KirDevries

How To Pack A Bento Lunch

Bento boxes are all the rage and it’s no wonder- they are fun, easy to use and help you pack healthy portions. You can pack lightly with a double deck bento box or add a single deck for larger lunches and more food options.  Our new bento accessories also make it easy to add even more charm to your bento lunch. One of my favorites is the ringo mayo holder. This adorable little apple container holds your mayonnaise separately so you can add the mayo when you are ready  keeping your sandwich fresh and not soggy. The Furikake container is a great bento accessory that allows you to pack and sprinkle seasoning separately as well. The egg mold is also a great way to add fun hard boiled egg slices to your salads or other dishes. All of our bento boxes feature inner lids and tight seals enabling you to pack yogurt, apple sauce, dips etc without the messy leaks and spills. Here are some of my favorite items for bento lunches:

-          Apples and peanut butter

-          Veggies and dip

-          Salad & sandwich

-          Rice molds topped with shrimp and sauce

-          Veggie frittatas

-          Bagels with cream cheese

-          Pasta salad

-          Cheese and crackers

-          Fresh fruit

-          Stir fry

-          Leftovers!

 

Brand New Bento Boxes For Sale!

Are you addicted to bento boxes yet? I am and our newest shipment of bento boxes has just arrived. Check out our huge selection of cute bento boxes to fit every style! The wood and floral patterns are sophisticated while still being fun and the adorable panda and frog bentos are cuter than ever! The hot selling slim bento box from Shinzi Katoh is still a favorite too! We’ve been stocking Shinzi Katoh for two years now and I can tell you that Shinzi tends to retire and replace styles very quickly so if you see a Shinzi Katoh bento box you like, snap it up before they are gone forever. Here are some of the hot sellers:

Shinzi Katoh Slim Bento Box

The Cheri Two Deck Bento Box from Shinzi Katoh

The Kotobuki Cherry Blossom Bento Box

Kotokubi Red Floral Bento Box

Easy & Delightful Gourmet Dip Mixes

The yum factor just went way up around here as we have just received our first shipment of Foxy's Gourmet Make Your Own Dips. The dips are outstanding, but I'll get to that in a minute! I must confess it was the boxes that first caught my eye. So adorable and fun, I knew right away these would be great for gift giving. With their colorful decorative boxes they make a  wonderful hostess gift or wedding/party favor. Each boxes folds together to create a decorative flourish with the box ends on top. The strawberry looks like red berries, the tapenade like olives... you get the idea! 

But you know me, there has to be something healthy about it and yes- this is good stuff too. Each easy to prepare dip mix is free from MSG, artificial sweeteners and preservatives. Still the real quality is in the enjoyment and these dips are stunning and delicious. With the addition of a few fresh ingredients of your own, you have a simple yet conversation starting dip that will wow your guests. Just try not to talk with your mouth full! 

New Shinzi Katoh Now in Stock: check out the ipod stickers!

The new Shinzi Katoh shipment has arrived and it's very hard not to swipe one of each off the top for myself. everything is so cute. some of my new faves include the new Shinzi Katoh ipod stickers and the newest offering in bento boxes from Shinzi. 

 

Wow Whiskey Stones - talk about on the rocks!

When I first saw these Vermont hulled whiskey stones I was intrigued, no I was smitten. I seriously considered taking up whiskey as my drink of choice just so I could drop these awesome stones into my rocks glass and stand around (in my kitchen no less) looking cool. Instead though I've decided to give whiskey stones as gifts to all of my friends who actually are cool. Bill you're getting whiskey stones for Christmas!

 

Seriously though I can't say enough about these awesome stones- hulled in Vermont (local gotta love that) they are a soft, food grade stone that holds a chill. Just chill them in the freezer and then drop a few of the chilled stones into your sipping liquor of choice. At only 20.00 they are definitely  on my top ten gift list for the 2009 holiday season.

Bambu Veneerware: Stylish and Eco-friendly

Last Thanksgiving we hosted 25 of our dearest family and friends for dinner and quite frankly I didn’t paint, reupholster the chairs and buy a new chandelier so I could put 25 plastic plates on the table.   That’s when I first discovered Bambu Veneerware. The stylish neutrally colored plates and utensils are made from 100%  organic bamboo, free of dyes and bleach (yea!). They biodegrade in just 4 to 6 months (yea again!) and they are totally affordable.

So when I had a chance to meet the creators of Bambu I was super excited to order the line for Kir as well as to learn more about the company. They say they practice “compassionate capitalism” a term I have since fallen in love with and practice as well.  In a nutshell that means that they do not do business with any company or individual that is not doing their best to be eco-friendly and humanitarian.  I’m proud to now offer the Bambu Veneerware at Kir, perfect t for picnics, entertaining and dining on the go.  Please be sure to let us know how you like it and provide any suggestions or product ideas you may have.

Bento Accessories ~ The Mayo Holder... who knew!

Although I love Shinzi Katoh I have to confess to being new to the idea of bento accessories.  They are cute and fun but more importantly, useful! One of my favorites is the Shinzi Katoh mayo holder. It holds the perfect amount of mayonnaise for a deli sandwich and even has the cute little arm which acts as a spreader to  apply the mayo to your sandwich when it’s time for lunch. No more soggy bread (yea!) and a super cute little mayo holder that makes me smile when I take it out of my lunch (double bonus!).

Yummy Fruit Kabobs

Yummy fruit kabobs are a great sweet snack that is both healthy and super satisfying.  I have to confess that I thought I was making this one “for the kids” but once I tried it I was hooked. They take only minutes to make from start to finish and offer a surprisingly complex array of flavors & textures  and unlimited combinations. I could even see serving these on a platter when entertaining.

-          Cut up fruit of your choice

-          Place pieces on a toothpick or kabob utensil

-          Dip in Yogurt (flavor of your choice!)

-          Roll in coconut shavings

-          Enjoy! Or pack for lunch

 

Celebrate Fall by Entertaining at Home

Entertaining at home is  charming, affordable and intimate. In fact, fall is a great time of year to invite over a few friends or neighbors for high tea or cocktails. This month it's my turn to host Book Club and I will be serving beautifully mixed drinks made with  the tea bag cocktail infusions collection. They are tea bags specially designed to release their flavor when steeped in various types of alcohol. The Tea Forte cocktail tea also comes with an amazing recipe book so it's fast and easy to whip up impressive cocktails that are sure to get the conversation rolling! 

I've also become a huge fan of "high Tea" when neighbors come by it's so easy to heat up the kettle and serve tea in these charming self steeping tea cups. The flavors available in the Tea Forte line are extraordinary. Each cup of tea is truly satisfying and delightful.  The Dolce Vite Desert tea line is simply amazing and probably my favorite!

Teroforma Ice Melts Whisky Stones: I'll take mine on the rocks

Wow the hot item of the fall for sure! the Teroforma Whisky Stones have been selling out fast. And why not- what an incredibly awesome and refined gift. Simply chill these food grade (and Vermont harvested) soapstone rocks and then use in place of ice with your favorite liquor. Now there's no need to worry about watering down your drink, I'll take mine in the rocks!