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by Gordon Hurd
Wed, October 17, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Yeah, got it. Now, how about lunch? We think it's the most impossible. By eating out, you face an expensive, potentially bloating waste of an hour. Bring your lunch and dine on a hastily constructed sandwich, made soggy from too much tomato. In either case, the caloric chaos is a likely risk.

Bring in Biggie, the self-proclaimed speedy lunch packer and proprietor of Lunch in a Box: Building a Better Bento. Biggie's efforts to quickly prepare healthy and convenient mid-day meals for her family offer sustenance for us all. A bento lunch is nourishing, compact, and, if done the proper way, filled with just the right calories for a productive and happy afternoon. Beyond some of the delicious Japanese recipes, a bento lunch can be more familiar than you think. For those of us who wear lunch around our waists, Biggie's better bento means building the perfect lunch.

Filed under: Food and Drink, Japan

by Molly McCall
Wed, August 01, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

As a child, the Rameniac was "fairly deprived of good food." Now, this noodle-slurping enthusiast is making up for lost time: "If ramen is food for the starving college student, then I'm a career gastronomy major and the backwaters of Japan are my alma mater." But ramen's brothy delights aren't limited to the Land of the Rising Sun, and our blogger-eater emeritus is dedicated to noodle shops worldwide. Begin with the ramenologist's field guide to the 22 types of noodle styles, and then branch into reviews such as "the Rolls Royce of the Nissin Cup Noodle line" and the 9 levels of spiciness. Bring your own milk. And if you ever find yourself in a deserted corner mall in Southern California, recognize the clues and belly up to the counter. You may just find yourself slurping down one of the best bowls of ramen the Golden State has to offer.
by Jon Brooks
Fri, April 06, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

It all started when our hero suggested his wife could bring in some extra dough by turning one of her hobbies into a business. Next thing he knows, his world is going to Hello Kitty in a hand basket. And although there is no evidence of an actual hand basket adorned with the beribboned, anthropomorphic kitten, you will find Hello Kitty noodles, Hello Kitty pierced navel rings, and Hello Kitty pantie liners, among other horrors. At least what looked to be at first glance a Hello Kitty condom turned out to be only Hello Kitty cheese. So if you're pre-pubescent or just prepubescent-at-heart, give this site a spin. Because it's a Hello Kitty world, and you're just living in it.

Filed under: Blogs, Toys, Japan

by Molly McCall
Sun, January 07, 2007, 3:00 am PST

When it comes to sushi, we consider ourselves a notch or two above amateurs. But this field guide to the Japanese dish left us with mouths agape. (And watering. Not a pretty sight.) For instance, apply yourself to these queries: Do you stir wasabi into your soy sauce? Do you dunk an entire sushi roll into the dark, salty liquid? Do you ever order sake with your plate of chef's choice? As this primer so gently lets on, that's not the traditional way. Feel free to brandish your chopsticks in disagreement, but dip into this FAQ nonetheless—just for something to chew over next time you're hankering for an evening of quality raw fish. Read up on the basics, learn how to make nigiri at home, and step up to ringside for two fascinating showdowns: hot sake vs. cold and "real wasabi" vs. "the Western kind". We'll take the miso soup on the side. Arigato!

Filed under: Food and Drink, Japan

by Molly McCall
Mon, October 09, 2006, 3:00 am PDT

Meet Takashi Itoh, 30-year-old chef, Paul McCartney fan, and the Michelangelo of melon-carvers. This self-taught sculptor of fruit confesses to developing his skills in just three weeks after a Thai food festival inspired him. Now, he whittles summer's tasty snack into visions of flowers, tango dancers, and architectural wonders. How much time does it take him per work? Usually one hour. Is there any image he can't carve into the melon's luscious innards? Seemingly not—even scenes of dramatic athleticism shine through the pink juicy pulp. Thankfully, his success hasn't gone to his head. When asked how much knowledge is required to start, he replies: "Anyone can do." And when pressed on other fruit that would yield such shapely success, he allows that the carrot and the pumpkin offer possibilities. Did you hear that cooks of America? Let the Thanksgiving preparations begin!


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