(May I have a nacho_cheese tag, please? :) Thank you!)

I don't have pictures of my second or third bento, which had onigiri and a ham wrap respectively, but I do have my first and fourth to share! Both very Americanized (lol), but still yummy. :) And I was the one who said my coworker "had to open [my] lunch to see what was inside," and she did it again yesterday! LOL

This was my lunch on Friday. Its not much to look at, but it was good.

Brown Happy Balloon Bento: Pasta w/ artichokes, shallots, spinach, sundried tomatoes, tapenade, and pesto, parmesan and gorgonzola cheeses on top (this is really good; let me know if you want the recipe)
Regular tupperware: grapes, laughing cow french onion, light babybel, french onion wheat thins
Side: applesauce, V8, granola bar (again, I wasn't hungry enough for the applesauce)


close up of the pasta

A few weeks ago, I posted a question regarding bento shopping in Boston. As people have said, there wasn't really much within easy reach of the city centre. As recommended in the community's shopping guide and by other members, I went to the Porter Exchange Mall in Cambridge. It was right beside the Porter 'T' station and wasn't difficult to find at all.

The mall itself is small but there is a good-sized Japanese supermarket (Kotobukiya Market) with more fresh and dried/packed produce than I have seen available outside of London. There was no point in me even looking at the fresh produce but there was a large selection of vegetables, tofu, fish and seafood. For anyone looking to buy sauces and condiments, sweets and snacks and other packaged goods, I would really recommened a trip there.

( What I bought, under cut, and Cooking Mama apron! )

I got my first Shinzi Katoh bento box this week, I really love it but it is really really tiny! Really for a snack bento, sides or many a child's lunch!



I packed this to take with me to a tournament last night (see pic, taken with iphone in pool hall =) ). Above is mini bagel with hummus and tomato, snap peas with ranch dressing, watermelon, cheese and a cookie. I got this box from Sugar Charms and it was not cheap! They did send it quickly and wrapped it beautifully and included a litte pack of grass ans a sauce fish. His site is very hard to figure out and I tried putting in a order last week but still have not heard back from them with a total! I see they are planning to open a store in L.A., I am going there this summer so I hope it is open by then!

I'm trying to pick up the following items, but so far they're scattered across 2 or 3 sites. I'd really rather not pay shipping from 2 sites when these things are generally so inexpensive. If someone has all of them and is willing to part with them, I'd be sooooooo happy.

These dressing bottles (I'd like 2 sets, but would be happy with one):
http://www.sugarcharms.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=50_56&products_id=428

Mayo cases w/spreaders (again, I'd like 2 sets):
http://www.sugarcharms.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=50_56&products_id=421

These shakers (also 2 sets, and these are the ones at JList and another place but not at Sugar):
http://www.sugarcharms.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=50_56&products_id=429

I was looking at picks too, but my husband sooooooooooo does not want cute in his box. I don't do eBay and none of this is available locally. I've tried the Tupperware site for comparable products without much luck (they have really LARGE salt and pepper shakers!). I may try poking around Amazon as well, but they seem to be just starting to get some bento stuff, and not much at that.

Can anyone help me?


Thanks!



ETA: Also, to show off, the new box I just ordered:
http://www.happymall.com/japan/l8425.htm

I've been wanting it for ages. ;)

Bento Icchi~
In the Bento is Shirataki Noodle Salad with Stir Fried Potatoes and Sausage on the side.
The cover is filled with Salad Pretz  
I

I've been on sort of an involuntary bento hiatus -- I just haven't had a chance to pack one in awhile!

Anyway, first off is my bento from a couple of days ago. It's pretty boring...


( contents and foods! nom nom nom. )

A hands on experience.

I know I have a bit of nerve, posting and begging for submissions of content when I haven't posted a bento in months (grad school is nuts!), but you guys do fabulous things with food and I need your help!

For my intro to IT class, we have to create a website incorporating some of the technologies we've discussed. Two friends and I have gotten together to make a site that focuses on really tactile, hands-on food that's tough to figure out from the written word alone, and have been writing up recipes with pictures and videos. It's still a bit under construction (I know, for instance, that the eggroll page is broken and the banner's a little wonky), but you can see it here. So far we have all of the recipes posted, as well as a few different kinds of pasta, food markers, braided bread, and hollandaise sauce. It's a good start, but we could really, really use more content.

Which is why I'm coming begging to you, my fellow bentoers. We do all kinds of fun things in our lunches every day (tomato flowers and octodogs come to mind) that would really benefit from a short video explanation. Wanna record yourself and do a write up of your favorite bento technique? You know you do! We would of course be more than happy to give you credit and a linkback!

Basic submission guidelines are on the main page. Help a gal out! Please? *looks cute*