Definition: bento

In practice, it is pronounced Obent?, the prefix "O" being an honorific that emphasises its importance in Japanese civilisation and everyday life.
Occasions for consumption: bento reinvents the picnic.
You know sushi, but do you know bento? Bento is a Zen-inspired take on the picnic: a box with compartments, each containing rice balls, marinated vegetables and a sweet dessert, all neatly arranged. The world of foodie and gourmet blogs is celebrating this new trend, which is very chic, very healthy and very tidy. The only thing missing is a place for a small bottle of wine in bento boxes...
Opportunities for on-the-go consumption are multiplying, with nomadic, mobile lifestyles. Bento boxes open up this opportunity for consumers who are attentive to the quality of their food. The very Japanese "gadget" aspect opens up this market to innovative containers for wines that want to position themselves in this chic and Zen snacking niche (such as Cordier or Boisset). This is a new angle for competing with water, soft drinks, juice and beer.