BENTO EXPO
BENTO EXPO: Season 8

Air Date

April 28, 2023

Episodes

20 episodes

BENTO EXPO

Season 8

Episodes

Chirashi-zushi Peacock Bento & Glass Noodle Lion Bento

1. Chirashi-zushi Peacock Bento & Glass Noodle Lion Bento

April 28, 2023
15 min

Today: animal-themed bentos. From Maki, glass noodles form the mane of an adorable lion. From Marc, an elegant peacock bento with lots of veggies. From Singapore, a bento featuring Indian paratha.

Lemon-marinated Shrimp Bento & Lemon Chirashi-zushi Bento

2. Lemon-marinated Shrimp Bento & Lemon Chirashi-zushi Bento

May 12, 2023
15 min

Today: a special episode focusing on Hiroshima Prefecture. We meet local bento makers from West Africa, Malaysia, Vietnam and more. Marc and Maki make dishes with a Hiroshima specialty: lemon.

Onigiri Bento

3. Onigiri Bento

May 26, 2023
15 min

Today: a beginner-friendly onigiri bento. Marc shares tips and guidance on how to make onigiri, or rice balls. From Misaki in Kanagawa Prefecture, a bento featuring a variety of tuna dishes.

Tamagoyaki Bento

4. Tamagoyaki Bento

June 9, 2023
15 min

Today: a beginner-friendly tamagoyaki bento. Marc shares tips and guidance on how to make tamagoyaki, or rolled omelets. From Yanagawa in Fukuoka Prefecture, a bento featuring freshwater eel.

Scallion Oil Chicken Bento & Salmon Piccata Bento

5. Scallion Oil Chicken Bento & Salmon Piccata Bento

June 23, 2023
15 min

Today: Maki and Marc make bentos using just one pan. Marc prepares scallion oil and crispy chicken. Maki makes a salmon piccata and bacon rolls. From the Philippines, a bento featuring coconut.

Katsu Curry Bento & Currywurst Bento

6. Katsu Curry Bento & Currywurst Bento

July 7, 2023
15 min

Today: appetite-boosting curry bentos. Marc prepares a bento of katsu curry. Maki makes a bento using currywurst sausages. From Yui in Shizuoka Prefecture, bentos featuring sakura shrimp.

Vegan Shogayaki Bento & Japanese-style Tuna Pasta Bento

7. Vegan Shogayaki Bento & Japanese-style Tuna Pasta Bento

July 28, 2023
15 min

Today: bentos made with pantry staples. Marc prepares a soy meat shogayaki. Maki uses cans of tuna and corn to make a Japanese-style pasta. From South Korea, a market's unique bento cafe.

Rainbow Soboro Bento & Green Veggies and Chicken Sandwich Bento

8. Rainbow Soboro Bento & Green Veggies and Chicken Sandwich Bento

August 11, 2023
15 min

Today: colorful bentos. Marc prepares a colorful soboro bento. Maki makes a sandwich bento with lots of veggies. From Daigo in Ibaraki Prefecture, a bento featuring a local variety of chicken, Okukuji shamo.

Salt-cured Salmon (Shiozake) Bento

9. Salt-cured Salmon (Shiozake) Bento

September 8, 2023
15 min

Today: a beginner-friendly shiozake bento. Marc shares tips and guidance on how to prepare shiozake, or salt-cured salmon. From Hong Kong, a bento featuring a local favorite: XO sauce.

Chicken Kara-age Bento

10. Chicken Kara-age Bento

September 22, 2023
15 min

Today: a beginner-friendly chicken kara-age bento. Marc shares tips and guidance on how to make chicken kara-age, a type of fried chicken. From Niigata Prefecture, a bento featuring a variety of fresh seafood.

Acorn Onigiri Bento & Japanese-style Baguette Sandwich Bento

11. Acorn Onigiri Bento & Japanese-style Baguette Sandwich Bento

October 6, 2023
15 min

Today: bentos perfect for autumn picnics. Marc prepares onigiri shaped like acorns. Maki makes sandwiches with acorn decorations. From Yoshino in Nara Prefecture, a bento of sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves.

Mushroom Rice Bento & Wrap and Roll Sushi Bento

12. Mushroom Rice Bento & Wrap and Roll Sushi Bento

October 20, 2023
15 min

Marc makes a fragrant autumn rice bento with lots of mushrooms. Maki rolls up a cute and colorful sushi bento. From Omori in Tokyo, a bento featuring nori, or sheets of dried seaweed.

Miso-glazed Pork Bento & Sweet Potato Korokke Bento

13. Miso-glazed Pork Bento & Sweet Potato Korokke Bento

November 3, 2023
15 min

Today: a special episode focusing on Saitama Prefecture. We meet local bento makers from Indonesia and the US. Marc and Maki make dishes with Saitama specialties: sweet potatoes and miso-glazed pork.

Salmon Rice Bento & Rice Burger Bento

14. Salmon Rice Bento & Rice Burger Bento

November 17, 2023
15 min

Today, rice takes a starring role. Marc cooks rice and salmon in a single pot. Maki makes a rice burger with barbecued beef. From Kyoto Prefecture, an autumn bento featuring matsutake mushrooms.

Miso Ramen Bento & Tonjiru (Pork Miso Soup) Bento

15. Miso Ramen Bento & Tonjiru (Pork Miso Soup) Bento

December 8, 2023
15 min

Today: tasty soup bentos with chef Ariga Kaoru. Together, our chefs whip up a variety of soup bentos featuring miso. We learn how to make a hearty pork miso soup, a miso ramen soup, and more.

Datemaki & Matsukazeyaki

16. Datemaki & Matsukazeyaki

December 22, 2023
15 min

Today, Marc and Maki team up to make a tiered bento to celebrate the new year. It's full of auspicious dishes! From Melbourne, a sandwich bento made with love.

Salmon Pita Bento & Good Luck Chicken Katsu Bento

17. Salmon Pita Bento & Good Luck Chicken Katsu Bento

January 19, 2024
15 min

Today: bentos to support students studying for entrance exams. Maki makes a lucky chicken katsu bento. Marc makes a salmon pita that can be eaten with one hand. From Kitakyushu, a chicken rice bento.

Peanut Fried Rice Bento & Peanut Tsukune Chicken Bento

18. Peanut Fried Rice Bento & Peanut Tsukune Chicken Bento

February 2, 2024
15 min

Today: a special episode focusing on Chiba Prefecture, located near Tokyo. We meet local bento makers from Pakistan, Vietnam and Italy. Maki and Marc make bentos using peanuts, a Chiba specialty.

Quick Omurice Bento & 10-minute Hamburg Bento

19. Quick Omurice Bento & 10-minute Hamburg Bento

March 1, 2024
15 min

Today: bentos that can be made in just ten minutes. Maki makes a quick and easy Hamburg bento. Marc makes a fluffy and creamy omelet over ketchup rice. From Taiwan, delicious vegetarian bentos.

Spring Blossom Chirashi-sushi Bento & Maki-maki Flower Bento

20. Spring Blossom Chirashi-sushi Bento & Maki-maki Flower Bento

March 15, 2024
15 min

Today: a look at some popular bentos posted to our website. Maki and Marc make gorgeous spring-themed bentos. From Shizuoka Prefecture's Izu Peninsula, a bento that features the best of both land and sea.