food tastes better in japanese china

In my travel one eating experience that I enjoy most is izakayas 居酒屋 in Japan. Modern izakayas are places where businessmen hands out after work with their colleagues or customers. Often bonds and friendships are forged over beers or sakes between businessmen. They are similar to brew pubs in Western countries. However what set them apart is they all serves very delicious small plate of snacks. the variety of snacks they serve are countless depends on what the izakaya specializes. In the West the Spanish tapas bars probably resemble the modern day izakayas the most.

Izakayas are not unique to Japan, you would find similar places in many Asian countries including China and Taiwan.

One thing you can always count on in Japanese eateries is they rarely serve you with plastic or disposible plates and bowls. They all serve with Japanese ceramics (china). Even when you order a bowl of udon 饂飩 on the open air train platform and eating it standing. I always admire their sensibility to visual aesthetics of food presentation.

beautifully presented dinner in miyajima, japan

Over the years I collected an assortment of Japanese china, in addition to my vast collection of other Asian cookwares.  While good Japanese china pieces are often expensive, I spread out my purchase over time and steady as I went. Before long I collected a small assortments. They add a lot of culinary delight.

The food served in izakayas typically in small plates. The patrons savor the food while they drink, smoke, and conduct social intercourse with friends and colleagues. It is not uncommon between two people only a couple of small plates are eaten all night while plenty glasses of beers or sake are consumed.

I would often make small plates of snacks and present them in small plates using Japanese china at home for myself or my guests. Serving the snack in small beautiful plates reminds one to savor it slowly instead of wolfing it down.

slow braised beef flank (with lining) and tendon

the small condiment containers contain chili sauce and chili oil; the tiny spoons are impossible to find in USA

purpose made dish with metal rack for fried food to keep them from getting soggy

very small serving of home made udon 饂飩 like noodle

an assortment of condiment dishes

The jumbo ramen bowls used by ramen joints in Japan for some reason are very difficult to find. Even the china stores in Asakusa's 浅草 cookware street often only have very small selection.