Like most traditional Japanese meals, the traditional Japanese lunch is made of some rice, miso soup, a vegetable and meat dish, another vegetable dish, some pickled vegetables and salad. Some Westerners complain that traditional Japanese meals are like eating dinner for every meal, but that doesn’t bother me. I eat leftovers for breakfast and lunch all the time, so eating the same types of foods at each meal is not a problem and I love Japanese food! These dishes could also be packed into a Bento box for lunch on the go. Families eating in a traditional style will have Mom cook a couple of new dishes every day. At every meal, the new foods are laid out along with leftovers from the previous day or two. Each dish is set out at every meal until it is gone. I may need to try that at home with my family… it would sure use up leftovers!
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The Japanese breakfast isn’t a whole lot different than their other two meals of the day. I like rice at almost any time of day, so that part suits me fine. I also like miso soup, which is another important part of a traditional Japanese breakfast. I’ve even made this simple breakfast a few times. Mine didn’t include all the features you’d get in Japan, though.
Fish plays a big part in a traditional Japanese breakfast. And it really is a good protein to begin your day with. It sustains you for quite a while. The fish can be eaten separately, mixed with the rice or rolled with rice in a piece of nori like makeshift sushi. How fun… you get to play with your food while you eat it! I think I may be tempted to try it.
The pickled vegetables may give me a little pause. It seems so early in the day to eat them, but then again, it may be really good. While fixing a traditional Japanese breakfast takes longer than pouring a bowl of cereal, it might be worth a try. It must be healthier than eating a stack of pancakes and syrup. We can all stand to eat a little healthier, can’t we?
I first discovered bento boxes when I first started watching anime. The girls in the stories frequently tried to impress the boys they liked by making cute little lunches for them. After that, I looked them up online. Wow! I was amazed at how many different styles of bento boxes there were. They come in metal, wood and plastic with fun anime characters as well.
Bento boxes are divided into individual compartments. Sometimes they have a second or third layer that all stack together for holding a meal. The main ingredient in the lunch is either rice or noodles. Then they add the fun stuff. The side dishes, or okazu, can be made of meat, eggs, fish, tofu, vegetables or fruit. The okazu is cut and prepared in bite sized pieces that work well with chopsticks. In children’s meals, the vegetables may be cut into cute shapes. They even have molds for boiled eggs! When I saw a picture of a boiled egg shaped like a teddy bear, I couldn’t believe it was an egg! They can also mold the rice into shapes. Some of the pictures I’ve seen have been extremely artistic and imaginative. The women who spend time making these bento box lunches are really creative. I’m tempted to buy a few of these lunchboxes at the local Asian store and try my hand at it. It sounds like a lot more fun than making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
I used to watch Iron Chef and marvel at the many ways they used rice, and it made me more interested in finding out more about Japanese food in general. Now, I’m hooked.
Rice is used at every meal… just plain steamed white rice. I admit I thought brown rice would be more popular than it is in Japan. It is amazing how many ways rice can be used. Rice cakes are used as a dessert, often stuffed with red bean paste or other sweet filling. Mochi is a chewy sweet or savory sheet of rice-y goodness (is that a word?) that can be cooked and eaten on its own or may be found wrapped around other goodies like bites of ice cream. I’ve since managed to try some of these tasty treats from Japan and they really are good.
I want to learn more ways to use rice. Learning about how the Japanese utilize it has inspired me. It is an amazing grain that feeds a large portion of the world’s population. It deserves more attention from those of us in the West.
While most people are familiar with many aspects of Japanese dining, actually visiting the city and experiencing their restaurant culture can be a fun and educational experience. When the topic of Japanese dining arise in conversation, most people are going to think of sushi. It is true that sushi is a big part of Japanese cuisine, and if you are planning a visit to Japan, you will want to bone up on your sushi terminology. There is more to be aware of than just raw fish, and you will want to know what to order and what your options are prior to dining out. It is also important that you practice chopstick usage, as they will be the primary utensil you will be offered at traditional Japanese restaurants. As many know, dining out in Japan is more than just sitting down at a table and shoveling food in one’s mouth. The Japanese have traditions and rituals surrounding their eating experiences and it is best to have an idea of what to expect prior to your arrive in the country.
In addition to the cuisine you would expect to find in Japan, there will probably be a few surprises. Bento boxes are often elaborate boxed meals, separated into compartments and varied in shape, sizes, and color.
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Bento boxes have been elevated to an art in Japan and are even growing popular across the world. They are unique because they create and organized and creative dining experience. At New Year’s you can buy special, expensive boxes, similar to Bento boxes, called Osechi meal boxes. It is filled with traditional celebratory New Year’s foods, and legend has it that the reason the boxes came about was so that Japanese ladies would not have to cook around the New year.
For the faint of heart, you can also find more traditional European and American style fare in Japan, such as pizza and burgers. But chances are, you won’t hear any of the locals raving about the quality or taste of these standards. So if you’re planning a visit to Japan, brush up on your chopstick skills, get familiar with sushi terms and plan to be adventurous.
