Hanami (flower viewing) is a beautiful Japanese tradition of picnicking under the cherry blossoms in Spring. Whether you want to take a simple picnic to the park, have a Hanami garden party or barbecue at home, or take it indoors if the weather isn't so good, Hanami makes for a colourful setting and some fun cooking and preparation!
Hanami Food & Drink
The Japanese pack their picnic food in bento boxes - lunch boxes with compartments for different types of food. The food for Hanami should be colourful, especially pink, white and green to reflect the colours of the blossom laden trees. Here are some ideas to get you started...
Decorating
Yakitori Chicken (wonderful done on the barbecue, but just as great cold), Salmon Teryaki, Sushi Maki (you could get adventurous and try the cherry blossom version wrapped in salmon and made into a flower!), Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette) - a bento box staple, Hanami Salad - a pretty cherry blossom inspired rice noodle salad, Dango rice dumplings (traditionally pink, white and green for Hanami) - a bit of an acquired taste for the Western palette so you could use pink and white marshmallows threaded on a bamboo skewer instead. Drink Sake! (preferably served warm).
Hanami Decoration
If you hanami in the park, you'll have the real cherry blossom to sit under. If you decide to Hanami at home (outside or in) you can decorate with paper lanterns and sprigs of cherry blossom, and fold some cherry blossom napkins. You can find useful videos on how fold cherry blossom napkins on YouTube.
Eating Japanese Style
In Japan, food is often eaten off low tables and cushions on the floor, rather than Western style chairs and tables. If you are having a Hanami party at home and have a low table this might be nice to try.
You can't have a Japanese party without chopsticks! There are quite a few rules surrounding the use of chopsticks, the main ones being; don't spear your food with them or leave them sticking up in a bowl of rice and don't point with them or wave them around in the air.
You say "itadakimasu" ("I gratefully receive") before eating, and "gochisosama (deshita)" ("Thank you for the meal") afterwards.
When drinking alcohol, it is customary to serve each other, rather than pouring your own drink so keep an eye on your friend's glasses!
And finally, in Japan its not unusual to see barbecues, karaoke machines and boom boxes, and even night time picnics in parks strung with lanterns. So go to town and have your own Hanami party... at home or in the park!
Japanese Hanami Picnic and Party
Christine Osborne
As well as Hanami recipes you'll find lots of other recipe and dinner party ideas on somewhereintheworldtoday.com
Plan a trip trip to see you favourite fiesta, find a recipe to host your own at home, visit the shop for exotic things from far flung places or just drop by and tell us where you've been.