FamilyFood

Bunny's Lunch Box: Inari sushi and strawberries

A story to go with this bento:

Yesterday when I picked Bunny up from school she said, "There was a boy who cried because he didn't understand what we were saying. He only speaks Japanese."

"Oh, that's so sad! What could you do to make him feel better," I replied.

Bunny thought about it and responded, "We could learn to speak Japanese!"

"Okay, but that might take time...what's something you can do tomorrow if he feels bad?"

More thinking, "Maybe teach him a word? ...Or, give him a hug?"

"Those are great things to do," I said from the front seat as my eyes inexpicably filled with tears. "I'm sure he would love that."

Bunny told me that this little boy also has to eat lunch at a special table because he is allergic to nuts. Heart-breaking, right?  So I talked to Bunny further and told her that she already knows some words in Japanese like: miso, sushi, nori, tofu, ...and Totoro!

Later, as I was packing her bento Bunny sidled up to me and said, "Hey, I can show (boy's name) my lunch tomorrow!  I can tell him, 'I'm eating inari sushi! That's Japanese!'"

And I said, "That's a great idea!"

Then she added, "But don't pack any nuts. No nuts, Mamma, because I want to sit next to him at his table!...Remember, no nuts!"

***

Can you see why I'm so head over heels in love with my daughter? Sometimes I wonder where she comes up with these things. She astonishes me with her emotional intelligence.

Bunny, I am so proud of you. You are the most special, the most big-hearted, the most loving, the most caring little girl in the whole wide world...or so I'd like to think. :-)

I love you, and I hope you enjoy your lunch today!

***
INARI SUSHI

• 1 can inarizushi-no-moto (aka aburage or fried tofu pouches, available at any Japanese market)
• seasoned rice wine vinegar
• hot, cooked, short-grain rice
• (shredded carrots, toasted sesame seeds optional)

Prepare rice according to directions on the can (sprinkle with rice vinegar). In Hawaii inari (or cone) sushi rice is often mixed with a few strands of shredded carrot (for color) and a sprinkling of sesame seeds, but you can omit.

Carefully peel apart the fried tofu pockets (like for pita bread) and stuff with a small rectangular ball of seasoned rice. Place seam-side down on a plate. Serve right away.

Bunny's Lunch Box: Installment No. 1: I was born to bento

I love that the concept of packing bento-style lunches has reached insane levels of popularity these days with whole sites dedicated to the concept. As someone who was born in Hawaii, I grew up eating bentos from Zip-Pacs to custom-made creations from the Shirokiya food hall to home-made containers packed with leftovers. I say "born in Hawaii" as the dintinguisher because in Hawaii everyone—not just Japanese people—are familiar with bentos. It's part of our culture and people pride themselves on packing a good one. Do you include plain musubi or nori-wrapped? Should you include takuan or kimchi? Fried spam or a hotdog? People in Hawaii can talk about bentos for daaaaaaayyyyyyyyssssss.

When we moved from Hawaii to California in 1981, I was in sixth grade and I remember vividly the day I brought a bento to school for lunch. It was packed with musubi (rice balls) and fried chicken and I remember thinking about that lunch all morning.  When it was time to unpack our lunches. Twenty heads swiveled my way to see what I had in front of me.

Little did I know I had just committed my first junior high faux pas.