Bento

Bento is a very well curated and developed recipe collection for Japanese style make-ahead lunches. Taken from content originally published in 2018, this reformatted condensed version is due out 1st Sept 2020 from Quarto on their Race Point imprint. It's 160 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an updated introduction to bento for westerners. Bento can be healthy and tasty with eye appeal, organization, variety, and portion control in one package. This collection also shows that it doesn't need to be very time consuming or difficult.

The introduction includes suggestions and tutorials for basic bento followed by chapters arranged roughly thematically: classic Japanese bento, sushi & onigiri, noodles, popular bento, 10 minute lunches, rice and grain bowls, vegan choices, special occasions and side dishes (and partial recipes).

The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard with metric/SI units in parentheses (yay!). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store.

Well written and organized, this could be a fun addition to the lunchbox repertoire. It would also lend itself very well to fans of meal planning or once-a-week-cooking. Most of these recipes make several servings which could easily be used for a week's lunch planning. I've been avoiding buying food at the cafe at work during the pandemic and these recipes have provided good mileage for avoiding boring lunches at work for me.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This was a great introduction to Bento for me. I'm fairly familiar with bento, but haven't made a huge effort to work on bento boxes -- however I think bento lends itself to be a refreshed iteration of a charcuterie board for me, and I'm excited to try to merge the two. While there are a few recipes with ingredients I'd have to be on the hunt for, there are recipes that I'm super happy to make with ingredients I normally have on hand (antipasto bento, quinoa salad bento, etc). #Bento #NetGalley

Great cookbook, even for a bento beginner like me. The recipes are very doable and even just flipping through you can get good inspiration for packing a bento. I like that there are Western-style foods as well to get you started on the idea of packing a bento with foods you might already be familiar with while you steadily incorporate the Japanese recipes into your repertoire. Also glad there was a vegan section at the end!

Bento starts by giving the history of bento boxes in Japan and reasons for their continued popularity. I remember being fascinated by bento boxes in the 1980s as I had become fascinated with Japanese products and culture. When we visited Japan a few years ago, I loved ordering lunch bento boxes and buying bento boxes from their department stores. The many different items in small portions made it possible to taste different things and to switch tastes. I'd seen photos of bento boxes that people would prepare for their children but it looked complicated and time consuming. So, I found Yuko and Noriko's practical advice very helpful and encouraging.

Remember to avoid temperatures 40 to 140F. When packing leftovers reheat them in the morning to freshen the food and kill bacteria. Allow the food to cool completely before closing the lid. Try adding natural antibiotics like salt, vinegar, ginger, or seasoned or marinated vegetable dishes.

Their tips on packing attractively help establish a method. Use healthy edibles like lettuce to compartmentalize food. Pack tightly with no space for the food to move around - use small vegetables to fill the spaces. Eat the rainbow and pack with contrasting colors. Vegetable sticks and salads that are prepared for the bento can be served during breakfast to encourage us to eat healthy.

Yuko and Noriko include recipes for different types of dashi, rice, tamagoyaki (my favorite egg dish!), noritama furikake (egg and roasted seaweed seasoning), as well as popular and delicious bento dishes. These include but are not limited to: Chicken Teriyaki Bento, Beef Roll-up Bento, Tsukune (Ground Chicken) Bento, Grilled Mackerel Bento, Beef Shigureni Bento, Sukiyaki Bento, Salmon Teriyaki Bento, Pork Shogayaki Bento, Sushi Burrito Bento, Onigiri Bento, Sushi Roll Bento, Spam Musubi Bento, Inari Sushi Bento, Yaki Onigiri Bento, Shrimp Avocado Pasta Salad Bento, Cold Somen Nuodle Bento, Yakiniku Bento, Tonkatsu Sandwich Bento, Chicken Nuggets Bento, Sweet and Sour Meatballs Bento, Okonomiyaki Bento, Chicken Karaage Bento, Omurice Bento, Oyakodon Bento.

Our family was particularly happy with the Vegan Bento recipes: Tofu Steak Salad Bento, Falafel Bento, Vegetable Miso Soup Bento, Spaghetti with Lima Beans and Cabbage Bento, Tofu Poke Bento and Hijiki Gohan Bento. There are fun bento boxes that are geared towards special occasions like the 1st day of school, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Birthdays, etc.

Since I do most of the cooking, I was very happy with the recipes for the small cold vegetable dishes. The recipes are simple and I prepare a batch for the week and just add them to our meals to increase our veggie intake. I especially loved the Daikon & Carrot Nimono, Miso Eggplant and Shishito Peppers, Broccoli Namul, Sauteed Green Beans, Carrot Kinipira, Carrot Namul, Pickled Daikon Radish, and Fresh Fruits Jelly.

Overall, this is a useful book for those who are looking to up their lunch game. We don't have children to cook for so I can only imagine how cheering it would be for a child to have a bento box for lunch. I know my husband and I enjoy them.

Such an informative book!

Bento gives some background on bento lunches and Japanese culture as well as some tips and tricks on making delicious and nutritious Bento for you and your kids. Everything is broken down and explained so even if you're not familiar with Japanese cooking, you will get a good understanding of it.

I love how there are sections for vegan recipes and 10-minute recipes. This book is really for everyone with an interest in making Bento.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a complimentary eARC for review purposes*

A fun and interesting introduction to Bento. I love seeing others creations and this book has given me the tools I need to give it a try myself.
I loved the pictures and just wish there were more of them.

I found this book to be so fun and exciting. I loved the recipes and they seemed like they will be simple to do as well as artistic. I smiled while looking through the photos of the colorful balanced bento boxes. I like that you can use different kinds of boxes and you can be creative with the small meals you put in the boxes. I liked that there were many recipes I just wish there was a photo for every recipe. I want to know how each one is suppose to look. I am thankful it included a history of the boxes and the stables that someone may want to have when making them.

This is a really inspiring and accessible bento cookbook with useful recipes and ideas for Japanese cooking. I’m often intimidated by bento but this makes it seem a lot easier!

Thank you Netgalley/Quarto/Race Point for my ARC.

Now I need to get a bento box, I feel I can get excited about lunch again. The photos are very inspiring and the recipes are easy enough.

This is a great little book that is easy to follow in terms of recipes and is well divided so that it is easy to dip in and out of. I am no great cook but the instructions were simple and, those that I have tried so far, produce some good results.
The photographs in the book are well taken and give a great idea of what the food will look like - my only complaint that there were side boxes of salads etc and I would have like to have know what was in the salad etc.. Overall a great reference book for those getting into or that want an easy to follow book on Bento.

This was an inspirational and well written book about bento. I liked the layout, the sections and there was plenty of interesting recipes.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this book! The pictures are beautiful and makes me hungry! I love bento boxes and it was something I really enjoyed while riding trains in Japan. This book has great recipes and I can't wait to make them! I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I own the original of this book. This is an updated copy. It is beautiful. The photography has improved drastically. The layout is similar but reads easier. The recipes are still wonderful. I regularly take bento to work for lunch and get envious looks from coworkers. The chicken teriyaki bento is one of my favorites. I also really like the Onigiri Bento. The recipes are easy to follow and most of the ingredients you can find at your regular grocery store.

I received this as an ARC in return for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read this title.

My brother introduced me to bento (Japanese lunch boxes) at his fave sushi place. I loved every ingredient and recall the day with joy.

So I was thrilled to receive an ARC for BENTO! Its beautiful color photos and 100 tasty recipes including mains and sides made me swoon. They are nutritious, easy to make and so lovely to eat.

You’ll also learn about box types and accessories, pantry stocking, and quick prep methods. A delightful collection offered by Yuko and Noriko of japanesecooking101.com.

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 01 Sep 2020

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - Race Point Publishing, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#Bento #NetGalley

An excellent introduction to Bento - This book is informative and filled with tasty recipes. Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy.

Despite the fact that I will probably never make most of the things in this book, I can acknowledge that it is very well put together. I loved the general concept and explanation of the history and nature of bento boxes. I will absolutely put the concept into use, but with my own style of recipes.

The recipes in this book were thorough, fitting for the style, and well-paired with side dishes. The best extra bit was definitely the tips on how to prep ahead and make packing a bento lunch even easier.

I have collected a number of bento cookbooks over the years so it takes a lot to impress me. Imagine my surprise at the thoroughness and thoughtfulness this book! It's truly an inspired bible of all things bento from the classics to contemporary with palatable conversions for every level of cook and any spectrum of prior knowledge. I was hooked from the tamagoyaki. I was inspired by the yakiniku bento. And I stayed for the holiday themed bentos. I would have preferred a low carb chapter to a vegan one but that's a matter of personal preference. The variety of options here are plentiful and that's what matters most for bento construction! This is a cookbook I look forward to owning in hardcopy.

Some really interesting recipes. Very clear explanations and a great mix of classics with westernised versions to keep everyone happy. I am looking forward to dipping in for lunch ideas once I can get back to the office and not working from home!

A straight forward guide to bento. I feel this is one of the best books I’ve read on the subject because of how detailed the information is and how it is laid out. The ease in explanations makes the subject approachable and being able to take those building blocks to make a whole meal to taste is appealing. I‘ll probably end up buying a copy because it’s an excellent resource for a cuisine that most people think is out of their reach.

Beautifully made and thought out book.
I love how it explains and guides but also gives ideas and reminders to the reader.
Such as a little reminder what to prep and set up for the next day or the small reminder that no matter of well meaning, if it's food the bento box is for doesn't enjoy it, then that's not the right way to do it. So make bento your own, instead of trying to be specific about it.
But besides those small but nice things, the rest of the book is spectacular as well.
The recipes are great and I love that it includes vegan options.
The way the book is made up is also wonderful and make sit easy to find what you are looking for.

I just highly recommend it.
If you are looking for inspiration, recipes or just want to give a new lunch system a try, this bookwill give you what you are looking for,

As a huge fan of Japanese cusine, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of this book - and I am so grateful to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this title.

This is a fantastic collection of fairly simple yet delicious Vento ideas, turbines I've tried have all turned out great (and been delicious!)

I'll definitely be purchasing a copy of this book so I can try all of the recipes - and re-make the ones I've already tried!

Interesting look at these cute style lunches that can fit in a tiny bin type container. I found the book to have a ton of information regarding the health, making, and purchasing of these bento style lunch products.

What did I like? All the recipes adapt a Japanese style themed lunch that fits in a tiny box. Most of these lunches I pointed out to others made the remark that there wasn’t enough food in them. The cookbook was the first of its kind that I’ve seen and most of the recipes incorporate a type of rice and some beautiful techniques of making a healthy all around meal. Loved the holiday themed lunches.

Would I recommend or buy? If your really into crafting your food and ideally need a well balanced tiny food lunch then you may love this book. I found that although the meals look beautiful I felt like they would take a lot of work to craft these tiny meals. I survive mostly days and weeks on a huge meal that provides a lot of left overs. The book boasts that these are easy.

The book was beautiful and a lot of effort went into making the book. Four stars!

This is a really beautiful and useful book!

Bento: Over 70 Make-Ahead, Delicious Box Lunches includes all the background and instructions you need to make your own bento box lunches. It covers everything from traditional options (e.g., onigiri) to some definitely-not-traditional options (e.g., english muffin pizzas). The recipes are all clear and easy-to-follow and most don't take that much work to make.

With the way the world is right now during coronavirus, packed lunches aren't really a necessity for my household.. However, I will be trying out a bunch of these recipes to make yummy meals at home!