A bento box is basically the Japanese version of a lunch box. Most bentos are made by hand, so I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to make one yourself as long as you have access to an asian food market.
In case you can't find one pre-made. You need a black, preferably laquerware box if you're going old school. Make sure it's for food and it should be about 2 inches deep. If the box is not for food you can just Saran wrap the bottom. If you can't find a real box, try the bottom of a box of chocolate.
Then you need some Japanese rice. Cook it and shape it into cylinders the size and shape of a Twinkies roll. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top of two and wrap the other two in nori (the seaweed stuff sushi rolls are wrapped in). Alternate them aesthetically, sesame, wrapped, sesame, wrapped.
Next, find some tempura-ed stuff like shrimp tempura and veggie tempura, put that in. Add a chunk of a baked fish, a meatball, some spaghetti (with sauce already mixed in) each in its own muffin wrapper. If you can find some seaweed in mirin or soy sauce than add that as a the vegetable. If not, add some shredded lettuce.
That's what is in the bento at my corner store in Japan so it may sound weird, but it's 100% authetic. I kid you not. However, a bento can have a whole bunch of different stuff in it just like your never sure what kind of food you will find in someone's lunch box. Just make sure there are about two bites worth of everything that is not rice and try to have everything in it's own little muffin wrapper or section.
A bento image
http://images.google.co.jp/imgres?imgurl=http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/lc/doctors/cover2/071226_part03_19.jpg%26amp;imgrefurl=http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/lc/doctors/cover2/071226_kabuki_05/%26amp;usg=__-DA4-pOylm6ZjgIu8q-pcdzU5iU=%26amp;h=354%26amp;w=500%26amp;sz=82%26amp;hl=ja%26amp;start=70%26amp;um=1%26amp;tbnid=0D09BW2347tiNM:%26amp;tbnh=92%26amp;tbnw=130%26amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3D%25E5%25BC%2581%25E5%25BD%2593%26start%3D63%26ndsp%3D21%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dja%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:ja-JP-mac:official%26sa%3DNWhere can i buy a Bento Box?
Might help us to know where you are...I don't know of too many wide-spread stores like Target or Wal-mart (or the equivalent in your region/country) that sell bento boxes. You will probably have to look for some kind of specialty store, like an Asian grocer or a Japanese food and housewares shop, both of which can be pretty scarce in many areas.Where can i buy a Bento Box?
Try big shoppin mall and drop in Sanrio shop if your friend may allow Kitty-cat like fancy goods in case of emergency. Or go to china town or Japanese town if anything such as is near you.Where can i buy a Bento Box?
An international store, prehaps?
You could always use express shipping(if the seller offers EMS) if you order on eBay.
No comments:
Post a Comment