There, ten kasu is often called haikara , a reference to the foreign fashion of high collared shirts at the turn of the century. Shinoda-maki means something will be wrapped in bean curd. The Shinoda forest, not far from Osaka, is inhabited by foxes in several local folk tales. On many shojin , or temple vegetarian, menus, carrots, radishes, mountain ferns, or burdock will be wrapped in sheets of bean curd, then tied with ribbons of kampyo gourd. These sausage-like logs are simmered in a sweetened soy broth before being sliced into individual rounds.
Place names provide inspiration for menus, too.
The Tatsuta River, near Nara, is famous for its red autumn maples. If a menu includes tatsuta age you can be sure you'll be served crispy fish or chicken that was marinated in soy sauce before it was dredged in cornstarch and deep fried. The cornstarch coating absorbs some of the soy, so that when it is fried it takes on a burnished, russet color. Locales lend their identity to the names of certain foods, too. Often menu items have names related to their shape.