When I received the invitation to attend an exclusive Bento-making session with Little Miss Bento and RICE, my interest was piqued immediately. I have been a follower of Little Miss Bento‘s FB and Instagram for years and admired her nifty food art creations for long but RICE? What is RICE? The only other clue in the invite was that the RICE team from Denmark will be at the workshop and so I googled. Instantly, it clicked. RICE is the brand of colourful home-ware items (think cups, spoons, plates, cupcake trays etc) which I’ve been lusting after whenever I shop at Pasar Bella, Tangs, Robinsons and Metro. Bento-making with RICE sounds like a dream come true!
The workshop was held at the flagship Motherswork store at Great World City, one of the largest stockists of RICE products in Singapore. The moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the RICE team. I picked up a few interesting nuggets of information about RICE which I would like to share with you.
These two lovely ladies flew all the way from Denmark to run this workshop!
About RICE
RICE is a Danish home wares company known for their colourful melamine, handmade baskets and hand glazed tableware. Its founder, Charlotte chose to name the brand, RICE because rice is a staple food in many countries. With the company motto, ‘People Care – We Care’, Charlotte ensures that all of RICE‘s joyfully colourful things are produced with high regards to human rights, healthy labour conditions and with no use of child labour. Most of RICE products are made by workers in third world countries whose work for RICE provides them with a steady source of income to put ‘rice’ on their tables. Till today, folks in Madagascar (who helped them weave their signature colourful raffia baskets) still receive a bag of rice as part of their salary.
These woven Toy Storage Baskets are not just beautiful but also really lasting…These bright, vibrant colours bring cheer to any living space in an instant…
Why RICE?
RICE is all about fun, funkiness and functionality, but they place a very strong emphasis on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) by playing an active part in developmental and emergency aid projects around the world, especially in third world countries. Some of the projects they are funding in Asia include:
- RICE School in Myanmar (building a brand new school in Sar Chett, a small village in the southern part of Myanmar – an area that was struck hard by the cyclone Nargis in May 2008)
- Safe Childhood in Vietnam (which teaches children how to tackle and avoid explosives still remaining in the ground after the Vietnam War) and
- Lakshya project in India (an orphanage for street children).
Therefore, when consumers (like us) buy one of RICE‘s products, we are in part financing these worthy causes too. Also, I like the fact that RICE tableware products are 100% certified food safe. Even the attractive melamine range does not contain BPA (Bisphenol A) and phthalates so that families can use them daily with 100% ease of mind.
Such a dazzling collection of durable, pretty and totally food-safe Melamine wares for the home!
RICE Bento Making
After a quick introduction, we started learning how to create our own ‘teddy bear’ and whale’ bento under the friendly tutelage of Little Miss Bento. Since I will be working late on Children’s Day this coming Friday, being able to set aside time to bento together with Dana today makes the session even more meaningful.
Happy to bento together with my daughter…Our not-too-shabby attempt at making Teddy Bear and Whale rice balls. Yay!
After the Bentos were finally done, we mingled over a delectable dessert spread served on RICE‘s beautiful party ware (including the latest DIY Cake Stands) no less. I took the chance to ogle at the beautiful collection and made a mental note those which I would like to get as Christmas gifts (which incidentally is less than 12 Fridays away).
Thank you RICE and Motherswork for this wonderful Bento-making workshop!
A shot with Little Miss Bento…RICE bentos are simply awesome!
Useful Information:
Motherswork
RICE (Denmark)
RICE products are sold at Motherswork (Great World City, Tanglin Mall and Marina Bay Sands) and major departmental stores. For more information, contact the following:
Ai Sakura says
So happy to have some some time catching up with your whole lovely family at the event. See everyone soon again xox
Ai @ Sakura Haruka
Lisa Bagge says
Wonderful to make Bento’s with you.
Thank you for writing about RICE.
Wishing you a RICE day!
Lisa