Latest news with #affordableFood
NHK
6 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Convenience stores in Japan begin selling govt. stockpiled rice
Major convenience store chain operators in Japan have begun selling lower-priced rice released from national reserves. The cheaper grain was obtained from the government under its new system of no-bid contracts. Lawson and FamilyMart are offering the stockpiled rice in small packages at some of their outlets in Tokyo and Osaka. Lawson says it is selling small-lot bags to meet the needs of elderly customers and one-person households. A one-kilogram package costs 360 yen, or about 2 dollars and 50 cents, excluding tax. A woman in her 50s bought a 2-kilogram bag. "We have tried to eat rice less often," she said. "But I had to buy it anyway despite the high price to make onigiri rice balls for my child. I am lucky I got this bag today." Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro visited a FamilyMart store in central Tokyo early on Thursday. Koizumi said he is thankful that convenience stores acted so quickly to offer rice in ways affordable for many people. He added that he hopes it would help get more stockpiled rice on shelves nationwide. Seven-Eleven Japan says it will also start sales from June 17.
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Famous chef SLASHES prices to let more punters try Michelin-star food on a budget
A FAMOUS chef has slashed his menu prices to let guests on a budget try Michelin-star food. One of Birmingham 's elite restaurants has added a new menu to its fine dining offering in response to calls to offer more affordable options. 3 3 3 Simpsons is Birmingham's longest-established Michelin Star restaurant with 30 years' experience serving the most exquisite food available in the region. The 'prestige' tasting menu at Simpsons costs £140 per person but it will now offer a three-course lunch for just £49.50 to give more customers the chance to try its fine fare. The kitchen at Simpsons is led by chef Luke Tipping and the business is owned by Andreas Antona, who put it on the market earlier this year after announcing his forthcoming retirement. The restaurant is described as a 'long-standing jewel' in the regional culinary scene by Michelin with 'balanced and pure' dishes boasting 'subtle modern touches and a pleasing clarity of flavour'. Now more customers will be able to get a taste of the food that has given the restaurant such high acclaim for the last three decades, with its lower-cost lunch menu. Announcing the change, Simpsons wrote: "You asked, and we listened. Introducing our new menu offerings. "From Wednesday May 7 we are introducing our new lunch menu where you can enjoy three courses for £49.50. "Our a la carte menu will offer you more options, too, by being expanded from a choice of three starters, main courses, and desserts to six choices for each course. "This will now be available for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday. "Our beautiful Prestige Menu will also be available for every service." Shameless moment 20 Travellers leave restaurant WITHOUT paying £700 bill - as CCTV reveals suspects & cops launch hunt Commenting on the announcement, follower AndyIUK said: "What is not to love about that?" Starter options for the new £49.50 menu are a salad of Isle of Wight tomatoes with basil seed and olive dressing and tomato sorbet or the chalk stream trout with oyster, icy horseradish and cucumber. Main course is a choice of sea bream with crispy potato, confit leeks and smoked eel cream or baby cauliflower with peanut satay, pickled black radish, crispy rice, onion seeds and coriander. Dessert is a choice between pineapple ravioli with mango sorbet, coconut and kaffir lime chantilly or Lancashire strawberries with strawberry sorbet, sable Breton and creme brulee. The price drop in Simpsons has been welcomed by punters as many other Michelin-star restaurants have recently been forced to close. Shoreditch-based restaurant Lyle's is closing its doors after 11 years, despite being a fixture on the World's Best Restaurant List since its opening in 2014. Michelin-listed Fhior, run by Scott Smith - who appeared on the BBC series in 2021 - will close it's doors for good on June 1, due to the "difficult hospitality climate". And Harriet Mansell, who propelled to fame in 2020 when she competed on BBC Two's Great British Menu, shared that Lilac will pull the shutters permanently after four years of trading. The hospitality industry is facing mounting pressures, including soaring bills, rising costs, and squeezed budgets. More closures could be on the horizon due to upcoming hikes in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the national minimum wage. Many food and drink businesses have faced significant challenges recently, as the rising cost of living has led to a decline in dining out. After struggling to recover from the impact of the pandemic, many establishments were then hit with soaring energy bills and mounting inflationary pressures. This has forced several well-known chains to shut locations, with big brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's among those affected.
