A cold wave has arrived, and it has become a season that feels like a lie compared to the warmth of just a few days ago, signaling the true onset of winter.
At Kurashiki Mirai Park, I visited an event that is perfect for the season when warm food is delicious.
The star of the event is "noodles."
Udon, ramen, yakisoba... What kind of "noodles" did you imagine? I will report on the event, which is full of delicious things beyond just noodles.
Overview of the "Winter Noodle Festival"
The "Winter Noodle Festival" was held from December 23 (Saturday) to 24 (Sunday), 2023, at Kurashiki Mirai Park and a special venue within MITSUI OUTLET PARK Kurashiki.
It seems that around 30 food stalls gathered, centered around various noodle dishes such as ramen, udon, soba, pasta, yakisoba, and pho.
I visited the venue
After checking the website in advance, I went to the venue at Kurashiki Mirai Park around 10 AM on December 24 (Sunday).
Although it was still early after opening, the venue was already bustling with many people, and there were booths with long lines.
▼ This line is for "Onomichi Ramen Daidai" and "Second Generation Noodle Shop Kururi," which were only open on the 24th. Ramen is indeed popular.
There are also stalls selling items other than noodle dishes.
▼ This is a food truck from "Nico churros," selling churros made from rice flour in front of JR Kurashiki Station.
They fry them after taking your order.
The surface is crispy, while the inside has a unique chewy texture. It paired well with the flavor of kinako (roasted soybean flour) and was delicious.
Now, let me introduce the dishes I tried.
Local noodles from Kochi: "Janmen"
The name alone doesn't give much imagination, but simply put, it's "Chinese noodles with hormone-filled sauce."
"Janmen" is a menu item that originated from a yakiniku restaurant called "Manjuuken" in Shimanto-cho, Kochi Prefecture, and it is so popular that it is even available in the food court of Aeon Mall in Kochi.
Additionally, the sauce has a thick soup-like consistency, making it perfect for the cold season.
The flavor is slightly spicy, but it has a mild spiciness similar to that of yakiniku sauce, so even those who are not good with spicy food or children can enjoy it without any problem.
A branch in Okayama is set to open in March 2024 near Aeon Mall Okayama.
If you want to try it, be sure to check it out.
"Fujinomiya Yakisoba Association MMP"
Known as a B-grade gourmet dish, this is a local noodle from Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
They were skillfully cooking a large amount of yakisoba. The good aroma whetted the appetite.
"I've heard of Fujinomiya Yakisoba, but what does it taste like?"
Some may think this, but the most obvious feature is that it is sprinkled with fish powder.
The noodles are firm, and they are stir-fried using lard, giving them a rich flavor.
Just like Shizuoka oden, it seems that fish powder is often used in Shizuoka's B-grade gourmet dishes.
Donuts and miscellaneous goods shop "Hanamaruko"
I bought not only noodle dishes but also snacks to take home.
Located very close to Uno Station, the donut and miscellaneous goods shop "Hanamaruko."
A variety of handmade donuts inspired by Christmas.
I bought snowman and reindeer donuts to take home.
These donuts are fried using rice oil, making them lighter than regular donuts.
Since the shop is also near Uno Station, I think it would be nice to buy donuts here and go on an art island tour.
Conclusion
The "Winter Noodle Festival" featured numerous food stalls from both inside and outside Okayama Prefecture, allowing visitors to enjoy a variety of menus including snacks and drinks beyond noodle dishes.
Additionally, the cold weather has somewhat eased, making it just right for eating warm food outside.
Although I couldn't introduce everything in the article, there were shops offering dishes made with game meat, and I tried the fried wild boar meat here.
I felt the wild boar meat had a chewy texture and a rich, rustic flavor that was different from pork.
I have heard that in recent years, damage to fields by wild boars has been increasing. I was made to think that it is important to appreciate the resources of the satoyama (village forest) in this way.
I look forward to similar events next time.
Winter Noodle Festival Data
| Name | Winter Noodle Festival |
|---|---|
| Dates | December 23 and 24, 2023 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Location | Kurashiki Mirai Park, MITSUI OUTLET PARK Kurashiki Special Venue |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free admission |
