Red Bank library director Elizabeth McDermott indulges her craving at Sogo Sushi. (Photo by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)
By SUSAN ERICSON
World traveler-turned-Red Bank Public Library director Elizabeth McDermott has a weekly itch that she scratches at Sogo Sushi on Monmouth Street: a bento box.
“It’s like comfort food to me,” says McDermott, whose previous job as a software consultant for Oracle took her all over the globe.
Bento box B on the lunch menu contains teriyaki salmon, maki roll and shumai dumplings. (Photos by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)
Living in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Australia, “I got used to different foods,” she says. “International food satisfies me more than American food.”
What’s the lure of the bento box lunch? In part it’s a fun lunch, with each component separated into its own place in the dish. Familiarity plays into it, too.
“I call them up and ask for the usual,” McDermott says. “They know me. It’s fun to banter back and forth with the chefs.”
Bento box B ($12.95) on the menu comes with teriyaki glazed salmon (though McDermott isn’t a fan of teriyaki glaze and has them broil her salmon without), steamed broccoli, kani salad, shumai dumplings, and a maki roll. Miso soup and salad with ginger dressing are served before the entree.
“I’m a creature of habit,” McDermott quips, “If you’re going to go out and spend money, you want what you want. The salmon tastes good and it’s not too filling and, I feel rejuvenated after.”
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