Itadakimasu いただきます

What do you eat for breakfast? And who do you eat breakfast with? and do you say anything when you start to have breakfast?

I’m going to share one scene of my Kyoto trip today, especially breakfast of Kyoto.

As you know it’s special meal that you eat at hotel when you visit somewhere. Japanese people eat a bread, yogurt, a cup of coffee, some fruits and so on like as usual for breakfast. I have an occasion to eat a fascinating breakfast when I stayed at a hotel at Kyoto and the breakfast was a lot of Kyoto foods. It’s called Obanzai おばんざい. Obanzai is traditional Kyoto dish that is made from mostly Kyoto vegetables especially seasonal and familiar ingredients. I get the impression from Obanzai that there are several small dishes on each small spates. It looks very simple but it’s so delicious and you never get tired of.

Can you see that a little big white paper and plate on a pot? It’s a boiled tofu called Yudofu 湯豆腐 but it’s no just a boiled dish it tastes a lot of seasoning but it tastes so simple. I had never eaten it before even I’m Japanese. I have eaten a lot of boiled tofu and I have cooked it many times but the genuine boiled tofu is absolutely different! It’s difficult to express the flavor because I hadn’t know the taste and texture. It’s very hot, flexible and plain in addition it’s a little salty for good meaning. You should try it!

The next picture is the bag of disposable wooden chopsticks. It says that
“When we start eating, we say “Itadakimasu いただきます”
“When finish eating, “Gotisousama ごちそうさま” with our appreceation.”

Japanese parents teach their children that we have to appreciate the food and people who make the ingredients and cook them. Therefore we say some determined words like “Itadakimasu” and “Gotisousama” to thank for the foods and people. Be careful when you visit Japan and the time of meal, you do not forget to say the words “Itadakimasu” and “Gotisousama”.