Just Bento

Since we are just starting to see some lovely spring weather here I can't help think about planning picnics to take along for long walks and bike rides. Perhaps a picnic bento theme would be nice, I know I need to get out of the house more often and sharing is fun too.

Failed not! You've been busy, no problem. I've slacked off on bento making myself.

Picnic bentos is a great idea! And I love the spring vegetable mayhem idea too! So many kinds of fresh veggies are coming on the market now, and some we won't see again for many months after they're gone. I'm always looking for new ideas for them.
Maybe ways to make spring veggies to take on picnics! To counter balance some of the less healthy traditional picnic fare.

I love May! Are the cherry blossoms blooming near anyone here?

It's the first real wintery day here, so I'm not totally enthused with the idea of picnic bento :(

How bout a vegetarian bento challenge? It's frugal and vegetable filled.

You certainly didn't fail me! I even picked up a cute bunny and bear egg shaper combo at a 100yen store (Tokyu Hands had it for considerably more) solely because you'd resurrected an old thread - it wouldn't have caught my eye otherwise.

As for themes - how about an international bento theme for May.

I'll try and scan in and upload an image from a magazine I picked up which shows a selection of tapas/montaditos from a Tokyo store arranged 'bento style' in a box - a little tray of olives replacing the tsukemono and rows of cut bread topped with tortilla, tomato & anchovy, croquetas and other bar favourites arranged as if they were sushi pieces... looks gorgeous!. It may just be a 'tapas to go' service offered by a restaurant, but the image has been a huge inspiration for me.
A May theme where foods from an array of different countries are given the 'bento treatment' (and a Maki style makeover!) is something I'd love to see. Might prove a great encouragement, particularly for those who still suspect that bentos are just about Japanese food.

You didn't fail, you just got busy.
I personaly wouldn't like a picnic theme because I have to revise and can't go on picnics until late June.
However, I'm probably in a very small minority there. And you probably don't want to think too much about a group of pepole who really shouldn't be going on forums and blogs and such at the moment.

I did not do well this month either! I had double birthday celebrations (my b'day, heheh ^^; ) and I bought 2 presents for 2 friend's b'day too >< I did slack off from making bentos because of Easter break..
I cannot think of a good theme, but I'm happy to stick on April's theme next month. Or we can have round #2 of the 5-week bento challenge :)

So far I'm liking most the idea of

- a vegetarian/vegetable bento (I think allowing dairy/eggs, to allow for some more flexibility over vegan)

- and the international or non-Japanese bento.

What if we decide between these two?

Oh Maki, I really like the vegetable bento! :3
Most veggies are not expense (like corn, carrots, lettuce, cabbage,) and they are all good for you.
(i've yet to hear a bad veggie, but I'll listen =P)

I vote for the vegetable bento!

p.s. Or make it a veggie/fruit bento? ^__^ that way everyone won't be stuck on just veggies.

Hi,

I love the suggestion of Vegetable / Vegetarian / Vegan bento, perhaps to tie it in with the spring "theme" work them using current in season produce?

Perhaps do a list of good bento vegetables to use in particular seasons as well. This is something I would really like, and also would be nice seeing as spring is not really the right season for a poor cold Melbournian :P
Using vegetables in season as I'm sure I've seen you mention in a post somewhere also is much better sense as it equates to cheaper and fresher vegetables rather than buying out of season produce which has had to travel much further.

Cheers
Izzy

Well, as a person on a high-protein diet, making vegetarian isn't something that I'd do, but I always get good ideas anyway! Personally I'd love to see the international or non-Japanese bento theme, but if not this month then doing it another month would be great.
So see, now you have 2 months' worth of ideas....

Hi all *waves*

My name is May and I am from the top of Australia. I would love to join in on this months theme >-< Can some one please explain the guidelines to me?

Many Thanks

May

Sorry it took a while. I couldn't scan the image after all, so here's a photograph of the magazine page I mentioned.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n1sjt7SfiAw/SflCyLm7JCI/AAAAAAAAAX4/EHHhpHyKw-...

It costs a whopping 8,800yen and seems to be a takeaway "tapas party in a box" from Pintxos Bepo. The tapas are treated almost like sushi so, when disassembled, there are four portions of 7 tapas and some olives.
Each of the constituent pieces can be made quite cheaply but I love seeing how these classic Spanish delicacies are put together with Japanese flair.
Of course, it wouldn't be that hard to make a vegetarian tapas bento box... or its French, Italian or Korean equivalent. Just remove the sardines, crabstick and salmon pieces (and the anchovies from the escalivada, the ham from the croquetas) and you're already there :D

i'd like to vote for an international bento theme. And maybe a lacto-ovo-vegetarian bento theme for june, it would be almost summer and perfect for those kind of bento...

Hello All,
My Vote is for an "It aint all about Japanese food" challenge :)
I find myself packing more Italian, Thai, & Indian food than anything else.

I would also be up for a 5 week challenge repeat since I missed the first one.

To include everyone (high protien vs vegan), and spring veges, what about bentos including unusual (or seasonally limited) foods?
It would be fun to see recipes for more unusual items - plus bento portions are pretty small, so it's not a huge commitment to *love* the ingredient.

I love all your ideas! I think for the May theme we'll go with vegetarian bentos/recipes. We'll definitely have an international theme, a single-ingredient theme, etc. for future themes. Look for this month's announcement to go up shortly! Thanks guys!