Imagine if your mom made you meals that became famous all over the world… you’d probably belong to the Clean Plate Club, right?
Malaysian food artist and mother of two Samantha Lee began by making Japanese lunch boxes (bento) in 2008 to encourage her elder daughter to eat independently. Bento boxes may be stylishly arranged and decorated to look like popular movie, TV or video game characters (kyaraben) or people, animals or buildings (oekakiben). There is some amazing bento art out there, but soon Lee was taking it to a new level on a daily basis.
Despite her lack of formal training, Lee’s creativity found an outlet in the incredibly detailed, cute and nutritious meals she painstakingly put together for her two girls, using only run-of-the-mill household tools like scissors and knives. She describes herself as “an ordinary, regular and average mom, crazy about making a mess in the kitchen.” Although she’s keeping her feet on the ground, her star has risen quickly in the international media in recent months, from Belgium to the Ukraine and all over the world. She now works as a kids party planner, doing sewing, crafting, baking and doodling in her spare time.
Check out her latest creations, including a step-by-step pictorial guide to crafting your own!
▼ Time to think about Halloween costumes… for your rice balls! Onigiri Charlie Brown is made from rice, nori seaweed, omelette and cheese, with a tomato jack ‘o lantern.
▼ Minnie and Mickey Mouse are so sweet…
▼ Michael Jackson says, “so eat it, just eat it”.
▼ King of popping veges into your mouth, love me tender greens…
▼ If you had a chance to change your plate, would you? I would change mine for this one…
▼ It must be Wednesday.
▼ Wilma Flintstone looking lovely in dark green seaweed
▼ Her husband, Fred, rocks the dreaded broccoli.
▼ Best cure for the “mean reds”.
▼ Red Apple Riding Hood and the Big Chocolate Wolf get gobbled up together!
▼ Here’s a yummylicious Miss you can make at home with a bread roll, cream cheese and Nutella! See below for step-by-step details.
Tasteful and delightful, Lee’s charming food art transcends national boundaries. How does she do it?? Getting home-made food on a plate for your family is difficult enough, even without making each meal a masterpiece.
We’re looking forward to Samantha Lee‘s continuing adventures in food, in and out of the plate!
Source: My Modern Met via Samantha Lee’s blog Eatzy Bitzy, Facebook, Instagram
Images: Samantha Lee
Malaysian mom has internet in awe over her cute culinary creations 【Pics】
Japanese mom wows us with her ‘eggstraordinary’ food art
How to make a Japanese convenience store bento look like a meal from a restaurant
Japanese American tells of how she was teased in school, and the touching way her mom stepped up
Japanese dad turns daughter’s drawings into her bento lunches
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Family Mart Japan installs red-eyed “Monster Wolf” to keep bears away from convenience store
Will we eat the gyoza or our words at this all-you-can-eat dumpling challenge?
TKG Debate: What’s the best way to eat Japan’s beloved raw egg comfort dish?
Over a billion yen in smuggled gold found inside sex dolls by Japanese investigators
Starbucks Japan creates special drink bottle bags, adorable stickers for all 47 prefectures[Pics]
Japanese sweets brand creates new drinkable Cigare and we’re totally here for it
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japanese theme park adding Immersive Death Game with a “bomb collar” you have to wear
Totoro Soot Sprites are here to help keep your organized as adorable paper clips[Photos]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
7-Eleven Japan to start selling Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches this summer
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino, tea and soda drinks for summer
“Phantom Egg Shop” opens in Japan, with a dozen rare Japanese varieties
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Forget Tokyo go-karts – there’s a new way to sightsee on four wheels in Japan
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Taiwanese cook makes amazing replicas of Japanese characters out of food
The cutest, must-have bento lunchboxes you can buy and eat on the train