This is hilarious that I’m writing this as I really don’t enjoy cooking.
I have, however, worked out the bits that matter when you’ve been invited to a school excursion or picnic or you need provide something to share ( or in the case of a bake sale to sell.)
Let me be honest, no one is going to jail if you get it wrong – but these Japanese Mummies (and sometimes Daddies) are amazing and, of course, have the cultural thing down pat – so I wanted to share what I do now after several messy and failed attempts at getting it “right.”
1. It’s a pain, but the presentation REALLY matters
It can get really frustrating and I do have a mini-eye roll every now and then at the superficial element of the perfect looking lunchbox or treat. BUT beautiful presentation of any food is also a big part of Japanese culture.
Japanese people believe that you eat with your eyes first.
I wrote about the importance of presentation in this post on How to Hanami ( attend a cherry blossom picnic) here.
So its important that it looks pretty if you’re going to share. Not the time for a yummy sloppy lasagna (even though sloppy lasagna is always the best lasagna, right?)
Even if what you’ve made is delicious, it needs to look delicious first. Once you see other people’s options, you’ll see what I mean.
2. Consider the way it will need to be eaten/ shared when packing and presenting
Have you ever bought a box of cookies in Japan?
Have you noticed the amount of packaging?
Every single cookie is individually wrapped.
That is because it’s seen as the most sanitary way to share goods.
This is the same for omiyage. When Japanese people take a vacation, they buy a box of a local treat from their holiday destination and then it is put out in the office for co-workers to each take their own individually wrapped sample.
If you prepare a cake that needs to be sliced? I highly recommend pre-slicing it and maybe even putting each slice in a cupcake wrapper even? Or placed a cute paper napkin?
I also recommend the bento liners from the 100 yen shop.
For a zero waste option that also looks beautiful I recommend shopping at Eco-Hachi Living in Tokyo for stunning beeswax options. ( For information about living a life closer to Zero Waste, see my blog post here.)
It sounds crazy but people are much more likely to eat it if presented individually.
It is something that needs a spoon or fork, make sure you have those ready to go as well.
3. Check the availability (and price) of the ingredients in Japan before making any promises
I only included this point because of my first big mistake at the school bake sale.
I have a few standard cooking/baking items that I wheel out when forced required that I can throw together.
One of them is my Open Roast Pumpkin Feta Pie trick ( recipe is here if you are a nosey-posey, thank-you-very-much) so I had to write what I was making on a sign-up sheet outside of the classroom door.
So I was all cocky and wrote in capital letters”Pumpkin & Feta Pies” weeks in advance and just generally feeling like a total kiss-arse Mum of the World.
But then the day before crept up on me and I wander down to the supermarket. I discovered, after many weird questions and gestures at the Japanese supermarket clerk… that puff pastry is called ‘Pie Sheet’ in Japan (just an FYI.)
And then I head to the cheese section … only to discover that , considering the amount of feta cheese required, I would now need to spend almost 6000 yen (more than 52 US dollars) on Feta cheese.
I did it.
I learnt a good hard lesson.
Did you buy my feta cheese and pumpkin pies that day? At 100 yen a piece… you got a steal, my friend.
4. If you need to cheat then you need to put your creative hat on
I love a good Mummy hack. And my Japanese Mummy friends also love a good Mummy hack.
No-one seems to bat an eyelash if you tell them that you bought the chicken for the pie pre-cooked or the cupcakes are a packet cake mix (or even, just pre-bought cupcakes and re-iced them and added your own sprinkles. )
I wouldn’t go lying about it though as you’ll look a bit silly. I’d be honest and make sure it’s all extra cute.
One year I forgot about the bake sale til the day before, I went to an international supermarket and bought a selection of international gummy candies. I then rearranged them into mixed bags in transparent bags from the 100 yen shop – with a selection of each type of candy – and added a little bow to the top. They sold out first that year – which I still find to be hilarious.
5. Use your ‘difference’ to your advantage
Japanese people love trying new and different foods and flavours. Why else do you think there is a new flavour of every treat to match the season. Use that fact to your advantage.
Being Australian, I always try and throw together something with an Aussie spin. Tim Tam Slice (this is the easy Tim Tam Slice recipe I use – if you’re interested) and I’ve also done mini sausage rolls.
One year I also found some Crunchie chocolate bars at Kiwi Kitchen in Shirokane and made this chocolate crunchie slice.
Maybe you can do a different spin on a Japanese dish? Or a bite size version of something you make for your family often and can produce in your sleep? (things on skewers is also really cute.)
Or maybe use a cookie cutter to make a cute shape out of normal butter biscuits even?
I will keep adding more tips as more occur to me now.. but if you have your own Japanese bake sale and cheat sheet tips… let me know? Share with me too? Please?
