Tofus... they taste so much better than what you get in other parts of the world. Why? Apparently it's cos Kyoto has a large number of underground springs and it's the spring water that makes the Tofus softer and silkier in texture.
We had the luxury of watching snow fall from the sky when we were at Kiyomizu Dera and it was one of the most beautiful sights we've ever seen in our lives. Temperature was 0 degrees and when we reached this Tofu eatery, what did we do? We chose to dine on Tofu.... Al Fresco style! Think all the Japs were looking at us and thinking "These crazy Chinese will one day rule the world..." Something like that...
The Tofu is served in a wooden bucken with very very hot water. See that little ceramic pot at the top of the bucket?it's base actually extends through the top of the bucket into the hot water. The ceramic pot contains some soya sauce for the Tofu and the sauce is kept warm by having the base of the pot dipped into the same hot water as the Tofu. So cool!
The Tofu simply took both Wen and my breath away. It was as how legend has over the centuries described it... so Soft, so silky.... Nice!! What you do is place some of the sauce into your bowl, next scoop the Tofu from the bucket into your bowl via the metal netted ladle, top it with some green onions on it then you have an option of either sprinkling it with the spicy powder or the magic salty powder. Yummm!
Being the alcoholics that we are, what's Tofu without Sake right? :)
Now, i'm not sure if Kyoto is famous for their Red Bean dumplings but these dumplings has got to be the BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST dumplings i have ever sunk my teeth into. Wen doesn't like Red Beans ever.... just that it was so cold and she wanted something hot going into her system. She drank some of the red bean soup, took a bite of the dumpling and her whole face lighted up like the 4th of July. The Tofus were fantastic but these Red Bean Dumplings.... DIE DIE MUST TRY!!!
If you are ever in Kyoto, please please please for the love of mankind.... go visit Kiyomizu Dera and then have some Tofu and Red Beans Dumpling. I'll personally castrate my best friend if you do not enjoy that experience.
Kiyomizu Dera
Kyoto
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