To drink I had the Jasmine Green Milk Tea w/ tapioca:
Upon first glance it looks like any ordinary milk tea. But the Jasmine Green Tea they use as a base is the most amazing I've ever had. The Jasmine is so present in the drink that it seems as if you are drinking in a liquid made entirely of the fragrance of a jasmine plant. The tapioca pearls which are usually a favorite for me distract a little bit in this drink so I advise having it without. The tea itself is just too beautiful to mar with the tapioca. I found that it was an amazing compliment to the Curry as well. The milk and soft flavor of jasmine suited the spicy aftertaste of the curry perfectly. I definitely would continue to pair these two together!
Curry Chicken:
The curry is very reminiscent of Japanese curry at first glance/taste. But there are a few differences that make it a completely separate eating experience. The sauce is very simple upon initial taste but the spice catches up with you immediately upon swallowing. It is a complex heat buried in the aftertaste and I could not get enough. To me sauces that have many layers of tasting are the best. If it the smell/taste/aftertaste are all the same it is a boring sauce. While to me the sauce is the most important part of a curry dish I must say the chicken and vegetables were all cooked very well and evenly. Just the right amount of flavor had been absorbed in each piece and the entire dish was divine.
Now, to me, the most important part of any meal: the rice. I was honestly afraid to try the rice and got lost in the curry for quite a few minutes. I wanted the rice to be good but so few eateries can master good rice these days. Upon first bite I was thrilled to find it was excellent. Perfectly fat grains, not overcooked, not too watery, and definitely FRESHLY made. You won't find yesterday's rice on your plate at Bento. Growing up with a Japanese influence on food I came to value rice very highly. Most Americans treat it as only a side dish, not important. So when they get cheap, thin, watery and oftentimes days old rice from the average "Chinese" restaurants (that aren't even true Chinese food most of the time) they don't mind. To me it's sacrilegious.
What I want to try next time:
The fried rice is definitely on the top of my list. I fell in love with their rice and can't wait to see how the fried rice compares.
I'd like to keep my meal a little shorter so I can try the Aiyu Jelly dessert. Some wiki research on the dish has my mouth watering but I was far too full to eat again yesterday!
I think maybe the Ba Wan will be the only other thing I order next time in order to save room for dessert. It's listed as a "snack food" on the menu so hopefully it's not too large! The photos on the menu and descriptions I've read on the net make it seem delicious and I'd love to try it.
Other intriguing menu items: the Lover's Tea seems very interesting, I can't help but wonder if it's only good to couples or maybe it will bring me some luck as a single girl! Bento Nuggets sound delicious but I didn't want to seem too American by getting something with the word nugget in it on my first trip here! The Duo Juices look super yummy especially during the hot summertime. One day I hope to be adventurous enough to try the braised pork feet. I swore next time I went to a Chinese restaurant I'd eat chicken feet, so why not try the pork feet too? We'll see. I regret living in America so long has made me a bit of a chicken when it comes to dishes like that. Maybe if I get someone else to drive and have a few stiff drinks beforehand I'll be game for the pork feet sometime in the future!
All in all I think I have found a new home at Bento Cafe. I have every intention of going as much as I possibly can despite the hour long drive just to get there. I wish it were closer because I would have a Jasmine Green Milk Tea every day without hesitation. For now though I'm aiming to go once every 1-2 weeks so expect more posts from me on this subject in the future!
Now here's some pics of my food!
Jasmine Green Milk Tea w/ tapioca:
Curry Chicken:
Preview of my next entry: On Wednesday I'm taking my mum for a whirlwind tour of some of the markets in Atlanta. Dekalb Farmer's Market, Super H Mart, and Tomato Japanese Grocery are all on the agenda. Next week will be a return to Bento Cafe but before that a stop at the International Farmer's Market & Hong Kong Supermarket which are blissfully nearby! Also there will be a few knitting updates this week!
A quick edit to throw in the link to the restaurant so everyone can check it out! http://www.bentocafe.com/
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