SF - Post your favorite Bento box recipes

**Fabienne** · September 11th, 2006, 07:48 AM

As I have to pack my son's lunches and expect he'll get tired of sandwiches and salads soon, I thought I'd explore the bento box alley. If you have recipes that can stand being kept at room temperature, I'll take them. I'm also thinking of the rice balls wrapped in seaweed, not sure that qualifies as bento box material.

Thank you,

Fabienne

**pejsek** · September 11th, 2006, 10:58 AM

My sons go to a Japanese elementary school here in San Francisco. The lunches the Japanese moms pack for their kids never fail to put me to shame--a little rice, a little chicken, some fish, some egg, a bit of nori, etc. I admire these lunches greatly, but they're just not what my kids generally want to eat. My oldest (just turned nine yesterday) has been eating basically the same luch for years now: tuna sandwich (with low mercury yellowfin tuna packed in olive oil), cold green beans with olive oil and balsamic vinagrette, a few breadsticks or maybe a couple of cornichon, chocolate chip Clif bar, lemonade. He really doesn't tire of it or yearn for greater variety.

**EL72** · September 11th, 2006, 12:31 PM

I am having the same thoughts as my son begins preschool tomorrow. He is however, a sushi addict. He loves raw salmon and can eat boatloads of it. I don't think it will stay fresh enough in a lunch box so we are thinking of substituting it for smoked salmon, cucumber, egg, other veggies... in sushi rolls.

Other ideas we have for hot lunches include rice with veggies and tofu (or hot dogs), pasta, mac and cheese... Nuke it in the morning and they'll stay warm in a good thermos and insulated lunch pack until noon with no problem.

**Get Smart** · September 11th, 2006, 12:48 PM

I used to date a Japanese gal (from Japan, spoke almost no engrish) and she lived with me for 2 years....she'd get up early and make me a bento lunchbox which consisted of items like beef wrapped asparagus, various cut sushi rolls, beef and potato croquettes, various veggie assortments and pickled radishes, a slice of that spiral roll cake that's so common at Japanese markets, etc. The beef wrapped (use koma-giri or thinly sliced sukiyaki/shabu beef) asparagus is a winner. You can also wrap asparagus with bacon for "pork wrapped" variety. And pack it with dipping sauce (I like Ponzu).

**Alter** · September 11th, 2006, 06:06 PM

This blog has some great pics:

http://mito.typepad.com/photos/bento/

**acidicboy** · September 11th, 2006, 10:35 PM

had a nice bento box meal the other day that looks easy to do yet very tasty and filling: rice, grilled mackerel (or salmon), ebi fry, nori, pickled ginger and cucumbers, some sashimi cuts, and fruits.

**LabelKing** · September 11th, 2006, 11:26 PM

This has insipired me to look for a deluxe bento box-sort of like a lunchbox.

**Nantucket Red** · September 12th, 2006, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LabelKing

This has insipired me to look for a deluxe bento box-sort of like a lunchbox.

Lacquered wood with MOP inlay would be my choice.

**Fabienne** · September 12th, 2006, 07:46 AM

No fancy bento box, but I made a simple sushi roll, cut it in children's bite size pieces and packed all this with a tiny bit of soy sauce in an easy to open plastic box. We'll see if this is more appetizing to him than sandwiches.

**Alter** · September 12th, 2006, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fabienne

No fancy bento box, but I made a simple sushi roll, cut it in children's bite size pieces and packed all this with a tiny bit of soy sauce in an easy to open plastic box. We'll see if this is more appetizing to him than sandwiches.

You need some of these:

**EL72** · September 12th, 2006, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alter

You need some of these:

Those look great. All we have are the small packets (like for ketchup) and a four year old cannot open those - at least not without making a big mess.

**Alter** · September 12th, 2006, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL72

Those look great. All we have are the small packets (like for ketchup) and a four year old cannot open those - at least not without making a big mess.

You should check at your local Japanese goods store. They are extremely common in Japan.

**EL72** · September 12th, 2006, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fabienne

No fancy bento box, but I made a simple sushi roll, cut it in children's bite size pieces and packed all this with a tiny bit of soy sauce in an easy to open plastic box. We'll see if this is more appetizing to him than sandwiches.

That sounds great. Noam would love that. What kind of roll was it? He got leftover pasta (warm in a thermos) and he seems to have eaten it well. He's getting chicken with rice tomorrow. We should have a kids' lunch thread.

BTW, first day today went better than expected. His teacher is great. She took his hand as I left and he gave me a kiss with a quivering lip but held back the tears as there were lots of other kids around. He apparently only asked for Papa a few times during the day and was generally happy but exhausted at the end. Whew! I am quite relieved. Schoolbus pickup starts next week.

**Kent Wang** · September 12th, 2006, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL72

Those look great. All we have are the small packets (like for ketchup) and a four year old cannot open those - at least not without making a big mess.

Your child may be entertained by this video.

**Alter** · September 12th, 2006, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Your child may be entertained by this video.

I think everyone will be entertained by it! Brilliant!

September 11th, 2006, 07:48 AM	#1
Fabienne Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,017	Post your favorite Bento box recipes As I have to pack my son's lunches and expect he'll get tired of sandwiches and salads soon, I thought I'd explore the bento box alley. If you have recipes that can stand being kept at room temperature, I'll take them. I'm also thinking of the rice balls wrapped in seaweed, not sure that qualifies as bento box material. Thank you, Fabienne
	Oooh -)---------

September 11th, 2006, 12:48 PM	#4
Get Smart Don't Crink Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: A town called Malice Posts: 11,182	I used to date a Japanese gal (from Japan, spoke almost no engrish) and she lived with me for 2 years....she'd get up early and make me a bento lunchbox which consisted of items like beef wrapped asparagus, various cut sushi rolls, beef and potato croquettes, various veggie assortments and pickled radishes, a slice of that spiral roll cake that's so common at Japanese markets, etc. The beef wrapped (use koma-giri or thinly sliced sukiyaki/shabu beef) asparagus is a winner. You can also wrap asparagus with bacon for "pork wrapped" variety. And pack it with dipping sauce (I like Ponzu).
	Cooler than the Average Jason More Arrogant than the Above Average Jason Thick as Thieves Website

September 11th, 2006, 11:26 PM	#7
LabelKing Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Constantinople Posts: 22,576	This has insipired me to look for a deluxe bento box-sort of like a lunchbox.
	http://leisure-class.blogspot.com/ All men are equal--all men, that is, who possess umbrellas.

September 12th, 2006, 07:46 AM	#9
Fabienne Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,017	No fancy bento box, but I made a simple sushi roll, cut it in children's bite size pieces and packed all this with a tiny bit of soy sauce in an easy to open plastic box. We'll see if this is more appetizing to him than sandwiches.
	Oooh -)---------

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September 11th, 2006, 10:58 AM	#2
pejsek Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 885	My sons go to a Japanese elementary school here in San Francisco. The lunches the Japanese moms pack for their kids never fail to put me to shame--a little rice, a little chicken, some fish, some egg, a bit of nori, etc. I admire these lunches greatly, but they're just not what my kids generally want to eat. My oldest (just turned nine yesterday) has been eating basically the same luch for years now: tuna sandwich (with low mercury yellowfin tuna packed in olive oil), cold green beans with olive oil and balsamic vinagrette, a few breadsticks or maybe a couple of cornichon, chocolate chip Clif bar, lemonade. He really doesn't tire of it or yearn for greater variety.

September 11th, 2006, 12:31 PM	#3
EL72 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 6,421	I am having the same thoughts as my son begins preschool tomorrow. He is however, a sushi addict. He loves raw salmon and can eat boatloads of it. I don't think it will stay fresh enough in a lunch box so we are thinking of substituting it for smoked salmon, cucumber, egg, other veggies... in sushi rolls. Other ideas we have for hot lunches include rice with veggies and tofu (or hot dogs), pasta, mac and cheese... Nuke it in the morning and they'll stay warm in a good thermos and insulated lunch pack until noon with no problem.

September 11th, 2006, 06:06 PM	#5
Alter Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Japan Posts: 2,462	This blog has some great pics: http://mito.typepad.com/photos/bento/

September 11th, 2006, 10:35 PM	#6
acidicboy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,079	had a nice bento box meal the other day that looks easy to do yet very tasty and filling: rice, grilled mackerel (or salmon), ebi fry, nori, pickled ginger and cucumbers, some sashimi cuts, and fruits.