Thinking Outside the Box
Ever since reading the NY Times article that was published a few months back about the resurgence of bento box making, I’ve been fascinated with the work that goes into making these homemade lunches. Bento boxes are small, handpacked lunches in a portable container, that are traditionally Japanese and originated as the classic meal that mothers would pack for their schoolchildren. Don’t get me wrong–I am in no way close to being a mother, nor do I have children (Mom, you can breathe again now.) I’ve been interested more in the creative aspect of crafting a perfect bento box, which is grade in artistry above a typical brown sack lunch, marrying both design and practicality, to be elevated to a cultural art form.
Using basic food elements, bento box makers are flexing their creativity to make their food nutritious and pleasing to the eye with the construction of edible food art such as onigiri (rice balls) decorated with nori (small pieces of dried seaweed) to look like sumo wrestlers or small vegetables cut up to look like delicate chrysanthemum flowers and bunnies. Remember the lunch you ate yesterday (mine was a turkey and swiss sandwich on whole wheat bread), and see if it compares the bento lunch given to a 6 year old in the article which contained “teriyaki salmon with peapods, two kinds of sweet potato and golden beet ‘maple leaves.’ On the side: skewered purple carrot discs and a tomato made to look like a frog man. For dessert: a strawberry, champagne grapes, blackberries and a litchi.” Kind of makes the boring company cafeteria lunch of a 26 year old look shabby, doesn’t it?
Since the publication of the NY Times article, tons of bento resources have been popping up on the web, which can be an inspiration to those of you who want to create your own bento box, typically lunch at home or want to start bringing your own. My favorite amongst the ones mentioned is Just Bento, a daily updated blog with showcasing cooking tips (a recent one featured simple tips on how to cook your own kombacha squash), suggestions on what things to put in your own, and lots of pictures of other bentos to strike innovation. Her recent post on Halloween designed bentos showcased some cute and seriously imaginative handiwork, such as jack-o-lantern cherry tomatoes and ghost eyed mini sandwiches. I Love Obento, is also a great online marketplace for bento tools, including modern, sweetly designed versions of the traditional lacquered boxes that the lunches are housed in, fantastical shaped mini molds, and color paper cup dividers to separating different types of foods.
For a more grown up take on bento box, check out Luxirare’s 3 course version above, who creates a bento box not meant for kids, with nary a childish cutout cartoon animal vegetable. Her version offers neatly cut sushi rolls with sophisticated flavors like turkey bacon club; fried shrimp with chives and soba noodles; grilled tofu and green tea soba noodles in a ponzo sauce; and chocolate banana and peanut butter. As a finale, she created small, perfectly symmetrical jello shots of mojito, blue sapphire, champagne and strawberry and other popular cocktails using agar. Which of the bentos is your favorite?
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Another really great blog for bento making is http://www.annathered.com/ She recreates adorable characters really really well!