A day of Japanese things
japra | Jun 27, 2008 | Comments 5
Yesterday my friend S treated us to a delicious bento lunch at Mitsukoshi Restaurant near Piccadilly Circus in London. My bento included salmon and tuna sashimi, vegetable and shrimp tempura, miso soup, vegetables, rice, and fruit. Roxi had the tonkatsu bento. We enjoyed this food so much. S says the food is authentic at this restaurant. I must say that it did make many of the bentos I’ve had previously seem “mass produced” and flat (and I’ve eaten a lot of bentos!).
By the way, I learned some interesting things today. Apparently gari, or pickled ginger, is eaten with sushi or sashimi because it helps prevent food poisoning. Wasabi also helps with bacteria growth to keep fish fresh. And green tea helps with tummy troubles! So, all those things are not just good but good for you too.
Before and after lunch we visited a couple of Japanese stores in the area. Luckily I brought an empty backpack to load up with groceries. S was very patient with me while I explained what I wanted to make. As my personal shopping guide, she helped me find what I needed. When I got home, I looked at every one of my purchases to make sure I remembered what it was for. You can see Roxi got into the shopping spirit. There are a few packages of Japanese treats in there just for her.
Roxi bought two books Kiriko Kubo’s Illustrated Conversation Book Japan and the first InuYasha book. I also got a little stuffed Totoro. It’s from my favorite Hayao Miyazaki movie My Neighbor Totoro (Howl’s Moving Castle–adapted from Diana Wynne Jones book of the same title–is a very close second). Studio Ghibli rules–really gorgeous anime.
I’m off to Wimbledon, not to watch the big tennis championships, rather I need to go to the DVLA (my favorite!) to pick up our car’s tax disk. It got sent to our old address last month and never made it to our new house. Grr.
Filed Under: Blog
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
Good to hear tips on Japanese restaurants in London. I reviewed my favorite one in Hampstead Fairies and Asian Restaurants. I’m guessing Roxi would love the nearby Fairy Shop too.
I doubt gari would prevent food poisoning, but it definitely helps with nausea. Ginger is recommended by the NHS for morning sickness too. Best way is to brew fresh ginger in a teapot of boiling water and let it seep for a while.
Lucky you to have tickets to Wimbledon. Enjoy!
What a fun theme-filled day! We love those movies around here, by the way.
I had a flashback of being 17 shopping at the Body Shop with my German friend at Piccadelly, when you mentioned the restaurant being there. It’s funny the things you all of the sudden remember.
I love Japanese things. I’ve evidently had a bento lunch and didn’t realize it. I was at a Japanese restaurant in Houston and it was served just like that. Who knew?
Maybe you’ll see a celebrity or two while you’re at the DMV in Wimbeldon. ((fingers crossed))
Ooh, Wimbeldon. Strawberries?
Sarah–Unfortunately we didn’t make it to the courts in Wimbledon this time. We went for the sole purpose of obtaining our car’s tax disc. We did see some spectacularly dressed people, however! Thanks for the head’s up on Jinkichi!!
Alyson–How lucky you were to spend time in England as a teen. My parents let me come over by myself for two weeks when I was 16 to visit with my Aunt who was spending the summer at a university in London. I’ll never forget the excitement!
Laurie–Cafe Japon, Miyako?? Alas, no celebrities (though sometimes I have my head in the sand about such things). I did see a VERY tall fellow in hot pink pants, a plaid shirt and a dapper straw hat. His companion had on a purple skirt and I can’t remember what. They were dressed, in all seriousness, for the tennis matches, I think.
Pamela and handsome Edward–Haha! No, only the tax disc for the Volvo, a bit of girly shopping with my daughter and a lovely lunch at a Thai restaurant. If the weather holds, we hope to do a little berry picking next week at a nearby farm.