The Art of Bento
A bento requires three things: a box, tasty food, and visual appeal. The goal of bento is not just to take some food somewhere for later consumption. The goal is that when lunch time arrives the eater finds something visually appealing as well as edible inside that little box.
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Think of the bento box as an artistic medium. You can take that medium and create an intricately detailed masterpiece like this kyaraben. Or, more practically, construct a simple arrangement of food that draws the eater into the lunch experience, more like arranging flowers in a vase than painting a picture. The road to even this simpler visual aesthetic may still seem complicated, but all it takes are a few basic tools available in any grocery store:
First, the knife.
Every cook needs a good knife and the bentoist is no different. Packing a bento requires food in small pieces that fit together in the box. Cutting your food prettily makes packing your box that much easier. My blade of choice is a 15cm ceramic chef’s knife. This size is big enough for chopping most fruits and vegetables but also small enough for precision work. Ceramic keeps an edge longer than steel and the chef style is versatile.
Some cutting methods:
The Julienne – Cutting veggies like cucumber and carrots into small, thin sticks adds clean lines to plain salads.
The Diagonal – Good for adding an interesting shape to any long thin foods, like hotdogs.
The Rolling Diagonal – Same as the diagonal except the food is rolled 90* after each cut. The resulting uneven shape makes slippery food easier to pick up with chopsticks.
Another handy cutting tool is the shaped cutter. These mini cookie cutters are used to make cute shapes from carrot slices, cheese, ham and other flat foods. Cutting a few shapes to spread across the top of the bento instantly makes a plain meal adorable.
Chopsticks
While I have been known to dump my lunch in the box with spoons and fingers, placing each piece for optimal artistry and hygiene requires the precision of chopsticks. When planning the meal use colorful foods, then, arrange the box to set off the colors. For example, the cherry tomatoes and yellow bell peppers in this bento make bright blocks of color, and the black olives contrast nicely with the white potato cakes. I needed the chopsticks to keep those peppers straight and to place the chicken sideways. It may seem simple, but taking the time to place the food carefully makes all the difference to an attractive bento.
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Keep it Separated!
One key to a beautiful and delicious bento is to split up the parts of the meal within the box. Our eyes are drawn to lines and differences in color. Plus, separating the food keeps potentially incompatible flavors from mixing. A quick look at the bento aisle of the grocery store will show a plethora of separating accessories.
Silicone cups work well to keep wet or small foods from the rest of the bento. For example, in this plain bento of potato cakes, fish croquet, and salad, I used a yellow silicone cup to keep the salad dressing from making the rest soggy. Dividers are also versatile separation tools. Many bento boxes include hard plastic types that match the box’s design, but there are many cute disposable kinds available as well. When packing the bento work from one end to the other, placing the dividers as you progress. Tiny bottles and containers are perfect for sauces and condiments that might make a food mushy or ugly. Using one or more separation tool is an easy way to make a beautiful bento.
Finally, some sweet food tricks
Like the shaped cutters, there are several quick tricks that add instant cute to a bento. While there are infinite kinds of food art, here are some of the simplest that I enjoy. Adding just one of them can change a bland lunch into something magical.
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The Quintessential Octo-wiener
Apple Bunny
Nori Faces
Picks
And there you have it. Bento is more than just food in a box. With a little preparation it can be a sumptuous feast for the eyes and the stomach.
Dana Warren
