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[PHOTOS] Thanksgiving 2019

December 5, 2019December 7, 2019 Michael Leave a comment

Fresh wood-smoked turkey + two more oven-baked turkeys!

Dinner plate: Roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green salad with balsamic vinegar-marinated red onions, sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and walnuts, bread stuffing with home-made pork sausage, celery, dried cranberries, walnuts, thyme and sage, and green bean casserole with home-made mushroom sauce, topped with fried onions, fresh-made cranberry sauce, and a dinner roll. For dessert, Chizuko’s apple pie, pumpkin mini-pies, plus a cheesecake and lovely home-made mini-apple pies, courtesy of Stephanie and Heidi. [photo by Michael Lai]

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Kanreki Rocks! Celebrating 60 at Michael’s Cafe

July 30, 2018July 31, 2018 Michael Leave a comment

Why celebrate one birthday when you can celebrate two? We teamed up to combine the July birthdays of Kazuhiko Tada & Michael Dougan and threw a party.

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All The Americans In Tono Are Celebrating Independence Day At Michael’s Cafe American!

July 5, 2018July 5, 2018 Michael Leave a comment

We’re celebrating Independence Day! We’re gathering all the Americans in Tono to watch “Captain America” movies, and enjoy milk and chocolate chip cookies.

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The Week That Was Golden

May 7, 2018August 17, 2018 Michael Leave a comment

Golden Week brought many new faces, and lots of good food and celebration. We’re still new (only about ten weeks!) so this was our first test serving Tono during a busy holiday.

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Mid-April at the Cafe: Photos from Last Week

April 16, 2018April 16, 2018 Michael Leave a comment

Charolette is from Dallas, Texas, now an English teacher in nearby Kamaishi.
She came to confirm that it really is an American Cafe. It really is!

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The Four Stages of Muffin

April 13, 2018April 13, 2018 Michael Leave a comment

Oops! I ate one. Important to test what’s coming out of the oven, right? Banana, pecan, and a hint of ginger. Now all it needs is decoration and presentation.

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Chizuko’s Kitchen: Banana-Pecan Bread with an Orange-Zest Twist

April 12, 2018April 12, 2018 Michael Leave a comment

Chizuko’s banana bread just got better. Today’s fresh-baked treat is banana bread with candied spiced pecans, and orange zest, made with oranges grown right here in Tono!*

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It Gets Even Better: Mini Apple Pie 2.0

April 7, 2018 Michael Leave a comment

This time Chizuko added a home-made caramel sauce finish to the baked apples, cranberries, and walnuts, and instead of won ton wrappers, we’re using puff pastry. It’s delicious.

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What’s In Chizuko’s Kitchen? Apple Pie Cake

April 1, 2018April 1, 2018 Michael Leave a comment

Is that Apple Pie Cake? Yes, it is. How does it taste? Come to the cafe and find out!

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Featured Dessert: Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce

March 29, 2018March 29, 2018 Michael Leave a comment

What’s up in Chizuko’s kitchen? Today’s featured desert is apple cake with home-made caramel sauce, made with local sanfuji apples. Inspired by a Paula Deen recipe, this cake is so good, you’ll think you’re in heaven, surrounded by apple trees and singing angels.