Does anyone have any good bento recipes?

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > VEGETA > Does anyone have any good bento recipes?

devtesla: Jan 2, 2012; Grimey Drawer

I'm going to make lunch for my senpai. They like beef and protecting underclassmen.

# ? Nov 30, 2014 02:51

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# ? Apr 29, 2024 19:50

Yawgmoft: Nov 15, 2004

Doesn't matter what you make he's still going to fall for Romantic Love Interest A

# ? Nov 30, 2014 07:11

Sindai: Jan 24, 2007; i want to achieve immortality through not dying

Are you his childhood friend? If not don't bother.

Sindai fucked around with this message at 07:26 on Nov 30, 2014

# ? Nov 30, 2014 07:23

Wallrod: Sep 27, 2004; Stupid Baby Picture

Sindai posted:

Are you his childhood friend? If not don't bother.

Also if so don't bother

# ? Nov 30, 2014 11:54

Sakurazuka: Jan 24, 2004; NANI?

Maybe you could, ya know, give someone other than loving sempai a chance for once?

# ? Nov 30, 2014 12:05

BlitzBlast: Jul 30, 2011; some people just wanna watch the world burn

The key to a good bento is to pick food that still tastes good even after it cools down, since chances are by the time your buddy cracks the box open everything's going to be cold. Well unless you splurge and get some kind of thermal bento or skip class right before lunch to dash home and make something but details.

Bentos lose a lot of mystique when you realize they're basically just high effort Lunchables. There's a main dish, and then some sides. I guess if you want to make the perfect bento you'd balance nutrients, flavors, and textures, but that's silly. Both because any student worth their salt won't care as long as it's free and because you probably don't know nearly enough about food to pull that off anyways. So instead you're going to have to resort to... the stash.

Basically anybody who does any sort of arts and crafts hobby knows what I'm talking about here. Knitters keep a bunch of yarn at hand. Painters collect paints. Plamo aficionados build up backlogs. And aspiring bento chefs should keep a ton of leftovers. If you're the type to finish your plate, every time you make something, set aside a fourth of it before eating. How you decide to store the food is up to you, just make sure it's air-tight. Much more important is how they'll keep; preserved foods like pickles can last forever, but other things usually only stay nice for a week. And meat only lasts for 3-4 days. Another factor is what you're cooling. If the food is supposed to be moist (rice, rice, rice, oh my god rice), wrap it while it's still warm so you don't get something horribly dry. Meanwhile meats and veggies should be at room temperature before storage, lest moisture and ice build up on their surface. Soggy vegetables seriously suck, don't do that.

Once you have a decent stash going (and don't rush to fill it up, if you're planning on making a ton of bentos at once you should just sit down, make some full meals, and then divvy them up full), it just becomes a game of choice. Variety is the spice of life, so mix up your selections. One day it's meat and potatoes with a side of salad, soy sauce, and some kind of soup. The next it's fried rice with some cucumber, mushrooms, and I don't know imitation crab meat? Whatever floats your boat.

So with all of that said, your target likes beef? That's kind of a paradox, since beef is usually pretty pricey and bentos are supposed to be economical but oh well. Try stir fried beef, rice, some lettuce so they can roll up the beef if they want, and maybe some potatoes. Nikujaga is another nice option if you want to go full japanese.

oh you were joking, sorry

# ? Nov 30, 2014 13:25

kidcoelacanth: Sep 23, 2009

You could use rice

# ? Nov 30, 2014 14:16

MrLamo2k1: Dec 11, 2003; The new sheriff in town

Francis has you covered

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_hbPLsZvvo

# ? Nov 30, 2014 15:24

DrSunshine: Mar 23, 2009; Did I just say that out loud~~?!!!

Someone assemble a "goon bento" using Doritos, Cheetos, nacho cheese dip, chocolate bars and Chef Boyardee, with Gatorade or Mountain Dew to drink.

# ? Nov 30, 2014 15:44

devtesla: Jan 2, 2012; Grimey Drawer

BlitzBlast posted:

The key to a good bento is to pick food that still tastes good even after it cools down, since chances are by the time your buddy cracks the box open everything's going to be cold. Well unless you splurge and get some kind of thermal bento or skip class right before lunch to dash home and make something but details.

Bentos lose a lot of mystique when you realize they're basically just high effort Lunchables. There's a main dish, and then some sides. I guess if you want to make the perfect bento you'd balance nutrients, flavors, and textures, but that's silly. Both because any student worth their salt won't care as long as it's free and because you probably don't know nearly enough about food to pull that off anyways. So instead you're going to have to resort to... the stash.

Basically anybody who does any sort of arts and crafts hobby knows what I'm talking about here. Knitters keep a bunch of yarn at hand. Painters collect paints. Plamo aficionados build up backlogs. And aspiring bento chefs should keep a ton of leftovers. If you're the type to finish your plate, every time you make something, set aside a fourth of it before eating. How you decide to store the food is up to you, just make sure it's air-tight. Much more important is how they'll keep; preserved foods like pickles can last forever, but other things usually only stay nice for a week. And meat only lasts for 3-4 days. Another factor is what you're cooling. If the food is supposed to be moist (rice, rice, rice, oh my god rice), wrap it while it's still warm so you don't get something horribly dry. Meanwhile meats and veggies should be at room temperature before storage, lest moisture and ice build up on their surface. Soggy vegetables seriously suck, don't do that.

Once you have a decent stash going (and don't rush to fill it up, if you're planning on making a ton of bentos at once you should just sit down, make some full meals, and then divvy them up full), it just becomes a game of choice. Variety is the spice of life, so mix up your selections. One day it's meat and potatoes with a side of salad, soy sauce, and some kind of soup. The next it's fried rice with some cucumber, mushrooms, and I don't know imitation crab meat? Whatever floats your boat.

So with all of that said, your target likes beef? That's kind of a paradox, since beef is usually pretty pricey and bentos are supposed to be economical but oh well. Try stir fried beef, rice, some lettuce so they can roll up the beef if they want, and maybe some potatoes. Nikujaga is another nice option if you want to go full japanese.

oh you were joking, sorry

This is amazing. I can't wait to finally make lunch for senpai.

# ? Nov 30, 2014 18:14

Namtab: Feb 22, 2010

BlitzBlast posted:

The key to a good bento is to pick food that still tastes good even after it cools down, since chances are by the time your buddy cracks the box open everything's going to be cold. Well unless you splurge and get some kind of thermal bento or skip class right before lunch to dash home and make something but details.

Bentos lose a lot of mystique when you realize they're basically just high effort Lunchables. There's a main dish, and then some sides. I guess if you want to make the perfect bento you'd balance nutrients, flavors, and textures, but that's silly. Both because any student worth their salt won't care as long as it's free and because you probably don't know nearly enough about food to pull that off anyways. So instead you're going to have to resort to... the stash.

Basically anybody who does any sort of arts and crafts hobby knows what I'm talking about here. Knitters keep a bunch of yarn at hand. Painters collect paints. Plamo aficionados build up backlogs. And aspiring bento chefs should keep a ton of leftovers. If you're the type to finish your plate, every time you make something, set aside a fourth of it before eating. How you decide to store the food is up to you, just make sure it's air-tight. Much more important is how they'll keep; preserved foods like pickles can last forever, but other things usually only stay nice for a week. And meat only lasts for 3-4 days. Another factor is what you're cooling. If the food is supposed to be moist (rice, rice, rice, oh my god rice), wrap it while it's still warm so you don't get something horribly dry. Meanwhile meats and veggies should be at room temperature before storage, lest moisture and ice build up on their surface. Soggy vegetables seriously suck, don't do that.

Once you have a decent stash going (and don't rush to fill it up, if you're planning on making a ton of bentos at once you should just sit down, make some full meals, and then divvy them up full), it just becomes a game of choice. Variety is the spice of life, so mix up your selections. One day it's meat and potatoes with a side of salad, soy sauce, and some kind of soup. The next it's fried rice with some cucumber, mushrooms, and I don't know imitation crab meat? Whatever floats your boat.

So with all of that said, your target likes beef? That's kind of a paradox, since beef is usually pretty pricey and bentos are supposed to be economical but oh well. Try stir fried beef, rice, some lettuce so they can roll up the beef if they want, and maybe some potatoes. Nikujaga is another nice option if you want to go full japanese.

oh you were joking, sorry

Source your quotes

# ? Nov 30, 2014 19:50

icantfindaname: Jul 1, 2008

Namtab posted:

Source your quotes

if you have a problem with that post, i'll fight you myself

icantfindaname fucked around with this message at 20:21 on Nov 30, 2014

# ? Nov 30, 2014 20:15

Justus: Apr 18, 2006; ...

Eh, it doesn't particularly matter what you put IN the bento. Just make sure it isn't pinku (that's Japanese for pink) or any girl color. Also make sure it has 2 or more kotaba (that's Japanese for 2 compartments) and that it's chibi (small) sized. Most importantly, it has to be really kawaii (cute).

Also, make sure the gohan (rice) doesn't touch any other things (it can get wet and senpai wouldn't like that)

# ? Dec 1, 2014 00:26

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# ? Apr 29, 2024 19:50

Namtab: Feb 22, 2010

icantfindaname posted:

if you have a problem with that post

i have a problem with every post except the ones I make

# ? Dec 1, 2014 00:42

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > VEGETA > Does anyone have any good bento recipes?