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Some thoughts about rice, an Asian staple

Just two years ago, the word rolling off many people’s tongues in the world – and the Seattle area – was about a shortage of rice.

Prices jumped. It was taking longer for shipments to arrive. Restaurant owners were out searching for the staple, which is popular for Asian food.

Restaurant customers were asking price questions. Some members of the public stockpiled bags when they could.

I don’t follow the rice market that closely – except for when I’m literally in a market. So, I was happy to see bags and bags of rice sitting on top of one another the other day at Uwajimaya, the Asian market which has a large store in Seattle’s International District.

The question, of course, is why did I start thinking about rice recently?

Well, I spotted this huge replica of a rice cooker sitting high on a shelf at Uwajimaya.

I didn’t ask exactly why the store has such a large replica – I just kept looking at it.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it was made for a parade or a fun run or something like that.

So, after I stared at the giant rice cooker, I began looking in the rice area.

In terms of supply, at that moment, I’m happy to note that Uwajimaya had enough to meet demand.

Sacks, mostly weighing 25- and 50-pounds, sat before customers.

As you see in the photograph below, there was TAMANISHIKI SUPER PREMIUM RICE, HIKARI IMPERIAL QUALITY RICE and NIKO NIKO CALROSE RICE.

And the bags also sport eye-catching colors. The one brand and style that I can see here, in the photograph below, is KOKUHO Heirloom Varietal Enriched Premium Rice.

Now, I should note that I have not tried all of these types of rice.

I just enjoyed seeing so many bags stacked one on top of the other, as I recalled those bleaker rice days in 2008.

If you don’t buy 25- to 50-pound sacks of rice on a regular basis, think of it this way.

If you live in the Seattle area, you probably remember last year’s freak heat wave – the one which drove people to big-box retail stores in search of fans and air conditioners at the last minute.

But when you arrived at the store, units had been snatched up.

Wooden pallets sat there with nothing stacked on top.

With me and rice, it’s that kind of feeling.

And brown rice remains a popular choice, too.

As for my wife and I, we usually pick up our jasmine rice at Costco.

The last time I noted the price (which was late last year), it fit in well with the idea that economies of scale have their advantages.

Oh, yes.

So, you’ve bought at 25- or 50-pound sack of rice for you or your family.

What’s the best way to cook it?

In a pot on top of a stove?

If you can – and if you eat rice on a regular basis – opt for the rice cooker.

Uwajimaya has a grand assortment with some in the $30 range and others in the $100 or so range.

And some of the more elaborate models have easy-to-see, round buttons to push.

Some models have an option to keep the rice warm.

The big buttons remind me of robots, in a way.

And as you see in one of those photographs, once you buy a rice cooker, you own it – at least at Uwajimaya.

In addition to cooking rice, you can steam other food, including pork, chicken, fish and vegetables.

Using steam as a way to cook food can really bring out some outstanding flavors.

My wife and I always survey Uwajimaya’s rice cooker selection. But for some reason, we’ve ended buying them at other places.

We bought one at Fry’s Home Electronics and the other one at, yes, Costco.

Cooking rice in a pot is always a possibility.

But in my years of cooking rice, I’ve actually burned two pots. I just didn’t pay enough attention.

The interesting thing is that if I hadn’t looked up and spotted that giant rice cooker replica at Uwajimaya, I would have been content to just buy groceries, including a head of cabbage, and going home.

It looks like the giant rice cooker replica has been sitting on that shelf since 2003.

I don’t know if the replica is the largest in the world – but I have come across the globe’s biggest piece of dry tofu and longest California roll.

And I forgot to say: In the Seattle area, the Asian Counseling and Referral Service hosts its annual fundraiser, Walk for Rice.

The next one will be held on June 19, 2010.