Bento Love

A 'bento' is simply a small portion meal or lunchbox here in Japan.  I am sure that many of you have seen how 'kawaii' or cute these can be made, even if you didn't know what they were called.  Here are a few examples of the adorable ones:

As you can see...NO ONE HAS TIME FOR THAT. But it's adorable.

A much simpler bento is extremely common here in Japan, in fact finding a bento box was super easy.  I got mine at the local 100yen ($1) store along with all of the accessories needed.

 

Here is my bento (beige), disposable chopsticks with pink wrappers, and panda elastic

A bento consists of one or two compartments that are easily closed up, just like a Tupperware.  You also need an elastic to hold it together, as the pieces don't snap closed.  Without the elastic they could pull apart mid-walk to work and your lunch is ruined :(

So with my bento in hand I set off for the grocery to the pre-made food section and got several small tasty looking things to put into my bento for tomorrow's lunch at work.  Total food cost was around $6, and not all was used for this one lunch.  Photos begin...now!!

 

The two large compartments, and the small one on top...which is so small I don't know what you can even put in it besides a packet of soy sauce.

 

Another angle of the two compartments

 

What it will look like when closed and ready for transport

 

Little cupcake holders, which are actually used for bento here! You divide food with these to keep flavors from mixing

 

My array for this bento making session (not all food was used)

From top to bottom starting at upper right:

Tuna maki roll

Japanese grapes (DELICIOUS)

Yakisoba

Rice onigiri (rice ball)

Steamed veggies

Some sort of fried something (later turned out to be rice wrapped in batter and deep fried)

 

My bento for tomorrow's lunch!! I had over half of the yakisoba and veggies left over, so that will be dinner.  And only 3 grapes, so I can munch on them more tonight and tomorrow night :)