Hi bento friends! Saturday's 50th annual DC Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival was wonderful--an incredibly lively and fun event in the heart of Washington DC. The enthusiasm of attendees and hosts, vendors and browsers was quite bright--a truly "genki" spirit animated the afternoon.
The Federal Triangle section of DC has a pleasing, almost Parisian classicism which made an elegant backdrop for the festival...
Many kinds of tasty Japanese street food were available. Taiyaki...
And takoyaki!
These delicate sakura sweets embody the season...
Pretty paper crafts in a soft, sunlit rainbow...
Amazing colors combine in these elegant costumes...
A selection of antique kimono textiles...
Oh, and a variety of cute bento items were on hand!
Speaking of bento, a silk kimono fabric I fell in love with inspired the colors of Monday's lunch:
I loved how this fabric picked up the sakura theme in vibrant, unexpected colors! Inside the box, I've placed flower-cut bright yellow radish pickles, hot-pink and white kamaboko slices, petal-pink garlic pickled in ume vinegar, spicy salmon rolls topped with ume/sesame/nori, squid salad with cloud ear mushrooms, garlic buds, and little wasabi "leaves."
Mini dessert bento with tiny plums, chocolate "fish", and a rich Indian milk sweet:
Happy Monday, bento friends!
24 comments:
the yellow blossoms in this bento match the fabric perfectly - so beautiful! the kamaboko really contrasts the yellow in a vibrant way, too. this box just zings!
looks like the festival was wonderful - so happy you had nice weather and a great time!
Looked like a spectacular day! The fabric and bento are gorgeous :)
Wonderful bento and wonderful event! Looks so much fun there, lots of foods ... and bento stuffs too? Did you buy any?
Wow, that festival looks like so much fun! And what a gorgeous piece of kimono fabric. I love your dessert bento...the fishies are cute :D
Cool comments megan, thanks! These fabric colors were fun to find edible coordinates for...and we really had perfect weather for this fun event, yay :) Have a great week...
Hi Angi, thanks for your kind comments and coming along for the photo tour :) I do love DC in springtime!
Hi Lia, its so nice to read your comments, thank you :) I bought just a little bit of bento stuff...my favorite find was the silk fabric!
Hi there elaynam:) Thank you! While the cherry blossoms have peaked here, they are approaching maximum bloom in NY soon, no? Enjoy!!
Gorgeous bentos!!! I love all of the pictures of the sakura matsuri festival!!! How cool is that with all of the food and fun! Your bentos should have been on display too!!!
Sounds and looks like you had a fantastic time!! Wish I could have wandered around with you, such a lovely spring day too. Wonderful to see the colors and textures reflected in your festive bento. Happy Spring Bentobird!
Thank you so much for coming along for this festival tour, Susan!! Your comments make blogging a delight :)Thank you!
Hi sherimiya, that would have been so fun! Happy spring and I'm still smiling from your delightful purple caterpillar bento!!
Wow. Thank you for sharing all these images!
Great bento and event! Thanks Jenn for sharing it with us. Whoaaaa... What you've showed on your picts is crazy! I wanna go to Washington DC! Hahaha LOL :D
Aw, wish I could have been there! Could you keep your wallet closed? :-o
I'm very much interested in the pickled garlic! It looks SO CUTE (sakura petals) and I thought it was garlic but couldn't believe it. Then you admitted it was... Did you actually eat it like that? Isn't the taste (smell!) too strong?
Thanks so much for your comments and visit, goblinbox (love that cool name, too)=^ ^=
Hiya Tata, it would have been so fun to walk around the Sakura fest with you! Thanks for coming along virtually, my dear :)
Hi gnoe! There were lots of cute things available, though more boxes and less of the little bento accessories that really thrill me...what I loved with the sense of joy and excitement at the market. How powerfully things Japanese speak to people's sense of beauty and fun!
About the garlic pickle--its actually quite mild, almost no "bite" or sharpness at all, that's all mellowed out by the ume vinegar!
Oh my what a glorious day that must of been. All the sights AND sunshine. Super nice of you to share it all with us.
Your bentos are an acurate reflection of the day, colorful and yummy!
Hi Debra! I'm so glad we could share this day if only through these images! May the spirit sakura celebration continue here in our bento community :)
wow, love the pictures!..i bet u must be enjoying the festival..Look at those kimono textiles..beautiful colors..
and yr bento box..is so unique..never seen it before..:)
Hi Deby, thanks so much for your visit and lovely comments! Japanese textiles are so uniquely beautiful...
belles découvertes !
je repasserai !
Merci véron!
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