Bento Lunches: Art for the palate..

[jynxxxedangel]

This is an offshoot from another thread. I noticed Hunhee has posted a really cute bento lunch, and I'm sure many are curious about it, now!

From Wiki:

"Bentō is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables as a side dish. Containers range from disposable mass produced to hand crafted lacquerware. Although bento are easily available in many places throughout Japan, including convenience stores, bento shops (bentō-ya), train stations, and department stores, it is still common for Japanese homemakers to spend considerable time and energy producing an appealing boxed lunch.

Bento can be very elaborately arranged. Contests are often held where homemakers can compete for the most aesthetically pleasing arrangements. The food is often decorated to look like people, animals, or characters and items such as flowers and plants. This style of elaborate bento is called kyaraben."

A bento is traditionally made in a 4:3:2:1 ratio: 4 parts of rice, 3 parts of the side dish (either meat or fish), 2 parts of vegetables, and 1 part of a serving of pickled vegetables or a dessert

Here are a few pics of some adorable and very creative bentos I have found on the internet:

[hunhee]

Edited September 30, 2008 by hunhee

[hunhee]

Edited September 30, 2008 by hunhee

[jynxxxedangel]

This thread is making me extremely hungry.. :

Edited September 30, 2008 by jynxxxedangel

[hunhee]

Edited September 30, 2008 by hunhee

[hunhee]

[hunhee]

[Homicidalheathen]

my mom told me not to play with my food but these concoctions do that damn hello kitty justice...

[hunhee]

[hunhee]

[hunhee]

Edited October 16, 2008 by hunhee

[hunhee]

[hunhee]

[hunhee]

[TygerLili]

Points for creativity.

However, I've completely lost my appetite.

[hunhee]

Edited October 17, 2008 by hunhee

[hunhee]

[hunhee]

[hunhee]

[hunhee]

[prick]

All these pictures are making me so hungry. I love most asain foods. I was married to a Hmong woman though and let me tell you their food is horrible compared to the rest of Asia.

[lapin]

HOMER SIMPSONS BENTOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[Msterbeau]

Dammit. I never see anything this cool in the stores here!!!!!

[lapin]

i can make bunny apple slices.

i made bentou like those once, but no photo, cause' no cam.

the bentou is pretty sweet though...

lols

I'LL MAKE ONE FOR MARC IF I CAN GET THE CHANCE TO!! <333

XDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[Msterbeau]

i can make bunny apple slices.

i made bentou like those once, but no photo, cause' no cam.

the bentou is pretty sweet though...

lols

I'LL MAKE ONE FOR MARC IF I CAN GET THE CHANCE TO!! <333

XDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

I haz apples and caramel apple dip. We can make a sweet version:

4 parts sugar

3 parts fruit

2 parts ice cream

1 part graham cracker crust