Bento #106 marked my 3 year bento anniversary!
Really? Yes, honestly!
Première Bento (#1) served as a picknick for two on June 16th, 2007. It sounds like such a long time ago!
I’d like to celebrate this milestone with a small giveaway, which you can read about further along. Let’s put the spotlight on today’s bento! Not that it’s anything spectacular; I didn’t want to stay up all night like Pikko did for her 500th Bento Adventure! LOL
Left tier: Russian salad (huzarensalade; potato, yoghurt, corn, gherkin, carrot, celery, red onion and spices) on red lettuce, half a boiled egg, 2 tiny toms from our windowsill and basil.
Right tier: Italian salsa (skinned & chopped plum tomatoes with lots of fresh basil, ground pepper, slices of sundried tomato and FairTrade Sundried Tomato spice mix with pepper and olive), pearl onions preserved in balsamic vinegar, radish slices and indulgent nut mix: pecans and almonds coated in sugar & spices (I’ve been meaning to post a recipe…).
On the side: yoghurt with nectarine; red bell pepper.
Organic & local: bell pepper, radish, celery
Organic: potato, pickled onions, egg, yoghurt
About 9 ww propoints
Here’s my lunch packed away in the lovely sakura bento bag I recently received from a kind soul. I couldn’t resist showing it of! ;)
Now, about the giveaway. As you might have gathered from Graasland, bento-ing is not my only hobby. Among other things I also like cooking in general and books. So, how would you like to win a copy of the book: The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving by Hiroshi Nagashima?
I treated myself to it after a raving review of Sheri from Happy Little Bento. The Japanese switchback cut that I posted a how-to of came from this book! Now I’d like to inspire someone else by giving away a copy…
So to be eligible for this prize you just have to comment on this post, and answering the following question:
How long have you been bento-ing yourself (and do you remember what your first box contained)?
If you’re NOT a bento-er:
Would you like to try it sometime (and why)?
Hey, I’m a curious grrl! And don’t forget: make sure I’ll know how to contact you when you win!
The giveaway ends on July 1st 23:59 GMT+1.
Note: The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving is almost, but not completely vegetarian.
Graasland 
24 reacties
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vrijdag 18 juni 2010 bij 09:41
Marion
Ohw Im so going to enter now :))
So my first Bento was on March 21st 2010. And yes I do remember as my short term memory usually works the best :P Here: http://compumarion.com/blog/?p=667 you can read about my Bento#1 with Broccoli-Zucchini-quiche; Sushi rice rolled in Nori with little bits of ginger; Fresh pineapple chunks; Bento-babe’s cucumber salad; Banana pudding and Sesame crackers :)
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zondag 20 juni 2010 bij 12:53
gnoegnoe
Like me, you started out with a picnic/outing bento :) They might be my favs.. ;)
vrijdag 18 juni 2010 bij 16:36
Bentobird/Jenn
Hi Gnoe! Since I already have this lovely book, I’d just like to say how vibrantly pretty your bento is and what sakura/textile lust the pink fabric bag has inspired in me! Happy Bentoversary, I look forward to many more!
zondag 20 juni 2010 bij 12:50
gnoegnoe
Thank you so much for your kind comments Jenn! I’m really happy with the bag too :)))
vrijdag 18 juni 2010 bij 19:30
Mareike
Hi Gnoe!
That book looks awesome so I’m going for it :D!
The question is hard to answer, though, because I’ve been made some attempts on and off over the years ever since returning from my stay in Japan (beginning of 2004). The oldest bento that I remember and have documented is this one, though. I think that had been in autumn 2009. I took up bentoing in earnest shortly afterwards and since beginning of this year I’ve been making bento every day during the week :).
That bento looks delicious, too! I love the Russian salad and how elegant the egg looks with the cocktail tomato!
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zondag 20 juni 2010 bij 12:48
gnoegnoe
Sorry, I thought it was an EASY question! LOL How cool that you’ve actually stayed in Japan :) I think it’s really amazing that you make a bento every day of the week — I should follow your example! :P
And wow, you had real onigiris in that early bento!
I started out blogging on LiveJournal too btw but migrated my blog to wordpress after a while.
zondag 20 juni 2010 bij 14:22
Mareike
Heh, maybe it’s easier for people who actually stick to one thing XD!
I stayed in Japan for a good four months due to my studies – I was studying to be a translator for Japanese and English (in fact, though, I barely do any Japanese these days and have forgotten most of it). It was a great chance! I absolutely grew to love onigiri while there so one of the things I brought back was an onigiri mould :).
And thanks, I’m trying :).
I never had a blog before LJ, so this format just is the most familiar to me, and since I had the Dreamwidth account ‘lying around’, so to speak, it was a logical choice to use that for my bento blog ^^.
zondag 20 juni 2010 bij 12:13
Iris
I haven’t ever bento-d, however, I would like to try it sometime. I am one of those persons who find it hard to get myself to eat a proper lunch. I’ve started out trying to be at home around lunch time to enable myself to actually “cook” something that contains vegetables instead of plain bread. However, Bento seems to be the way to go to be able to take a healthy luncheon with you anyplace you like. And yes, having the food look appealing is important to me as well. So I hope to take inspiration from you and start giving this a try. I wonder if there is anywhere I could find a Bento 101 course..
[3]
zondag 20 juni 2010 bij 12:39
gnoegnoe
Since you’re Dutch, you might try Bento-Babe. But you might also try the cool (online) summer school at the Kawaii Bento Club! It’s free and just started on June 14th, so I guess you could easily catch up!
You’ve got some sound arguments to want to start bento-ing! :)
zondag 20 juni 2010 bij 19:04
sheri
Hi Gnoe!
I already have this book (as you know!) But want to say Congrats on your bentoversary! I love the potato scoops in it, and your sweet sakura bag. So happy to have you in the bento community and look forward to many more years of your lovely bento!
zondag 20 juni 2010 bij 21:13
gnoegnoe
Aw Sheri, you’re so sweet! :))
maandag 21 juni 2010 bij 15:12
Estellecalim
Hello, this book looks like interesting. I would like to have it in my bookcase.
I eat bento since one year and I enjoy it.
In my first bento, there was noodles with cucumber and fresh mint, fried eggs and tomatoes. I have eat that and a yogurt with dry craneberries. It was really a good day and I do it again every day :)
[4]
maandag 21 juni 2010 bij 20:32
Angelene
Hello,
I have been bento-ing for 2 years for myself. The aim was to save money and to make my lunch box looks prettier and healthy:)
The first bento i packed…was instant dry noodle, with some sausages and cherry tomatoes:) I arranged them into a smiley face! Indeed happy to see my nicely packed lunch box!
Thankyou for such great giveaway!
Wish me luck
[5]
maandag 21 juni 2010 bij 21:00
gnoegnoe
Hi Estellecalim & Angelene, thanks for participating! It’s good to hear that you’ve both crossed the 1-year line already! I love how everyone had a different first bento; fascinating isn’t it? Good luck with your bentos (& the giveaway)!
dinsdag 22 juni 2010 bij 14:09
Lena
Hi,
I prepared my fist bento on Easter Monday this year.
I remember it contained a wrap filled with avocado rocket cream, apple purree and tulips made from cucumber and radishes. And I had a small box filled with couscous salad with chickpeas.
Thanks for such a lovely giveaway!
[6]
woensdag 23 juni 2010 bij 08:49
aileth
I’ve been bentoing since January 2009 but it took me a while to start making them right :D I still can’t believe i’ve been making them for so long. my mum bet I would quit after a few months because i’d get bored, but it’s been getting more and more interesting.
Here’s a picture of my first bento:
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woensdag 23 juni 2010 bij 17:25
gnoegnoe
@Lena: you’re a bento-freshy! Your first bento made me drewl.. :)
@aileth: same here — it took me a while to get ‘my bento act’ together and I still can’t believe it’s been 3 years already! Your first bento looks ready to digg in :) Did you actually bet your mum for a fee, like bento gear? :P
donderdag 24 juni 2010 bij 12:16
Iris
I’ve never made a bento in my life. I do however fill my Tiffin daily with a nice salad and some snacks. I don’t know if that counts for a bento.
According to wikipedia your bento doesn’t have to be decorated and depict some kind of manga figure, so maybe I do make bento’s…
I started with my daily lunch Tiffin about a year ago. The idea was to start eating a healthy lunch, instead of the “broodjes kroket” they serve in the canteen.
It worked pretty good, I’ve lost 25kg because of the healthy diet.
I still need to loose some weight, but I’m on a big plateau right now, haven’t gained or lost any weight since December. Part of the reason for that is that I haven’t been taking my Tiffin to work anymore. So as a start of the summer resolution, I’ve been filling my Tiffin again with some healthy food.
But I’m getting a bit bored with the carrots and same salad everyday. I need a change in food, and maybe filling my Tiffin in Bento style is just the change of diet I need!
Soooo…. Gnoegnoe send that book to me, and make sure that I loose that final 10 kilo! ;-)
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vrijdag 25 juni 2010 bij 20:55
Diana
Congratulations, 3 years is a long time !!!
My very first home made bento is the one on the left side corner of my blog “Bento Concept”, holland themed !
Bento came on my way on a trip in Japan in october 2008, I started making them in Januar 2009 after doing quite a lot of research on the internet.
It’s very kind of you to organize a give away, I’ve been dreaming of this book since a long time…*fingers crossed*
[9]
maandag 28 juni 2010 bij 15:06
gamene
hey gnoe, sorry for being MIA for the past couple weeks! 0_o
happy anniversary, your bento looks delicious and i want to try those russian salad balls soon!
thanks for hosting a generous giveaway, i’ve been eyeing that book for a while now. my first bento had kimbap (korean rice rolls) with apple, kiwi, and takuwan accents, plus pocky sticks for dessert! i’ve been bentoing since september 2009 :-)
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maandag 28 juni 2010 bij 18:57
Gnoe
Sorry guys (gals ;) I’ve gone AWOL with the great summer weather we’re having here ;)
@Iris: I totally understand how you got tired of carrots… I tend to bring them because of their ‘slow’ carbs but I’m not reallynfond of them either. Although a little less light than plain raw carrots you should try JustBento’s carrot kinpira recipe! Or broccoli stem kinpira. And I promise to post my carrot spread recipe soon ;) You’ve done really great so far! And bento is perfect for portion control, so… ;) Let’s get you of that Grande Plateau!
@Diana: a Holland themed bento is great! I’ll take a look later because I’m just checking in quickly from my iPhone. But I won’t forget!
@gamene: You’ve been bentoing for less than 2 years?? :-0 Well you’re my senior in several ways ;) Thanks for joining in!
dinsdag 29 juni 2010 bij 18:29
Francisca
I’m not a bento-er, but I like to try it sometime. That is just because of my interest in Japan, but also in Japanese food. I like food. But I think this is not a great comment to win something, hahaha. Well the book looks very interesting and soon I will have a picknick with the members of my forum. It will be a big party, because it’s the 7th birthday of my forum. This will be a great inspiration for me to make some decorative food for me and my members that will come to the picknick. Otherwise, I have to buy this book! :D
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zondag 4 juli 2010 bij 13:16
gnoegnoe
Congrats with the anniversary of your forum! Going to pick a winner in a second (well, actually Mr Random.org is ;) so keep those fingers crossed! Thanks for stopping by :)
zondag 4 juli 2010 bij 13:19
Francisca
Thank you! I’m keeping my fingers crossed right now!