Bento box rocks

Nestlé have recently launched a cute new site called "Bento Danshi Park" ( Lunch Box Boys' Park) that allows visitors to take a peek inside the carefully prepared lunch boxed of the nation's salarymen. Feeding off the bento danshi trend that exploded last year, the site allows male users to upload photos of their packed lunches, which are then rated by other users.

The trend began with a string of media reports that stated modern men were more likely to bring a packed lunch to work for economic and health reasons. Proving that this wasn't all hot air. BP Net reported that Tokyu hands saw a significant rise sales of bento boxes specifically designed for men and that publishing companies also done well with recipe books for simple bento lunches. For exemple, last spring the publication of "Bokuben" (My Lunch Box) by matsuki kamizawa, a how-to book aimed at male readers, proved to be a big hit.

One of the coolest innovations to accompany the trend is the rise of the vertically stacking lunch box, which is specifically designed to fit into briefcases. The theory being that flat-bottomed lunch boxes will just get upended if they're put in alongside documents. This one from Metaphys is particularly cool and shows that the simplest bento can still be eaten with style.

Finding Nemo

Walking in Paris, I ran into this cute Nemo waiting for someone to pick him up. "Tasuketeeeeeeeee!"

Welcome to Okonomiyaki world

With my lovely Jane, we decided to eat my favorite Japanese food, Okonomiyaki, it's a sort of Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word Okonomi, meaning " what you like" or "what you want", and yaki meaning "grilled" or "cooked". Okonomiyaki is mainly associated with Kansai or Hiroshima areas of Japan, but is widely available throughout the country. What I like the most is the "Katusobushi"waving on the top of the Okonomiyaki. All of a sudden, I start to feel like I'm in small Okonomiyaki ya in Japan. "Itadakimasu" everyone !

Rilakkuma dressed up in french outfit

One of my favorite kawaii japanese character is the very famous Rilakkuma (リラックマ, literally a combination of the Japanese pronunciation of relax and the Japanese word for bear).

He is a soft brown toy bear who has apparently decided to take up residence of female office worker Kaoru's apartment. On his back is a zipper which when opened reveals a light blue polka dot patterned material.

True to his name, Rilakkuma greatly enjoys relaxing and his favorite things include sleeping, lying around, watching television, listening to the music and soaking in hot springs. He is often accompanied by Korilakkuma, who is smaller white bear with a mischievous personality, and Kiiroitori, a yellow chick who plays a tsukkomi role.

And now, Rilakkuma and his gang are traveling to France, and dressed up in their french outfits. Looks like they are planning a party.

Wonderful image of Rilakkuma and his gang

The French Bonjour Rilakkuma series came out recently

Tiny Rilakkuma plushes waiting for someone to pick them up

Special goods to mark the "Bonjour Rilakkuma" French series

Sukeroku&Agemaki

A representational food of Japan would be sushi. This is seafood placed on top of a small piece of molded vinegared rice, which can be an expensive food depending on the place and ingredients. However, there is sushi for people to enjoy for those who would like to eat it at a reasonable price, and who don't like raw seafood very much. It's called "Sukeroku".

Sukeroku Bento

Inarizushi is sushi made of aburage (thinly slicced fried tofu. When the edge of the rectangle is cut, it's like a pouch) cooked in soy sauce and sugar with rice packed inside. Futomaki-zushi is the kind of sushi with vinegared rice wrapped in dried seaweed. The centre has ingredients like cucumber, grilled egg and Shiitake.

Now, why is such a sushi set named after an old name for a man, Sukeroku?

The reason is because, it originates from a Kabuki music program called "Sukeroku yukari no Edo zakura". This story was very popular among people during the Edo period, and the main character's name was Sukeroku. His lover's name was Agemaki. In other words, her name contains age = Inarizushi with aburage and maki = Futomaki, which are words associated with sushi. Also, by not directly calling this sushi combination agemaki, but rather calling it Sukeroku, the lover's name, you can feel the novelty of the Edo people.

Sukeroku yukarino Edozakura by Kunisada Utagawa

Oyakodon will finally be arrived next month

Oyakodon is one of my favorite among the Donburi (Japanese ricebowl dishes). In Japanese it is written"親子丼" and literally means "parent-child-donburi" which is very creepy, unless you know that the primary ingredients in Oyakodon are chicken, eggs and a bowl of rice. Oyakodon is a Japanese home cooking, a wintery confort food and it's wholesome.

I'll be very happy to share this delicious dish with all my friends next month in the 11e and in the 15e.