Echigo Nagaoka Kisaku Bento” has an impressive retro design on the wrapping paper with “bento” (bento) in old characters. Koshihikari rice produced in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, a rice-producing region, is the main ingredient in this makunouchi bento.
First, the star of the show is Nagaoka Koshihikari rice. This rice has a soft texture and is delicious even when cold. This is an important point for ekiben, which are destined to be eaten at room temperature when a little time has passed since their production. The three chicken tsukune dumplings that sit in the center of the bento also have a soft texture. The seasoning is light, allowing you to enjoy the true flavor of the chicken meat. It is a type of bento that allows you to enjoy the ingredients rather than a strong flavor that makes the rice go further.
The shiitake mushroom stew and lotus root that are included with the dish also have a similarly robust taste of their ingredients. The kinpira lotus root has a crunchy texture and is accented by the texture of the lotus root.
Next are the bento staples, omelette and grilled salted salmon. The omelet is slightly sweet and has a very soft texture. The grilled salted salmon is also not too salty, which brings out the flavor of the salmon itself. All of the above dishes are seasoned to take full advantage of the flavors and tastes of the ingredients.
On the other hand, fried bean curd and royal fern are sweet and well seasoned, and eggplant and pickled ginger with miso is a bit stronger here, with a thicker flavor that makes the rice go further. The quantity is small, but it leaves a strong impression. Incidentally, ingredients from a long-established local tofu shop and miso pickle shop are used.
And for dessert, an authentic and very tasty mugwort dango with a strong mugwort flavor. This is also said to be the taste of a local Japanese sweets shop, making this bento rich in regional characteristics, from the rice to the final dessert.
At a glance, the ingredients and colors were plain and not very entertaining as a travel companion, but the rice, side dishes, and desserts were all very tasty, and I felt that it was a serious ekiben with a high level of quality as a meal.
© Source travel watch
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