Bento boxes and other things

And now for something completely different...

Since I am a true fan of Asian cooking it was just a matter of time until I would stumble over Japanese Bento boxes and other things that enable you to carry snacks around easily. I used to stuff food into Tupperware boxes which are simply no fun, but since Stefan and I always needed something to carry out food - when running between lectures at the uni and sitting at work in endless meetings with no chance to go and grab something - there was no alternative (I thought).

Then, thanks to Sarah and http://www.bento-und-mehr.de/,  I stumbled over http://casabento.com/shop/fr/  where you find probably hundreds of Bento boxes and other useful stuff that makes your life easier. And here is what  I got:

This is an Ikebana Bento box. It is quite large (for a Japanese Bento box, obviously Japanese people do not eat as much as we do, this is why most of them are all so skinny), it takes a total of 900 ml and is easily fullfilling a male appetite - or a female one if you want to take away a proper dinner, for example because you sit somewhere a whole day or at a time where you usually eat your main meal.

It has got two lairs and you can put it in the microwave and the dishwasher, you just have to remove the white soft lids between lairs. It is a very decorative Bento box with the only disadvantage that there is no bag delivered with it. But I had another Bento bag which I can use if it so it was no real problem. And it will sit in a bag comfortably.

This is the really cool drinking bottle I got. It is called Bouteille G&B rose, was on sale for Euro 6,90 and it holds 250ml of any liquid. It is no thermo bottle, so it is no proper bottle for hot drinks like tea or coffee, but anything else from water to fruit juice is welcome. It is absolutely tight, so no water drops that spoil your favorite script or the inside of your bag - I even use it for my glass of water during the night, because it can even fall off the bedside when Indy is wagging his tail and everything is fine.

And here is my favorite thing I bought: An Onigiri lunch box. It definately is tiny, it holds just one average-size Onigiri, and you have to know how to make them if you want to use it properly. I know how to make Onigiri, but you really have to be into Japanese cooking to do so, and it took me like ten times try and error (and because I ordered an Onigiri mold, which made everything so much easier).  But still: I love the pink color of the box, the shape - it is so cute, and so small and fits into everything.

It also comes with two lairs, one for the Onigiri and one at the bottom where you can put some nice fruit pieces or if you want even some liquid contents like soup (which the Japanese do lots obviously), the box is absolutely tight, so again nothing dripping out. You can even forget about the Onigiri and stuff some other food inside - the advantage of the box (besides of being cute) is that it is so small you can simply put it everywhere.

Casabento ships from France and charges quite a big shipping fee for every delivery, so I recommend that you place a big order so you won´t notice the shipping fees so much. But it arrives in 3-4 work days, which surprised me very much. Definately a recommendable HP!

Gallo Rosso

I promised you to tell you more about the restaurant we went to this Sunday for a late Valentine´s dinner. O-H M-Y G-O-O-D-N-E-S-S, it was phantastic! We had been there once and were not too enthusiastic, but decided to try again - and it was hilarious!! Lovely staff, great furnishing, perfect food, it was amazing! Check http://www.gallo-rosso.net/wb/ for further details!

It is like a 20 mins drive from our place, they got their own parking space, but you can park the car in one of the side streets. It is harder to get there with public transport, but you can manage with a 5 mins walk.

We were in high hopes for the food coming up, but when we were toasting we did not have a clue about how brilliant it would be!

First we had mixed vegetables, very tasty and very healthy, but compared to the rest that should come it has already drowned in meaninglessness.

Next came a Spicy Thai Coconut soup with chicken and scampi - like the mixed vegetables we shared, and it was sooooo phantastic! I love coconut flavour and chili, and this came so well mixed, not too hot (like on Bali, Jesus - okay, this is Europe), and even Stefan loved it, even though ususally he does not like coconut at all. The good thing is with both starters, we said that we wanted to share and they split everything up and brought two plates or served the soup on two plates already.

Now this is my main course - hand made tortellini with truffels - it was awsome!!!!! I could only eat one slow tiny bite at a time, enjoy for like five minutes, my palate was washed away with the great flavours - incredible. I cannot help it, I LOVE truffels!!!!!!!!! The best thing I had in a year or so, honestly.

Stefan had Lasagne - lovely, but nothing I would really go to eat out for. My favorite Lasagne is the Hofer one (or Aldi, if you prefer), and it is the actually only deep-frozen food which I think is just as nice as when you prepare it yourself. But according to Stefan this one was even better!

So at the end of this fabulous lunch it was time to toast again. And since we were just too full for some dessert we each had a coffee with amaretto. Yum!!!!!!! A tiny, tiny cup - with probably more amaretto than coffee - a a huge spoon full of sugar. It was hilarious!

Afterwards of course it was time to spend some time with the kiddos. They had fun in the remaining snow, and since it was quite warm for the time of the year (around 10°C) they were seeking for the remaining snow spots cooling themselves there.

And out of the snow thawed two ballies Indy had been wasting during the last days. Hellooo and welcome!

We definately had a great Sunday. I was thinking when we had such a perfect lunch/dinner the last time. Maybe New York City with lobster for starters and lamb chops for main course at Wolensky´s Grille? Or Alte Kaisermühle last Summer? Anyway, it was definately one of those place you absolutely want to AGAIN!

Happy Valentine´s Day!

You know that I could not care less about Valentine´s Day, but since I spent a lot of time in New York City I just love it! And it is the only night of the year when I really, really miss the Big Apple. Valentine´s is the day when the shops are full of flowers, red hearts, candies, pink poodles, the top of the Empire State Building is lit in bright red in the night, the restaurants are full with couples enjoying their special night out together .......... *deep sigh* So, YES, if Valentine´s then the whole package, I want the pink poodles, the cuddly teddy bears, the chocolates in heartshaped boxes!!

Vienna is a bit holding back when it comes to Valentine´s Day and pinky poodles are hard to get, but we try to arrange at least a nice dinner and some small presents.

We had scampi for starters and cheese fondue for main course - Stefan loves it lots, and he only gets it in Switzerland usually, because I am not so fond of it. So it came as a surprise! And I must say that this time - maybe the air outside Switzerland? - I liked it myself. And of course some nice sparkling wine along with it.

We gave each other little presents - okay, he gave me a PS3-game, which is not so little when thinking that they seem to weigh it up in gold - and I gave him a CD, and the evening was spent in very good mood with a warm fire in the fireplace.

Rumor has it, that we might be going out for a late Valentine´s Dinner coming weekend. I just love surprises!!

I hope you all had a perfect Valentine´s Day!

Snow! Finally!

Yesterday it was snowing for the first time this Winter. The area around Vienna usually does not get any close to the tons of snow that the Tirol or Styria usually get, but no snow at all until February is not the norm. So everybody waited for the white fluff, even though when it is finally there we are not so happy usually because public transport does not run on time, roads are blocked - well, the usual that happens in an area that is not really fit for Winter outbreaks. But still we always wait and enjoy the first snow when it is finally there!

 
Who would have guessed that Indy loves the white stuff? He would stay outside for hours and he does not understand at all why everybody else runs inside after a while, waving from the windows telling him to get lost with his balli.

This is one of the corners where we sit in Summer, hiding under the trees from the blazing sun, eat and drink and chat. Now there is silence. Funny...

Of course all the snow has to be shoveled off the terrace, the front yard, the garage area.... Some nice workout that spares you the fitness centre. And it takes a real man to do it! But when the going gets tough, the tough get going...

Dessa could not care less about the snow. She only shuffles outside when mommy is strictly telling her to do so because some things need to be done. Where are the golden puppy days when she was racing around in the snow, full of energy, ready to discover all the good life! Now her vision of a happy life is lots of food and a warm bed. Oh well, just like my vision actually.

Today it has stopped snowing and the sun is out, weather forecast says that all will be melting away within the next couple of days. That probably was it for this year. But we definately had a great day yesterday! And Indy is still waiting for somebody to throw his balli....