With lunch box season back in full swing, why not let yourself be inspired by lunch creations with an Asian twist?
For many years now, the Japanese have elevated the simple boxed lunch into edible works of art, known as bento. It's a trend that's recently begun spreading across Europe and North America; it's bento mania!
Bento, much more than just lunch in a box
Bento, a Japanese term, refers to a meal, usually lunch, packed in a container and eaten outside the home; it's our version of a boxed lunch. In Japan, bento can be store-bought or made at home. Traditionally, however, it's been the woman's responsibility to prepare the bento for lunch for her husband and children.
It's not just a container
Highly refined, Japanese cooking prides itself on the freshness of its food and the aesthetic value of the presentation of its dishes. Bento is no exception. The flawlessly elaborate, even whimsical at times, arrangements of the foods included in the meal, are what distinguish it from a regular lunch in a box. The "cute" bento (kawaii in Japanese) trend is reflected in the wide range of accessories and products available to prepare these pretty Japanese lunches. There are numerous websites and blogs dedicated to them.
The content…
In general, the box is divided into compartments that contain a cold meal in which cooked white rice or noodles is the main ingredient. This starchy and nourishing food is accompanied by fish, meat, hard-boiled eggs or tofu, and fruits and vegetables, all cut into pieces that are easy to eat with chopsticks. Served with tea, bento makes a complete and nutritious meal.
...and the container
Compartmentalized to adequately keep the meal's contents separate, bento boxes have become true fashion accessories and come in an infinite variety of colours, shapes, patterns, etc. Traditionally made of varnished wood, they are now available in plastic, resin and bamboo. A whole host of additional accessories are also available on the market: egg moulds shaped like stars, rabbits, bears and other "cute" animals, as well as small decorative containers for sauce and other condiments, etc.
Bento can range from simple to very elaborate. They can also be truly inventive small works of art that make a meal an experience as pleasing to the eye as it is to the taste buds.
Be inspired!
Embrace the trend and add a touch of bento creativity and folly to your kids' lunches. The possibilities are endless!
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