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Thursday, May 13, 2010

new york visit bento

Back from my Mother's Day visit to NY, which featured good food and fun city explorations! Taking the train with flowers for mom...
On Saturday we went down to the Union Square Greenmarket, and found flowers and herbs in abundance!
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These asparagus become the focal point of my bento, photographed in mom's art studio. Nature is a major inspiration in her pastels and collages. No mystery where my love of flowers comes from...
In addition to the market asparagus, the bento contains smoked salmon avocado rolls with shiso, eel and cuke rolls, mint and spinach. Detail from a lovely spring flower pastel drawing by my mom:
             Mom's matzoh meal crispy pancake with Greek yogurt and jam:
 
Another foodie in the family:
We also went to Chinatown, always a richly interesting place to visit.
 
 
At Kam Man on Canal Street, three floors of food, spices, teas, ceramics....fun!
We found a lovely Vietnamese spot on Mulberry Street for lunch. Mom had crispy noodles with seafood and veggies (the sauce had a delectable ginger flavor):
                                Hope your Mother's Day was a sweet one!

17 comments:

KidsDreamWork said...

Lovely green garden bento, healthy and yummy! And I like the spring flower pastel drawing a lot too! :)

Happy Little Bento said...

Now I see where you get your delicate sensibility, Jenn. Your mom is as talented and beautiful at heart as you! So happy you were able to spend the weekend with her. I love my mom and can't wait to see her myself, in a few weeks!
I love Union Square Greenmarket!! So lovely to "see" it here :) Sounds like you had a wonderful time in Chinatown too, exploring and shopping!
Love you beautiful bento and story. Thanks once again for the trip across the country for me!

hypothermya said...

Home-smoked salmon?! That sounds *beyond* good. I love how you've wrapped them with shiso rather than with nori. The herbal taste must be fantastic with the salmon and avocado. :)

Your mother sounds like an amazing influence -- her pastel flowers are beautiful. I really love seeing how your art forms are similar despite being in different mediums.

Also, your family cat is hilarious! That would be me, by the way, if I were presented with all of that yummy food. ;)

Angi said...

That was a lovely post and thoroughly enjoyed all the pictures! It's almost gemini time... no pressure though ;)

Bentobird said...

Hi KidsDreamWork, many thanks for your visit and kind comments! Happy Friday to you :)

Bentobird said...

Dear sherimiya, that was such a sweet comment, wow! Glad to read that you will be visiting your mom soon--I'm sure it will be a wonderful time shared :) The Greenmarket is special, and it seems more farmers markets are opening across the city as NY goes increasingly green...a beautiful thing to see. I look forward to exploring your coast more someday--San Fran and Portland beckon!

Bentobird said...

Hi Christie! Oops, my bento description on flickr was confusing...the rolls were homemade, but the salmon store-bought :) Can you imagine the amazing, customized flavors that could be created with small-scale, fish smoking?!
Yes, the herbal green flavor of shiso was a really nice counterpoint to the fatty, salty salmon...I just love shiso and will be attempting to grow it this year. Thank you so much for your lovely and thoughtful comments, my friend and have a great weekend :)

Bentobird said...

Hi Angi--how are you? Thanks for your great comments and haha, I've got the Gemini bento all planned out...looking forward to it!

Fluteloop said...

What a wonderful pictorial on your trip! I love the market pictures and the bento photographed in your Mom's studio is so beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Am I seeing hemp leaves in your bento??? :-o Naughty grrl! ;)

You had a nice visit! Fun to read that your mom's an artisit... with your talents that's no surprise!

Anonymous said...

Lovely bento and wonderful pics! Love to read your post and "visit" where ever you have been! Your Mom's pastel picture is gorgeous!

Bentobird said...

haha gnoe, you are really seeing young green maple leaves!

Thank you so much Susan, your comments are always delightful!

Bentobird said...

Hello fluteloop! Thank you dear for your visit and great comments!

Debra said...

Hi Jenn, My comments will pale in comparison to your beautiful pictorial. They look as lovely as your description of serene Mom's Day visit! *sigh*

Bentobird said...

Hi Debra, such a pleasure to have you visit here--many thanks!

megan said...

looks like you had a wonderful visit, yay! beautiful pastel drawing, and the cat with the fork is just too funny. and i LOVE the food at xe lua! sigh, throw a tasty and vibrant asparagus-filled bento on top of it, and it's a post from heaven!

Bentobird said...

hi megan!! eeep, delightful comments on a rainy gray morning, such a treat! I loved xe lua and would go back in a heartbeat...enjoy nyc in all its yummy diversity for me (ps loved the little Japanese market right across the street from this restuarant--talk about a heavenly combo)!