They’re convenient, stylish, practical and hygienic – not to mention reusable. You can use them to serve a full meal in one neat, classy package, while their coverings will keep dishes warm and provide protection against contamination. Frankly, what’s not to love about bento boxes?
Originating in Japan nearly a millennium ago, where they were initially created to carry rice, bento boxes have evolved over the centuries into the compartmentalized containers we know now. During the course of that evolution, what lies within has changed, too, with the traditional Asian ingredients of rice, fish or meat, and pickled vegetables – while still popular – making way for more of an anything-goes attitude in recent years.
As they’ve entered Western culinary culture, sweet has become nearly as common as savoury, breakfasts and lunches as popular as dinners. Shifts in the way eateries are operating and customers are looking to dine suggests the appeal of bento boxes could be more than a passing trend.
The past few years has seen the emergence of contactless dining, thanks largely to the impact the pandemic has had on the hospitality industry. This new way of doing things sees customers view menus via a QR code and order food from apps at their tables, before it’s then delivered by servers.
Much like a traditional cloche, bento boxes keep food sealed and protected from airborne droplets when being delivered from kitchen to customer – and are a stylish way to complement contactless dining practices.
The separate compartments also enable you to plate-up full lunches and dinners, thereby reducing service visits. They’re the perfect solution for hotels, whether it be for in-room or poolside dining, and are an innovative idea for corporate canteens and training venues.
To meet demand, the variety of good quality bento boxes is also growing. Take Tomkin’s Zicco range as an ideal example, offering an impeccable mix of style, durability, affordability and innovation. With sleek, curved edges, a walnut-look presentation, lightweight feel and hardwearing melamine construction, these boxes, trays and bowls provide any chef with a great place to plate-up – or box-up – their creations, whether that includes traditional ingredients or something more adventurous.
