hapa bento

It’s time to post your B.O.M.B. entries for March! 

When I picked  the theme for March’s “B.O.M.B. Challenge” my brain instinctively went to the “St. Patrick’s Day” idea , which then morphed into a “green” thing and finally landed on “green living things as baran” theme. 

So there you go… the challenge is to use only natural “green” (non-artificial) items  as baran in your bento.  

What is baran you ask?  Baran is an item that’s used to separate foods in a bento box.   Traditionally  it’s supposed to have antibacterial properties as well as acting as a physical barrier between different food items.  Fresh cut leaves  such as shiso and bamboo  are an excellent choice as long as they are green and have no pesticides.  They may also assist in preserving your bento’s freshness. 

Important note: The bamboo I’m referring  to is the  real bamboo leaves, not the “lucky bamboo” you often see on the counter of Asian shops and restaurants.  Though this attractive decorative shrub  resembles bamboo — this plant is the dracaena sanderiana and is not related to the bamboo species at all.  I’ve read that it’s toxic to pets, so I would advise not to use this plant or any other type of plant leaves without further investigation.

Other safe choices for “living” or “natural” baran are red cabbage leaves, cucumber slices, carrot slices or any neutral tasting veggie.  Your choice of  “green baran” doesn’t have to be the color green at all!   How about some Jicama? 

Another idea …instead of a silicone or paper cup,  use a cucumber or lettuce leaf to cradle your food.  Be creative and have fun! 

The March B.O.M.B. rules are simple:

1. The B.O.M.B. Challenge starts now.

2. The last day to submit will be March 20, 2010 at Midnight PST.

3. Your submission must be a bento without any artificial baran, dividers or cups.

4. If your bento came with a matching divider or section…that’s okay.

5. Any color of leaf or veggie qualifies.  Just make sure it’s fresh, clean, non-poisonous, and pesticide free.

6. You can enter as often as you like.

7. The B.O.M.B. will be selected randomly so get creative and don’t be shy!

8. Have fun!

Submit your “green” baran bento box here.

February’s  ”The BOMB” challenge was the theme red and selected winner is Jenn’s (aka Bentobird) Red Salmon bento!

January’s ”The B.O.M.B.”

 Amy’s beautiful bento with roasted brussels sprouts!