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Monday, August 2, 2010

summer peach and elephant bento

Hi bento friends! Today's bento was inspired by a few nice things from this weekend, including hubby's lovely lamb dish with local peaches, olive oil, Herbes de Provence and red wine:
 
Slices of lamb with a layer of peach-ginger chutney are under garlic naan bread, a happy goat cheese elephant rides along on top (decorated with golden tomato skin and beni shoga). Farmer's market snow pea tops, so cheerful with green butterfly spirals, and market golden tomatoes also inside...plus saturn peaches, whose honey flavor make them a favorite fruit discovery of the summer! A concord grape bunch, tiny and darkly sweet, also for lunch.

(Link up with What's for Lunch at Our House to participate in Shannon's weekly bento round-up and for a wealth of bento inspiration!)

Here is fresh fennel at the Saturday farmer's market, looking forward to adding this to a big heirloom tomato salad tonight with garlic, olive oil, salt--so summery, simple and good!
 
Watermelon samples:
 Golden tomatoes and lemon basil, brought home from the market:
An annual festival of Asian culture takes place near our house every year, and on Saturday I waded through dense crowds and the delicious scent of grilling meats and deep-fried lumpia to look around. Beautiful lotus pods at a vendor's table overflowing with aromatic ginger, birds-eye chili peppers and fresh herb plants:
I found this pretty little bag from another vendor, stitched together from antique saris and in some of my favorite colors:
With pink gladiolus blossom and golden plums...
Happy cooking and bentoing this week!

22 comments:

tinyskillet said...

I love this bento too...as always so colorful and gorgeous! I love the fifth photo of the golden tomatoes and lemon basil. The bag you found is so pretty, I love it! Looks like you had a lovely meal that your husband made, ginger and peaches go together so well. I've used lotus root before, I've never seen fresh lotus pods before. I wish I was there with you, it sounds like a wonderful time! Thanks for sharing with us!

Sonoma Bento said...

I agree with Lyndsey, that shot of the yellow tomatoes and lemon basil is stunning. Beautiful lighting! The goat cheese elephant is darling! Love this bento, Jenn! Well done.

Bentobird said...

Hi Lyndsey! You are so sweet, many thanks! It's fun to make bentos from collaborative meals, I must admit! Have a great evening...

Bentobird said...

Thank you Sonoma Bento! The local market is totally inspiring bentos and our meals this week--as it should be! Our tomato salad with basil and garlic-rubbed bread dinner tonight transported me to Rome...or Sonoma County ;)

Judy said...

Pretty as a picture! The top half would make a beautiful banner.

KidsDreamWork said...

Your bento and all these lovely photos never fail to make up my day! I'm with the rest, love that yello tomatoes & lemon basil with the sunlight photo so much!

Happy Little Bento said...

Lovely! Your elephant does look very Asian. Bright and summery as always, Jenn :)

tata | bonitafood said...

By seeing your bento photo (especially the elph), it brings me into festive, extravagant and colorful celebration in India :D. You're so good in creating that kind of feeling for your readers :D

Bentobird said...

Hi Judy! Yay for elephants...and sweet bento pals like you :)

Bentobird said...

Thank you Ai Ping for such encouraging comments! We both love colorful bentos, so cool! Love the paw prints on your latest :)

Bentobird said...

Hi sherimya, thank you so much, have a happy-bright summer's day!

Bentobird said...

Aw, Ta, that is one lovely comment--thank you! Was so inspired by the recent plant and flower pics you posted!

Kuusou said...

Beautiful bento as usual! The goat cheese elephant is great - did you use a mold?

Bentobird said...

Hi Kuusou, thank you! I shaped the elephant using my hands, goat cheese is quite moldable. You may enjoy playing with it, too :D

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! What a gorgeous bento and I love the elephant!

Bentobird said...

Hi Susan, thanks so much! Have a great day with plenty of bento inspiration :D

Angeleyes said...

Lovely bento! The elephant gave the bento a very exotic touch and feel!

Oh yeah, I love those lotus pods! I used to eat the seeds raw and they are really sweet!

Bentobird said...

Hi Angeleyes! Thanks so much and I found your comments on the lotus pods very interesting. Would love to try the seeds! Such an amazing plant--beautiful flowers and nourishing as well...

Anonymous said...

Aaaaaw, such a feast to the eyes! I think I wouldn't dare put my bento in that gorgeous delicate sari bag even though the theme & colours match! ;) But I guess you didn't plan to either.

Ha! Mr Jumbo was made of goat cheese! When I saw him at Flickr I wondered whether it was a huge marshmallow... ;)

Hooping over to 'What's for lunch at your place' now!

Bentobird said...

hi there gnoegnoe! not to worry--the sari bag was the ispiration for this Indian-themed bento and used just for decoration/photo fun :) Mr Jumbo was made out of wholesome local goat cheese and he was really gooood!

Shannon said...

So beautiful! The colors are, as always, amazing! And, as Ben would say, it's a Peanut!!! Got to love elephants in bentos. :o) Those are his favorites.

Thanks for adding it to last week's link up! :o)

Bentobird said...

Hi Shannon! Many thanks for your kind comments, and I agree, elephants and bentos just go great together :)) Loved your recent butterfly bento, so cool and pretty...happy cooking and bentoing this week!