A hot topic! Dissecting the “moist fried rice” unique to Joetsu (Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture)

2022.1.4

Moist Fried RiceJoetsu City

Recently, “moist fried rice” has been a hot topic in Joetsu City. There may be some people who have already tried it. When it comes to fried rice, many people think of the so-called “para-para” fried rice, where the grains of rice do not stick to each other, but the fried rice we are going to talk about this time is the opposite of para-para, “moist”. It is not soggy at all. What is the fried rice that focuses on moistness ……?　I heard about it at the Joetsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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Hiroshi Kojima, a member of the Young Men’s Club of the Joetsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a certified moist fried rice chef, is working hard to spread the popularity of moist fried rice.

Left: Mr. Hiroshi Kojima (glasses and a bamboo spoon are the style of a certified fry rice chef)
Right: The Echigo-Uesugi Hospitality Busyoutai that we interviewed.

This project started with a realization by Mr. Kojima, who loves fried rice.

Mr. Hiroshi Kojima
When I ate fried rice outside of the prefecture, the moistness was completely different. Fried rice is supposed to be parched, but all the fried rice I ate in the city was moist. When I told this to other people, they agreed with me. I decided to show them that the fried rice they usually eat is moist.

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What is the definition of “moist fried rice”?

Mr. Kojima
This is a project to name fried rice made from rice with high water content, such as Koshihikari and Koshiibuki rice produced in Joetsu, as “moist fried rice” and to launch it as a new brand.

The four definitions are as follows.

■A restaurant that offers moist fried rice as soul food of the Joetsu region.
■The rice produced in Joetsu is used.
■The shop must love fried rice and Joetsu.
■A restaurant that understands this project in a serious and interesting way.

The purpose of this project is to recognize stores that meet the above criteria and promote them together to make the Joetsu area more exciting.

 

認定の流れは？

Mr. Kojima
If you contact the Joetsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or inquire via Instagram or YouTube, a judge will go to the restaurant to taste the food. If the restaurant is found to be ‘moist,’ we issue a certificate.

In addition, undercover researchers visit various places in the city to research restaurants and share the information they find in meetings as needed. We are also looking for information from the public, such as “This restaurant has moist fried rice! from the public is also welcome.

Currently, there are 10 stores in the city that are certified. The certified stores have “banners” and posters.

 

One of the certified stores is “Yamada Ramen” in Tsuchihashi, Joetsu City, where the owner was replaced about two years ago and now Mr. Koyama continues to preserve the taste that has been loved by the community. I was told that they have a recommended “moist fried rice”…

Mr. Koyama, owner of Yamada Ramen

Mr. Koyama
The fried rice is full of ingredients and has a rich aroma.

Fried rice 850 yen (tax included)

For the rice, we use “Tsukiakari” from Joetsu, which is grown by a farmer in Itakura. Unlike Koshihikari rice, Tsukiakari rice has larger grains and just the right amount of moisture, making it fresh and satisfying to eat.

Mr. Kojima.
When our undercover researcher came to try it, he found it to be fluffy rice, moist, what we call “five-meal fried rice,” and we certified it as soft and gentle.

Mr. Koyama
I’m honestly happy to be recognized. YAMA has been famous for its delicious fried rice for a long time, and even though I have taken over the restaurant, I have tried not to lose that. It is difficult to adjust the temperature of fried rice, and if it is overcooked, it will become soggy. I shake the wok to adjust the temperature…”

The ingredients will include shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, chashu pork, and scallions. Then we add a generous amount of crab meat, which is the key to the flavor.

The fried rice is highly praised by Ms. Kojima, and the fluffy crab flavor stimulates the appetite. One bite of the fried rice, and the taste of the various ingredients will spread in your mouth, and you will immediately notice that it is different from parampara fried rice.

Mr. Kojima
“In the future, I’d like to think of plans such as a giveaway or something that focuses on fried rice and introduces new attractions.”

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YAMAHA RAMEN
■1595-2 Dobashi, Joetsu City
■Phone: None
■Business hours: 11:00 – 14:30 / 17:30 – 20:30
■Closed: Tuesday (Wednesday if Tuesday is a national holiday)

The number of newly certified stores is increasing rapidly, and as we continued our coverage, we were able to witness the moment of certification.

The moment when “moist fried rice” was certified

We came to “Epurontei” in Sakae-cho, Joetsu City.

It has been in business for 25 years, and is a so-called “Machi Chuka” restaurant with deep roots in the community. It has a wide variety of menu items for families to enjoy. There are many regulars who have been coming here since the days of Xinhua Lou, the predecessor of Eupront Tei, and it has been certified by the Niigata Safe Store Support Project.

The fried rice served at Epurontei has a simple flavor with only soy sauce at the end. Will it be certified or not ……? Mr. Kojima, our researcher, is watching closely.

Fried rice 700 yen (tax included)

Mr. Yokota, the owner
Okay, the fried rice is ready.

Mr. Kojima.
Oh! Let’s try it. Moist fried rice doesn’t fall apart, right? Just like that! It’s moist and fluffy. It’s delicious. What’s the key to the flavor?”

Mr. Yokota, owner of Eprontei

Mr. Yokota
The most important thing is the heat. Make it quick. If you take too much time, it will become sticky.

Kojima
Aim for the perfect balance between “sticky” and “dry.

Yokota
That’s right.

Kojima.
Which type of rice is used here?

Yokota
It’s Koshihikari grown in the Takashi district.

Kojima
Koshihikari’s chunky, moist, and fluffy flavor comes out. What kind of PR would you like to do for the people of Joetsu?

Yokota
I want to promote the fact that you can eat delicious fried rice in Joetsu, so that people will come to eat fried rice that they cannot make at home.

What was the result?

Kojima
“Then, based on our overall judgment, we hereby certify that Epulontei here is a restaurant with delicious fried rice and moist fried rice!

Yokota
Yokota: “I’m very happy. Thank you very much.

Incidentally, Epurontei was in the process of renewing its menu, and was thinking of changing the name of its fried rice to “moist and fragrant fried rice. That’s when I found out about this project and entered to be a part of it.

Kojima.
It was good timing, wasn’t it? The renewed product will have the name “moist fried rice” on it. It’s great that the name of Joetsu’s famous moist fried rice will be engraved on the product.

The Joetsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is currently recruiting new certified stores of moist fried rice. The Joetsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is currently looking for new certified shops of moist fried rice. Self-recommendation or recommendation by others is not required. The Joetsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is currently looking for new certified restaurants. If you are interested, please check it out. If you are interested, please check it out.

Epurontei
Address：1-4 Sakae-cho, Joetsu City
Phone: 025-524-4295
Business hours: 10:00 – 14:00 / 17:00 – 21:00
Closed: Monday