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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

shokado bento box, spring birds and blossoms

Here's the first outing for my new Shokado style bento box, filled with a variety of seafood, fruits and veggies. The Washoku site offers a lovely history of various traditional bento styles and their place within Japanese culture--an informative and engaging resource for bento enthusiasts!

There's so much in full bloom right now...romantic wisteria:
Regal clematis:
Busy bees:
Cute cardinals and robins (robin picture by Jamison)...

Today's bento contains crab shumai with chili oil, rainbow chard, avocado slices, and salmon salad made with plenty of lemon and ume nameshi rice topping (tart and yummy!), topped with pink radish pickles. Floral kiwis and mango with a tiny square of carrot cake lend a sweet finish...

The dividers are removable, so this box will be great for salads and scattered sushi. With the dividers in place, I love the variety of little ceramic dishes that can be nestled inside (another bento category to collect)!

31 comments:

Happy Little Bento said...

So delicate and dainty! If I were to start collecting cute little dishes, I would really go over the edge. So, because I know this, I can never start. But I'm happy to look at your enviable collection!
I've seen the wisteria around the neighborhood, but I have no support sturdy enough to grow it. It's one of my favorite flowers, though!
Delicious and beautiful bento, as usual. Fantastic shokado box too :D

Unknown said...

It looks so lovely and delicious! I love the little dishes inside!

Unknown said...

WOW I can finally see your shokakudo box! I've been looking forward to this so far.
Lovely arrangement of washoku and it's really perfect for the box.

I'm jealous of these flowers blooming. It's much warmer in D.C. than my area ^^

hypothermya said...

Wow! Beautiful! :)

hapabento said...

Lovely as usual Jenn. Looks like a fairy tale.

Like sheri, I love the little dishes, but unlike sheri, I've no will power and have been collecting them. It's a sickness I tellya! :)

Konnie said...

Oh my, just starting to learn about and do bentos and yours are beautiful.

Lia Chen said...

Jenn, I love that you put those little dishes inside your shokado bento box. Make it looks so elegant ... I just admire this bento so much! Great job as always (^.^)

Susan B. said...

oh the flowers are so pretty! someday I'll live where I can have wisteria - it's one of my favorites! love the clematis & the bees doing their work. :) thanks for sharing such great flower photos.

those little dishes ARE cute in that box! great idea. looks very nice.

tata | bonitafood said...

Cool box Jenn! :D. And I always feed my eyes with beauties you show through your picts :D

Bentobird said...

Dear Sheri, Your comment was so funny and apt re "going over the edge"! I'm asking myself how I can possibly stop collecting such addictively appealing bento items--from boxes to baran, washi paper to pretty food picks!
Your garden with its rose-friendly microclimate must be so lovely right now...hope you'll enjoy it today with some gentle sunny skies :)

Bentobird said...

Hi Jenn and thanks for visting with your sweet comment! I'll be seeking out these little dishes from now on, tee hee ;)

Bentobird said...

Hi Izumi! Well my bento comrade, its a pleasure to finally share this new box with you, thanks for your encouragement when I was still searching for one like it :) I'm so pleased you like this arrangement!
I hope warmth and more blossoms come your way soon...can't wait to see your late spring/early summer flora and fauna...

Bentobird said...

Thanks Christie! Your comments and bento friendship are wonderful to have :)

Bentobird said...

Hi Debra! I know. We should start a self-help group...except that in the end it would likely inspire even more resourceful and determined bento collecting habits, LOL!

Bentobird said...

Hi KJ, Delightful to have you visit and welcome to the wonderful world of bento! Just be warned...it is habit-forming ;)

Bentobird said...

Hi Lia, thanks for your compliment! Do you also collect little dishes? Your bento accessories are so cool and diverse...

Bentobird said...

Hi Susan B.! I would also love to grow wisteria, which requires lots of full sun and a good strong structure. These were growing outside a historic home in Old Town Alexandria and I fell in love with the soft purple tones!
Many thanks for your visit and nice comments!

Bentobird said...

Hi Tata--thanks indeed! I love sharing flower pics with you :)

megan said...

breathtaking... your posts are always like a refreshing nature walk for me, and the elegance of the presentation in this classy box is just amazing.

Bentobird said...

Ah, thank you megan for such a bright and great comment! Happy Thursday!

Lexi said...

Oh, this is so lovely - and the flower photography is beautiful too. It's a little colder where I am, we are still on narcissi & cherry blossom.....but the clematis has buds on it :)

KidsDreamWork said...

Arrived at your site from Hapa Bento. Such a lovely & delicate bento! I went to the Washoku to have a peek oh mine, I better don't get myself starting collecting all these, or I'll be broke because everything are so nice! :D
By the way, all the full bloom are so nice! All in your garden?

Bentobird said...

Hi Lexi! I love how we can share spring's unfolding in our respective time zones...sounds like you are in the wonderfully fresh phase we enjoyed here a few weeks ago...have a great weekend!

Bentobird said...

Hello there KidsDreamWork and welcome! I love hapa's site, always full of great information and inspiration! Some of the blooms are from my garden, others taken on walks through the neighborhood...how's spring progressing where you live?

tinyskillet said...

Your bentos are so artistic. I really enjoy all of your other photos as well. You have a wonderful blog here. I posted some photos of what is in bloom in my yard right now too.

I love this bento and the little dishes inside. I can't resist picking up little plates, bowls, and dishes.

Bentobird said...

Hello Lyndsey and thanks for your visit and kind comments! I really enjoyed the flower pictures on your blog, too! It all seems related--the beauty of flowers, of new seasons, and enjoying bento!

Susan Yuen said...

Wow, that is a beautiful bento box and you filled it perfectly! There is such a fantastic balance of textures and colors. Beautiful!

Fluteloop said...

What a wonderful box, I love the look of the ceramic dishes. Everything looks really delicious!

Bentobird said...

Dear Susan, hello and thanks! I'm so glad you found this to be well-balanced--that was my goal (oh, and to have fun with the little dishes, haha). Have a beautiful weekend!

Bentobird said...

Thank you fluteloop, delightful to have you visit and comment here :)

KidsDreamWork said...

I am from Malaysia where we don't have four seasons. Anyway, this the weather over here is just so hot and humid. :)