This book is dangerous to look at and read while you’re hungry because the pictures will make you want everything.
Simply Bento is a great book, layed our beautifully and has great pictures. My time in Japan has taught me that bento meals are amazing and I’m very happy to find a book that makes it accessible and easy for me to read and make. The best part of this book is that these are meals that can easily become dinners. I can’t wait to add a hard copy edition of this book to my cookbook shelf and make these meals apart of my life.

Bento boxes – so neat and tidy, they make a deskbound lunchtime fun(ish). After reading this book I was inspired to buy a lunchbox with separate compartments in it. On Monday and Tuesday I fill up my compartments with lovely little things that I prepared at the weekend. On Wednesday I fill them with leftovers. On Thursday I put a ‘Mug Shot’ in one compartment and some cucumber in another. On Friday I get a sandwich from the station shop.
This book has attractive pictures and clearly laid out recipes. I’m vegetarian and there are very few vegetarian recipes in there. However, as the book doesn’t purport to be veggie, I won’t de-star it for that.
It’s an enjoyable book with a nice idea to brighten up the working week.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Simply Bento is a good introduction to Bento boxes for people who have no experience with Bento or Japanese cookery.

It is very detailed, and gives lots of information about Bento boxes themselves, the ingredients used, the history behind Bento boxes, and basically everything you need to get started.

There are lots of recipes in the book. They are quite varied and I think there are different degrees of difficulty, so anyone will be able to make at least some of them to start off with. There are hints and tip for preparation and flavour combinations.

I think this is a great book for anyone interested in Japanese food and cookery, and anyone who really wants to get into making Bento boxes, or just a more interesting lunch. There are handy pointers for fitting the cooking into busy lives, and a lot of the recipes are healthy too.

I just simply could not get over the fact that I really wanted to see pictures on the same page as the recipe. For me a bento book would show how they packed that meal into a bento box. More than a few recipes lacked a picture—- For me I eat with my eyes.

There are some good recipes included such as Salmon teriyaki bento. The pictures that are included are really delicious looking and well done. I think I would maybe flip through this book at a library get a few good recipes from it. I personally would choose a different book that pictures the bento lunch packed. A decent Bento book, but not one I would purchase for my bookshelf.

Simply Bento will teach you how to pack a lunch that will keep even the pickiest eater happy. From a long history of Bento boxes, the authors have developed simple, excellent recipes and guidelines to make even the newest cook an expert. with over 140 recipes, you are sure to find enough ideas to keep you looking forward to lunch hour for a long while. Whether a noodle lover, vegan, or lover of everything rice, there are recipes in here for you. This book would make an excellent gift for anyone who loves Japanese food or needs some new meal inspirations.

A bento box for every occasion, season, for home or to go! The most comprehensive book on the subject!

The duo behind the popular website Japanese Cooking 101 have written a cookbook concentrating on bento box meals. If you'd like to see their trailer for the book, click here.

I am always excited about trying new recipes especially for lunches (and breakfasts, snacks, and dinner, you get the drift--food!). The great thing about the recipes in Simply Bento is that they have been created for the individual who might not have ready access to a microwave at lunchtime and are intended to be eaten at room temperature.

The different sections, presented in the blurb above, show that bento boxes can be made for a variety of diets as well as for occasions and meal types. Some recipes are geared toward a more adult palate, while some, like chicken nuggets and mini-pizzas, are for kids (or big kids). And vegans and vegetarians are not overlooked, as they so frequently are in most cookbooks. The authors are quick to point out that substitutions are encouraged.

In the introduction, the authors acknowledge that bento boxes are probably a bit more time-consuming than throwing a sandwich together, but they are prepared with the well-being of the family in mind. After glancing at the mouth-watering pictures that accompany the recipes, it is obvious that the boxes are designed to be well-balanced with attention given to almost all food groups.

Non-traditional recipes, such as hot dogs, falafel, and pizza, are included next to traditional recipes.

As a vegetarian, I always look to see how recipes geared toward omnivores can be adapted for me. Most of the recipes in Simply Bento can be made for vegetarians and vegans with a substitution here or there. A lot of the vegetable side dishes need no substitutions. and plus there are recipes for different vegetable pickles (I love pickled vegetables).

Besides the huge variety of recipes, the authors also discuss the types of bento boxes to use, pantry essentials, ingredients, and accessories. If you're new to bento boxes, like me, all of this information is necessary and so welcome.

I am practically salivating over some of these recipes and can't wait to try them!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this book was not available on Kindle so I could not read it. It is a shame because I wanted to read this to get some great ideas as to what I can do for meals. I wish they would make this Kindle friendly.

Race Point Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Simply Bento. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

The trick to successfully making bento boxes for school or work lunches is about the preparation more than anything else. Each segment of the meal is made separately and put together at the last minute. To help prevent bacterial growth in the food, the authors suggest that the already prepared food be heated in the microwave until hot, then cooled before adding to the bento box. The idea of bento is to have balanced meals, but it is key to keep in mind the particular preferences of the eater. The authors stress the importance of having the right kind of bento box, as people often eat with their eyes before devouring a morsel. I like how the authors have given information about how to plan ahead, as the tips on time management will come in handy.

There are not a lot of recipes in this book that I would place in a child's lunch, except in those cases where the food can be heated. Unless there are insulated bento boxes, I just do not think that kids would like cold noodles or chicken nuggets. I would be more likely to utilize a bento box for an adult lunch, provided that a microwave is handy. The idea of a well balanced lunch is nothing new, as parents have been packing lunch boxes and bags in a very similar manner. The bento box does make the food seem more appealing and many readers will find the information in this book to be quite eye-opening.

This is a beautiful looking book. I enjoyed getting to learn more about what Bento are and how to create your own. That information was very helpful. As a vegetarian most of the recipes are not for me unless I made adjustments to the recipes. I did like that there was a vegan box section in the book.

The pictures were stunning but they did repeat a few times so as a result not all of the boxes had photos in the book.

I will definitely try making some bento with the guidance given in this book.

I have been a fan of Yuko and Noriko (japanesecooking101.com) for quite some time, and Simply Bento is my new favorite cookbook! Fast and easy recipes with clear instructions and stunning photographs. What I love about this cookbook is that the fact that the author includes the food-safety tips and plan-ahead section. For those with a special diet, there are chapters, like, low carb bento and vegan bento that I found interesting.

My only complaint is the serving size. The recipe is scaled for 2 servings and we are a family of 4. Most of the time I don't have enough leftover for tomorrow's lunch (yes, they are THAT delicious!)

If you are a beginner in bento-making affair, this book is definitely for you. For a more experience "bento-er", this book will give you new ideas to create beautiful, healthy, and delicious lunches.


** I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book, #SimplyBento from #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review **

My family regularly takes their lunch to school in a bento box. We never bought any bento box cookbooks because they seemed to just be smaller portions of recipes we had in other books.

Keep that in mind when I say, this book is different.

Of course the recipes are good. I have made several of them at this point and none have turned out badly. I even found myself using a couple of the sauce recipes in other dishes. (The quick ramen recipe is not to be missed!)

More than anything else though, the “plan ahead” sections made the difference between this being another cookbook in my collection and this being one saved to my tablet to be broken out multiple times in a week. Specifically, each “plan ahead” section for each recipe gives tips on what can be done the night before to speed up preparing the bento box in the morning. As a family that packs at least two boxes every morning before school this makes a huge difference.

Not only is this a good cookbook but it is a great choice for working parents packing for kids or anyone who is taking their lunch to work or school.

Simply Bento...or Simply Delicious? Well you'll just have to get the book and find out won't you? I love to cook and create fast and easy recipes for my family. Whether it's for school, work, home, trips, you name it quick and easy meals are a must. This book allows you to create some delicious authentic Asian dishes right at home. The cute treats are to die for and if you're like me you may even recognize a few from anime which is a hit for my kids. We love anime. The recipes are full of flavor but they are healthier than fast food and you get save that money for more books.

I love the boxes and how there’s a little section on how to plan ahead. I also loved how simple everything was in the book. I can’t wait to try out some of these. Such an awesome book!

It’s been more quiet than usual around here this week, and that has two reasons. For one, I’ve started my new job, which is cutting into both reading and writing time (as jobs tend to do). Secondly, I’m a bit under the weather at the moment. The queue doesn’t simply read itself, however, and there is already another little surprise for my readers in the making, so stuff needs to get done.

I thought “Simply Bento” would be a great title for review, since I’ve been looking for easy lunch options to take with me. Authors Noriko and Yuko also run the popular blog Japanese Cooking 101, which features a huge variety of recipes, many with videos. Their new cookbook begins reasonably with an explanation of what bento is and its history. It turns out that as a meal, bento has been enjoyed for far longer than I would have thought! The seven key points in “How to Make Bento” reemphasize the fact that you are taking a meal for the senses, something that should be prepared with a bit more care than a baloney sandwich wrapped in cellophane, while keeping in mind as well that raw meats or fish and dairy require certain food safety practices.

Next, you learn about essential utensils and accessories for bento, like choices for containers, then move on to find out which staples make regular appearances in Japanese cooking. Finally, as bento aims to provide a balanced meal, there are some notes on how to create exactly that. Now you’re ready to delve into the recipes!

Altogether, there are twelve recipe chapters that cover topics like Classic Japanese Bento, Noodle Bento, Low-Carb Bento, Bento for Special Occasions, Bento at Home, and even Side Dishes. There is even a separate section on Vegan Bento, although I don’t need a whole cookbook to tell me to pack a falafel lunch. On average, the sections feature seven recipes each, some a few more, some a few less. Every recipe is laid out the same way: after a brief recipe introduction, there is a box titled “How to Make this Bento” in which you find a main dish, plus suggested side dishes. The next line tells you the estimated prep time, cooking time, and number of servings for the main dish, immediately followed by the recipe for the main. For people frequently finding themselves in a time crush, there is a very helpful box titled “Plan Ahead” to make quick assembly a snap. This layout makes the book very easy to use. The recipes are accompanied by full-page color photos.

Overall, I think this is a great book for omnivores who are curious about Japanese food. There certainly is a great variety of different dishes in here. Personally, I find it disappointing and, frankly, a bit lazy to say that a lot of the dishes can be adjusted to fit a vegan diet without concrete tips on how to do so, and that is why I would not get this book for myself. The only cookbook I have come across so far that actually tries and succeeds quite well in providing both vegetarian and vegan variations of the vast majority of recipes included, is Kathryne Taylor’s “Love Real Food.” Still, I am at least motivated to check out Yuko and Noriko’s blog for ideas.

“Simply Bento” is published by Race Point Publishing. I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.

Simply Bento by Yuko and Norika is a nice combination of Japanese and American recipes. A few of the ingredients will be a bit difficult to find, but most recipes feature easy to find items. One of my favorite recipes is the Spicy Chicken Wrap Bento. Each recipe features a "plan ahead" section letting you know what steps can be done in advance. The Fresh Fruits Jelly is another easy recipe that can be altered depending on what is in season. Overall this is a nice cookbook with something for everyone.

Bento meals are really very small lunches in a box for school children and workers. Meals in a box have been very popular in the Japanese culture for hundreds of years.
The authors give 7 main points for making bento, and the first point deals with safety - cooking the food thoroughly, which foods can and cannot be packed in a lunch, and how to ensure that no harmful bacteria can grow on the food are only some of the safeguards that are mentioned. You will learn how to pack a bento box, which box to choose, and how you can prepare most of your food ahead of time so that you are not cooking all morning long!
If you are making mostly Japanese meals, you are given a list of staples such as soy sauce, rice vinegar, wasabi, mushrooms, seaweed, rice, bread, and noodles.
You will learn how to cook chicken, beef, fish and rice with vegetables using vegetables and as dividers in the box. You will learn how to make sukiyaki,teriyaki, antipasto, and a simple, elegantly presented hamburger bento with coleslaw. You will also learn how to make sushi bentos with chicken, ginger, cucumbers, rice and carrots.
There is a variety of condiment and sauce recipes to go with your bento lunches.
Experiment with these recipes, and enjoy them - your lunches will become an adventure in taste and texture!

Having visited Japan last year and travelled for many hours on the Shinkansen trains, I bought Bento Boxes on many occasions before travelling and I must say they are the most delicious and varied form of what we call Take Away food. So many choices from savoury to sweet and many sizes also. So imagine my delight to find this little gem of a book with such an array of wonderful wholesome food and beautiful pictures.

The recipes are easy to follow and I will surely be preparing the food from this book for my family, but firstly I am going out to buy a couple of Bento Box containers with all their little compartments for the delicacies I am going to fill them with.

Portion sizes are important for the health conscious and the Bento Box is an ideal way to control this. Absolutely love this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group, Race Point Publishing for the opportunity to read and review.

Nice presentation, good reference! Thanks for the advance copy, I will definitely be utilizing this!

Work lunches (or school lunches) can get boring very fast. People can only handle so many sandwiches, and sad looking leftovers. Simply Bento helps to bring your lunch to new heights with diverse flavour combinations. If you need some new lunch ideas and want to try your hand at some Japanese recipes made simple then this cookbook will be perfect for you.