#Japan #Tokyo #USA Rice #Calroze #Ban Fan

Introducing the Ban Fan Project with Calroze Rice

The USA Rice Federation's Japan representative office, based in Virginia, USA, is excited to announce the launch of the thrilling Ban Fan project starting October 20. This initiative highlights the unique characteristics of Calroze rice, which is cultivated in the lush landscapes of California, through an innovative menu that makes rice dishes even more enjoyable.

The term "Ban Fan" refers to a unique rice dish conceived by Shunsuke Inada, the chef behind Eric South, who is known for popularizing South Indian cuisine in Japan, including the biryani craze. Since South Indian culture is centered around rice, Chef Inada is adept at creating menus that truly showcase the essence of rice. The inspiration for Ban Fan arose from Calroze's less sticky texture and its excellent compatibility with oils and seasonings — the idea that mixing Calroze with your favorite ingredients could create limitless delicious dishes.

Derived from the Chinese cooking technique "ban (拌)," which involves mixing various ingredients and seasonings with noodles, the dish has been playfully transformed by replacing "mien (麺)" with "fan (飯)" to give it the name "Ban Fan (拌飯)." Not limited to Chinese-style dishes, the Ban Fan can embrace various genres, including risotto and biryani-style menus. This concept embodies the freedom of culinary creativity, suggesting that anything tasty can become a Ban Fan. With Calroze rice, the possibilities for home-cooked rice dishes are boundless.

As part of the initiative, the USA Rice Federation is joining forces with Chef Inada to raise awareness about the charm of Ban Fan through the development of unique recipes, the launch of a dedicated website, and various promotional campaigns planned for the future.

For more information, visit the Ban Fan website: Ban Fan Web Site

Check out Chef Inada’s introduction video about Ban Fan here: Watch Video

About Shunsuke Inada – Creator of Ban Fan

Shunsuke Inada is a renowned chef, restaurant producer, and writer, born in Kagoshima. After graduating from Kyoto University and working for a beverage company, he opened the South Indian restaurant Eric South in 2011, where he has become an ambassador of South Indian culinary arts.

Sample Ban Fan Recipes:

1. Tomato Mabo Soboro Ban Fan – A blend of tomato enhancing the flavor without any complicated steps.
2. Goro Goro Chicken Biryani-style Ban Fan – A heartfelt dish ideal for comforting meals.
3. Mushroom Parmigiano Ban Fan – Mix it to create a wonderful risotto without hassle.
4. Bulgogi Ban Fan – Enjoy deliciousness that enhances with each mix.
5. Shrimp Lettuce Ban Fan – A quick and easy fried rice variant without frying.
6. Green Vegetable Ban Fan – A simple dish that requires no clay pot.

Upcoming Event

In celebration of the project launch, we will host the "Try Making Ban Fan! Campaign" where participants can win Calroze rice.

What is Calroze?

Calroze is the name of a medium-grain rice variety unique to California, meaning "rose of California." It possesses qualities between short-grain rice, often represented by Japanese rice, and long-grain rice seen in Thai varieties. The unique characteristics of Calroze include a light texture and a slight al dente chew that makes it quite special. For more details on Calroze, visit: About Calroze

About USA Rice Federation

The USA Rice Federation is a national organization comprised of four core groups within the US rice industry, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Operating under the supervision of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this non-profit agency promotes a correct understanding of U.S.-produced rice and supports its marketing efforts, excluding any import or sales transactional activities for rice.