Look! Spring is Here! | Apartment Therapy The Kitchn

Look! Spring is Here!San Francisco

With apologies to everyone who got snow this weekend, but it is indeed spring here on the West Coast! The proof? Well, locally grown lilacs and asparagus at the farmer's market for starters. Lamb and fresh peas are peeking around the corner. But the real proof? The real harbinger of spring in any community that has a Japanese immigrant population? Sakuramochi!

Sakuramochi is an amazing seasonal mochi treat made with sweet mochi (rice flour and water that is steamed and cooked) and sweet red bean paste that is wrapped in a salted cherry leaf. It appears briefly in spring, when the cherry trees begin to leaf out, usually in late March and early April.

Maybe I'm getting old, but I have to say that lately I'm really appreciating things that have a brief season. There's a sweet poignancy about experiencing something in its season and then poof! it's gone. Somehow, this enhances my experience rather than diminishes it.

Having it all, at any time and at any price, is no longer interesting to me. But a simple, delicate treat that appears briefly at a wondrous, beautiful time is precious.

What speaks of Spring in your world? Have you seen it yet?

(Images, front page: Dana Velden and this page, and a recipe: Sakuramochi)

Comments (4)

I love sakuramochi and miss the beautiful store Minamoto Kitchoan in New York that I used to go to religiously. Where is the best place for fresh mochi in SF?

posted by Arran on March 30th 2009 at 11:36am
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Arran:
The only place I know of is Benkyodo on the Buchanan Mall in Japantown. They have a beautiful website. The shop itself isn't beautiful in the classic Japanese way; in fact, it's located in a funky, no-frills diner. But for me, that's part of the charm!

http://www.benkyodocompany.com/

posted by Dana V on March 30th 2009 at 12:42pm
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I saw Abita Strawberry at Whole Foods this weekend and had to pick some up. We usually buy a six-pack a year of this stuff, so it's definitely savored.

posted by kmays on March 30th 2009 at 1:47pm
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Jonquils (er, daffodils?) are our typical harbingers of spring. They just pop up all of a sudden and boom! springtime.

For some reason, though, I am really looking forward to spring and some good veggies this year. I want to load up on asparagus and rhubarb and strawberries but I can't seem to get any of the good stuff yet.

Spring and summer always remind me of my Grandad's garden (he grew everything!) and good thunderstorms.

posted by Kakugori on March 30th 2009 at 4:03pm
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