The locals are addicted to rice with mixed entrees. They are so hooked on it, I think they consider it a human right. I prefer rice with just one entree, and condiment. I don't think it's an American mentality, I just don't want to put in the labor involved with making many entrees! And all the trash that's generated! The preference began while I was still living in Tempe. I was using Japanese short grain rice for sushi, and whenever I was broke, all I had in the kitchen was the rice, eggs and soy sauce. Which makes for one of my simple pleasures: fresh hot steamed white rice with lite soy sauce. Oh, it's a taste of heaven! You must try it. I think it's only good with short grain rice though. With long grain rice, the experience is not the same. I guess you can call it nostalgia. I can't get that Japanese rice here, but the cheapest local rice is ironically the same. I don't like the expensive rice here- the grains are too large and well defined. So dinner tonight was rice and sunny side up eggs, with lite soy sauce and some hot sauce. Simplicity. I'm still having trouble getting my sunny side up eggs perfect, which is annoying. I think I need a really nice, brand new omelet pan.
