Edible Art

Breaking into Bento

By Jamel Daugherty

Warning: cute, compact, carrying cases full of Japanese cuisine are bubbling around the food-blogiverse. They are known as bento.

In Japanese tradition, these are wholesome meals—three parts grain, two parts vegetable and one part protein—prepared with love and featuring winsome designs (heart-shaped rice chunks; hand-carved, hard-boiled eggs).

Simultaneously they may seem adorable and intimidating—a bit like Yoda.

But master this bento force, you can, with just a few handy gadgets:

Rice and egg molds: These help form rice or eggs into fun shapes. Many molds can be found at Super H Mart in Fairfax.

Mini cookie cutters: Use these to form stars, flowers, animals or even letters. Ask for “Mini Pie Cutters” at Crate & Barrel in Clarendon and Tysons or check Super H Mart for flower-shaped cutters.

Dividers: Some bento boxes may not come with enough compartments. Use cupcake liners to section off fruit and vegetables—or enlist stiff foodstuffs as dividers.

Mini steamer for the microwave: Makes steaming small portions easy and quick. Readily available at Lotte Plaza in Chantilly and Fairfax, or Super H Mart.

Picks and mini forks: Whether for extra decoration or because your chopstick skills are wanting, mini forks are a cute and simple addition for bite-sized portions.

Paring knife: A crucial component to carve on the details. Luckily, this is a widely available tool.

Of course, shopping online (www.justbento.com; www.amazon.com) provides a wider selection of accessories for your new hobby.

(October 2010)