June 16th, 2004

Did I mention that I collect bento boxes?

I think they’re marvelous. Especially the delicate black lacquered ones with traditional asian designs. Mmm-hmm, beautiful… And difficult to track down, even in this land of plenty. My best finds often come from the famous Rafu Bussan and other shops in Little Tokyo. Sometimes I find something amazing on eBay, but it’s rare.

One of the coolest things about the bento (or obento) is the culinary tradition. There are seasonal menus; the Japanese are very into the different seasons, and they would almost never serve the same dish in spring that they would in winter. Take a look at the extremes some Japanese moms go to when creating their kids’ lunches. Unreal!

Back in the day, I was happy if my mom slapped a slice of bologna and american cheese on a slice of bread. Wow… a Capri Sun… is it my birthday? Seriously, if we weren’t eventually poor enough to qualify for free lunches at school, I think my brother and I would have starved to death. Maybe that’s why these lunch boxes warm my heart.

P.S. As tribute to a friend, I must say: If the plural of ox is oxen – shouldn’t the plural of box be boxen?

Entry Filed under: Atomic Bombshell,Time Travel