plastic bento boxes for kids

Hi:

This year for Valentine's Day my son's class is doing a special secret "Valentine's Lunch" swap in lieu of cards and candy for each kid. So we have 7 year-old Avery and he has requested "spaghetti with soy sauce, sesame oil and sesame seeds" on his little swap card (as well as French Onion Sun Chips and a 7-Up). I was thinking it would be fun to serve his noodles in a small plastic Bento with a kid theme, that he could then keep. I have bought quite a few of these on the internet over the years but the on-line stores selling the cheaper versions have all gone kaput. Has anyone seen these at either Mitsuwa (or somewhere closer to the city?) I called Akai Hana in Wilmette and the person who answered the phone said "no bento, no." (And suggested Mitsuwa.)

One other question while I have you . . . I am inclined to 1. season up Avery's sauce just a skinch with a wee bit of ginger and maybe a few scallions which I will then pour through a sieve so there are no "bits" in his noodles, am I stupid? 2. I am also inclined to send his "special sauce" on the side as I am worried it will get absorbed by the noodles and by lunchtime be not so nice. Any thoughts? (Other than telling me I am over-thinking this, which my husband already has.)

Thanks much.

bjt

I believe you can find these at Super H Mart in Niles. I would call Avery's parents and ask them exactly how Avery likes this special dish. You are not over thinking this, but a 2 min phone call to Avery's parents would clear up any questions that you may have.

H-Mart's housewares are a good place, or you can check Happy Pencil Land in their mall - however, I find that Chicago Food Corp on Pulaski has similar stuff at better prices.

We have to figure out what we're doing for Valentine's day - last year we did Chinese New Year's envelopes with puffy star strips inside. Have to come up with something better this year - can't stand grocery-store valentines any more than grocery-store sushi.

5800 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60646
773-478-0007

Hi,

The address MHays offered is correct at Pulaski, though the housewares is a different business than Chicago Food. You have to drive to the back of the lot, then to a warehouse to the right.

The plastic kid's lunch bento boxes at H-Mart are several dollars each. There may be cheaper ones, though I haven't seen them.

Regards,

Thanks all. this is so helpful. I have never been to H-Mart in Niles, sounds like a good adventure for Monday! And bentos for a couple of bucks, hooray. I did email Avery's mom a few nights ago asking about the sauce and I haven't yet heard from her.

Mhays, last year my son and I made simple origami paper hearts with a little pocket in front and in that we tucked a single wrapped piece of Japanese heart-shaped gummy candy. The ones that come in all the fruit flavors like grape and melon. We purchased these from the Vietnamese grocery store in that strip mall on Broadway in Uptown, directly across from the Post Office. Have no clue to the name but just that it sits right in the corner of the mall. (Next to a tiny Chinese place that I have always been intrigued by . . .) If you need the directions for the heart-shaped origami, let me know. Or heck, I'll just link to the post, if that is okay here on lth? if not mods let me know and I will remove it, thanks!

http://goodsandheroes.typepad.com/goods ... tines.html

bht

One more thing, if I do go to Niles and H-Mart, can you rec a place for me to take a picky gal from Tennessee for lunch nearby? Or if you can eat in-house at H-Mart, something a picky gal from Tennessee might enjoy eating there? Her palette is totally meat and potatoes, but of course, I am sneakily trying to change that!

bjt

Hi,

There is a food court in H-Mart. The last stall after the sushi is all dumplings. You could offer the small meat filled type and maybe share a baseball sized dumpling.

If she is hardcore meat and potatoes, the large stall in the middle has Korean bulgogi with rice. It is cooked on a griddle without any char bits, the marinade is garlicky and somewhat sweet with lots of sticky rice easy to lift with chopsticks or a fork.

The first stall is Korean style Chinese, though you can find safe bets like Sweet and Sour Pork.

If she is meat and potatoes, she probably isn't keen for sushi. I haven't been too impressed with the snack stall, because a lot is already precooked. I prefer tempura vegetables to be made after I order, not warmed up.

The bakery often offers samples to try.

In the tiny mall, there is a walnut cookie maker. If you are lucky, you can watch the machine go through its paces. The filling is bean paste, though it is sweeter than most and less challenging to our palates than other Asian bean desserts.

I'll hope you'll report back on your visitor's thoughts on H-Mart. I'm sure you will like it.

Regards,

bjt wrote:Mhays, last year my son and I made simple origami paper hearts with a little pocket in front and in that we tucked a single wrapped piece of Japanese heart-shaped gummy candy. The ones that come in all the fruit flavors like grape and melon. We purchased these from the Vietnamese grocery store in that strip mall on Broadway in Uptown, directly across from the Post Office. Have no clue to the name but just that it sits right in the corner of the mall. (Next to a tiny Chinese place that I have always been intrigued by . . .) If you need the directions for the heart-shaped origami, let me know. Or heck, I'll just link to the post, if that is okay here on lth? if not mods let me know and I will remove it, thanks!

http://goodsandheroes.typepad.com/goods ... tines.html

bht

Awesome! Sparky has just developed an interest in origami, and it makes the valentines homemade, which I like. FWIW, the bakery at H-Mart has mostly european items, the only things there that might be challenging are things with bean paste (which isn't really that challenging, but it depends on the audience, I suppose) We always stop and get something with a coffee.

The food court might be a good place to test the waters with a snack (although I agree with Cathy about the "snack shop," - you can get something small at most of the other stalls.) I'd hate to send you elsewhere, but that nearby strip of Milwaukee has lots of choices: nothing earth-shattering, but you won't go hungry if you're in search of meat and potatoes.

Last year, I saw the Laptop Lunchboxes for about $22 at Whole Foods. I'm not sure if they still carry them.

Totally off topic, but where does one find a good local source for origami paper these days?

Pucca wrote:Last year, I saw the Laptop Lunchboxes for about $22 at Whole Foods. I'm not sure if they still carry them.

Totally off topic, but where does one find a good local source for origami paper these days?

Paper Source would be my first thought.

J Toguri Mercantile on Belmont has a really good stock of origami paper and books on origami. Another place that I was just at on Friday that kind of blew me away with its origami paper stock is Tom Thumb in Evanston on Davis. (Which is in the same block as Bennison's Bakery and I had myself a mighty fine cream-filled Pascki there before we hit Tom Thumb.)

There is a Chicagoland Origami Club that meets at Garfield Park Conservatory on one Saturday a month, I am not sure which Saturday but I have heard good things about the group.

bjt

Pucca wrote:Totally off topic, but where does one find a good local source for origami paper these days?

I've purchased origami paper at Blick art supply stores, in Evanston and in the Loop on State St. You can find other locations here:

http://www.dickblick.com/

Me, my cranky 3 year-old and my young friend from TN went to H-Mart today in Niles. It's funny how sometimes you go someplace for the "one thing" but don't end up getting that "one thing" but it doesn't matter at all because the overall experience is so great. In other words, apparently the days of a $2 plastic bento are long gone because the bentos in the housewares started at $6 and were pretty girly and ditto for those in the Happy Pencil shop (which I loved but didn't get enough time to explore because I had a hungry toddler pulling at my leg).

We really enjoyed (even my little guy) going pretty thoughtfully through the lovely produce section. My friend was great at distracting him with odd/funny veggies and having him smell and touch things. (She's a picky eater but also a horticulturist so likes checking out things that come out of the ground.) We also had a good time in the seafood section checking out the crabs and the other things in the water. I scored some really lovely looking hand-pulled noodles, I think I will use these for Avery's "spaghetti." I also bought some pre-marinated bulgogi and that is what we will be having for dinner tonight!

I am so glad Cathy2 gave us the heads-up on the shop with the little walnut "cakes." We were walking from the check-out, back to the food court when we smelled a heavenly smell. We looked to our left and there was the shop, called Migahodo Walnut Cake. The machine was running and we watched as a young man placed the walnut pieces on the little mold then the bean paste was squirted into it and then the cake batter. Then they came back all golden brown and toasty warm. The lady sold us two pieces (40 cents each) which said they normally don't do. But it was a good call for her because I enjoyed mine so much I bought a 9-pack for $3 to take into work tomorrow. The bean paste was just the right sweetness and not too much of it ether (I think a little goes a long way . . . ) and my friend gobbled hers up. "I would have never tried one of those if you hadn't stopped and poked your nose in," she said.

Then we made our way to the food court. We were just about to get bulgogi when I realized I'd be having bulgogi tonight. So we went down and ordered the traditional Korean steamed dumplings (pork and veggies). I was pushing for the big baseball-sized bun but I could tell from my pal's face tightening that it was not looking good to her. I also knew that 8 dumplings weren't going to be enough for us and so I asked my friend if she liked onions (yes) seafood (yes, sort of, sometimes, if it's not too strong-tasting). So I just went for it and ordered a seafood pancake from the Korean stand. (Can't remember the name but that it starts with a "P".) When the pancake came S. said, "That looks delicious." It was pretty big and nice and crisped up all the way to the edges. I still wasn't sure what she'd think but she took a bite and another and another and . . . My son enjoyed eating the squid bits from it. We couldn't eat it all so we decided to get it boxed up and then share it for lunch at work tomorrow. "Does that mean you liked it?" I asked. "Yes, very much! I can't wait to go try Korean bbq now and I want to come back and try some other things. "

So there you go. A tiny but nice cultural/culinary breakthrough!

And I remembered, after we were looking at all the bentos that they are selling some really cute bentos at the Blick in the Loop for $6 but I have a 40% off coupon. I'll grab one for Avery tomorrow. And enjoy the leftover pancake with my friend.

Thanks for all the tips, it really helped us enjoy H-Mart from one end to the other.

I will definitely be returning!

bjt








bjt