Tag Archives: Lunch Box

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/08): Kinoko Omu Raisu/Mushrooms Omelet Rice Bento!

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For once being very busy today I couldn’t look at the Missus preparing my bento and I had to wait until she brought it to my office before I could discover it!
She made a point to stand by while I opened the box so that she could explain the contents.
How kind of her!

She made “omu raisu/omelette rice”!
Well, we cannot see what is inside the omelet wrap in the above picture but I know that the Missus steamed the rice separately and that she fried the various mushrooms before mixing them with rice and seasoning!
After that, she made an omelette and filled it with mixed rice before turning it over into the bento box!
She then added Ameera Rubbins Pearl Tomatoes, parsley. sliced black olives and boiled Brussels sprouts (with some mayonnaise for the latter) for decoration and balance!

You can make such a side salad box only in Shizuoka Prefecture!

The walnut is not local but the lemon, baby leaves, mini celery and lettuce are.
But you can find fresh sakuraebi/Cherry Shrimps only in Shizuoka Prefecture (that is, unless you have a fat wallet in spite of their relatively low price here!). The Missus deep-fried them before sprinkling them over the salad.

A very well-balanced, nourishing and beautiful bento again!

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47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bento, 美食, 魚, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/07): Tuna Balls Bento!

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The Missus (or Greenpeace…) will have mine for posting such a title…
But the Missus loves meat balls and tuna, so the combination was only natural!

For once I must say that the rice dish was more elaborate than all the rest!

Everything was laid on plain steamed rice.
The balls were made with “negitoro”/tuna flesh grated off the inside of the skin. I only know that the Missus seasoned it with mayonnaise, Japanese sake and wasabi dressing and what else before shaping small balls and stir-frying them in light sauce, probably ponzu, soy sauce and mirin.
She just placed them atop the rice beside opened snap peas in their pod. Interesting design!

She then added a typical Japanese garnish: hijiki/sweet seaweed, small pieces of carrot, red cabbage and aburage/deep-fried tofu pouches and peas all lightly fried and seasoned together. A vegan’s delight!

The salad dish consisted of a half-boiled egg, lightly marinated and seasoned with black sesame seeds, fresh buckwheat sprouts, lettuce and mini tomatoes!
Very colorful!

This picture will prove that the Missus enjoyed her own cooking as she had exactly the same for lunch!

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With a Glass, Einfach Bento,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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

Bento, Chicken, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/06): Chicken & Burdock Rice Bento!

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We eat a lot of burdock root/gobo/牛蒡 in season as this is not only a versatile vegetables but because it is also very healthy! It is even used as herbal medicine in some countries!

The Missus cooked/fried the cubed chicken and thinly cut burdock root separately in a sauce of her own (secret! Sorry) while the rice was being steamed.

Once the rice steamed she mixed with the cooked chicken and burdock root and their sauce for a very tasty mazegohan/混ぜご飯/mixed rice! She added the last touch with plenty of black roasted sesame seeds.

The side dish was a typical marriage of products from the land and the sea of Shizuoka Prefecture!

The tamagoyaki was done with cheese and parsley and placed inside the box beside boiled snap peas in their pods seasoned with crushed peanuts!

A product which made Shizuoka famous: kuro hanpen/黒はんぺん/dark sardine fish paste!
The Missus fried them before placing them on a bed of lettuce with local plum tomatoes!

Very satisfying and yummy!

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With a Glass, Einfach Bento,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/05): Tamago Chahan & Soft Ton Bento!

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Soft ton stands for “soft” of course and ton is actually another way to pronounce Buta/豚/pork in Japanese! It is a very popular way of eating pork in Japan as it is very eclectic!

The Missus had plenty of plain cooked rice left from the night before and she made a simple and tasty Tamago Chahan/玉子チャハン/egg fried rice, Japanese style with it!
She next prepared soft ton in tonkatsu style (ton/pork being repeated as you can see!) she placed on top of the rice seasoned with tonkatsu sauce. For the finishing touch she added chopped parsley and home-pickled onions with amazu/sweet vinegar!

The Missus conceived a typical Japanese side box with a salad of boiled carrot sticks and string beans seasoned with gomadare/sesame dressing resting on ice plants. Mini tomatoes for more design, colors and vitamins and Japanese pear/Nashi/梨 for dessert!

I know that this combination of fried rice and tonkatsu would appeal to a lot of people!
What with the side dish a perfectly balanced yummy bento!

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With a Glass, Einfach Bento,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/04): Hambaagu Bento!

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The Japanese make the difference between “hamburger” and “hamburger steak” by calling the normal hamburger with buns “hambaagaa” and hamburger steaks served without the buns “hambaagu”. The difference in pronunciation is minimal, while the difference in presentation is significant!

The Missus kept the rice box both simple and colorful.
Having steamed she rice she just mixed it with salad beans bought in packs at the local supermarket.

Talking of colors there were plenty more in side box!

The hambaagu/patties are another Missus’ secret although I know she includes crunchy red onion in them which makes for a very tasty bite.
Having seasoned them with her own tomato and vegetables sauce she placed them on lettuce with French pickles.

The salads consisted of one made with white and violet potatoes from her family’s garden topped with black olive and the other of fried green pepper and cabbage seasoned with gomadare/sesame dressing.

For dessert she added local mini tomatoes and green kiwi fruit!

Very colorful, tasty and satisfying!
I could have called this Bento “Mini American Bento”?

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With a Glass, Einfach Bento,
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Bento, 美食, Ekiben, 観光, 駅弁, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Mishima City, Shizuoka, Tourism, 弁当

Ekiben/Railway lunch Box: Oku Suruga No Iso Chirashi in Mishima JR Station!

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Yesterday I suddenly had to go all the way to Mishima City, about half an hour and two stations away by Shinkasen from Shizuoka City and just had the time on my way back to sample a new ekiben/駅弁/Railway Lunch Box (or boxed lunch)!

Nice packaging!
Oku Suruga No Iso Chirashi/奥駿河の磯ちらし basically means a chirashi/decoration-style sushi made with ingredients from the far corners of Suruga Bay!

Can you see the little sign in the left top corner?
It is the registration as a “True Japanese Ekiben”!

Tounakaken Co in Numazu City advertises precisely all the contents. And there certainly were a lot of ingredients!

A rigid transparent plastic cover protects the contents.

Now, what do we have?
Actually a lot!
As the ingredients are all a bit “mixed up” I’ll give them right away. Let’s see if we can distinguish them later:
Sushi rice, Nishiki ko Tamago/shredded omelette, octopus, simmered shiitake, Sakura Ebi/Cherry shrimps, crab, gari/pickled ginger, tobiuo tamago/flying fish roe, cucumber, ooba shiso/perilla, white sesame seeds and seaweed!

Cucumber, omelette, Flying fish roe, octopus,…

Pickled ginger, shiitake, omelette, flying fish roe,…

Omelette, crab, cucumber, sakura ebi, flying fish roe,…

Here you can see that the sushi rice was first topped with konbu seaweed and simmered shiitake!

Eating local sushi on a train! What more can you ask? LOL

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With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/03): Sushi Roll Feast Bento!

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When you are short of ideas just keep rolling away!
The Missus was short of inspiration for today’s bento as she said, so I told her, “Why not making sushi rolls with whatever you can find in the fridge?”

Simple ideas are usually the best!

And here is the result!
The Missus and I wrap our rolls in lettuce instead of dry seaweed whenever possible for better colors, balance and taste.
Making the sushi rice was simple enough. The first roll includes carrot thinly cut lengthwise, the second tinned white tuna from Yui in Shizuoka City and thinly cut cucumber, and the third one soft ham from Sanoman Co. in Fujinomiya City and sliced black olives!

This side dish must have been one of the most colorful ever with no less than three different mini tomatoes from Fuji City, yellow, red and blackish red, boiled Brussels sprouts and a Missus’ boiled egg atop a tartare sauce bed and topped with a sliced olive!

A very solid bento, I guarantee you! And yummy!

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With a Glass, Einfach Bento,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/02): Nanbanzuke Aji/Sweet and Sour Horse Mackerel Bento!

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We are very much in the season for Aji/鯵/Horse mackerel and since it is abundant in the Suruga Bay off the shores of Shizuoka Prefecture the Missus thought it was about time I had some fish for bento!

For the rice the Missus steamed it plain with hijiki/sweet seaweed and mixed the lot later with plenty of golden sesame seeds.
For a touch of design and balance she added some soft boiled egg of her own invention.

The side dish could be considered as the main dish, what with all the ingredients and colors!

Nanbanzuke means Japanese-style sweet and sour. The Missus prepares it spicier than usual with some sliced dry chillies and onion rings. It is a great way to season horse mackerel which already has a marked taste. The fish was placed over some lettuce to eat together.

No much need for a dessert with some many vegetables:
Carrot and walnut salad.
Boiled taro/satoimo seasoned with black sesame seeds.
Local mini tomato.

I took my time savoring the whole!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass, Einfach Bento,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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

観光, Japan, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Traditonal Handcarfts, Tourism, Traditional Japanese Handcrafts

38th Shizuoka Traditional Crafts Exhibition at Matsuzakaya Department Store! (Part 2)

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Motif-inlaid Utility Lacquer box!

From January 18th through the 23rd a big exhibition is featuring traditional crafts and artists from all over the Prefecture!
This is a must-see event as Shizuoka Prefecture is a major crafts producing Prefecture in Japan!
No less than 66 artists will be represented!
This is the second installment but I will start soon running a series of individual interviews of these artists who are contributing so much to the preservation of great Japanese traditions!

Geta/wooden clogs and a picture of the artist whom I will interview soon!

Beautifully hand-carved and painted geta for ladies!

Elegant low-heeled men geta!

Nobody but a doll will ever wear these getas as they are smaller than the palm of your hand! Exquisite objet d’art!

Lady kimono “obidome/belt knot cover”!

More cute obidome!

Lady lacquered hairpins/hairknots!

Lady pendant tops, obidome, and hair barettes!

Exquisite business cards holders (for ladies!)!

Motif-inlaid lacquered utility boxes!

The artist about to paint the carved lacquer box!
Will interview him soon!

A favorite of mine: Japanese Sake Serving Glassware!

Business card holders for gentlemen!

Laquered paper tissue/napkin box you could use as a stand at the same time!

Dyed cloth eco-bag!

Wonderful lacquered chopsticks!

Expensive lacquered soup bowls!

Lacquered trays and bento boxes (for ladies) inlaid with dragonfly motif!

Exquisitely feminine bento boxes!

Another favorite of mine: Lacquered Japanese cups! A bit expensive but a true piece of art!

These beautiful insects are made of bamboo!

These bamboo lattice vase or lamp holders are a trademark of Shizuoka!

For a romantic night!

A lot of ladies would love such an elegant hand bag both for its originality and sheer intricacy!

Superb vessels for ikebana/flower arranging!

Traditional Shizuhata/賎機焼 pottery officially recognized as an asset of Shizuoka Prefecture!
The bowls can be used as such or for decoration as they bear pedestals on their back.

When you turn them over you realize they represent the face of a goblin/Oni/鬼!

More pottery from the same artist family I will interview soon!

More celebrated (and expensive!) Shizuhata pottery!

“Wappa” box with interesting motifs!

The artist and his family dye and wash this “Aizome/藍染” dye cloth with the water of their own well!

Dyed cloth bags!

Dyed cloth lady purses!

Don’t worry, many interviews coming soon!

Matsuzakaya Department Store
Right across the street from the Shizuoka JR Station North Exit
Opening hours: 10:00=19:00

For more information on prices, availability and orders please contact:
Robert-Gilles Martineau at Agrigraph
r.martineau@m2-labo.jp
Fax: (81)(0)537-7724

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bento, 観光, Japan, Japanese Pottery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Traditonal Handcarfts, Tourism, Traditional Japanese Handcrafts

38th Shizuoka Traditional Crafts Exhibition at Matsuzakaya Department Store!

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Ikawa Mempa Bento Boxes!

From January 18th through the 23rd a big exhibition will feature traditional crafts and artists from all over the Prefecture!
This is a must-see event as Shizuoka Prefecture is a major crafts producing Prefecture in Japan!
No less than 66 artists will be represented!

Yesterday I ran to the 8th Floor of the department store to take pictures to give you an idea on what is on offer!
Naturally, I will start running a series of individual interviews of these artists who are contributing so much to the preservation of great Japanese traditions!

Here we go!

Box weaving artist!

Natural fiber woven boxes!

Everyday necessities from geta/wooden clog, purse to trays and lamps!

Ikawa Mempa lacquered bento boxes!

This large bento box could be used as a tray!

High quality wood cabinets and vase supports!

Traditional “tansu” drawer chests!

Arguably better than fragile antiques! And as good-looking!

Tempting, aren’t they? Both useful and so decorative!

One of my favorite crafts, bamboo lattice handcraft!

Light, sturdy and elegant for everyday use and decoration!

I couldn’t get my hands off them!

Japanese wooden clogs, geta! The reason that they are still popular is that they are actually promoting the feet’s health!

For gentlemen and ladies!

Exquisite pendants!

Decorated lacquered boxes!

2012 is the Year of the Dragon!

Beautiful Japanese traditional motifs!

Traditional wooden toys! Such Japanese-made toys are becoming a rarity!

Shizuoka is also celebrated for its “Aizome” dyed cloth which is also used in modern fashion!

This material will make your friends envious. Just think of the possibilities!

More everyday apparels!

Coaster collection for every year!

Very elegant and cheerful on a cold winter day!

Everyday enameled earthenware!

Both extravagant and sophisticated everyday earthenware!

Beautiful lunch boxes, chopsticks, trays all lacquered for ladies!

Mini mirrors!

And this is only a small part!
I might as well take more pictures today!

Matsuzakaya Department Store
Right across the street from the Shizuoka JR Station North Exit
Opening hours: 10:00=19:00

For more information on prices, availability and orders please contact:
Robert-Gilles Martineau at Agrigraph
r.martineau@m2-labo.jp
Fax: (81)(0)537-7724

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/01): Sakura Ebi Kakiage Bento!

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Kakiage is a kind of tempura in Japan. It is very popular when you need to accommodate small ingredients!
Shizuoka has arguably the most celebrated variety of kakiage: Sakura Ebi/Cherry Shrimps Kakiage!

The Missus kept things very simple: after steaming the rice she mixed it with golden sesame seeds and shredded na no hana/菜の花/rape flowers for plenty of colors and nutritious ingredients.
She made the kakiage in small batches with sakura ebi from Yui, a nearby harbor famous all over Japan for its Cherry shrimps.
The tempura were very crisp and tasty! Even if you don’t have cherry shrimps try it with any small shrimps!

The side dish featured all the Missus’ favorites:
Tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette with a white and yellow pattern.
Carrot and walnut salad in lieu of dessert.
Gobo kinpira/fried spicy burdock root.

Colorful and so tasty!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass, Einfach Bento,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box: The Dragon’s Best 10 in 2011!

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Oyako /”Parent & Child” (Salmon) Bento!

“Dragon” is the Japanese nickname for the Missus and I can guarantee you she deserves it! LOL
Here is a very personal selection among the 69 bentos she made for me this year!

Kegani/Hair Crab Bento!

Sakura/Cherry Blossom Bento!

Chess Board Bento!

Soboro Oyako (Chicken) Bento!

Quail Scotch Eggs Bento!

Ume Inari Sushi Bento!

Umeboshi Chicken Roll Bento!

Dry Curry bento!

“Funny Face” Roll Bento!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (11/68): Shijimi Mazegohan Bento!

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Shijimi/蜆 is a small bivalve shellfish called Corbiculidae of the Cyrenidae family with the common name of “basket clam” abroad. That is for its scientific explanation!
They are a very popular shellfish in Japan and elsewhere, mainly used in soups. One can buy them already cooked and seasoned at supermarkets here.

The Missus used a small pack that she spread over the rice before steaming it. The preserved shijimi will give a lot of great taste to the rice as their flavors will mix quickly with the water.

Once the rice cooked, the Missus mixed the whole with the addition of her own pickled Japanese pepper/山椒/sanshyou.
She finally decorated the dish with some pockled fuki/蕗/giant butterbur stems from Nagano Prefecture for extra seasoning.

Pity there is no country with a flag bearing the colors green, yellow and mauve!

As we have just received mounds of spinach from the Missus’ family garden, she lightly boiled them before seasoning them with gomadare/sesame dressing.
As for the tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette she included fine strips of ham and cheese to the eggs!

The pink/violet/mauve potatoes (not sweet potatoes!) from her family garden make for great salad with chick peas!
As for the last touch she added lettuce and plum tomato for colors and nutrients!

Another satisfying and yummy bento!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass, Einfach Bento,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (11/67): Chicken & Umeboshi Roll Bento!

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It seems that rolls must be one of the most popular way of cooking in the world with words like maki, roulade, Imperial Rolls and so on!
The Missus being a very cosmopolitan lady when it comes to cooking could not resist making one of her own with chicken with a Japanese twist!

But let’s start with the rice!
You can see that one can wrap o-musubi/rice balls with something different for better colors and balance!

After having steamed the rice the Missus mixed it with hijiki/sweet seaweed and golden sesame seeds and shaped it into triangular o-musubi. Instead of wrapping them in nori/dry seaweed she used large shiso/perilla leaves! Very tasty!
The pickles are all home-made: mini melons, radish and Japanese pepper.

Beautiful colors again!
Not as difficult as you might think! (The Missus is going to kill me for that comment!)

For the chicken rolls she used sasami/breast filets that she first flattened to stretch them. She filled them with shiso and sweet umeboshi/Japanese pickled plums, and shaped the whole into a large roll with cellophane paper. She fried the whole (without the cellophane paper!) over a moderate fire with the lid on until perfectly cooked. She let it cool down before slicing it.
She then secured the pieces inside the box with lettuce.

She kept things simple for the salad: coarsely grated carrot and walnut salad and a separate bean salad.

Plenty of colors to appeal to your appetite and reward the latter with great satisfaction!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (11/66): Omu Raisu Bento!

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Omu Raisu/オムライスin Japanese means “omelette rice”, that is fried rice wrapped inside an omelette!

So the Missus proceeded in two steps:
first the rice: She steamed plain rice while she pan-fried some vegetables, especially diced pimentos, chopped onion and parsley.
Once the vegetables were almost cooked she added the rice and fried the whole lot while mixing it at the same time. At the last moment she added some tomato sauce and then switched off the fire.

She then made a round omelette in another frying pan.
When the omelette was ready she switched off the fire and filled the center of the omelette with plenty of fried rice.
She closed the omelette over the rice and put the whole upside down inside the round bento box.
She finally made a cross cut to show the inside and decorated the whole with lettuce and plum tomatoes.

As for the salad dessert box, she designed it with plenty of colors as usual!

The salad and the dessert were separated with more lettuce.
The salad consisted of boiled white and pink potatoes from her family’s garden, sliced cucumber and walnut.

For dessert apples cooked with grenadine mixed with raisins.

It proved a very hefty bento and yummy, too!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
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