Tag Archives: Bento

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/38): Sweet and Sour Pork Bento!

July 13, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Today the Missus prepared my bento inside Ikawa Menpa Lunch Boxes!
These are made in Shizuoka City by one of the very few Japanese craftsmen left plying their trade in the creation of true lunch boxes, Mr. Yoshiaki Mochizuki/望月良秋さん who uses only hinoki/檜/Japanese cypress and sakura no ki/桜の木/cherry tree bark from Shizuoka City mountains!

The Missus devised this lunch with a concern for the very hot weather again when people not only need to drink lots of water but also absorb solid food!

As for the rice, after steaming it, she mixed it with plenty of home-pickled myoga ginger she had sliced beforehand and golden sesame seeds.
She actually tries to include sesame seeds any time she can for their great nutritious value.

As for the sweet and sour pork she first seasoned thin slices of pork belly and rolled them into rough balls before frying them in a sweet and sour sauce of her own recipe. Just before the pork was ready she stir-fried red and yellow sweet pimento and violet onions with it and put the lot atop the rice with a couple of French cornichons/pickles.

The side box was very much of Okinawan inspiration!

Goya champuru, the original Okinawa recipe, is basically made with goya/sour gourd and eggs. Some people add tofu and katsuo bushi/dried bonito shavings, but actually the recipes are innumerable!
The Missus made a simple one withn goya and eggs. Beautiful summer colors!

I actually contributed to the other half as I had made the umshu plum last year!
She added some Japanese cherries and small Shizuoka tomatoes with a bit of lettuce for the vitamins and fibers!

Certainly plentiful, tasty and colorful once again!

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Bento, 美食, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy, 弁当

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/37): Ebi Chirashi Sushi Bento!

July 12, 2011 dragonlife 3 Comments

Hot days are following each other and a lot of people are suffering from “natsubare/summer lethargy”.
Preparing meals is becoming complicated as you do have to provide energy without too many calories and make them appetizing!

Sushi is a good idea in summer as it includes rice vinegar, very good to cool down the system.
The Missus, after steaming the rice prepared it as sushi rice and mixed it with boiled shrimps, tobikko/flying fish roe, thinly sliced small Japanese cucumbers and finely chopped shiso leaves to present it as chrirashizushi/decoration sushi.

For a closer view of the ingredients!

The Missus strove for balance with the side dish.

She mixed ready-made bean salad with hijiki/sweet seaweed and fresh okra to which she added her specialty, half-boiled eggs seasoned with black sesame seeds.

Nice colors with lettuce wrapped under the eggs and Japanese cherries. The latter are more acid than dark cherries and are perfect in summer heat.

Surprisingly satisfying and tasty (and colorful as usual!)!

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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/36): Heat Wave Bento!

June 28, 2011 dragonlife 8 Comments

We are going through a blasting heat wave seeing us almost reach 40 degrees, which means probably higher inside town!
The Missus had to devise a bento that could be kept safe in spite of the adverse conditions!

That is why she mixed shredded sweet umeboshi/pickled Japanese plums with the rice after having steamed. Not only great for taste, design and color, but it will also keep the rice safe for a long time.
She added some black sesame seeds for decoration and supplementary seasoning.

The same conditions applied for the side dish/box: design, color, nutrition and safety!

Pickled celery with hijiki/sweet seaweed and tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette! The latter is for the dessert part!

Great colors there:
Lettuce.
Sauteed salmon seasoned with a mixture of mayonnaise and wasabi tsuke/wasabi stems and leaves pickled in sake white lees.
Sauteed yellow zucchini, okra and plum tomatoes.

Low in calories, very tasty and so colorful!

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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/35): Shiira Bento!

June 24, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

“Shiira/シイラ” is the Japanese name for Mahi-mahi, Dorado,or Common dolphinfish!

It is a very popular and reasonably-priced fish in Japan you can eat in all manners. This particular one came from Kochi Prefecture in Shikoku Island although they are also caught of our shores in Shizuoka!

This time the Missus kept things simple with the rice.
After steaming it she mixed it with some finely chopped carrot and parsely and topped it with broken walnuts.

She strived for balance in nutrients as well in colors for the “side dish”!

Having cut the fillets of shiira into proper-size bits she took off the small bones with pincers before covering the pieces of fish with flour, seasoning, egg and panko and shallow frying (fried in shallow oil, not deep) them.
She added lemon for more seasoning and color and plenty of lettuce for the fibers and vitamin C!

For the “garnish”, she placed her favorite half-boiled egg decorated with black olive, boiled broccoli on a small bed of tartare sauce, French cornichons and tomatoes (the latter for dessert!).

Very tasty, but a little short of satisfaction (I guess the Missus is significantly reducing the calories!)!

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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/34): Alien Chicken Faces Bento!

June 21, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Now, what made me call this bento, Alien Chicken Faces Bento?
The Missus is going to kill me for publishing such a title LOL
Mind you, I can always plead the sudden rise in temperatures as a good excuse!

Anyway, the rice first:
The Missus steamed it with a dash of soy sauce and dashi/soupstock added to the water.
Once steamed she mixed it with boiled black beans.

She added home-pickles mini-melons for fibers and vinegar.
These mini-melons mainly come from the musk melon farmes in the area of Fukuroi City who have to pare down their plants. A good way to avoid waste and turn a reject into gastronomy!

Now, for the accompaniment box:
Can you see the alien faces peeking out?

The Missus made her usual pickle corner with home-pickled cucumber mixed with seaweed (wakame) and umeboshi pulp with a little more ponzu!
Very appreciated on hot days!

Now, do you agree they look alien?
The Missus did work hard to conceive them with sasami/Chicken breast fillets she had first flattened before rolling them around boiled carrots strips and stringbeans and stir-fry them together.
She added plenty of local lettuce and small plum tomatoes for fibers and vitamins!

The dessert added plenty of colors with pineapple and redcurrants from our balcony garden (the redcurrants, not the pineapple!)!

Very colorful and summerlike bento! Very satisfying and yummy!
Loved those alien faces…

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Bento, 美食, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, 弁当

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/33): Dry Curry & Meat Balls Bento

June 15, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Dry curry is a very popular way of preparing curried rice in Japan!
Actually, there is nothing dry about it, only a “Japlish” expression!

The Missus, like most Japanese, loves curry, but more the Japanese style than anything else.
This means curry will be mild, even sweet.
You would be surprised how many shops serve curry in Japan, from Tonkatsu Curry to Curry Udon!

Anyway the Missus, after steaming the rice, mixed in curry mix powder and curry paste while the rice was hot.
She filled the main box with it and topped it with a few raisins.

I was not allowed inside the kitchen (even in the bigger one in our new apartment!) while she prepared the meat balls! All she would tell me is that they were made with pork and beef minced meat, cheese and parsley!
I must admit she makes great balls! (No pun meant!)
She added Shizuoka-grown celery for more fibers and vitamins!

The salad and dessert (she did not forget the latter!) box consisted of home-pickled mini melons and carrots, a semi-boiled egg topped with black sesame seeds, lettuce and beautiful Japanese cherries from Nagano Prefecture ( a present from a student!)!

Plenty of colors again, very satisfying (I was very busy physically today) and yummy!

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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/32): Nokorimono Bento!

June 14, 2011 dragonlife 6 Comments

The Missus is still very busy settling around in around our new appartment.
So, when she asked: “Do you want a bento today?”
I replied: “Yes, if possible!”
To which she commented” In this case, “nokorimono no bento” today!
“Nokorimono” means “leftovers (or what’s ever left in the fridge)!

Plenty of vegetables as you can see, and all locally grown.
After steaming the rice she prepared burdock roots/gobou/牛蒡 in “kinpira” style. She fried some red and green peppers in olive oil and wasabi dressing and black sesame seeds.
The okra served raw with katsuobushi/dry bonito shavings/鰹節.
She then topped the rice with the three of them.
When I ate from that box, I mixed the whole a bit beforehand.

As for the side dish, she first boiled local white and yellow potatoes and then fried them with a tin of yakitori!
She added boiled morokko ingen/モロッコいんげん, a large variety of string beans (these are usually grown for their beans, but the Japanese like them young) knotted for design and some pearl tomatoes!

Very healthy and yummy leftovers, but where was my dessert? LOL

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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/32): Italian Sushi Roll bento!

June 8, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

The Missus, getting more and more used to her new kitchen (same size, but more open and practical) went into sushi mode today!
As said yesterday, nothing really complicated yet, but some of my favorites creeping back into the recipe!

I called these sushi rolls “Italian” for the simple reason that they are wrapped in Trevise!
The Missus first prepared sushi rice and added some black sesame seeds to it.
She then made the rolls with freshly chopped avocado, walnuts, and “kanikama/surimi” and finally wrapped them in Trevise cabbage leaves.
The home-made pickles are mini-melons coming from local musk melon farms to which she added her own pickled Japanese pepper/sanshyou.
The taste of the latter is very zippy!

Now, for the side dish:
My favorite, tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette containing boiled black beans!
Home-pickled cucumber and mini tomatoes salad.
Yellow kiwi fruit (dessert!).
Celeri leaves.

Once again vey nourishing and colorful!

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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/31): New Home Bento!

June 7, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

Due to our moving to a new home just completed the Missus simply had not the time to make a bento for me for nearly a month!
Thus this is my first bento made in our new home!

The Missus kept everything simple this time. She said more complicated affairs will still have to wait!
After having steamed she rice she mixed it with her own pickled Japanese pepper seeds/sanshou/山椒 and added a “kinpira” of carrots and burdock roots/gobou/牛蒡 she had prepared last night. It certainly made for simple and nice colors.

The “side box/dish” also came in simple colors and healthy balance!

She deep-fried (actually shallow-fried) “tontoro/soft pork” cut into rough strips, not with breadcrumbs, but with karaage crumbs which are a lot finer. She placed them on a bed of Shizuoka-grown celery (our Prefecture grows half of the total Japanese crop!) and added a touch of color and balance with lemon pieces for seasoning and sweet pearl tomatoes for taste and vitamins!

She finally added her own pickled cucumber (with black sesame seeds) and boiled black beans (bought in a market).

If she plans to concoct something more complicated in the future I’m not going to complain! LOL

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Bento, Ekiben, 駅弁, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka

Shizuoka Ekiben/Railway Station Bento: Tokusei Tai Meshi

May 18, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Red Seabream or tai/鯛 is considered a lucky fish in Japan and is served for all kinds of celebrations.
The fish itself can come quite expensive, especially when caught in deep water.
In Shizuoka we have both the wild and human-raised varieties and is not that expensive, except when served as himono/dried fish/干物！

We were busy today moving into another appartmenet downtown and we just did not have the time to cook lunch.
I just went to Shizuoka JR Station, 15 minutes away by bicycle and bought 8 of the above (six for the removal staff and two for us)!

Tokaiken Co. sells two versions, one normal and the other called “Tokusei Tai Meshi”/Special Red Seabream Rice.
I bought the latter as this was a special occasion!

Precise explanations of the contents as usual!

The design is quite retro and ancient. too. The picture comes from a real painting/litograph/wood plate of old!

Now, what do we have here?

A piece of simmered red seabream with its soft edible skin atop the rice.
The rice is covered with finely flaked red seabream flesh which had been lightly sweetened beforehand.

The rice again is a mazegihan type/steamed rice mixed with the juices of the simmered red seabream.
Very tasty indeed and no “fishy” background!

As for the side dish, once again: nimono/simmered items/煮物, carrot, lotus root, fuki/giant butterbur stems, burdock root, tofu cake, konnyaku/elephant foot tuber.

The Japanese would never have their ekiben or bento without some pickles!
In this case daikon in umeboshi juice and cucumber!

To be continued…

Uncategorized

Shizuoka Ekiben/Railway Station Bento: Oyako Meshi

May 17, 2011 dragonlife 6 Comments

I suppose many have heard of the Japanese delicacy called oyakodon/親子丼, meaning a pot/plate filled with rice with a topping made a chicken omelette (in Hokkaido it is salmon and salmon’s roe!).
“Oyako” means “parent and child”. In this case it means chicken and eggs. As don/丼/pot or plate does not qualify this ekiben is called “meshi/めし/rice or meal.
I bought it today at Shizuoka JR Railway Station at the Tokaiken Co. booth.

This particular ekiben being a very long best seller the original design is a bit retro!

For a better look after having taken the thread and chopsticks away!

It is not so big but quite deep and there is plenty inside it!

Now, what do we have here?

As seen from above the meshi/rice is topped with simmered chicken (no fat or skin), Japanese scrambled egg in “soboro” style (It is sweet) and green peas.

Once you dig in you realize this is “mazegohan/混ぜご飯 or mixed rice” (They also call it sakurahan/桜飯/cherry rice), a typical Japanese way of preparing rice. The rice has been mixed with the chicken pieces and fine strips of bamboo shoot, kamaboko/fish paste cake and burdock/gobou/牛蒡 root! Very tasty rice, indeed!

As for the side dish: nimono/simmered items/煮物, carrot, lotus root, fuki/giant butterbur stems, burdock root, tofu cake, konnyaku/elephant tuber.

The Japanese would never have their ekiben or bento without some pickles!
In this case daikon in umeboshi juice and cucumber!

To be continued…

Uncategorized

Shizuoka Ekiben/Railway Station Bento: Tokusei Maku No Uchi

May 14, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Makunouchi (幕の内) is a popular type of Japanese bento which consists of fish, meat, pickles, eggs and vegetables along with rice and an umeboshi.
The word makuno-uchi bentō (“between-act bento”), dates back to the Edo Period (1603 to 1867), when they were served during the intermissions (幕間) of Noh and Kabuki theater performances.

From the Meiji Period onward, Makunouchi has become a common convention for bentos sold at train stations. Though the selection and number of items in a Makunouchi bento vary from store to store, it often contains more items and costs more than other offerings.

Tokaiken at Shizuoka JR railway station sells two types one, norml Maku no Uchi Bento/幕の内弁当 and Tokusei Maki no Uchi Bento/特製幕の内弁当 or Special Maku no Uchi Bento/Ekiben.

The box as usual comes its own disposable chopsticks.

Shizuoka Prefecture is the largest producer of green tea in Japan!

Clear indications of the contents as usual!

The rice is covered with a special piece of paper for extra protection.

What do we have here?

Steamed rice sprinkled with black sesame seeds and small umeboshi/salt-pickled Japanese plum. Great for digestion!

From left to right, bottom up:
-Lower compartment
Fried beef and konyaku vermicelli
Preserved apricot
Tamagoyaki/ Japanese omelette
Menchikatsu or Japanese-style pork fillet croquette
Deep-fried prawn in batter and breadcrumbs
White and pink kamaboko/fish paste cake
Grilled mackerel
-Upper left compartment
Wasabizuke/wasabi leaves and stems pickled in Sakakasu/Japanese sake white lees
Small bottle of soy sauce
Pickled daikon
-Upper right compartment
Fried chicken ball on a bed of fried bamboo shoots
Nimono/simmered food: carrot, lotus root and green string beans

Once again, healthy and fulfilling!

To be continued…

Bento, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/30): Wasabi Pork Sausage Bento!

May 10, 2011 dragonlife 6 Comments

Wasabi sausages!!??
Yes, they certainly exist!
These were conceived with the best pork you could find in Japan produced by Sanoman Company in Fujinomiya City. The wasabi of course is from Shizuoka Prefecture, that is, from a nearby wasabi field.
Actually, I went to Fujinomiya City yesterday to report on a grand BBQ organized by Sanoman Co. and I just couldn’t resist bringing back these sausages to the Missus!

The Missus just steamed plain rice before filling the box and sprinkling them with black roasted sesame seeds and adding some fresh ginger pickled in sweet vinegar.
As for the vegetables she prepared “kinpira” with burdock roots/gobo/牛蒡, local chili pepper and dry shredded cuttle-fish. She filled the other other half with hot Chinese-style sauteed eggplant and green pepper.

As for the side dish she prepared her specialty, tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette and simply boiled and fried the sausages to which she added fresh celery.
The dessert was made of grapes and oranges wedges.

For a better view of the wasabi pork sausages!
A real delicatessen’s delicacy (the oxymoron of the day!)!
You must absolutely try them!

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Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

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Bento, 美食, Ekiben, 観光, 駅弁, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Tourism, Travel, 弁当

Shizuoka Ekiben/Railway Station Bento: Haru Chisen

May 8, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

About this time of the year Tokaiken Co. offers a seasonal ekiben at Shizuoka JR Station called “Haru Chisen/春千扇”, or “The Thousand Fans of Spring to celebrate the most important season in Japan! It is slightly more expensive (1,000 yen), but it is certainly worth it!

The box is the color of cherry blossoms, the symbol of Spring!

The contents are clearly indicated as usual!

As you lift the cover you will find another film of transparent paper protecting the food inside.

Now, what do we have?

Sansai maze gohan: Rice steamed together with wild mountain vegetables. Another indication that we are in Spring!

Shiozuke sakura no hana: edible cherry blossom preserved in salt!

Let’s have a look at the section on the left… beautiful colors!

Flower-shaped daikon pickled in sweet vinegar on na no hana/rapeseed flowers and umeboshi-pickled daikon.

Tara no me/a Japanese wild mountain vegetable.
Tofu edamame fuwafuwa: deep-fried tofu cake containing edamame and other vegetables.
Tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette.

Now, let’s turn to the right section: More colors!

Nimono/simmered vegetables: Carrot, taro, shiitake mushroom, green peas in their pod, bamboo shoot and cherry-blossom-shaped jelly.

Now for the “main dish”: pork shuumai/dim sung, sawara/young Spanish mackerel (from the Suruga Bay) and deep-fried chikuwa/fish paste roll stuffed with umeboshi paste.

By now you should know the color of Spring in Japan!

To be continued…

Bento, Ekiben, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy, Tourism, 弁当

Shizuoka Ekiben/Railway Station Bento: Shizuoka Tokusei Okonomi

May 6, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

It seems I still have to round up quite a few more ekiben at Shizuoka (City) JR Station before I can move to another station! LOL

This particular regular bento is called Shizuoka Tokusei Okonomi/静岡特製お好み, meaning that it is a specilally made bento with the rice coming with a different topping according to season.

A plain “obento/おべんと” is written on the box but the slightly retro designs are inviting!

Tokaiken Co. as usual describes the contents in detail!

Now, what do we have here?
Notice that the rice is protected by a sheet of paper.

Endou mame gohan/エンドウ豆ご飯, steamed rice and green peas.

Bottom left: pickled daikon
Bottom center: Grilled mackerel
Bottom right: Nimono/steamed vegetables: carrot, taro, shiitake, string bean and yuuba hiroisu/tofu cake.

Middle left: Ingen goma shirae/boiled string beans with sesame dressing
Middle center: Shrimps tempura with a small bottle of soy sauce

Top left: Niwatori Karaage/deep-fried chicken (Japanese style)
Top center: Daifuku/Japanese wagashi/cakes made with rice flour and sweetmeats.
Top right: Shrimps and coleslaw salad

Great balance again and reasonably-priced!

To be continued…