I absolutely enjoy them, but I do so in moderation. Then I discovered a new generation of rice cakes during my recent trip to Seoul, Korea. “Mochi” snacks from Japan, Korea and Taiwan are often considered highly gourmet precious snacks enjoyed with fine oolong or green tea. It is extremely popular during New Year celebrations too. Some are still made by artisans, pounding sticky rice the old fashioned way until soft and chewy. Thanks to a very creative chef and maven, Sook-Ja Yoon, rice cake specialty stores are cropping up like bakeries in Korea, offering freshly made whole round 7” cakes, slices, petite balls, assortment in pretty gift sets, and many with a Western flair – a new generation of rice cakes.  Some are even made to look like sushi! These tasty treats are truly appealing to folks from ages 1 to 92. To my delight, they are also made with healthier ingredients – often lighter on the sugar content. If you’re interested in buying mochi or rice cakes, you don’t have to wander very far. A trip to any Asian grocery markets, especially the Japanese and Korean markets, will lead you to an array of mochi, some with red beans, macha (green tea powder) black and white sesame – all so very inviting. The last time I checked, even Trader Joe’s have mochi ice-cream in their freezers.