Omedetō

Day sixty-seven: Omedetō

Mannendō, ¥240

A shop specialty, Mannendō's omedetō cakes are named for an expression of congratulations and modeled on sekihan, a Japanese version of red beans and rice eaten on auspicious occasions; perhaps omedetō are also a playful acknowledgment of the fact that sekihan is the one savory dish regularly made and sold by Japanese confectioners. Here the azuki beans are boiled in syrup and mixed with domyōji, crushed and cooked sticky rice.