O bento. A bientot!

So this week, the plan was that Bridget would instruct us on how to make Ramen.  Not as easy as one might think either.  It's more than just a bowl of hot water and noodles.  However as it was Willa’s birthday, Bridget offered instead to bring Obento for each of us.  I said sure, why not? I’m so impressed with Bridget’s cooking at the moment that she could’ve suggested bringing a half-eaten packet of chips she’d nicked off a pre-schooler and I would’ve said yes without hesitation or reservation.  Obento is a compact meal in a box, usually served at lunch time, but there’s no hard and fast rule about it.  It’s packed full of various foods to sample, that make up a basic Japanese meal.  There’s meat, seafood, vege and of course rice.  It can be served hot or cold.  If you buy it at the train station it’s called Ekiben, another example of the Japanese playing with words. 

We were going to surprise Willa, whose actual birthday was the day before.  It can be tough celebrating such a personal milestone so far away from home so we were determined to make sure that she at least had something nice to eat.  We all sat around the table, when Bridget pulled out three heart-shaped boxes of Obento, from her oversized bag.  Yep, THAT bag.     

Now I’ve had Obento before, and frankly while the food looks magnificent, I don’t usually eat all of it.  Some of the food is great, and the rest is just okay.  This Obento however was the exception.  Easily the best boxed meal I’ve ever had.    

The wieners were cut to look like Octopus, hence the name 'takowina'.  They were placed ‘head down, legs up’.  The meat had their own corners to occupy, patties with patties, chicken with chicken.  The chicken karaage had been skewered with small plastic sticks, the top shaped like Mickey Mouse's head.    You can never have enough Disney references in Japan.   

The overall look, once you opened the lid was very impressive.  Portion size was just right, and all the different foods tasted well together.  We each had a cup of hot Japanese Tea as the perfect compliment, to an equally tasty meal.  Presentation is very important in Japan especially when it comes to food.  I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say that a meal tastes better when it looks great, but it certainly puts the diner in the right space to accept that as truth.  I'm not expecting the kind of dressed up food you see in cook books or magazines, but as they say, you are what you eat.  

The meal was absolutely delish!  Everything is bite-size.  A pair of chopsticks is all that's needed.  No knives because you don't need to cut anything.  No spoons because there's no liquid, and no forks because nothing needs to be speared.  The word 'bento' apparently comes from a root word that means 'convenience'.  

The meal also consisted of green beans drowning in some kind of tantalising herbal mix, the sweetest cherry tomatoes, crispy lettuce, succulent sweetcorn and yummy onigiri, all neatly packaged in a heart-shaped box.  Valentine’s Day having been celebrated four months ago.  But that is of little consequence in Japan.  Something cute that immediately grabs the attention of females?  What else could be more fitting than boxes in the shape of hearts?

I heart you Bridget!  Thank you so much for another stunner of a meal! Gochisosamadeshita!