Bento 101: TOOLS

One of the first few bentos I made for A.

My love for bento started in August of 2007. A and I were in Hong Kong for a vacay, when we chanced upon the City Super store in ShaTin. I had discovered the wonders of the egg mold, and thought I'd research more on it when I got back to Manila. Alas, I purchased the mold (along with some rice molds) and forgot I had them until we were back in Hong Kong in December of that same year. By then, I had decided I'd give it a try and purchased more tools.

In 2009, Saizen, the official Daiso distributor in the Philippines, opened their first store in Robinsons Galleria. Needless to say, I went nuts. I started collecting bento tool after bento tool (I think I over-hoarded, if there's such a thing, LOL).

From Wikipedia: Bento (弁当 bentō) or Obento is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento holds rice, fish or meat, with pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container. 

Basically, a bento is a boxed lunch. In the Philippines, we call it baon. What makes Japanese bentos different is that Japanese mothers lovingly put these boxed lunch together as an expression of love and dedication. That versus stuffing everything in your kid's lunch box without any thought. LOL. And yes, bento-making takes a lot of skill and dedication.

If you want to start bento-making, you have to make sure you're in it 100%. I say so because it takes time to plan and put a meal together. I know of mothers who wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning just to put together awesome lunch boxes for their children. When I started making bento for A, I'd do it for a month, tops, then I'd get tired. But that's because I was into Charaben (or Kyaraben), the more complicated and elaborately-decorated bentos that are decorated to look like popular cartoon characters. With basic bento, however, all you need are a few basic tools. If you think you want to start making bento (or imBento, as I've coined it), you need to know what you'll need.

Here's a list of tools you'd need to get that bento thing going:

BENTO BOX

2-tiered Onigiri-type bento box.

You're going to need a sturdy, spill-proof bento box. Its size is dependent on who shall use it. My 11-year-old daughter uses a multi-tiered box, whereas her little brother, a 4-year-old, uses a smaller one. I prefer using a regular, rectangular one. It is easier to plan bento meals that way. And easier to fill. Hehe.


SILICONE CUPS

Assorted Silicone Cups.

If you would ask me, I would say that one of the most important tools for bento (aside from the box) would be Silicone Cups. They keep food separated (if using a box without dividers). It is also a great way to regulate portions.


PICKS

I love picks! 

My favorite bento tool! And I have all sorts - food picks, cocktail picks, cupcake picks and toppers, bento picks, plastic ones, wooden ones, homemade ones, etc. You can't have too many picks! Besides, if you're bento-making for preschoolers, they are sure to lose a pick or two. A has lost over a dozen picks. RL hasn't lost a single one, so far. But yes, I usually keep the whole pack. I love trading picks and buying extras. If there is one tool to buy to spruce up your bento, it is this. Picks are sure to add a little touch of sunshine to your bento meal. Use them to hold food together, for eating, or for fun.


BARANS

Silicone Barans are my preferred type of divider because they can be reused!

Barans are food dividers that come in a variety of shapes, designs and sizes. They come in food-grade plastic or silicone. Use them to keep food and flavors separated. I use them mostly to spruce up my bento box.


SAUCE BOTTLES/ CONTAINERS

Have your kids bring ketchup or sauce in bottles and containers without
worrying about them spilling the contents all over their lunch box.

Small sauce bottles are perfect for soy sauce, vinegar and the like (or even milk for cereals!). They come in different shapes and sizes. I like stocking different sizes for different needs. Droppers or plungers are essential for easy transferring of sauce to these small bottles.  Little containers hold condiments like mayo and ketchup. I love these, but RL has lost two already. Boohoo.


RICE/ ONIGIRI MOLDS

When I was starting out, these were the molds I used the most.

Saizen has a wide variety of Onigiri molds!

Because I make bento lunch for my little boy everyday, I am more comfortable using my hands when molding rice. I use food bags or cling wrap to mold them to my desired shape. However, Onigiri molds are very useful, especially for specific shapes like stars, hearts, bears, etc.


CUTTERS

Simple bento need not be plain and boring, spruce it up with small cutouts
using assorted vegetable cutters! Cut ham, carrots, cheese, etc. and decorate your bento!

Invest in different cookie cutter shapes in different sizes. They always come in handy!

Cute bread cutters!

Cutters always come in handy, and it won't hurt to invest in different kinds! There are stainless cutters that are perfect for raw vegetables like carrots, then there are plastic kinds that are used for soft food like bread, cheese, meat, etc. I have all sorts of cutters, from character-shaped ones that are used for easy charabens, to assorted shapes in different sizes that can be used for just about anything!


NORI PUNCHERS

Nori Punchers are the way to go when you want clean cuts for faces and details.

A great way to decorate your bento is to put faces on your food. I know right, but that's how it goes with bento-making. Now, the easiest way to do so is with some Nori or dried seaweed and a good face puncher. Punchers come in different shapes as well. You can even use paper punchers or scrapbooking ones, as long as you make sure they're used exclusively for food. When using punchers for Nori, you have to make sure you clean them well after each use, or else they will get dull. I shall save the how-to for another post.


HAND-HELD TOOLS

From left to right: Fruit Baller, V-shaped cutter, Blade, U-shaped cutter and Tweezers.
Not pictured: Scissors

One of the tools I use a lot, especially with charabens, is the hand-held blade. It is perfect for specific cuts, and I have at least 5 reserves! LOL! I also appreciate the tweezers because it makes Nori-handling easier, especially when applying eyes and small pieces. If you have to choose just 3 hand-held tools, I suggest getting the blade; a nice, sharp pair of micro-tip scissors for cutting Nori; and a handy pair of food tweezers.


CONDIMENT PENS/ SQUEEZE BOTTLES

The condiment pen is used for writing or drawing with sauces.

You can also use a squeeze bottle with a fine tip.

Another way to decorate your bento is by drawing or writing using thick sauces like mayonnaise and ketchup. The best way to control what goes into your drawing or writing is by using a condiment pen or a squeeze bottle with a fine tip. Saizen has nice Okonomiyaki 2 or 3-tip squeeze bottles that I love to use. They make drawing grids and squiggles easy and fun.

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Aside from these tools, you can also stock up on egg molds, sausage shapers, hand-held hole punchers (in different sizes), small bento boxes (that can go into the bigger boxes - to hold soup), plastic wrappers, toothpicks, small spoon and fork sets, chopsticks, straws, etc. It also helps to keep a bento diary so you can plan your bento for the next day. I always find it easier to have a game plan, especially when making charabens. Don't worry, once you've invested in some tools, the planning and execution becomes easier, and then, bento-making becomes a fun and fulfilling adventure.

Charabens need not be complicated. 

A bento lunch is a great way to get your kids to eat fruits and vegetables.

Birthday platter. That's a cake made out of rice and mayo. Yes, rice.

Oink! Oink! Easy, piggy charaben!

Smurftastic lunch!

Something for my Carrot Fantasy friends and readers. Teehee.

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If you're looking for tools, Saizen is a great place to start. They have almost everything you would need to create your own bento. Plus, they're highlighting bento this month! The best part about Saizen is the price - only P88 for anything! 

Get updates from Saizen, check out facebook.com/saizenph

| Follow my imBento adventure on Instagram: http://instagram.com/momma_makes_imbento

Hello!

Why, hello there! I'm alive. In case you've been wondering. Here's a short life update, and an approximation of when to expect me back on the blog. Haha! Yes, I am on hiatus, but only for a few more days.

HOME
I am currently in the middle of cleaning the house. My nanny's kids are back (she drove her cousin-in-law away over the weekend, so I have had to open my home to her two daughters again). Yes, AGAIN! I cannot say how stressed I am with the idea, but you know how it is better to choose the lesser evil? Well, this, right now, is the lesser evil. I am choosing the two kids over hiring a new nanny I do not trust. So yes, I am praying God fixes this situation soon. Meanwhile, I have this itch to start homeschooling the girls. You know, to keep them busy so their mom gets to work.

My neighbor's son has been infected with the Dengue virus. And according to my other neighbor, a nun across the street (we live right across a home run by nuns) has it, too. So I am filled with panic and paranoia. We are cleaning house this week! I am tempted to stay home tomorrow just to clean (or maybe on Wednesday when I'm coded) and declutter.

R was home a couple of weeks ago. Yes, R. I think I made a few wrong turns there, and we both ended up sorry the visit ever happened. RL somehow thinks his dad is this angry man, so he's been refusing to talk to his dad for over a week now. Sigh.

Meanwhile, A received an award for her excellent performance in school last year. I was going to post a photo, but couldn't edit out her full name so raincheck on the picture! Hehe.

My little boy has been enjoying school so far. His teacher says he is able to make friends easily, and likes one girl in particular. Ay-yah!

He loves school! No longer a baby! :'(

imBENTO
So remember my last post? Well, I'm still at it. Blame it on my group of bentoholics. LOL! And I'm actually starting a new blog (please stay tuned) featuring just that - BENTO. I already have a new Instagram account up and running for it, actually: MOMMA_MAKES_IMBENTO.

Here are a few of my recent attempts at making Charaben/Kyaraben.

Veggie Wednesday:
Minion Pesto Bread, Pesto Pasta, Broccoli and Caesar Dressing. 

Sandwich Thursday:
Cheese and Spam Bee-wiches and Hotdog Flowers.

Made this for A when RL didn't have school one Friday.
Nutella Hello Kitty Sandwich, Oreo Cookies and Lemon-drizzled Bananas with a Biscoff dip.

Fruit Tuesday:
Mango Yellow Angry Bird, Red Angry Bird and Rainbow Pancakes with Clara Ole Syrup,
and a Kiwi Minion Pig!

Veggie Wednesday:
Chicken and Mixed Veggie Stir-fry with Rice and a Gouda Cheese Triangle.

Stay tuned for that new blog address!

CARROT FANTASY
I was supposed to post walkthroughs two weeks ago (I've had them on draft for over a week now!) Alas, the new update meant easier Extreme levels! So yes, my walkthroughs are different from actual play now. I wonder, do you still need them? The levels aren't as hard as when the new ones first came out.

~~~

So yep, I've been pretty busy lately. But I did take one Bored Mama Day to hang out with friends down south. I wanna be a "Bored Mama". Sadly, I don't think that's ever gonna happen. LOL!

See you when I get back to the blog by the weekend!

New Carrot Fantasy Walkthroughs?

I have a couple on draft and will post them soon! I'm done with the new levels - have been since Day 3 (after the last update), actually. BUT! I have been playing Level 33 everyday since then, and the randomness of the hidden towers irritates me to no end! It takes about a dozen tries (or more) for the right towers to appear. Otherwise, the wrong towers are sure to let those pests get to the carrot. So far, I've probably gotten Golden Carrot about two dozen times only. Yes, since the update! Argh! So frustrating.

So if you're looking for a Level 33 walkthrough, I still need the right permutations. There could be a better way! So stay tuned.

Meanwhile, those other levels already have walkthroughs, and they're coming out soon!


| Need a walkthrough? Post your request and leave a comment!

Because YOU Asked - Extreme 23!

I am currently stuck on the new extreme levels - 33 and 35, to be exact. My brain is on vacation, INERTIA, at rest - playing the no-brainer, HAPPY STREET. LOL!

I think, though, that the truth is this: my brain is trying to slow down when it comes to Carrot Fantasy. Who knows when the next update is?! So yes, maybe I am taking it slow. I don't mind. At least I still have those two levels undone. My brother spent a good part of the early evening in my office trying to get past wave 3 on level 33. I have gone as far as wave 18, only to have a pest bite into that lovely carrot. So sue me, I want GOLD! LOL! So yes, in the middle of trying to figure it out (and working on extra patience), I am playing Happy Street instead. Haha, it's such a lazy game. And because some folks asked for the walkthrough for Level 23, here it is.

Start by planting ELECTRIC BALL towers as shown below. Upgrade the upper right one once. Aim for the giant chest on the right. The lone ELECTRIC BALL on the left can take care of the pests.

Once you kill ONE pest, you will be able to plant another ELECTRIC BALL on the top of the track. Plant it. This will help you kill pests as you try to clear the right side of the track of obstacles.

Work on eliminating all obstacles on the right. Start with the giant chest, the the big yellow fish in between the two ELECTRIC BALL towers. And so on and so forth. Use the photos below as succession guide.

Giant chest will reveal four SHOOTING STAR towers.

The big fish will contain an ANCHOR tower.

The rocks below the SHOOTING STAR towers will not contain anything.
Plant MUSHROOMS to earn coins. Upgrade MUSHROOMS as you go.

Once you get the obstacles on the right out of the way, work on clearing the obstacles on the upper left of the track. Remember to plant another MUSHROOM tower (beside the first one you planted) in order to slow down the pests and earn extra coins.

Start with the rocks on top of the track.
These rocks actually contain GREEN SHOOTERS.
Replace with ELECTRIC BALL towers.

Plant an ELECTRIC BALL tower on lower left of track (right by the start of the track). Aim for the green liquor bottle right beside it.

When you have enough coins, upgrade your ANCHOR tower.

The set of rocks below will reveal empty plots. Plant MUSHROOMS in its place.

Next, aim for the remaining giant chest.

Don't forget to upgrade your MUSHROOM towers to max when you can.

The giant chest will contain GREEN SHOOTERS. 

Work on clearing the left side of the track.
Do not upgrade any of the towers that come out of the obstacles.

Replace the four GREEN SHOOTERS with ELECTRIC BALL towers, except for the lower right SHOOTER, which you will replace with a MUSHROOM.

Once you've cleared all obstacles. Delete the towers on the left (two POO/MUD towers and the left ANCHOR and ELECTRIC BALL). See below for reference.

Plant two more MUSHROOMS as shown below. Upgrade to max. Delete left-most ELECTRIC BALL and plant two more on the right (top of track).

Then work on upgrading your TOWERS, starting with the ANCHOR and the SHOOTING STARS. Plant another ELECTRIC BALL above the right-most MUSHROOM just for additional defense.

Upgrade all those ELECTRIC BALL towers!

You can add more ELECTRIC BALL towers if you wish...
But the original ones should get you to the Golden Carrot.

And voila! It's that easy. Just a tad frustrating because it goes up to 25 waves. But nothing a little patience and persistence can't fix.

Extreme Stage 23, CLEAR AND GOLD!

~~~ * ~~~

EDIT: It took me all night to write this walkthrough. Well, I ended up playing the new levels and finished them. I was also playing on the little boy's iPad. I'm OC with my games like that. LOL! 

Okayyyyy... so what shall I do 'til July (According to this, Ice World won't come out 'til then!)?  And you, are you done with the new levels?

In case you missed it, Carrot Fantasy updated Extreme with new levels (20 May 2013)! Play up to Stage 35! Woohoo!