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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

sunny lion bento

Hi bento friends! This sunny lion onigiri bento is for Leo, my sun sign, and reflects the bright, joyous colors of this time of year.

Many Leo-associated foods are some of my personal favorites: tomatoes, golden-colored vegetables and fruits, salmon, raspberries, bay leaves, saffron, walnuts, basil, lamb. This bento features a few of them: inside the golden-tinted onigiri is spicy salmon, and the lion's sunny mane is of local golden zucchinis, whose bright hue is the essence of summer sun.

Fresh snow pea tops provide a soft green contrast to juicy raspberries and super-sweet golden local tomatoes. A big yellow rose from a birthday bouquet and sunny yellow fabric from Provence keep the radiant summer theme going...

The market has been overflowing with sun-ripened treats, making visits a visual and culinary delight!
A berry "quilt":
Such a pleasure to cook and bento from these local delights this week:
We enjoyed the round eggplant roasted stuffed with gingery beef soboro last night and were amazed by its custardy mellow flavor, must get more this weekend!
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26 comments:

  1. tinyskilletJuly 27, 2010 at 9:25 AM

    I like how you made the yellow (saffron?) onigiri and created a lion/sun. It all works for the Leo! As always I love all the colors. Orange peel flower pick? Beautiful work! Hope you had the best birthday.

    You have some beautiful farmer's market photos. I like the blueberry quilt. Our farmer's market is slowing down a little until September. So we go for the empanadas and to see all the crafts. We did find more lychees though so it was worth it.

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  2. Sonoma BentoJuly 27, 2010 at 5:25 PM

    Such vibrant colors in this one, Jenn! I can't believe those are slices of zucchini. Wow! And that 'quilt' of berries is gorgeous.

    Happy Birthday, I hope you have a wonderful birthday month. :-)

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  3. BentobirdJuly 27, 2010 at 5:42 PM

    Hi Lyndsey! I could not find my little saffron container so used some lovely Japanese rice tint instead! The pick does indeed look like orange peel, and that would have been so Leo! but its a wood pick sent by a bento pal, love its sunny color and flower shape :)

    I would love it if we had fresh empanadas at our market, so happy you have these delicacies at yours...lychees, yum!! Have a great evening!

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  4. BentobirdJuly 27, 2010 at 5:46 PM

    Hi SB--thanks so much! I agree, the color on these zukes is wonderfully startling! I enjoy sharing farmer's market inspirations with you from our opposite coasts, and thanks so much for your B-day wishes!

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  5. tofugirlJuly 27, 2010 at 7:32 PM

    Yup, I still want to pet your onigiri! So cute. Those flowers are gorgeous, too! Hey, did we miss your birthday? Happy birthday!!

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  6. BentobirdJuly 27, 2010 at 8:10 PM

    Hi Carol! Aw, that's sweet! I'll be blogging about the food-fest that was my b-day soon, and thanks so much for your birthday well-wishes!

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  7. TayterCakesJuly 27, 2010 at 9:01 PM

    I envy your access to that beautiful market! Super cute bento, bentobird! Hope the summer is treating you well

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  8. AnonymousJuly 27, 2010 at 10:38 PM

    Love all the photos! My favourite is the berry quilt. So pretty =)

    Happy birthday Jenn, may all your wishes come true. God bless
    cheers !

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  9. JudyJuly 27, 2010 at 11:34 PM

    The berry quilt was fab!
    I'm Leo rising so I can relate to the sunnyness and the pow! of the colors.
    Happy Belated Birthday Bentobird ! (and many more...)

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  10. KidsDreamWorkJuly 28, 2010 at 12:13 AM

    Lovely sunny lion! I like the colour combination very much!

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  11. ShannonJuly 28, 2010 at 1:54 AM

    This is beautiful, the colors are just amazing in all the photos.

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  12. Lia ChenJuly 28, 2010 at 5:37 AM

    So beautiful! Leo is my zodiac too ... so I'm happy to see this bento. Wish you a happiest birthday Jenn! I missed that, didn't I? All the best for you. That berries photo is amazing ;)

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  13. BentobirdJuly 28, 2010 at 9:44 AM

    Hi BentoBeginner! So nice to "see" you again and I hope that your summer has been delightful so far!

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  14. BentobirdJuly 28, 2010 at 9:46 AM

    Hi Karen! *hugs* thanks for your sweet b-day wishes--what a lovely bento pal you are!

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  15. BentobirdJuly 28, 2010 at 9:50 AM

    Hi Judy! That rising makes purrfect sense, given your love of cats, humor, and bright sense of fun! (Libra rising here) Have a day full of sunny joy, my friend and a special miao to Si!

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  16. BentobirdJuly 28, 2010 at 9:57 AM

    Hi there Ai Ping and many thanks for your nice comments--I love your colorful bentos!

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  17. BentobirdJuly 28, 2010 at 9:59 AM

    Thanks Shannon! So nice to have you visit, have a lovely day :)

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  18. BentobirdJuly 28, 2010 at 10:01 AM

    Hi Lia, my fellow Leo and dear bento buddy! Had a fun weekend full of good food and celebration, look forward to posting about it soon. I hope your b-day was joyous!

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  19. meganJuly 28, 2010 at 10:08 AM

    gorgeous bento, lifting my spirits with its sunny vibes. i love learning about the different foods associated with each astrological sign -- your zodiac bentos are totally educational for me!

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  20. BentobirdJuly 28, 2010 at 11:12 AM

    thanks megan, your sunny, thoughtful comments always brighten--have an excellent Wednesday!

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  21. KuusouJuly 28, 2010 at 10:31 PM

    Great Leo! I love the eyes. :)

    The pictures of the berries and flowers are so sharp and clear...it's like we can reach out and touch them.

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  22. AnonymousJuly 29, 2010 at 3:13 AM

    Beautiful bento! I love all of the vibrant colors! :)

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  23. BentobirdJuly 29, 2010 at 9:43 AM

    Hi Kuusou, many thanks as always for your encouragement!

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  24. BentobirdJuly 29, 2010 at 9:44 AM

    Hello and thanks so much Susan!!

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  25. tata | bonitafoodJuly 30, 2010 at 7:53 AM

    It's a really cute bento for your Leo sign :D. Ah Jenn, you always hang my jaw with the beauty of freshness through your photos :D

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  26. BentobirdJuly 31, 2010 at 1:47 AM

    Hi Ta! Thanks for these lovely comments:D!

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