Bento

[neadods]

Why, no, I'm not avoiding writing my ficathon entry, why do you ask?

I've been rearranging the bento boxes, and thought I ought to toss in my $.02 about the newest; when I was last at the big Target in Columbia, I succumbed to the Aladdin Lunch and Go Salad Set although I'm doubting it's going to see many greens. It's fairly well designed - a big tray for leafy stuff (it doesn't look like it would hold much, but leaves do crush) with a drip tray, a separate section for additions, and a dressing cup. By liquid volume, it holds a staggering 4+ cups: the dressing container takes 1/2 cup, the top tray a little over 1 cup, and the bottom tray (drip vent removed) a staggering 2.75 cups. They say it's dishwasher safe, and it is. They don't say it's microwave safe, but I just filled the bottom section with water and threw it in for a minute with no ill effects.

What I think it is going to be particularly good for is oddly-shaped food like the crescent roll roll-ups; I'm about to give one a maiden voyage tomorrow with rollups in the bottom tray (along with a piece of aluminum foil so I can heat them in the toaster oven), blackberries in the dressing cup, and... well, I wasn't sure what the other component was going to be yet anyway. Something else in the tray. I could imagine that the dressing cup is also going to be champion for holding things like pudding or applesauce. (Not soup. When I'm going to have a soup-based meal, I default back to the Tigers or the Mr. Bentos.)

At $12 it's a bit on the pricey side, but not as bad as buying bento boxes off ebay, and it seems like it's going to be very versatile. And it looks like it's going to be particularly sturdy.

Comments

[zinelady.livejournal.com]

Since you know more about Bento boxes than anyone else I know, I need your advice. I would like to get John something he can take his lunch in to work. If I could go to a store, that would be the best, but I would be willing to order it from an online store. I've checked out ebay, and it's hard to surf through all the Hello kitty boxes, etc. I need something that is appropriate for a guy to carry a lunch of a sandwich, some carrot sticks, celery or radishes, maybe some cottage cheese or yougart and some chips or pretzels. What would you suggest? I would prefer something that I could put in the dishwasher. Something like tupperware or plastic would be my first choice. Enamel looks pretty, but I don't know how long it would stand up.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Something like tupperware or plastic would be my first choice

Check the Container Store - they have tupperware food keepers with a divider that come in a variety of sizes. Target also has something similar without the divider.

The Aladdin lunch box might also be butch enough; check to see if your local Target has those too.