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Monday, September 3, 2012

japonica sf and salmon ginger salad bento

 
We had such a fun day in San Francisco yesterday, first visiting a halal Chinese restaurant where lamb was the primary attraction and the flavors of cumin-ginger-scallion sparked our dishes. After we took a meandering walk down Geary Boulevard, and relished its dense agglomeration of Chinese, Japanese, Russian shops and restaurants...every few feet was another window to peer into with excitement:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Moon festival season arriving soon...
 
 
 
 
 
Excited to go back to try this restaurant:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Japonica on California Street was an awesome find! Cafe, flower shop and treasure trove of the kawaii and pretty, I had the best time exploring its offerings and talking to its sparkling-friendly owner Valerie Nara. Today's lightweight and elegant wood bento was found at Japonica.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lovely bento boxes! I chose the smallest, on top:
 
 
 
 
Elegant tenugui:
 
 
Explosive blooms in a color reminiscent of the Golden Gate Bridge:
 
 
Tomorrow's lunch, happily ensconced in my new bento box, is an open faced salmon salad sammie with a radish sprouts, juicy kiwi and baby greens. The salmon salad includes pieces of pickled ginger and diced scallion, yum!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Happy cooking this week!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great time together .... fun walk and great food ! Love my little BentoBird. Whoo !!

Bentobird said...

Whoo-who, Snowyy Owl! Yes indeed, an awesome time together!

Robin O said...

Strolling down Geary, an adventure in internationalism. A taste of many cultures in several blocks. What a lovely visit to San Francisco and on of the many neighborhoods and treasured memento to savor your visit for days to come. Lovey Post!

berrygirl@mommy kiki can! said...

Lovely!!!I spent the most wonderful summer week in my life in San Francisco. It was just before I took a three day tour with the Green tortise Adventure Bus tour to Yosemite National Park. The youth hostel in North Beach was the most wonderful place ever. I dont know how I lugged all the goods I bought from the amazing Asian markets home! I have a family now, and I live REALLY far away, but this post assures me that I have to get back there somehow! I love your wonderlust posts Jen!

Unknown said...

Your blog is fantastic and I am passing the One Lovely Blog award to you. You can check out the details here if you accept :) Keep up the good work! www.bentoformygirls.blogspot.com

megan said...

what a lovely labor day weekend adventure... and the new box is BEAUTIFUL! so chic and modern, but timeless in the wood. you've, not surprisingly, filled it elegantly. the salmon salad sounds perfectly zingy and the kiwis are such a nice compliment.

Bentobird said...

Hello sweet Robin! Thanks so much and I really enjoyed your Seattle images...eventually we will get there and no doubt enjoy immensely! Wishing you a good and painless-as-possible transition back to the daily "grind" :)

Bentobird said...

Kiki, your comment was a delight to read, what a cool adventure you enjoyed...and per your current happy life-adventure in Finland, it would seem that you take very well to new places and all the fun and novelty they have to offer :)I do hope you'll make it back to the SF area, and I'd highly recommend the more rustic coastal towns of Bodega and Sebastopol for charm and relaxation!

Bentobird said...

Hi Dina, thank you--so honored by your award! Your encouraging words are much appreciated, have an awesome day!

Bentobird said...

Hola megan!!! A treat to have you visit! Yep, this box really "works" with its lightweight and modern-timeless design. Have a wonderful post-holiday week, dear.

Happy Little Bento said...

Never been to Japonica, but it looks simply exquisite! I love your new box too! Delightful adventure and delicious bento. Thanks for taking me along :)

Bentobird said...

Eeep, in smiles Sheri! I think you'd love this friendly and beautiful shop...

OhayoBento said...

What a wonderful adventure! I love your new bento box, it's beautiful.

Bentobird said...

Hiya Miss Heather and thanks so much for coming along! After not buying a new bento box in ages, it was fun to find this one and add it to the collection...a collection that will be brought out of storage and unpacked this month, yay!