If you’ve read my bio here on BellaOnline.com Japanese Food site, you know that I am a fourth generation Japanese who embarked on a journey into my ancestral culinary roots. This site is a way of taking you along with me as I discover, or rediscover, some traditional Japanese food and recipes.

As I research, I’ve come across some amazing websites by Japanese chefs, Japanophiles, gastronomes and foodies and I’d like to share them with you. The mouthwatering, colorful photographs, authentic recipes and in-depth historical information make for some delicious Web surfing. I’m a huge fan of these beautiful sites.


Bento.com
www.bento.com

Perhaps my favorite Japanese food site because of gorgeous food photography, interesting coverage of Japan’s food scene and authentic recipes. Published in Japan, it began as a Japan restaurant guide but now boasts over 800,000 hits a month. I like the separate sections for Tokyo and Kansai cuisines. I’m a little disconcerted by the ads on the page since this is an industry website and not a blog but can overlook that. So glad it has a search box for this large site. Check out the comprehensive list of links.


Harumi Kurihara
http://www.yutori.co.jp/en/about_harumi/index.html

If you want to know Japanese home cooking, you must know the name Harumi Kurihara. Known as the Japanese Martha Stewart, Kurihara champions the shufu or ordinary housewife with her practical yet aesthetically pleasing dishes. She has written over 100 cookbooks during her 20 year career and now has her own line of culinary products from aprons to ceramic dishes. The only problem with this site is that you cannot purchase anything directly. Most of her cookbooks are written in Japanese. Only a few are available printed in English. Visit the site to familiarize yourself with Harumi and then get her English cookbooks from Amazon.com which always has better prices. I’ve added a few links here.


Hiroko’s Kitchen
http://www.hirokoskitchen.com/blog/

Hiroko Shimbo is a world renown Japanese chef and food consultant. Her homepage looks sparse but click on her blog link. She often takes you along with her international and industry convention travels and uploads pics.

Japanese Food at About.com
http://japanesefood.about.com/

About.com blogger Setsuko Yoshizuka is a Japanese national who shares traditional recipes. I love her recipes with only a few exceptions due to regional preferences. Lots of photos, her blog has over 100 articles since she began writing for About.com a decade ago. I also like the Japanese language site at About.com as well.


Just Bento
http://www.justbento.com/
I adore bento and this site is devoted to it. There are some mighty tasty recipes for bento here and I especially enjoy the recipes for homemade furikake and other rice toppings! You’ll find new creative twists on traditional Japanese bento foods. This site also has a sister site called Just Hungry which also is interesting.


Cooking Cute
http://www.cookingcute.com/

I couldn’t help but add this blog site because it is so, well, cute. Kawaii bento (cute bento) lunches are a huge fad now in Japan. Bento, or filled lunch box, has always been a popular necessity but suddenly it has taken an artful turn. Edible ingredients are crafted into adorable animals, shapes and characters. Ngoc is a Vietnamese mom who has a passion for cute bento. Click on her gallery to see her inventive bento! She really inspires me to make some cute bento!

Tokyo Qool
http://tokyoq.com/index.html
Okay, so this is not a recipe site or even a food specific site. But the clear photographs of Tokyo include shops, restaurants and people and you will feel as though you are living in the city. Absorb the culture! Great little vignette about the yaki-imo man (roasted sweet potato seller).