The Japanese government issued a self-restraint request to the nation’s restaurant industry to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Many restaurants in Kyoto discontinued the dine-in services in response to the request and started the delivery and pickup services. Some Izakaya offer appetizer platters to go with your drink at home and some restaurants offer bentos at less than 300 yen ($2.80)! A few of...
Cooked Rice with Oyster 2 rice-measuring cups rice 7 ounces oysters 1 cup dashi broth 2 ½ tablespoon usukuchi soy sauce (light color soy sauce) 2 ½ tablespoon sake green onions, chopped Rinse and drain the rice. Rinse well the oysters with salt water and drain. Heat dashi broth, usukuchi soy sauce and sake in a saucepan and bring to boil. Add the oysters...
BENTOS ARE GOOD FOR YOU ( AND HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY ) 1. Calories are easy to gauge It’s said that the average adult should take in about 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day. That includes 600 – 800 calories for lunch. A traditional bento includes a staple, a main dish and a side dish in a 3:1:2 ratio. The bento box helps...
Bento&co is a unique store specializing in bento boxes and accessories, located in the heart of downtown Kyoto. Owned by Thomas Bertrand, a French native, the store is popular among foreign visitors. Thomas fell in love with the Japanese bento boxes and started the online store in 2008. In 2012, he opened the first Bento&co boutique in the downtown Kyoto. Bento&co offers a wide...
The bento is an essential part of Japan’s rich food culture. The bento has been shared by loved ones and friends for centuries. About 700 years ago, in the Nara Era, people would preserve dried rice wrapped in bamboo leaves to eat outside. That was the beginning of the portable lunch in Japan. Today, the bento has evolved into a well-balanced, pleasing-to-the-eyes meal that...
Why are people in Japan and around the world continuing to give the bento so much love? First, check out the photo below. This is a bento from Nadaman, a company that started business in 1830 as a Japanese restaurant. This bento speaks to Japanese aesthetics with its colorful arrangement while also delivering traditional tastes through its many different flavors. Some call it beauty...
Compared to the drab brownbag lunch (peanut butter and jelly again?), the bento is a thing of beauty. It’s nutritious, aesthetically pleasing and portable. The Japanese have known this for centuries, but here in North America, bento lunches are just recently becoming trendy. Martin Metke, a tech worker in Seattle, relates how he thought his co-workers would make fun of him for bringing a...
