New obsession: Bento Boxes

kellygreen49 · 06-30-2010, 05:39 PM

Bento 弁当 is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine.
It's all about making it look aesthetically pleasing and compact.
Examples:
http://community.livejournal.com/bentolunch/

I don't have a "bento box" that they use, so I've just been using Tupperware. I hope to buy one off of eBay soon. I like that it helps you eat healthier and puts it into portions. It's fun, relaxing, and you can make them ahead of time and put them in the fridge. My friend and I started "Bento Warring" on Facebook trying to make the best Bentos. ...Ours suck compared to the ones on LiveJournal. But they are a lot of fun.

Those are turkey/cheese roll ups acting as "sushi". Fried rice balls on a bed of lima beans.

I thought if some of you wanted to try making your own Bento Box you could post it here =)

If you need inspiration, check here:
http://weelicious.com/

There's many small portioned recipes. You don't have to stick to Asian food while it is fun. Make italian bentos, breakfast bentos, only blue-colored-food bentos.

rockthecurlz · 07-29-2010, 08:57 AM

I have seen these before and thought what a neat concept these are. I think they look pretty when arranged with all of the colors of food. I always eat out for lunch :/, maybe I should start doing this.

jeepcurlygurl · 07-29-2010, 09:32 AM

I love bento boxes and order them often when we go out to eat. I've always liked small portions of many different things so they really suit me.
I eat like this at home (tho I don't have a bento box). I have Asian plates and bowls and cups and love making a 'pretty' meal.

Thanks for the link. Lots of great 'wee' food there!

va_candi · 07-29-2010, 05:53 PM

Thanks for the link. I learned about bento boxes recently, and though I haven't attempted to create one, I do love to look at other people's masterpieces. Here are a couple more sites for bento inspiration:

http://lunchinabox.net/
http://justbento.com/

kellygreen49 · 07-29-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by va_candi

Thanks for the link. I learned about bento boxes recently, and though I haven't attempted to create one, I do love to look at other people's masterpieces. Here are a couple more sites for bento inspiration:

http://lunchinabox.net/
http://justbento.com/

I love 'Just Bento'!

Here's another one I made weeks back, but it didn't turn out so good. I think a Bento box would've made it look cute but the symmetry was definitely off or something. I don't like how I just stuck in the Babybel cheese next to the lima beans but I couldn't figure out where to put it. And my omelet didn't come out how I'd hoped. It's supposed to be more square, like a candy. See here at the bottom of the page: http://justbento.com/handbook/recipe...owave-omelette
Probably cooked it just to perfect consistency, not accounting the extra cook time in the paper towel.

Ramen noodles with soy sauce (Nama Shoyu brand), seasoned tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet, you can find that on http://justbento.com/), lima beans, and Babybel cheese.

Anyone brave enough to give it a go and post up a picture? I'd love to see!

kellygreen49 · 07-29-2010, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepcurlygurl

I love bento boxes and order them often when we go out to eat. I've always liked small portions of many different things so they really suit me.
I eat like this at home (tho I don't have a bento box). I have Asian plates and bowls and cups and love making a 'pretty' meal.

Thanks for the link. Lots of great 'wee' food there!

Yeah, that's what I like about them too. You get a little bit of everything to eat. It makes me appreciate the food I'm eating more too for some reason.

kellygreen49 · 07-29-2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockthecurlz

I have seen these before and thought what a neat concept these are. I think they look pretty when arranged with all of the colors of food. I always eat out for lunch :/, maybe I should start doing this.

Hope you try! It's really addicting...

I start college this next January spring semester and my goal is to take my morning classes, eat my Bento (going to make previous night), and then head off to work.

millie_(A)TCK · 07-31-2010, 12:10 AM

I love bento boxes too! I use to make a bentobox meal every other day until my landlord accidentally threw my bento box away, thinking it was trash he'd left behind.

This is an awesome bentobox book:

http://www.amazon.com/Bento-Boxes-Ja...0556663&sr=1-4

scrills · 09-07-2010, 01:27 PM

I love bento boxes. I've been collecting pictures but havne't tried it yet.

I did, however, pick up to bento boxes while I was in Tokyo

kasden · 09-07-2010, 02:09 PM

Oh no!!! Now I want a set of bento boxes!! I found some really pretty ones here! Must...not...buy!

moosegrl_86 · 09-08-2010, 08:29 PM

Yay! I've been a bento enthusiast for a while too, the last three years. I had to start cooking for myself in college so I started making lunches. It's actually a little obsession of mine, I've collected a lot boxes over the years. If you want you can check out my photo stream on flickr under the same name. I don't tend to make cute lunches though. Examples of mine:

Auntie Bubbs · 09-09-2010, 08:14 PM

Those bento boxes are adorable!! I had no idea they were that pricey though. I wonder if one can find them cheaper in a Chinatown neighborhood? Anyone in/near SF? I'm near LA, I could check

hmmmm. If I find good prices, I'll post them!

curlylaura · 09-12-2010, 09:06 AM

OMG that food looks great! I want a cute bento box but I think el-cheapo plastic boxes will have to do for now. It would make great work lunches for me.

curlylaura · 02-24-2011, 01:26 PM

I have been making bento style lunches for the last week and a bit. Most people at work are quite intrigued. I'm off to the local Japanese, Chinese and Thai store this weekend to get more bento supplies.

I want some kawaii bento gear but it's too expensive and so will have to wait.

amandak23k · 02-24-2011, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellygreen49

Bento 弁当 is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine.
It's all about making it look aesthetically pleasing and compact.
Examples:
Bento Lunches

I don't have a "bento box" that they use, so I've just been using Tupperware. I hope to buy one off of eBay soon. I like that it helps you eat healthier and puts it into portions. It's fun, relaxing, and you can make them ahead of time and put them in the fridge. My friend and I started "Bento Warring" on Facebook trying to make the best Bentos. ...Ours suck compared to the ones on LiveJournal. But they are a lot of fun.

Those are turkey/cheese roll ups acting as "sushi". Fried rice balls on a bed of lima beans.

I thought if some of you wanted to try making your own Bento Box you could post it here =)

If you need inspiration, check here:
Weelicious

There's many small portioned recipes. You don't have to stick to Asian food while it is fun. Make italian bentos, breakfast bentos, only blue-colored-food bentos.

I love bento boxes too! Well I mostly love looking at pictures of ones made by other people!!

adorame06 · 04-03-2011, 08:04 AM

I was at Trader Joes and in their frozen food section the had a packaged Bento Box. The food was very artfully done,it looked cute!

Sent from my Ally using CurlTalk App

curlylaura · 04-04-2011, 02:15 AM

I've been making a stash of food to put in a bento box for work. Some can't be frozen but most can. People at work like looking at my lunches too. I need some more variety, as much as I like chicken and rice it can get a bit boring after a while.

I also want an Aladdin Bento Box. I don't expect it to keep food hot but I can use it to microwave food without heating it all up.

sariroo · 04-05-2011, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosegrl_86

Yay! I've been a bento enthusiast for a while too, the last three years. I had to start cooking for myself in college so I started making lunches. It's actually a little obsession of mine, I've collected a lot boxes over the years. If you want you can check out my photo stream on flickr under the same name. I don't tend to make cute lunches though. Examples of mine:

Cute HK bento box! I usually buy cheapy bento boxes at the 100 yen shop. They have lots of kawaii bento supplies. I saw the cutest Hello Kitty bento book the other day. I'm trying to resist the obsession...

kayb · 04-06-2011, 10:15 PM

While looking for dinner recipes I found this and thought of this thread.

Stuffed Chicken Divan with a Sherry Dijon Sauce Recipe : Food Network Kitchens : Food Network

Looks all kinds of awesome

curlylaura · 04-07-2011, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayb

While looking for dinner recipes I found this and thought of this thread.

Stuffed Chicken Divan with a Sherry Dijon Sauce Recipe : Food Network Kitchens : Food Network

Looks all kinds of awesome

I agree!