Some of my work brings me in close contact with local farmers and it certainly has its perks as you will discover in this particular bento!
First, the “wasabi musubi”!
But before explaining that particular bit let me say that the “decoration” consists of chikuwa/steamed fish paste roll, a variety of kamaboko you can buy anywhere and that the Missus filled with fresh cucumber and boiled broccoli flowers.
The wasabi leaves and stems were given to me by Mr. Mochizuki who cultivates wasabi in Utogi, its birthplace!
The Missus pickled them separately, with konbu seaweed added to the leaves.
She made musubi balls with freshly steamed rice mixed with pickled wasabi stems and enveloped them in pickled wasabi leaves!
I very much doubt you can do that outside Shizuoka Prefecture!
The side box contained two more products I obtained from local farmers!
The egg mimosa was made by mixing the boiled egg yolk with boiled kabocha from Mr. Oda’s Farm in Yaizu City!
The Missus added some mini tomatoes, salad beans and lettuce to complete the salad!
The Missus then introduced ton toro pork/very soft pork she cooked together with fresh shiitake grown organically by Mr. Nanjyo in Do, near Utogi. She used the recipe for tebasaki adding coca cola and chili pepper for a very zippy concoction! I know more but the Missus said this was how far I could reveal her secrets!
A very unusual and tasty bento!
RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES
Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
SHIZUOKA GOURMET 
Lovely detailed blog – thank you for sharing and bon appetit 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the update!
LikeLike
I have almost missed this extraordinary bento! You could have organised a quiz and I’m sure no one would guess what the cute balls were made of (apart from some, but rare, Shizuoka citizens). It looks like mini stuffed cabbage, but must taste so so much better!
The soft pork with coca cola and chili sounds very intriguing… And delicious!
LikeLike
LOL, I certainly could have, and I did it actually here with my own students who couldn’t find the answer!
Incidentally, I forgot to say that the Missus also used satr anise for the pork!
LikeLike
Star anise makes the mystery even bigger…
LikeLike
Sorry, I completely forgot! Be easy on it, though!
LikeLike
The Missus sure is talented — I always enjoy her artwork! And what is nice is that the contents are from local farmers =)
LikeLike
Wow wonderful bento as usual =D.
You’ve made me wonder now, what do the wasabi leaves taste like?
Do they have any of the heat of wasabi?
I love the look of the pork and the egg too.
I could cry knowing I will never be able to make that lovely ton toro pork hehe =).
-Pepper
LikeLike
Actually the taste of the wasabi leaves is not very piquant, and not at all after being pickled!
LikeLike