Jonathan Fong Style - Chinese Take-out Bouquet

Chinese Take-out Bouquet

This gorgeous arrangement is easy to make, and the Chinese take-out container and chopsticks add a whimsical Asian touch. Use it as a centerpiece, or give it as a one-of-a-kind token of your affection. Best of all, you won’t get an MSG headache.

What you’ll need:

Chinese take-out carton
A plastic 16-oz. deli container
Half a brick of floral foam
A bouquet of assorted flowers
from the supermarket
Chopsticks

Where to buy materials:

Chinese take-out carton

The one I've used in this demonstration is a satin-covered take-out carton from Pier One. This was a seasonal item, so it’s probably not in stores anymore (especially since I cleaned out the inventory myself). However, you can find brightly colored cardboard cartons in gift and stationery stores. They are used as gift boxes.

Plastic deli container

The easiest thing to do is go to the supermarket deli and buy a pint of potato salad, eat it, and wash out the container. You can also buy them in bulk at restaurant supply stores like Smart & Final; 50 go for less than $5.

Floral foam

Available at any craft store.

Flowers

Get a large bouquet at the supermarket or farmer's market. You don't need anything fancy, just an assortment of brightly colored blooms.

Chopsticks

You will want a nice, long pair of sticks, not the short wood disposable ones that you pull apart. You can offer to buy a pair from your local Chinese restaurant. Chopsticks are also available at import stores like Cost Plus or even Pier One, and if you're near an Asian import store, better yet.

How to do it:

Cut the floral foam brick in half. Then carve it so the foam fits into the plastic deli container with about an inch extending above the rim of the deli container. Soak the floral foam in water and then place in the deli container.
Next, put the deli container with the foam into the Chinese take-out container. You are now ready to put in the flowers.
Start with the green foliage that comes with the bouquet. Stick the foliage around the base, where the foam extends above the rim. Then begin placing the flowers in the foam. Work from one side to the other. (When you’re through, you may find that there are a few “holes” in the bouquet where you can still see floral foam. In these areas, place any extra green foliage.)
When the bouquet is complete and gorgeous, stick in the pair of chopsticks in the middle, at an angle. After 20 minutes, you will be hungry again to make another bouquet.

Chinese Take-out Bouquet

What you’ll need:

Where to buy materials:

Chinese take-out carton

Plastic deli container

Floral foam

Flowers

Chopsticks

How to do it:

Cut the floral foam brick in half. Then carve it so the foam fits into the plastic deli container with about an inch extending above the rim of the deli container. Soak the floral foam in water and then place in the deli container.

Next, put the deli container with the foam into the Chinese take-out container. You are now ready to put in the flowers.

Start with the green foliage that comes with the bouquet. Stick the foliage around the base, where the foam extends above the rim.

Then begin placing the flowers in the foam. Work from one side to the other. (When you’re through, you may find that there are a few “holes” in the bouquet where you can still see floral foam. In these areas, place any extra green foliage.)

When the bouquet is complete and gorgeous, stick in the pair of chopsticks in the middle, at an angle. After 20 minutes, you will be hungry again to make another bouquet.