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Sunday, May 16, 2010

taurus bento

Here we are in splendid mid-May with roses, hydrangeas and iris unfurling and the local farmer's market open with budding herbs and tender spring produce: the sights and scents of sensual, food-loving Taurus!
Our market visits this weekend were full of good things, including asparagus and ripe strawberries:
All-natural soaps in heavenly scents:
 
According to Lucy Ash's wonderful cookbook A Taste of Astrology, Taurus is the sign par excellence of culinary enjoyment and the gracious appreciation of nature's bounty.

She describes the Taurus palate as "sweet and delicately savory"; its foods include scallops, grapes, bread, lentils, kiwi, peaches, beets, honey, mint, thyme, spinach, and spring onions. This graceful sign is associated with Venus and our bountiful planet Earth, so the beautiful foods of spring are its perfect expressions. Some of this weekend's market finds that became part of this bento...
The Taurus bento features pasta primavera salad tucked into pillowy butter lettuce: the shell-shaped conchiglie pasta is combined with farmer's market asparagus and snow pea shoots, English peas, artichoke hearts, gingered carrots, fresh thyme and mint, dressed with Dijon-mayo flavored with grated ginger and orange zest.

Golden beet flowers nestle close by a romantic sea scallop in a fresh orange and Citronage liqueur sauce (we had the rest of the scallops hot from the broiler for lunch with some icy Pinot Grigio!) 
A honey-pear tart is topped with a baby pink rose (the flower most associated with this sign) and a wild strawberry. Persian green grapes add juicy sweetness--they were purchased at Iran Sara Market in Falls Church, as were some of these pretty green plums:
In bloom this weekend: snowy white kalmia, clematis and iris:
Have a great week ahead, bento friends--looking forward to your new creations!


34 comments:

hypothermya said...

Wow! Beautiful!

Kuusou said...

What a beautiful bento!

Lia Chen said...

Jenn, I missed some of your posts! Forgive me to not be able to post comments on your previous posts. Your post always beautiful and great one! This Taurus bento is no exception ... so many ingredients in one pretty bento :)

Angi said...

Stunning bento! I'm going to have to look up the kalmia :)

Token said...

Nature is so beautiful, it's very sad that humans are destroying it more and more... Looking at your Bentos is just like watching an Ghibli-Film. It shows you how wonderful nature is and that we have to protect it, so that also our grandchildren can make such fresh and healthy bentos for their kids! <3

Bentobird said...

Hello Christie! Many thanks and I hope your week is off to a great start!

Bentobird said...

Thank you, Kuusou!!

Bentobird said...

Hi Lia, I have the same thing to apologize for--still catching up to some wonderful posts I missed while away last week! Thanks for coming by to say "hi", my dear!

Bentobird said...

Hi Angi, many thanks girlfriend! I think they are a "native plant" of the North and Southeast USA?

Bentobird said...

Hi Token--you are right, these are such scary times for our planet...I hope in our own ways we are all finding ways to minimize that damage! Glad we can still share the beauty and appreciation of nature through our bentos...

Lexi said...

Wow Jenn, you have outdone yourself here - this all looks and sounds delicious, and as a Taurus I want to reach into the picture and pluck pieces out to savour!
the farmer's market looks amazing and it is the perfect time for pasta primavera - that's going on my wishlist for next week. Yum indeed.

Anonymous said...

Oh now I wish I were Taurus with a sweet and delicately savoury palette. Your bento is my ideal food - a heaven of colours and mix of dainty and robust tastes. (But I'm really Libra....) Blorgie1 x

Bentobird said...

Many thanks Lexi, it pleases me to no end that this bento spoke to you as a Taurus! With my moon in Taurus, I can really relate to this sign and its love of beauty, nature, and food! I'm looking forward to your upcoming primavera :)

Bentobird said...

Hi Carolyn! Lovely comment: as a Libra you would have this palate--both signs are under the magnetic, refined and artistic influence of Venus! Your bentos are so beautiful and balanced in a complex but pleasing way...in other words, so Libran!

Happy Little Bento said...

Super lovely bento once again, Bentobird! Love the green plums; we don't have them here yet... but they're so cute and mini I couldn't resist them if I saw them. Thank you for the sunny smile you just brought me on this cold gray day :D

tofugirl said...

oh good, I'm glad I can blame my astrological sign for my food obsessions! Gorgeous bento! I particularly like the honey pear tart!

Debra said...

Can I just say how much I enjoy your blog? It's beyond a mere description of your beautiful bento lunches. It's an visual oasis.

Fluteloop said...

I want to go shopping with you! Beautiful post1

Bentobird said...

Hi sherimiya! Lovely comment, thank you dear! I found the bright green color of the plums hard to resist :)

Bentobird said...

Hi Carol--yes, it all makes sense--the stars want you to bake! I just loved your b-day trip post--what a treat!

Bentobird said...

Ah, thanks so much Debra! Comments like your keep me going...love all the good stuff we share in this community!

Bentobird said...

Hi fluteloop--let's go!!

megan said...

everything on your market journey looks so inspiring - i especially love those green plums! and this box is an amazingly alive-seeming interpretation... the shell pasta with the scallop *in* a shell is a typically jenn-tastic clever touch :-)

Anonymous said...

hi jenn, what a beautiful market you have there. it's a big contrast with our wet market here in singapore and malaysia. veg and flowers look so appetizing thru your lens. yes, even flowers! haha../karen cheers!

Bentobird said...

tee hee, thanks for noticing the shell motif, megan--I had fun with that! welcome back to bentoville, such a pleasure to see your new creation this morning and read your wonderful comments! so looking forward to your new-place bentos, once you are fully unpacked :D

Bentobird said...

Hi Karen, Thanks so much for visiting with your interesting comment! I'd love to see some pictures of markets where you live...

KidsDreamWork said...

Your bento is always so flowery and attractive! The scallop looks so tempting, haha...

Unknown said...

A ton of beautiful pictures! Gorgeous yet refined bento as always. I love the sea shell theme. Your bento and pretty flowers give nourishment for my eyes each time!

Bentobird said...

Hello KidsDreamWork! This was the first time I've made scallops, an example of bento leading to new cooking experiences :) Thanks for stopping by :))

Bentobird said...

Hi Izumi, your comments make me so happy, thank you!

tata | bonitafood said...

My sign is Gemini and I can't wait to see your Gemini bento hehe. What a clean market you have there. I think it kinda difficult thing to find a clean one here in my place in Indonesia hehe. Beautiful bento as always Jenn :D

Bentobird said...

Hi tata--yes, I can totally see you as a "twin"--you are very communicative and seem like a vivid hummingbird with many interests, hobbies and ideas...I've got some fun notions for the Gemini bento, stay tuned! I keep wondering about the markets of Indonesia, am curious for pictures!

Judy said...

What a beautiful tribute to Taurus, and your flower photos are super lovely! Have a wonderful weekend!

Bentobird said...

Hi there Judy, thanks so much and happy May weekend to you my friend!