Baby Champuru’s party is less than two weeks away and I still haven’t decided on what to use for the centerpieces. I have the beautiful Midori-dori wraps all set to go, but nothing to put inside of them. My initial thought was to wrap some sort of snack jar from Costco. When I last checked, they had the Island Princess Macadamia Popcorn Crunch ($8.89, 24 oz.) and the Local Style Furikake Party Mix by Cookies in Paradise ($13.99, 22 oz.). However, I wasn’t completely sold on that idea.
When I was browsing my Facebook friends updates and saw a photo of a cute fabric bag containing a 5 lb. bag of rice that my friend was using for her son’s birthday party centerpieces. GENIUS! In Hawaii, rice is universally loved and a sure winner. Often, at lucky number giveaways, you’ll see a 20 lb. bag of rice as one of the highly-coveted prizes. And, in this economy, people are sure to appreciate receiving the staple.
Rice is an important part of our Asian heritage as well as local culture. So integral to the Japanese diet, in Japan, breakfast, lunch and dinner are known as morning rice (asa-gohan), afternoon rice (hiru-gohan), and evening rice (ban-gohan). Western cultures shower newly wedded couples with rice to wish them good luck, prosperity and fertility. In Hawaii, having a plate lunch without two scoops of rice is simply unthinkable. Rice is also one of Baby Champuru’s favorite foods.
This particular bag of Hinode Calrose rice was $6.79 at Safeway. Likely not the cheapest buy, but I was there and I wanted to see how it would look wrapped in a Midori-dori. Hubby thinks one of the Costco snack jars would make a better centerpiece, but I’m not fully convinced. We’ll have to think more about it — and also see whether those jars fit inside a Midori-dori wrap.
So, Internet, what do you think? If you were to be a recipient of one of my fabulous centerpieces, what would you prefer? (For a visual of the jars, check out my Posterous blog.) Please leave a comment or send me an e-mail via my Contact Form and let me know. Many thanks!
I love it!!
Aww, So cute
. I wish baby champuru a great b-day and party 
I would appreciate the rice centerpiece. I usually pass on most centerpieces that have sugary snacks and candy or decorative items in them, but rice I can use! Besides, the midori-dori wrapping is really the star of the show and the rice bag you “tested” shows it off quite well.
Rice gets my vote!!! Looks so pretty in the Midori wrap…Donna just think buy, wrap, and pau. If you have older people coming to the party they will really appreciate a practical gift that is universal in the Hawaii Diet. Maybe you can add to the favor tag that rice is baby’s favorite food too.
junk food always gets my vote haha
They’re all great ideas. I like to eat the treats I get from parties and weddings at the celebration or on the way home. My vote is for popcorn!
The rice! omg…that’s such a cute idea! and I’ve never seen that before!
That’s awesome. All the old ladies will love you! They might need help carrying it to their car though.
I’m all for the practical gifts. And the Midori-dori wrap is supa pretty!
love the rice beautifully wrapped! think it’s unique and would be very memorable:-) oh, and happy bday babychampuru!!!