Bento primer 5: getting into a routine

When I first started making bento, I would spend ages planning the combination of foods and how to pack them. Now, I don’t bother much with the intensive planning, I use the same foods from regular meals served at home and just try to pack them with a little bit of thought to presentation. After […]

Bento primer 4: stocking up on bento equipment

It might seem indulgent to buy lots of different plastic boxes, but given the importance of choosing the right box, it is worthwhile to do so. Daiso and Lock n Lock provide good selections at affordable prices. Wherever possible, choose airtight boxes as they will prevent spillage of any sauce or liquid contents (I’ve packed […]

Bento primer part 3: packing bento

Perhaps the first thing many people associate with bento culture are the elaborate kyaraben (character bento), but everyday bento don’t have to be that difficult. However, the fundamental ideas of packing bento can take your lunchbox from unappetising mess to something to look forward to. It feels really good when instead of being pitied for […]

Bento primer part 2: planning bento meals

The five principles of traditional Japanese cooking, which are also applied to bento, are extremely useful in putting together a meal that has a variety of colours (visual stimulation) and textures (sensory stimulation in your mouth), different nutrients (which foods of different colours are an indication of), a range of cooking styles and a the […]

Bento primer part 1: foods for bento

Although this is primarily a food intolerance blog, quite a lot of readers end up here whilst searching the term ‘bento’. It was because of increasingly complex food sensitivities that I was motivated to learn more about cooking and bento culture, so as to be able to adapt recipes and to make my packed meals […]

my guest post on Just Bento

I was terribly flattered when my food blogging inspiration, Maki of Just Hungry/Just Bento, recently asked me to contribute a guest post to Just Bento. I’ve learnt so much from her and am really glad to be able to share something with her too. I decided to write about my general approach to bento-ing, which […]

Useful posts

Here’s a list of quick links to the pages where I’ve compiled reference information, or pages that I’d like to be able to find easily. Key basic recipes Improved recipe for gluten-free, yeast-free bean bread Gluten-free muffins basic recipe (bean, rice & tapioca flours) Wholemeal muffins basic recipe (no sugar) Gluten-free flour mix: rice, tapioca & soy flours […]

Essential kitchen equipment: the freezer

Bento fans will already have realised the necessity of the freezer to being able to produce bento boxes speedily on a regular basis. LunchInABox.net and Just Hungry/Just Bento frequently discuss the foods that freeze well such as cooked rice (see also this), inarizushi, takoyaki, spaghetti, pancakes, sandwiches, ground ginger, chopped herbs etc (see the full […]

Onigiri, Chinese salted eggs and salt

I have been making onigiri thanks to the excellent instructions by Just Hungry. Maki discusses the possible fillings you can use in these Japanese rice balls on that page as well as here and a full primer on onigiri here. I had a couple of ideas myself, the first of which is to use Chinese […]