Packed Lunches Around the Globe

October 8, 2015 2:25 PM

What are ways of carrying or sending lunches for people who work away from home similar to the lunch pails of the US, the Bento Boxes of Japan, and the Dabbas of India? The more obscure the better!
posted by Deoridhe to Food & Drink (10 answers total)

Best answer: Itacate. Doesn't really refer to a type of container, but it is the native mexican (specifically, nahuatl) way of saying "food to go".
posted by CrazyLemonade at 2:34 PM on October 8, 2015

Are you interested in current day only?
posted by ReluctantViking at 2:39 PM on October 8, 2015

Response by poster: Current or historical. Any and all packed lunches.
posted by Deoridhe at 3:47 PM on October 8, 2015

Best answer: tiffins
posted by sconbie at 4:55 PM on October 8, 2015

Best answer: In Australia, a small Esky (with an ice pack or two) keeps your lunch cool on hot days.
posted by KirkpatrickMac at 5:04 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Welsh miners had a tin lunch box with 3 levels. Bottom level is hot tea - keeps the food warm. Middle level was main meal-meat patty or maybe meat and bread. Top level - something sweet, fruit or sweet biscuit.
posted by ReluctantViking at 5:12 PM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]

Cornish pasties were originally a packed lunch for tin miners, with the crust (or just the roped edge) as a disposable handle
posted by runincircles at 6:00 AM on October 9, 2015

Best answer: In my part of South Yorkshire, your packed lunch was your "snap", regardless of whether you were a miner (clearly I am not a miner).
posted by tinkletown at 11:41 AM on October 9, 2015

In Norway a packed lunch is usually some open-faced sandwiches, either wrapped in paper or in a lunch box, these days usually made from plastic.

Spreads for the sandwiches are often cheese and/or cold meats. The most local cheeses are brunost and nøkkelost. Some yoghurt or a piece of fruit are common companions.
posted by Harald74 at 11:03 AM on October 16, 2015

Not exactly what you wanted, but packed lunches are a rarity here in Korea. If people eat in the office -- which they don't, much -- they'll often have food delivered. Comes on a motorbike with a tin box on the back, a full tray with bowls of rice and soup and sidedishes, a full Korean meal (or, often, Korean-style Chinese), and the delivery guy comes back and picks up the tray and dishes later.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:56 PM on October 26, 2015