My lunches used to consist of boring sandwiches, but they will be boring no longer! This is about my 4th attempt at bento and I freakin’ love it! I’m starting to get a hang of managing all the ingredients and making it quickly. Once I’ve got a good set of easy bento recipes I’m going to get a bit more adventurous and start making my own tempura and sushi. For now I’m happy with easy things like rice, noodles and quiche. It’s a lot healthier than the chicken mayo sandwiches I used to have!
It’s not something you usually see in the UK, so I get a lot of funny looks at work from people walking by with their chicken burgers and chips! I use chopsticks too, so that probably doesn’t help avoid the looks.
If you want to see a few more bentos that I’ve made check out my Flickr Food set. I plan to keep it updated with most of the bentos I make.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:58 am
oishisou! I haven’t even tried to make bentos yet. I usually eat the previous night’s leftovers for lunch the next day.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:45 am
Wow. I must give the appropriate plaudits to you, sir. I am very impressed that you make your own bento. Maybe that’s because loads of my male coworkers here are in their 30s, still live with their mother, and never make food for themselves. You set a marvelous example. You should totally share your successful recipes, by the way. I’d Soc them, you know.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:51 am
@Carlie - I kind of do the opposite. I no longer make dinner because I eat so much of the ingredients whilst I make my bento for the next day!
@Deas - Thanks! I’m currently looking to put some recipes online, maybe on their own site.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Also, I meant to tell you - I thought I’d added you to the blogroll on my site for a while, but noticed today that it had somehow slipped by me. You’re on the list, now, though. Situation rectified.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Thanks Deas
July 7th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Impressive. I have been known to make bento out of dinner left-overs too! Somehow when you take the time to prepare a bento, even if it’s from leftovers, the food seems to taste better. I still have a hard time with room temperature food that is ’supposed’ to be hot though.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I agree, leftovers do tend to taste better in a bento. I often feel more full after finishing one, even when the contents are smaller than my usual sandwich. It stops me picking up that Twix bar after lunch.
Some of the hot foods that I’ve kept in the fridge overnight usually don’t taste as good, such as breaded shrimp or duck rolls. Still tastier than the unidentifiable meat sandwiches sold at work. When chicken comes in perfectly formed bright white cubes you know there has to be something wrong with it…