This is a sweet well translated/written story about the power of food and grief. The concept with this one is the Chibineko Kitchen makes remembrance meals for people where sometimes that person might just show up for once last conversation. There are four short stories, all interlinked, and honestly, 3 of them could be rewritten into one novel, but this style of format is very popular in Japan at the moment. For busy people, it is easier to read four short stories as you have time rather than one long novel. I also like the gimmick: a recipe was at the end of each book.

This was a very cute, emotional, heartbreaking read to me and I actually enjoyed this book really much.

The Chibineko Kitchen is a special kitchen, reserved to make remembrance meals. Kotoko lost her brother and she comes across this special kitchen, dedicated in serving the remembrance meals of the loved ones. The restaurant kitten plays a vital role in the restaurant which is why the name implied. The stories talk about how people visit this restaurant, orders the meal and then reconnect with their loved ones.

The story in general is well written and is quiet engaging. I like how after every chapter there is the recipe of that meal written so readers may have a taste of the meal. I love reading Japanese novels as most of the Japanese novels have a unique storytelling and this book is no exception. I realized that there is part 2 of the series which is not translated yet into English and which I am looking forward to read the part 2 and enjoy the taste of Japanese meal. Overall a four star read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Yuta Takahashi’s novel’s set in a small seaside town in Chiba Prefecture, an area she’s known since childhood. It centres on a small restaurant called The Chibeneko Kitchen after the owners’ succession of tiny cats (chibeneko). The slender plot revolves around the tentative but growing bond between Kai Fuchuki – son of the restaurant’s founder – and Kotoko Niki. Kotoko Niki first visits the restaurant on a recommendation, not long after her brother’s sudden death. The restaurant specialises in remembrance meals a variation on the “kagezen” offerings traditionally set out to honour the dead or as a reminder of loved ones far away. But eating the restaurant’s food can do more than that, it can briefly conjure the dead for those who’re grieving. The dead person can only stay for the meal’s duration but it’s just enough time for a final farewell and to express what’s been left unsaid – from expressions of love to regret.

Kotoko Niki’s experience at The Chibeneko Kitchen helps her come to terms with her loss. Later, she recommends it to other mourners. Yuta Takahashi's portrait of the restaurant with its charming cat and thoughtful, regionally-inspired recipes is meticulously detailed, accompanied by descriptions of the area of Japan where it’s based: from once-thriving peanut farms to local landscapes and sea-birds. It's the first in a loose series, set in and around the restaurant, that’s been extremely popular in Japan and nearby countries like South Korea. Now it’s being introduced to a broad range of European audiences. Yuta Takahashi’s published two titles featuring the restaurant and its customers every year since 2020, her themes and soothing style seem to have struck a chord with post-pandemic readers - although the author doesn’t shy away from discussing starker aspects of death and dying. It’s a well-crafted piece, an unusual blend of bittersweet and whimsical. I think it’s more than likely to appeal to fans of novels like Before the Coffee Gets Cold or The Kamogawa Food Detectives books – although it’s much less episodic. Translated by Cat Anderson.

I was craving a palate cleanser after some heavy, thought-provoking reads and "The Chibineko Kitchen" delivered beyond my expectations. This sweet story is about a small, unique restaurant where guests can order a "remembrance meal" for a loved one who has passed away, sharing one last conversation "before the food gets cold." With only a few chapters and characters visiting the restaurant, their stories intertwine in a deeply satisfying way. While the concept isn’t entirely new, the characters and their personal stories are filled with soothing, healing energy. I also loved the detail of the author adding each recipe at the end of every chapter—it made the experience feel even more intimate and inspiring. It’s a short read, yet genuinely heartwarming. Ah, yes... there is a cat in the restaurant! 😊

What a warm and lovely book. Sometimes, all you need is a gentle book to take you away from all the problems of the world. Yuta Takahashi's "The Chibineko Kitchen" tells the story of a small restaurant that offers a remembrance meal to honour loved ones who have died. By sitting down to eat these meals, the person can summon the departed one. This is the first part of a new series, and it's a collection of intertwined short stories about how we deal the loss of someone dear to us. How do we cope when there are still unanswered questions, or words that we wish we could take back? Takahashi's novel explores these questions with grace and kindness. Throughout the novel, we also get recipes for the for the food mentioned in the novel. It seems odd to a book about death a cozy read, but this slim novel is just the right balm for a world gone mad with violence and negativity.

This is another of those Japanese novels that gives us a series of interconnected stories about people suffering some kind of kids that find healing in something; drinking coffee before it gets cold, tasting a fish of food just like ? used to make it, or in this case talking to a loved one's who has been summoned back by the smell of the steam from a favourite food.

I do rather enjoy these 'healing stories', and I like the episodic nature of them; not quite short stories, but books you can dip in and out of, but I have to admit the concept is getting a little tired. That said, I liked this one more than most, though I couldn't really say why, perhaps the stories were a little less formulaic than most. I would be interested in reading in this series, but I think I need to space them out a bit more.

*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

I loved the concept and authors way of writing. All the four stories were heartwarming. It was like an escape from the chaotic world and being in peace. A true healing fiction in my view.

Wow, this book is simply wonderful! It is a beautifully written story that shows the journey of grief, the emotional pain and how life can guide us to a place, that enables us to feel safe to take a step into healing and forgiveness. The relationship with food, that can trigger warmth and soothing memories is exquisitely described in this book and I was eating it all up. I love the additional recipes and the reading experience stirred a perfect blend of emotions within me. I was consistently moved throughout the whole book and it had me in the palm of its hand with tenderness.

I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and all those involved in blessing me with an ARC copy of this wonderful book.

Cute feel-good stories like this don’t need a lengthy review. The Chibineko Kitchen (Nov 2024) by Yuta Takahashi and translated by Cat Anderson is really a delight for those who are into this kind of stuff.

This is the first book of yet another soul-healing food-related series coming out of Japan. I saw that there are already 8 books in this series released in Japan so far. Honestly speaking, I haven’t heard of the Japanese series or this author before, so out of curiosity, I requested for the e-ARC.

It centres around Chibineko Kitchen, a seaside eatery that serves kagezen or remembrance meal for a deceased. Each chapter tells a different story with different characters, but they are all connected. The characters get to meet their deceased loved ones briefly in this magical place. There’s a sense of melancholy that prevails in each story, but at the same time, there’s also a growing sense of hope. I think that’s a pretty standard offering for such storyline.

And of course, as one can guess from the title of the book, there’s a cat involved.

Fascinating and heart-warming, this book makes a great comfort read, a particularly good ‘palate cleanser’ after a heavy-themed book. The best part of the book? Each chapter ends with a mouthwatering recipe for the remembrance meal featured in the chapter.

And, I don't mean to judge a book by its cover but isn't this one of the prettiest covers ever? 😆

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher John Murray Press for the e-ARC.

i have been looking forward to reading this book ever since it was announced, and i am so grateful to the publisher for giving me an advance reader’s copy! ♥️♥️♥️ will be posting my full review on @chroniqled on instagram!

Another version of drinking coffee until it is hot, only this time it involves eating until the dishes smoke. I'm so sick of reading umpteen variations on the theme of “clearing things up with dead people” that I would really appreciate a book band with the warning about the subject.

Un'altra versione del caffé da bere finché sia caldo, solo che stavolta si tratta di mangiare fino a che le pietanze fumino. Sono cosí stufa di leggere ennesime variazioni sul tema "chiarire cose con persone morte" che apprezzerei molto una fascetta con l'avvertimento sul libro.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

4.5 stars rounded down. A sweet story which sees a few people who have lost loved ones, journey to a restaurant where they can eat a remembrance meal - their loved one will appear to them until the food goes cold. It’s a fairly short book at 184 pages, but this means there’s no padding. It is like the food - just right, and heartwarming.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

The Chibineko Kitchen is set in a seaside town few hours from Tokyo. The restaurant is owned by Nanami where she serves remembrance meals, and in her absence, Kai her son runs the small restaurant.

The concept of remembrance meals, the name and idea behind the restaurant is well explained. The story is pretty small, it is a quick read you'll want to finish reading in a sitting. We meet just 3 customers for whom Kai cooks meals with whom by the end of the story his life entwines with in some way.
The meals give it's eaters a last chance, last hope of being wit their loved one .

I loved the concept of the book also the length of it, had it been longer it would've lost some of it's warmth and charm. What was better than the start is it's ending which I loved, with Kai getting together with Kotoko.

The story is a refreshing way to look and help with one's grief and remembering a loved one. It's warm,affirming and charming and I finished it in a day.

Do you love Japanese fiction and a book that gives you that warm, peaceful feeling? Then look no further than The Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi.

Reading this book was definitely reminiscent of the ‘Before the coffee gets cold’ series (by Toshikazu Kawaguchi) but as much as I love those books, for me this was even better. At Chibineko Kitchen, you can be served a remembrance meal in memory of your loved ones and whilst that meal is steaming hot, your loved one will visit you one last time.

Each character we meet is grieving for someone and is struggling to go on in their grief or live with the guilt they feel, but once they experience the remembrance meals, they get a new appreciation of life and go on wanting to live life to the full, to honour those they have loved but lost.

This is a lovely, comforting read and relatively short and I highly recommend it if you usually enjoy Japanese fiction.

The Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi is a heartwarming and whimsical tale that beautifully combines food, family, and the charm of a small café run by an endearing cast of characters. Takahashi weaves a delightful narrative centered around a cozy kitchen where heartwarming meals and magical moments bring people together. The story captures the essence of comfort food, the power of community, and the bonds that form over shared meals. With vivid descriptions of delicious dishes and a sense of warmth that permeates every page, The Chibineko Kitchen is a feel-good read perfect for lovers of culinary fiction, charming characters, and stories that celebrate the simple joys of life.

As I was strolling through the digital shelves of Netgalley, I one day decided to just go ahead and request another book written by a Japanese author. Don’t ask me why—I’m pretty sure you already know the reason. I was drawn in by the title and cover. Anyway, I requested the title with little to no expectations, and the day I returned from the travel agency, I think I found it in my inbox (thank you, Netgalley!). On another note, I think I will now chill with the ARC requests for the remaining year (granted I do not get tangled with another cleverly drawn cover and well thought title…).

The Book Title and Cover

My favorite color is sapphire blue and interestingly enough, this book’s cover used a pretty shade of blue too. It was instant attraction. The mountain, the sea, the lonely cabin in the background, and the path paved with seashells on which a tiny little cat is guiding us on.

At a first glance, I figured this must be a cozy tale, but the loneliness that lingered in the foreground made me wonder if this wasn’t, in fact, a well thought out plan. An it kind of was.

When I requested the book, I also tried to figure out what the name meant, although I was very very slow. You can probably tell how bad the few Japanese words I used to know escaped me. I mean, they were staring me right in the face. Chibi Neko. Little Cat. The Kitchen with a Little Cat. Again, considering the book events, accurate.

The Characters and Plot
Kotoko’s older brother, a promising actor, died in a car accident. He tried to save his little sister. They weren’t extraordinarily close, but his death had a long lasting impact on the young woman. She blamed herself for everything and she desperately wanted to rewind time. As she went around, more of a ghost of herself, she learned about a seemingly magical place, a kitchen with a kitten, where the saff served remembrance meals.

Although initially reluctant, Kotoko eventually decides to pay them a visit. After all, if fate allowed, she could meet her dead brother once more. The first person she encounters, though, is the restaurant’s young chef, Kai, who greatly reminds her of her own brother. The interaction is brief, but everlasting and leads to various future interactions between the two, throughout the book.

Thoughts

The story begins with Kotoko, however her life is entangled with other people, first time visitors at the Chibineko Kitchen. Well, most of them anyway. The fun part is that as they all walk over the threshold of the kitchen with a kitten, all characters without a fail, manage to meet their dead loved ones, very briefly. Every experience is positive, with the dead ones urging the living to go on and mend their broken lives, smile again and meet them on the other side as late as possible.

Naturally, since the threshold between the world of the living and the world of the dead is within a kitchen, various dishes are presented along with their specific recipes, which makes this an intriguing presentation. I think it is my first time encountering a secret recipe book in this format. Another interesting thing is the tradition of the remembrance meals as it is through them and the warm steam that the two participants can meet. This, as I learned, is based on a local Japanese tradition, which I found intriguing (now I want to read more about it).

The characters are nicely portrayed too and they serve as good reminders of showering those around you with kindness and love while you still have the chance. There is a student in particular who very much regrets his actions and immaturity and who teaches us to show love to those around us especially since we do not know their circumstances. What I wished, though, was for the little cat to have more impact. I feel like its presence was magical, but the exploration of its involvement could have been made in more detail.

Overall, I feel like the book teaches us kindness. Both towards ourselves and others. And it does so in a heartwarming and hopeful way. Through food and hearty conversations.

First of all, thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of The Chibineko Kitchen in exchange for an honest review.

Here goes my opinion, The Chibineko Kitchen started with a blast for me but I don't think it was retained until the end - just like a fire that is dwindling it's flame that's how I felt. I was reading the second story then I'm already done - a quick read. It kinda had the same vibe with before the coffee gets cold. Actually, I really had great expectations when I finished the first story but it didn't fulfill my expectations.

FAVE LINES:
* When people disappear, the world keeps on turning. Time doesn't stop.
* No matter how much you cared about someone, you always had to say goodbye in the end.
* It's alright to let it all out. Everyone needs a place where they can cry.

Such a sweet, touching and heart-warming, cosy book. Love these types of books now, they give me hope.

The premise is very similar to “before the coffee goes cold”.
The Chibineko kitchen offers people a place to speak to or even see their deceased loved ones while eating “kagazen” - remembrance meals. It also means “the food you offered up for someone who was away from home and the food you put out when mourning the dead.
The stories of visitors interweave.
The book felt stilted both in flow and writing, though I don’t know if that is the original or the English translation.
The short stories feel very surface level, while the book deals with the heavy topic of living on after losing a loved one or something important. The story feels too detached to get emotionally invested in the characters, even though they all deserve it.
Perhaps if I had read this before “before the coffee”, I would have felt differently. Overall it’s a very short book but not a particularly striking one. The concept is definitely interesting enough to create more short stories for.

The chibineko kitchen is such a heartwarming tale with beautiful food descriptions that just make your mouth water.

There are four stories in this book and each one is told with a lot of love and care for the characters, I pretty much cried with all of them.

The idea of revisiting a loved one is becoming more common in a lot of fiction as this one gave me "before the coffee gets cold" vibes, especially with the chibineko kitchen having a magic in the form of a cat, but this one was incredibly poignant and was written with a lot of sincerity for its tales.

I so wished I could try all the meals described and I loved the little addition of including the recipes so you can try them yourself.

This was a lovely, cosy read.

Thank you NetGalley and John Murray Press for the e-arc in exchange for a free, honest review.