Future Plates

THE RISE OF THE BENTO BOX HAS COINCIDED WITH THE ADVENT OF CONTACTLESS DINING TO PROVIDE THE PERFECT SERVING RECEPTACLE.

They’re convenient, stylish, practical and hygienic – not to mention reusable and durable. 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 compartmentalised containers we know now.

During the course of that evolution, what lies within has changed, too, with the traditional Asian ingredients of rice, fish

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1. TK46390 Tomkin Zicco Bowl Insert melamine wht. 2. TK46383 Zicco Bento Try Lid w/w 300x250x20mm. 3. TK46381 Zicco Bento Try Box w/w 290x240x70mm.

3 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 catering 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 and stadiums, as well as an innovative idea for corporate events and training venues.

To meet demand, the variety of goodquality 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. bunzl.com.au/tomkin

Tomkin’s Zicco range offers an impeccable mix of style, durability, affordability and innovation.