hmmm "Menchi Katsu"!?

I stopped by M&S the other day after the gym looking for some quick dinner. There I found "2 Minced Beef & Onion Crispbake"! It might have been there for a long time but I didn't notice until that day so it was new to me.

The reason why I got so excited was because the picture on the package looked like "Menchi Katsu" （メンチカツ）. I think "menchi" means minced (meat). Katsu means cutlet. Katsu is in fact an abbreviation of "katsuretsu" which is exact transformation of "cutlet". Our language usually doesn't have  independent consonants so it adds vowel to every consonant. 

Anyway, Menchi Katsu therefore means "minced meat cutlet". In Japan, these are often sold at butchers. Butchers usually have so-called "oso-zai corner" where they sell small dishes, such as salad, pickles and deep fried food like katsu and karaage (deep fried chicken).

In my country side town, deep fries are usually cooked in the back of the counter after the customer ordered. When they are handed to the customer, they are piping hot and they are still hot after going home so hungry kids can start eating them as a snack or families who eat dinner early can start dinner immediately.

I used to stop by the butcher on the way home with friends. One butcher was "the specialist" (in our own rating) of chicken mini-fillet katsu. We used to buy just one mini-fillet katsu each on the way and eat them in front of the shop sometimes burning my mouth then rode away by bicycle.

The other butcher I used to stop by was the specialist of beef croquette ("Korokke"). There again, we used to buy just one beef croquette each and eat them in front of the shop and rode away by bicycle.


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When I saw this M&S's 2 Minced Beef&Onion Crispbake, I didn't have to recall those memories in sepia colours but immediately related it to "Menchi Katsu".

I looked at ingredients and I was assured it should be quite close to Menchi Katsu. My mind was so fixated to Menchi Katsu, I even overlooked it contains potatoes. Menchi Katsu doesn't contain potatoes. It's all minced beef and onion.

I got home. I heated oven, stuck one crispbake inside. Waited and done.

I poured Katsu Sauce on it and had one bite. It was tasty but tasted more like soft croquette. Then I realised I overlooked potatoes. But, I thought it was a good beef croquette (korokke) soft version and I was pleased to find a quick and easy Japanesy food.