Food Culture in Japan of Recent Article

What is Somen?

Somen(Soumen/Soomen: そうめん/素麺) are very thin, white Japanese noodles made of wheat flour.

The noodles are usually served cold and are less than 1.3 mm in diameter, it's a refreshing Japanese noodle, traditionally eaten in the summer to cool off from the Japan's humid summers.

The distinction between Soumen and the next thicker wheat noodles Hiyamugi and even thicker Japanese wheat noodles Udon is mostly the size of the noodle.

 

Soumen are usually served cold with a light flavored dipping sauce or Tsuyu.

The Tsuyu is usually a Katsuobushi-based sauce that can be flavored with Welsh onion, ginger, or myoga.

 

 

 

In the summer, Soumen chilled with ice is a popular meal to help stay cool.

They're most famous for being eaten as "Nagashi Somen(流しそうめん）," noodles flying down a bamboo pipe as would-be eaters try to catch them with their chopsticks.

By the way, Soumen served in hot soup is usually called "Nyumen" and eaten in the winter, much like Soba or udon are.

 

What is Futomaki (Futomaki sushi)?

Sushi(すし/寿司/鮨) is a Japanese dish consisting of cooked vinegared rice which is commonly topped with other ingredients, such as fish or other seafood, or put into rolls.

It is currently enjoyed by cultures around the world.

"Futomaki sushi(zushi)" is a sort of sushi, it is generally called "Maki sushi(zushi); 巻き寿司" in Japan.

"Maki sushi(zushi)" is the more recognizable type of sushi, where rice and other fillings are rolled inside a nori seaweed sheet and cut into thick, bite-sized pieces.

Thicker maki is called "Futomaki (太巻き)".

A typical futomaki is three or four centimeters (1.5 in) in diameter.
They are often made with four or five fillings that are chosen for their complementary tastes and colors.

Futomaki is often made vegetarian, and commonly includes ingredients cucumber, omelet or fried eggs, kanpyou(dried gourd shavings), hoshi-shiitake(dry mushroom)and sakura-denbu in Japan.

But you can use the filling that you like for Futomaki sushi.
We also do.

 

Today's main side dish is "Grilled fish".

I make nearly every day "Bento(弁当)".

And, I eat the bento in my company at noon everyday.
Bento for lunch made by oneself is low cost and low calorie.

The Japanese bento box ensures that lunch is both healthy and trying to save money on lunches.

Well, I explain you the content of my today's bento.
Can you see the alphabet on my bento's photograph?
I explain in the alphabetical order of the photograph.