A few weeks back, A came home from the health food store across the street with a bag full of stroopwafel. I was delighted. Have you ever had a stroopwafel? It's a chewy syrup soaked thin waffle cookie from Gouda, in the Netherlands, that maintains a crispness and finely pressed texture that's incredibly delicious. I had my first stroopwafel at a bakery not too far from our hotel in Amsterdam. If you can find them, pick some up and enjoy with a hot cup of coffee. They are better when warm and gooey, fresh from the bakery, but they aren't bad from the box either; in fact, you will wish you knew about them sooner.

[1. Roboppy]

In Kamakura, the new year means New Year's festivals--and street festivals mean street food.

[Above, top to bottom: Japanese manju steamed cake with vegetable filling, indescribable Jelly-roll-like pancake filled with sweet cream cheese, strawberry milk chocolate covered banana, candied apples, candied grapes (delicious!), Yakitori Negima, and grilled baby octopus; 1-7; c. lynn]