Ekiben - Japanese Fast Soul Food

[Guest guest]

B " H

 

I just discovered the wonderful world of Ekiben. My husband was given

a translation to do about it and not only is he drooling the whole

while doing it, I too am enjoying reading the piece immensely.

 

Wouldn'tch just know the Japanese would find a way of making fast

food chic, artistic and, well, all the artsy things that the Japanese

do so well. Ekiben puts Western fast food to shame. While much of it

is definitely not vegetarian or kosher, much is or can be made to be,

as rice features prominently in Ekiben.

 

Ekiben is typically sold in train stations in Japan. Ekiben is a

contraction of eki 'railroad station' and bento 'box' (or something

to that effect).

 

Unfortunately there is a dearth of information on the net about

ekiben. I've found three links I can recommend.

 

The following link is a general introduction.

 

http://mtc.kthulah.net/bento/bento.html

 

The link above leads into the next link. Evidently there are

groups devoted to ekiben. There are also some cookbooks on the site.

 

http://mtc.kthulah.net/bento/bentoboxes.html

 

This last link shows some very simple ekiben lunch boxes. It also

shows some anime. Don't ask me why <shrug>. The boxes shown on this

site are evidently very simple. According to what is written in the

piece my husband is translating some of the wrappers are so artistic

they are collectors items. The boxes may be made of bamboo, plastic,

paper mesh, foil, leaves, wood and other materials.

 

It is the food, of course, that is the main attraction. Artistic

expression knows no limits in ekiben. In addition to sushi, the food

in the boxes may be in the shape of sports equipment, a blossoming

camellia and other flora, fauna, sprinkled seaweed and sesame seeds

representing mountain ranges, even the Milky Way.

 

http://www.jlist.com/SEARCHES/bento_boxes

 

Sigh.

 

Doreen