Around the World

Each culture has a rice dish that is similar to one from another culture. The infusion of each countries special spice or produce may make the dishes vary from one another, but in the end, they all stemmed from the same dish. At the festival, rice will show its true diversity and prove its importance in the food culture in Hawaii.

Japan
Sushi: Centuries ago the word Sushi referred to the method of preserving fish. They used to take two pieces of vinegared rice and place the dried fish in between as a way of making it last longer. The nori (seaweed) was later added as a way of keeping your fingers from getting sticky. The Japanese word ‘sushi’ technically means rice. In Japanese the word ‘su’ means…


China
Rice Cake (Nian gao – Year Cake): Cakes have symbolic significance such as their sweetness symbolizes a rich, sweet life, while the layers symbolize rising abundance for the year to come, hence the name Year Cake. The round shape signifies family reunion. The Year Cakes are enjoyed all year round, however, are a traditionally cake for the New Year. It is prepared from glutinous rice…


Korea
Bibimbap: The word bibimbap literally means ‘mixed rice”. This dish was most commonly vegetarian, however, meat can be added. It is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables) and gochujang (chili pepper paste). It can be finished with a fried or raw egg on top or sliced meat. Generally the ingredients are all stirred together before eating. It…


Thailand
Kow Mun Gai: This is a very popular lunch or late night snack in Thailand. You can spot the street vendors by the pale boiled chicken hanging behind the glass. Kow Mun Gai is served with a spicy yellow bean sauce and winter melon soup. The rice has been boiled in the chicken stalk from the boiled chicken. The chicken is served over the rice and eaten together with the melon soup and spice…


Spain
Paella: An old story tells how a Moorish kings’ servants were responsible for the creation of this rice dish from mixing the left-overs from royal banquets. Some have said that the word ‘paella’ originates from the Arab word ‘bagiyah,’ which means left-overs. On the other hand, linguists think that the word ‘paella’ come from the name of the pan that…


India
Biryani: Biryani is basically spiced rice with meat, vegetables and other ingredients, but focuses on the spiced basmati rice. It is popular all over India and there are variations of it in different parts of Asia. Biryani is a rice dish based around goat meat and basmati rice. Some of the other ingredients are onions, lemon, and saffron. Coriander and fried onions can be used as garnishes…


Italy
Risotto: It is the most popular way for Italians to cook rice. Risotto is a rice dish that is cooked slowly and needs a lot of attention. The dish is cooked slowly in order to maintain the starch at the end of cooking that binds the grains and makes the dish creamy. Medium grain, high starch rice is used to make risotto. This type of rice has the ability to absorb liquid and to release starch…