Hatsune Miku Kyaraben (character bento)

I made Hatsune Miku Kyaraben (character bento) applying with Nori art.
Nori art means Nori seaweed art. This is one of a Kyaraben technique in Japan.
It's similar to paper-cutout but using Sushi Nori instead.

It’s easy to make simple-shaped characters for Kyaraben.
But about anime characters, it’s complicated to express details sometimes.
Thus Nori art is one of a method to express details of anime-type characters.

The process is as follows,

1. Draw image sketch. Consider the layout of Nori figure and other foods.

2. Draw a pattern on a paper or kitchen paper. (must be a clean paper, of course)

3. Place the pattern on Nori seaweed. Cut out the form with a cutter.

4. Place the completed Nori figure on a cheese.


Cut unnecessary areas of a cheese to fix the shape.
Better Not to put Nori on rice directly. Because detailed shape of Nori figure will be lose.

5. Arrange other foods. Ingredients are,

Omelet (self-made)
Meatball
Mora snack
Cherry tomato
Rice
Chicken ham (on the rice area)
Carrot
Green peas
Salad leaf
Broccoli
Chive (to express Hatsune Miku’s Negi (spring onion).

6. Place 4 and 5 in a bento box.


I got all of them from Albert Heijn, a generic Dutch super market.
Nothing special ingredients, and you don’t have to go to Japanese shops.

Kyaraben wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyaraben

Hatsune Miku wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatsune_Miku

Japanese style beef steak

Daikon Oroshi (grated daikon) is one of a popular Japanese garnish, and this with soy sauce is well-known combination. Basically it's used frequently than Teriyaki sauce in Japan.
We mostly attach this garnish with baked fishes. Also this is common in Japan that Daikon Oroshi is served with Tempura sauce.

Beef steak with Daikon Oroshi/soy sauce is very tasty combination.
Just get a beef steak from a supermarket. Get Daikon in ethnic markets or somewhere, and simply grate it. You can use a food processor if you have. Serve steaks with Daikon Oroshi and soy sauce. With lemon or wasabi is good accent if you like. You can enjoy brilliant Japanese dish that is regularly expensive in Japanese restaurants.


With Hamburg steak or other meats are also nice if your economy is tight to get steaks.

Hello Kitty Kyaraben

My lunch box, that style called Kyaraben in Japan.
Kyaraben is a popular bento style in Japan today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyaraben

Hello Kitty is one of an easy figure for making Kyaraben.
This is a good start for Kyaraben beginners.

Sushi of Hollandse Nieuwe (maatjesharing)

Japanese people love fresh fishes. The best fish in the Netherlands that close to Japanese Sashimi... is exactly haring (herring).
Actually there are tuna or other Sashimi for Sushi in the Netherlands too, but those are deep‐freeze fishes.
However Dutch people often eat haring raw everywhere in the Netherlands. Therefore we can easily get fresh haring in here.
Especially Hollandse Nieuwe (maatjesharing) is absolutely tasty and really good for Sushi topping.

I made Nigiri-sushi and Negitoro-Don.

Maatjesharing were rightly marinade in vinegar with ginger and a little bit honey.
Don't marinade too long time. Enough for 10 to 15 min,
Or without marinade is also nice if the haring is extremely fresh.


If you don't like fish-smell, Negitoro is good way to eat.
Negitoro is a Japanese style Tartar chop with spring onions.
Put this Tartar on the Sushi rice. Served with soy souse and wasabi.

In the Netherlands, first Hollandse Nieuwe is dedicated to Dutch queen.
I'm not sure she knows how tasty Maatjesharing-Sushi is.

Hello Kitty Sushi

Al jaren maak ik sushi voor familie en vrienden op feesten.
Dit jaar heb ik Hello Kitty Sushi gemaakt.
I often make Sushi for parties.
I made Hello Kitty Sushi on this year.

Other dishes what I made are...

Salmon sushi

Maki sushi, Nigiri sushi(Shrimp, eel)

Okonomiyaki(Japanese Pancake)

Korokke(Japanese potato croquettes)

Kimuchi

And the destiny of Hello Kitty was...



Amen.