A curated page introducing selected takeout options has been added to the Gardens website.
This time, we visited “Ume no Hana” from the list (^O^)／
This article is brought to you by “GenkiStyle,” a foot treatment clinic that supports Nishitsu.
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Ume no Hana’s “Hana Bento”
This is one of the recommended items on the takeout page, and it is also the No. 1 popular choice: a gorgeous three-tier bento that looks beautiful too!
Hana Bento ¥2,160 (tax included)For those of you thinking, “Wow, that’s expensive!” let me show you why it feels worth it (^O^)／
The rice was gently flavored takikomi gohan, with a slight toasted-rice feelIt had shimeji mushrooms and salmon in it
This tier was packed with dishes that make you say, “That’s Ume no Hana!” (^O^)／
Namafu dengaku: Mugwort and millet namafu dengaku topped with kinome miso and yuzu miso. That chewy texture of namafu is just irresistible!
Fried yuba: Fluffy fish paste wrapped in yuba and fried. It’s soft, but the bite is perfect!
Fried tofu shumai: The umami of chicken, shrimp, and onion inside the tofu really comes through! The crispy fried texture is amazing!
Sesame tofu: The flavor and texture were just right!
Simmered hijiki: This also had yuba in it! The seasoning was gentle (^ ^)
Namasu: The yuzu gave it a delicate flavor.
Karaage: Of course, karaage makes an appearance here too! A bite-sized fried dish feels extra special, and it came with lemon as well.
Simmered dishes: Shrimp, tied kelp, sweet potato, asparagus, bamboo shoot, lotus root, carrot, taro… each ingredient’s natural flavor stood out. It had that “each item is seasoned separately” feel that’s hard to recreate at home, and the taro was cut in the hexagonal style you’d see at a proper Japanese restaurant.
Dashimaki omelet: It was tucked modestly into the corner, but the dashi flavor came through gently. This is exactly what dashimaki should be!
Sweet-and-savory simmered fried namafu?: Judging from the texture and flavor, I think that’s what it was… It was the only item in the bento with a stronger seasoning.
Saikyo-yaki grilled fish: It’s hidden from view, but even this small bite showed real Japanese culinary skill (^O^)／
Yuba tsukudani: Yuba turned into tsukudani!! It was seasoned perfectly for eating with rice.
Fu manju: It’s wrapped in real bamboo grass! The smooth, chewy texture of namafu made it wonderfully moreish.
Ume no Hana Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Bento Menu
It seems reservations are required for the bento. The Hana Bento we had this time was made for us on the same day.
Since the expiration time was 4 hours, that really means it tastes best freshly made!
Shumai, dengaku, and other items were lined up in the display case, so it looks like items with a longer consumption period can be bought separately.
At the Ume no Hana Nishinomiya Hankyu branch on the 1st floor of Nishinomiya Hankyu, you can buy the items that were in the bento individually, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to try just the dengaku, or just the fried yuba!
At the Nishinomiya Hankyu branch, they also have slightly more affordable bento that you can buy without a reservation (^O^)／
Store Information for Ume no Hana Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi
Here’s the exterior of the shop↓
Here it is on the map↓
The address is Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens Gate Building 1F, 5-22 Takamatsu-cho, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture.
Hours
Lunch 11:00–16:00 (last order 15:00)・Dinner 17:00–22:00 (last order 21:00)
Phone number
0798-69-2355
Related link
Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi branch website
(*Prices, menu items, business hours, and other details are as of the time of coverage. Please check directly with the shop for the latest information.)
Finally
Namafu is, simply put, a protein made from wheat flour.
When wheat flour is kneaded and the starch is removed, a substance called “gluten” remains. I remember extracting it during a science experiment in elementary school.
Steaming that is what makes namafu! The kind sold for miso soup is dried namafu (^ ^)
Namafu is said to have come from China as a protein source for Buddhist vegetarian cuisine!
It’s a wonderful food that’s high in protein, low in calories, and easy to digest and absorb (^ ^)
A three-tier bento really lifts your mood! It was a wonderful bento where you could feel the chef’s care in every dish!
This year, I’d love to take a bento like this and go cherry-blossom viewing ☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆
