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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

celebration weekend, thai rice bento

Hi bento pals! This weekend, Jamison and I celebrated our 8th anniversary with some great meals in D.C. We returned to Kushi, a wonderful Japanese izakaya-style place last visited on my birthday in July. This time we savored a long lunch with lovely food and yuzu-flavored drinks. A refreshing seaweed salad to start:
Awesome items from the grill...scallion and duck:
This tender chicken-scallion sausage was delectable!
Still life behind the sushi bar
Sushi chefs at work...
Beautifully fresh sushi! The pickled ginger here is so vibrantly flavored, best I've tried...



It was very cold indeed this weekend, so we took a super-brisk walk from Kushi to our hotel, passing through Chinatown on the way. I ducked in a favorite housewares spot and found a silk purse (whose colors inspired today's bento) and some cute chopsticks!

We stayed at the fun and elegant Hotel Monaco, across the street from the National Portrait Gallery and in a neighborhood full of vibrant restaurants. Poste is located in the lobby of the Monaco, so we were able to enjoy the following special brunch without venturing into the below-freezing weather Saturday morning.

Some meals just inspire and amaze...this was one. Jamison's beef tartare was a carefully and beautifully composed work of art. Over a delicate bed of salsify, the tartare was topped with a quail egg and bound together with an ethereal dressing:
Served alongside, a flavorful bit of carpaccio and tiny potatoes with a soulful roasted garlic sauce. You can't see it from this photo, but a fresh baked brioche was part of the presentation, adding yet another layer of luxurious texture.

When not sampling Jamison's dishes, I turned my attention to a super tasty duck pastrami Reuben on lovely warm pumpernickel bread:
Eggs Hussarde with delicately poached eggs layered over a perfect hollandaise sauce,  cozily accommodated in two crisp tender potato halves:
Vibrant roasted tomatoes and richly flavored bacon added deep flavors to this beautiful dish. A meal to remember! 


Today's bento was inspired by the vibrant colors of a hyacinth bouquet currently filling the house with sweet aromas, an orange silk pouch, and a large box of clementines...as well as leftovers from a Thai meal of spicy shrimp that I've extended with brown rice and baby peppers. Fresh salad greens, clementines and blueberries in the bento, too:
Happy Tuesday!

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks fantastic!! I love the colors!! And fried rice is always a hit with me. :)

Bentobird said...

Hi Katy, many thanks! For me, too! Fried rice is a real go-to dish for a quick, versatile and tasty meal, love it :D

Karina said...

Happy Anniversary Jenn. What a wonderful weekend...but Warning: I should not have read this because I haven't had lunch yet, and the PB&J I planned is just not going to cut it now. Soooo beautiful.

Bentobird said...

Hi Karina! You are so kind, thanks for sharing these warm comments :D

Anonymous said...

Happy anniversary Jenn! What a perfect way to celebrate it! Wish all the best ( delicious, nice and beautiful) for you and your loved one ^_^.
The bento is fabulous as always! Paring beautifully with the flowers :)

Robin O said...

What a wonderful Anniversary celebration! Congratulations to you and Jamison, wishing you continued bliss and adventures together. The richness of your meals have me breathless and your trimmed down version in your bento is hits just right notes.

Arudhi said...

Happy anniversary! Gosh, you sure did celebrate it with fabulous food! I love pickled ginger and I think I eat more of it than the sushi themselves :D

Bentobird said...

Hi karaimame, many thanks for this lovley comment, it illuminated a grey, waiting-for-snow afternoon! Flowers help me get through winter, that's for sure :D

Bentobird said...

Aw, beautiful comment Robin, heartfelt thanks! I'm indeed trying to trim down after such rich meals this last weekend ;)

Bentobird said...

Hi there and thank you Arudhi! Yes indeed, its spicy sweetness can be addicting, and its good for you, too...

Bobo said...

Happy Anniversary! what a sweet celebration. And a cute pouch to add into your collection..
Your orangy and spicy bento looks good and of course the flower that i love most. :)

Megg said...

What a vibrant assortment of delicious foods.. Yum! Congrats to you and Jamison on your anniversary! ^_^

tata | bonitafood said...

Happy 8th anniversary Jenn, wishing you a happily-ever-after :D (hugs). How great and lovely food you had for the celebration and I love to read your story ^^.

OhayoBento said...

That sounds like a wonderful anniversary! Congratulations!

I love your inspired bentos. Being able to see where the inspiration comes from takes me on a wonderful journey, very nice.

Bentobird said...

Many thanks dear Bobo! Flowers are so cheering in winter :D

Bentobird said...

Thank you Megg! have a great day...

Bentobird said...

Hi Ta! So pleased you came along for this little trip, a pleasure to share with you :D!

Bentobird said...

Hi Heather, thanks for lovely comments, I really appreciate them!

Mommalina said...

My oh my!!! your pictures never fails to amaze me!!! Fantastic work ... love it!!!
Happy anniversary ^__^

Bentobird said...

Hi Lina!! Thank you so much! Hope you are doing well--we are hunkered in for a big hail/snowstorm over the next few hours here!

Mrs. P said...

congrats on the 8th! we're only half way... Looks like you enjoyed your dining out experience! Those food looks so delicious! Love your bento! You made a leftover looks brand new again! =)

Bentobird said...

Hi Mrs. P--thanks so much for all these nice comments, big smile! ^ ^

Kaimono888 said...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY & best wishes to you ^.~

Bentobird said...

Hi Kaimono888, so sweet of you ^^!