A Bento-Style Dinner Party in a 700 sq ft Bungalow

Hello, I’m Leanne!

I’m Leanne, the chef owner of Bento Picnic. I love helping people keep the commitments they’ve made to their health without sacrificing any flavor or enjoyment.

I’m a disciple of Washoku, the Japanese tradition of designing complete balanced meals. I’ve found it to be a brilliant framework for making healthy meals that are totally delicious & satisfying.

I’m currently on a sabbatical, and would be honored if you’d like to join our newsletter so that I can share my writing with you and keep you posted about new recipes and life’s unfolding adventures!

The Wisdom of Washoku

Washoku (和食), a word that encompasses all of Japan’s culinary heritage, also refers specifically to the Japanese practice of using five colors, five tastes, and five techniques to prepare a meal.

By following this principle of Washoku, I’ve discovered the foundation for my personal culinary philosophy, which is not subject to the ebb and flow of fad diets, but rooted in ancestral awareness of how to honor life’s delicate balance — the environment all around us, and the ecosystem within us — while creating delicious meals with the constraints of a craftsperson.