It's been blazin' HOT and sticky/sweaty here in Japan this Summer.

With the Summertime comes another joy in eating. This is 'nagashi somen'(flowing somen noodles).
Have any of you ever tried it? It is a lot of fun, without the extra sweaty BBQ, in the Summer.

They are thin noodles made from flour and instead of being served on a plate you catch them with your chopsticks as they flow down a chute of running water(traditionally a long split pice of bamboo). Many people can sit along and as someone feeds the noodles into the water you pick them up before they go by and then dip them into your cool 'tsuyu' sauce, made of soy, dashi(fish stock), and mirin with some added toppings of choice like, minced ginger, green onions, myoga(?), &or shiso(?)...

I went today to my neighborhood soba restaurant that serves them, during the Summer, outside on the veranda, riverside, in a long stainless steel gutter. It is always so much fun and I hope you can all experience it!!

It tasted real good after a cold draft beer!!!!!!!