013 4 This is a great book for Japanese Home Cooking -
I got this book because I was looking for a book on Japanese cooking that
A ) Had simple to prepare reciepies
B ) Wasn't focused too much on Seafood ( I'm 100 ' s of miles from the nearest coast )
C ) Had a good selection of . . err . . normal food that didn't require exotic ingredients or acquired tastes . .
To this end this book has been a jewel . Real bang for the buck in terms of the normal of usable recipes -
The organization is not quite what we would expect , loosely by theme . But each page ( or pair of pages ) presents a complete menu of 3 - 5 dishes that might complement each other . The pictures of the finished product are quite nice , very few pictures ( and not much explanation ) of the preparation process . But that's ok , most of these dishes are simple enough . Still there might be one or two that confuse you .
The dishes themselves are delicious , nutritious and fairly easy once you get the hang of it . This by and large makes this book a runaway hit . I've got kids and a busy life so food that I can make quickly that the whole family can eat and doesn't come out of a box is really something . The portions they give in the book are for single meal servings . I've found that for the family tripling the amounts usually works well enough .
Cons -
The book is now without room for improvement . They are several nice to haves but after you get over them they really don't detract from the core value ( lots of good usable recipes you can fix at home ) .
- The biggest issue perhaps is the lack of a glossary . Your going to need some ingredients your not going to find at your local supermarket . It gives the Japanese name and sometimes a bad English translation . But going in I had no idea what Aburage or devils tounge jelly were . I am fortunate enough to live near a Japanese Market and got it all explained to me . They also don't cover any common substitutions that you might try .
- The organization of the book is a little odd , based more on menu than item or ingredient . So if you want to pick and choose ( I want sukiyaki with the green bean thing ) your spend a lot of time hunting till you remember where things are .
- A little more explanation on the prep could be useful for some . If you read the recipe and study the picture for a bit you'll get it eventually . But it keeps the book flowing and lots of space for pictures .
Conclusion -
If you want a good , cheap cookbook to explore Japanese Home cooking this is the one for you ! Well worth the money . Quite a few of the dishes have made their way into my permanent list of things to cook .
001 4 I run two food blogs , one focused mainly on Japanese cooking , the other just on bento lunches . ( I'm Japanese but live outside of Japan . ) I finally got around to taking a look at this book .
The pros : it's a nice visual introduction to fairly traditional bento lunch boxes . ( Keep in mind that ' bento ' can be something other than a portable lunch . ) The presentation is very attractive .
The cons : even as someone familiar with the ingredients and cooking methods I thought that this book looked rather intimidating , because just about every single recipe calls for ingredients that are only available from Japanese groceries . Actually quite a lot of the recipes call for ingredientat that would be very hard to get outside of Japan . Clearly this is a translation of a Japanese bento book , and no consideration is given at all to how available certain ingredients may be or not . ( This is something I always try to keep in mind on my sites . )
The presentation feels just a bit outdated to me . Current bento books in Japan have a much simpler , modern feel . The instructions are also rather abbreviated , as if the intended audience is the fairly experienced Japanese cook ( which it probably was when it was written originally ) .
So , I think for most people who don't live in Japan this would be a nice picture book to have around , perhaps as inspiration and eye candy , but perhaps not too useful for everyday lunch making for a typical American .
002 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
A Bento box is to the Japanese what the brown bag lunch is to Americans . And the food inside is the same : simple , easy to make , and cheep . Though this book is short ( 64 pages ) , it is easy to follow and is accompanied by colorful photos . The recipes are short and simple to follow , most with five or fewer ingredients . Take note , you are not going to find and fancy or exquisite dishes in this book . There is no introduction or explanations for what you are doing or why you do it . Its only recipes and pictures cover to cover . Almost all of the ingredients can be found at your local megamart with a few exceptions . Pickled plum , cod roe , and burdock might be hard , if not imposable to find , but by my count the things I cant get only eliminated seven or eight recipes . And with two to five recipes per page that ? s not to bad . At its cheep price and easy to make dishes I lightly recommend this book .
003 4 A Bento box is to the Japanese what the brown bag lunch is to Americans . And the food inside is the same : simple , easy to make , and cheep . Though this book is short ( 64 pages ) , it is easy to follow and is accompanied by colorful photos . The recipes are short and simple to follow , most with five or fewer ingredients . Take note , you are not going to find and fancy or exquisite dishes in this book . There is no introduction or explanations for what you are doing or why you do it . Its only recipes and pictures cover to cover . Almost all of the ingredients can be found at your local megamart with a few exceptions . Pickled plum , cod roe , and burdock might be hard , if not imposable to find , but by my count the things I cant get only eliminated seven or eight recipes . And with two to five recipes per page that ? s not to bad . At its cheep price and easy to make dishes I lightly recommend this book .
004 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
While most of the recipes can be executed as described , some are missing key steps or oversimplifying . Case in point the directions for tamago . It says to combine the ingredients and make an omelet in a square pan .
What is left out is that you are supposed to pour part of the egg mixture into the pan . As it sets up , fold it in half so it sits on one side of the pan . Then pour more of the egg into the bare part of the pan . When it sets up , roll the previously cooked half back over the newly added side . Repeat the process .
This changes the texture of the finished product as well as the appearance .
Also as a word of warning , these will take a while to make . Some of the lunches presented incorporate 3 - 4 separate dishes . However you can mix and match so the book is a great resource in that sense . In addition the photos are beautiful and helps to make up what is missing in the directions .
005 4 While most of the recipes can be executed as described , some are missing key steps or oversimplifying . Case in point the directions for tamago . It says to combine the ingredients and make an omelet in a square pan .
What is left out is that you are supposed to pour part of the egg mixture into the pan . As it sets up , fold it in half so it sits on one side of the pan . Then pour more of the egg into the bare part of the pan . When it sets up , roll the previously cooked half back over the newly added side . Repeat the process .
This changes the texture of the finished product as well as the appearance .
Also as a word of warning , these will take a while to make . Some of the lunches presented incorporate 3 - 4 separate dishes . However you can mix and match so the book is a great resource in that sense . In addition the photos are beautiful and helps to make up what is missing in the directions .
006 4 If you are interested in Japanese cooking , but have been intimidated by cookbooks that seem to fussy or complicated , then this book would be a great place to start . The recipes are easy to understand using very simple ingredients but the results are authentic delicious Japanese taste ! One of the things I liked the best is that each and every recipe is accompanied by a photograph of the final dish ( a lot of cookbooks just give recipes without pictures and if you are not familiar with the dish , then you may not even want to try to make it ) .
In addition , the recipes in this book are not just for bento boxes ( lunch boxes ) . Made in larger quantities they can easily be adapted to making full Japanese meals - just add rice and miso soup !
007 4 This is a great little book . I haven't carried my lunch since elementary school ( over 20 years ago ) , but this book has inspired me to again .
The photos and presentations are attractive . The recipes are easy . I went through the book and checked all the items I want to make , and now I'm cooking my way through the book .
A good book for anyone that likes rice and is looking for a break from fast food . Also , for anyone that needs a cookbook for one , wants to eat healthy , or likes to put together an attractive meal . Recipes can easily be doubled if you're packing lunches for more than one .
008 4 This book reached far beyond my expectations . All the recipes are very simple and require only about 3 main ingredients . It is very versatile for cooks in all regions of the world ( a part of the introduction actually says If you cannot find the ingredients , use what you have as long as they're the same general colour and texture ) - it really emphasizes what Japanese cooking is all about - style and presentation of incredibly tasty foods .
About the only drawback to the book is that it's so brief ! After paging through it , I wanted more ! Every recipe has a full colour photograph accompanying it , and some even have smaller photos of the steps to making the food . My boyfriend can't cook at all , and even he was able to make things from this book .
This is a must-buy for anyone looking to make their lunches a little more interesting or to inject a little Japanese flair into their cooking . : )
009 4 I had heard about the amazing boxed lunches that Japanese mothers prepre for their kids , so I picked up this book to see what it was about .
I really like it ! Even though I'd never make lunches like this for my kids to take to school ( would have to wake up at 5 am ) , it's fun to make them for picnics and hikes . They look impressive , too - - they're a lot easier to make than they seem .
Some of the ingredients might be hard to find in some places . I live in northern California and had no trouble finding any of the ingredients in Japanese markets . But if you live far away from an Asian community , you might have to substitute different ingredients sometimes - - like turnips or carrots instead of gobo . Luckily , since all the recipes are in full color , it's pretty easy to pick something close .
010 4 This book , with its full color photographs and straightforward recipes , has helped me to cook authentic-tasting Japanese food for the first time . The ingredients for many recipes are easily found in my local grocery stores , although some of the recipes do require shopping at a specialty grocery . This cookbook would be excellent for a beginning cook since the cooking procedure for each recipe is clearly laid out and as mentioned before , the photographs help those new to cooking envision the finished dish . Further , the recipes focus on single-size portions but can easily be increased to feed a family . I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Japanese food and would like to add some new elegant dishes to their repetoire .
011 4 Actually one of two available at all - so not exactly stiff competition but still even if there were a dozen books on Bento , this would be the definitive one .
There are some odd Japanese ingredients that will need substitutes and you may not want to sprinkle whitebait or pollywog looking baby sardines in your rice but if you can get by those things , there really are some great bento recipes .
The strength of this book though is in presentation . It shows you how to do up your bento the authetic way and will quickly make you an Ebay scouring bento fool like me .
I do have to say - why on Earth is bento not a big dealio over here ? The closest thing we have to it in this country are Oscar Mayer LUNCHABLES . And hey I am not knocking them ! But this bento is for grown-ups . No juice box required .
014 4 Now I can enjoy some of the same foods my favorite anime characters eat without the expense of take out ! Mouth watering delicious food is only a few ingredients away with this simple guide . I haven't used all of the recipes in here due to not being able to find the ingredients but the ones I have are easy , quick ( and did I mention delicious ? ) . I've made larger batches for dinner with leftovers in mind and they are even better the next day ! Each recipe has a picture and packing instructions in case you are using an authentic bento box . ( . . . ) This would be an excellent book for some one new to cooking as the recipes are very simple to follow .
015 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
I am an American , and also of Japanese background ( i.e . , born in the States and - unfortunately can't converse in Japanese . ) I have an extensive culinary knowledge too with a background in Food Science from UCD . I'm a bit taken a back by the comments from reviewers who state they need more background as Americans . I've known since a child gobo root , the various seaweed types and other ingredients - - I'm in no way surprised that abura-age ( fried tofu pouches ) is a standard item in bento being such a yummy item - - goodness I remember having Miso ALL the time as a kid - - and as a kid thinking again ! ? . I don't see the same comments for books on specialized / regional Italian cuisine ( what is polenta , spaghetti , Parmesan Regiano , Italian parsley - - because for Westerners , focusing on Americans of European background this is all obvious - - Imagine a newly immigrated person from a non-European country trying to follow an American recipe and not being given details of say the difference between cake flour , regular flour , bread flour - - or even using the tags of winter and spring wheat flour ? Or unsalted ( also called sweet ! ) butter and butter ( also called salted butter ! ) or for other European cuisines - - what's Brie vs . Camembert , or buttermilk ? corned beef ? If you want to learn the foods of other nations , you need to start with the basic cook books of that nation - - here you will find more details about ingredients , etc . Specialty books like this will assume rudimentary knowledge , just like a specialty book in Italian food will assume you know the difference between Parmesan , Assiago cheeses or capellini and linguini and you know what Arborio rice is without explanation . My recommendation for those less versed in Japanese cuisine is The Joy of Japanese Cooking ( and like the western version - - lacking on photos / drawings ) and A Dictionary of Japanese Food : Ingredients & Culture . Once you learn the lingo , everyday Japanese cooking is really no big deal . For example , all them seaweeds are dried and stay in your pantry for a year . I buy abura-age fresh then throw them in the freezer and take one out at a time as needed - - if you don't have a market that sells fresh abura-age you can substitute slice firm tofu seasoned with soy sauce ( aka shoyu ) that's been pan fried ( with or without oil ) or toasted until brown in a toaster oven .
Don't give up ! Everyday Japanese cuisine is not difficult . . . just a learning curve like any other cuisine you're not familiar with !
016 4 I am an American , and also of Japanese background ( i.e . , born in the States and - unfortunately can't converse in Japanese . ) I have an extensive culinary knowledge too with a background in Food Science from UCD . I'm a bit taken a back by the comments from reviewers who state they need more background as Americans . I've known since a child gobo root , the various seaweed types and other ingredients - - I'm in no way surprised that abura-age ( fried tofu pouches ) is a standard item in bento being such a yummy item - - goodness I remember having Miso ALL the time as a kid - - and as a kid thinking again ! ? . I don't see the same comments for books on specialized / regional Italian cuisine ( what is polenta , spaghetti , Parmesan Regiano , Italian parsley - - because for Westerners , focusing on Americans of European background this is all obvious - - Imagine a newly immigrated person from a non-European country trying to follow an American recipe and not being given details of say the difference between cake flour , regular flour , bread flour - - or even using the tags of winter and spring wheat flour ? Or unsalted ( also called sweet ! ) butter and butter ( also called salted butter ! ) or for other European cuisines - - what's Brie vs . Camembert , or buttermilk ? corned beef ? If you want to learn the foods of other nations , you need to start with the basic cook books of that nation - - here you will find more details about ingredients , etc . Specialty books like this will assume rudimentary knowledge , just like a specialty book in Italian food will assume you know the difference between Parmesan , Assiago cheeses or capellini and linguini and you know what Arborio rice is without explanation . My recommendation for those less versed in Japanese cuisine is The Joy of Japanese Cooking ( and like the western version - - lacking on photos / drawings ) and A Dictionary of Japanese Food : Ingredients & Culture . Once you learn the lingo , everyday Japanese cooking is really no big deal . For example , all them seaweeds are dried and stay in your pantry for a year . I buy abura-age fresh then throw them in the freezer and take one out at a time as needed - - if you don't have a market that sells fresh abura-age you can substitute slice firm tofu seasoned with soy sauce ( aka shoyu ) that's been pan fried ( with or without oil ) or toasted until brown in a toaster oven .
Don't give up ! Everyday Japanese cuisine is not difficult . . . just a learning curve like any other cuisine you're not familiar with !
017 4 This has lots of great , easy , authentic tasting recipes . There are some recipes that you probably won't find any ingredients for unless you go to an oriental market and even then an oriental market in a big city . I only say that cuz in my small town we have an oriental market but doesn't even stock some of the things needed for the recipes . But other than that , it's truly a great book w / great tasting food .
018 4 This book is especially cool because it gives recipes that are in a Japanese cookbook I have only , you know , in English . Which means I don't have to take 3 hours to translate a recipe ( my Japanese is pretty lousy ) and can just dive in and make the stuff !
So points for being genuine , and points for great photography , and points for offering suggestions to substitute regional foods appropriately , make a five star book
019 4 A mouthwatering cookbook . I highly recommend it . It offers some really great ideas to jazz up your lunch . Great photos and easy-to-follow recipes . It's also a fine introduction to Japanese home cooking . Recipes are for one serving , but can easily be multiplied which makes it great when cooking for one or two . They're not only excellent for lunch , but they also make great dinners at home . What more could you ask for from a cookbook ?
020 4 This little book is stuffed full of recipes that make good bento boxes . It is , however , intended for a Japanese audience and assumes a certain level of familiarity with basic Japanese food preparation . Don't let that scare you off , though , this is a great book !
If you are not familiar with basic Japanese food and ingredients , i suggest you also buy the Asian Grocery Store demystified or a dictionary of Japanese food or some other basic guide to Japanese cooking to go with this book . Most of the ingredients listed can be found in any large Asian supermarket , or failing that can be substituted with items found in typical American Supermarkets , if you are willing to take a small amount of time to figure out what the ingredient is meant to be doing in the recipe . ( is it for taste ? texture ? ) Part of this will depend on where you live , of course , but here in Philadelphia i had no problem finding all the ingredients .
what this book offers is a LOAD of Japanese and Japanese style recipes that are meant to be packed for lunch or dinner . Many of them can be prepared ahead , and all of them are ideal candidates for the bento box or picnic lunch ! Most other Japanese recipe books are full of wonderful foods , but with no guarantee that they will be able to survive packing and toting around .
jammed with recipes , its a bargain for anyone looking to make healthy meals on the go .
021 4 Simplicity with style . This book offers you an insight into some really tempting Japanese cuisine . Not only are the recipes well laid out , but the pictures absolutely do them justice .
This is definitely something that I would recommend to anyone who wants to broaden their palette or who just want some great meals on the go .
022 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
This book is both an excellent introduction to bento lunches and a great inspiration for experienced cooks packing bentos for their loved ones . I have made nearly every recipe in this book and I have not been disappointed . Each recipe is made in a small quantity and most can be made in under 30 minutes , making this an excellent cookbook for small households ( 1 - 2 people ) . I have also increased the quantities to adapt the recipes for dinner . There are pictures to accompany each recipe , but for the beginner it might be worthwhile to pick up an additional guide to Japanese cooking . As with anything it might take some experimentation to adjust the recipes to your liking .
I've been running a bento blog for going on 2 years and found the best way to learn about bento is to search web for Japanese bento blogs . Type the word bento in hiragana or try photo sites . This book is an excellent accompaniment to that sort of research because it enables you to identify what many of the items are and provides you with a recipe .
My only complaint is the book should have been spiral bound and laminated . My copy is in pretty bad shape from being used so much .
023 4 This book is both an excellent introduction to bento lunches and a great inspiration for experienced cooks packing bentos for their loved ones . I have made nearly every recipe in this book and I have not been disappointed . Each recipe is made in a small quantity and most can be made in under 30 minutes , making this an excellent cookbook for small households ( 1 - 2 people ) . I have also increased the quantities to adapt the recipes for dinner . There are pictures to accompany each recipe , but for the beginner it might be worthwhile to pick up an additional guide to Japanese cooking . As with anything it might take some experimentation to adjust the recipes to your liking .
I've been running a bento blog for going on 2 years and found the best way to learn about bento is to search web for Japanese bento blogs . Type the word bento in hiragana or try photo sites . This book is an excellent accompaniment to that sort of research because it enables you to identify what many of the items are and provides you with a recipe .
My only complaint is the book should have been spiral bound and laminated . My copy is in pretty bad shape from being used so much .
024 4 I stumbled across bento-making late one night when the Cooking Cute website was featured on Yahoo's The Nine . I made my husband a bento that night , and have been hooked ever since . I found this book and was so excited to find a guide to bento in English . I don't think I've cracked the book more than three times or so . It's just not practical for the Western palate - there are a lot of strange foods I haven't dug up the gumption to try . I am a bit more food-adventurous than my husband , who actually has to eat my creations . For the ones I have tried , thank goodness I live in a city with a large Asian community and many ethnic grocery stores to peruse . Some of the ingredients have been a little harder to track down than others . The directions also seem to skip a few steps sometimes , I don't know if this is because it's supposed to be common sense or lost in translation , but nothing you can't stumble through . All in all - a beautiful display of food . Eye-appealing if not so to my stomach . : D
025 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
This book is a good place to start for traditional bento lunches , and has very nice pictures ( always a bonus in cookbooks ) . However , it is a little cluttered , making it tedious at times . I would have preferred it to be a few pages longer and more spaced-out . Also , an ingredient list would have been helpful for those not familiar with Japanese cuisine . Occasionally an unknown ingredient is listed , and in parentheses ( as explanation ) is another unfamiliar word .
Despite these issues , I am still very happy with it .
026 4 This book is a good place to start for traditional bento lunches , and has very nice pictures ( always a bonus in cookbooks ) . However , it is a little cluttered , making it tedious at times . I would have preferred it to be a few pages longer and more spaced-out . Also , an ingredient list would have been helpful for those not familiar with Japanese cuisine . Occasionally an unknown ingredient is listed , and in parentheses ( as explanation ) is another unfamiliar word .
Despite these issues , I am still very happy with it .
027 4 I bought this book based on others ' positive reviews , but I was a little disappointed when I finally received it . While this book does have very good pictures , it doesn't spend very much time detailing the recipes or the ingredients , some of which can be a bit esoteric for Westerners ( for example , it tosses around words like hijiki , mirin , lotus root , and aburage without giving much advice on what these are or how to judge quality when purchasing them ) .
In short , it's a decent book , but I think the recipes could have been better written .
028 4 The recipies in this book are wonderful . I have used many of them for taking lunch to my office , where I always have the most interesting lunch of anyone here . A very helpful book for anyone interested in this unique niche of Japanese cooking .
029 4 Although a small book , it's packed with lots of tasty , easy to follow recipes and mouth-watering pictures . ( Don't show the pictures to your spouse unless you're prepared to serve them one of the bento pronto ! )
I was really impressed with the book ; it greatly exceeded my expectations . Would most certainly recommend it .
031 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
Beautiful photographs , too . The single minor complaint I had was some of the type was a bit horsey , but it doesn't get in the way of the recipes .
Excellent variety , clearly laid out with tons of color photographs . If you're going to buy only one bento book , choose this one . It's clearly superior to the other titles on amazon.com .
032 4 Beautiful photographs , too . The single minor complaint I had was some of the type was a bit horsey , but it doesn't get in the way of the recipes .
Excellent variety , clearly laid out with tons of color photographs . If you're going to buy only one bento book , choose this one . It's clearly superior to the other titles on amazon.com .
033 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
A lot of cookbooks give you single recipes without an idea of how to make them turn into a meal . Every page of this book contains all the recipes for the pictured meal - - in some cases , more than one full meal per page .
It's a cookbook for people who've read cookbooks and appreciate information efficiency - - rather than taking the time and page space to spell out cut the carrot into matchstick-sized pieces , approximately one-eighth-inch square by two inches long , also known as julienning , it says julienne the carrots . So it assumes you know some basic terminology , but it's never made an assumption I haven't been familiar with .
And for most recipes , the quantities are given in single-serving amounts - ideal for me as a single person and easily scalable . I love this book .
( Full disclosure : I've semiprofessionally taught Japanese cooking classes . )
034 4 A lot of cookbooks give you single recipes without an idea of how to make them turn into a meal . Every page of this book contains all the recipes for the pictured meal - - in some cases , more than one full meal per page .
It's a cookbook for people who've read cookbooks and appreciate information efficiency - - rather than taking the time and page space to spell out cut the carrot into matchstick-sized pieces , approximately one-eighth-inch square by two inches long , also known as julienning , it says julienne the carrots . So it assumes you know some basic terminology , but it's never made an assumption I haven't been familiar with .
And for most recipes , the quantities are given in single-serving amounts - ideal for me as a single person and easily scalable . I love this book .
( Full disclosure : I've semiprofessionally taught Japanese cooking classes . )
036 4 I was looking for fun & creative ways to take lunches to work , considering today's economic . I wondering what a Bento box was ? Thinking it was a dish and not meals to take with you . I was surprise to Google and answered my boring lunch dilemma ! ! ! Now my office staff are always wondering what I'll be bringing for lunch all thanks to this book by Naomi Kijima & Laura Drisussi . I love some of the recipes in this book , of course some foods are not accessible were I live , but who says you can't sub it out for something else . I really like this book , it open your creative cooking skills and taste .
037 4 I was somewhat disappointed when I received this book . I was hoping for a more practical how-to guide for making bentos . There is absolutely no info in this book besides the recipes . I was also disappointed that the recipes were few in number and , overall , not very exciting . The recipes require ingredients that are not particularly easy to find . However , if you are just looking for some bento eye candy or you live near a Japanese grocery , this book might be for you .
038 4 This book was a great guide ! The helpful pictures made steps much more easier ! I still have a long way to go before my bentos turn out like the pictures . . . but I have fun trying !
039 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
This book has quick and easy Japanese recipes in one or 2 person servings . It is meant for making lunches packed on the go daily , so each recipe is meant to fill one box . So even if you're not packing bento , this book is great for quick small portioned meals to eat right away as well . Perfect if you live alone or if it's just two of you . For larger families , you'll have to upscale , or make more than one meal ! I look to this book not only for bento packing , but also when there is not much time to cook or prepare and I'm hungry right now .
041 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
I purchased two Bento Boxes for my husband and I to use for lunch . This book had excellent reviews , and the recipes are simple , easy and the pictures gorgeous .
However , most recipes utilize shellfish ( which I'm allergic too ) and I was really hoping there would be a good focus on vegetarian or other alternate bento recipes . So , if you have no allergies - awesome book . If you have shellfish allergies , about 1 / 3 of the recipes are good .
042 4 I purchased two Bento Boxes for my husband and I to use for lunch . This book had excellent reviews , and the recipes are simple , easy and the pictures gorgeous .
However , most recipes utilize shellfish ( which I'm allergic too ) and I was really hoping there would be a good focus on vegetarian or other alternate bento recipes . So , if you have no allergies - awesome book . If you have shellfish allergies , about 1 / 3 of the recipes are good .
043 4 I love this book . That said , I only actually bought it because I knew there were a few good asian market groceries in my city , so I was confident that I could find things that I needed . It's a surprisingly thin book , but packed with huge color photos and visual instructions so I find it a lot more useful than some of my text-book-size cook books . And the one last annoying thing , that I've discovered in this book ( and several other bento cookbooks ) is that the recipes make single servings . I double or triple most recipes just because I cook for more than one person , and even if I'm the only one eating it , i'd like to at least have left-overs so I don't have to cook again for every single meal .
044 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
I bought this to go along with the Mr . Bento lunch jar I bought . I was a little disappointed the recipes were not using common ingredients you would find in a normal grocery store . Some of the recipes looked good , and some were simple enough , but honestly dont think I will try any of them . I was looking for new luch ideas to take to work , and this wasnt what I wanted .
045 4 I bought this to go along with the Mr . Bento lunch jar I bought . I was a little disappointed the recipes were not using common ingredients you would find in a normal grocery store . Some of the recipes looked good , and some were simple enough , but honestly dont think I will try any of them . I was looking for new luch ideas to take to work , and this wasnt what I wanted .
046 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
for those who are dissapointed in the book containing items not familar to their corner grocery stores , may i point out that the book is titled Japanese meals on the go ? i personally LOVE that there are uncommon ingredients in the book . with the internet and growing popularity of specialty foods available in stores , the ingredients really aren't that hard to come by . i enjoy trying new things , and this book has plenty of recipes that i haven't had before . the photographs are of a very good quality , and the simplified recipes don't bore you with how to boil rice or slice a vegetable ( that's what basic betty crocker's cook books are for ) . overall , i would highly recommend this book to those with moderate experience in the kitchen = )
047 4 for those who are dissapointed in the book containing items not familar to their corner grocery stores , may i point out that the book is titled Japanese meals on the go ? i personally LOVE that there are uncommon ingredients in the book . with the internet and growing popularity of specialty foods available in stores , the ingredients really aren't that hard to come by . i enjoy trying new things , and this book has plenty of recipes that i haven't had before . the photographs are of a very good quality , and the simplified recipes don't bore you with how to boil rice or slice a vegetable ( that's what basic betty crocker's cook books are for ) . overall , i would highly recommend this book to those with moderate experience in the kitchen = )
048 4 I purchased this book to give me some new ideas to make lunches as well as dinners . The main problem I have with it , is there are ingredients that I have no idea what they are . At the end there is a description of some but not all that are mentioned . This book could really use a glossary . The pictures make the food look very appetizing and my son wanted immediately to try some things . But I have to research what I can subistitute with things that I can find and know what they are .
049 4 I got this book because of the colorful bento photos on it . I grew up eating bento , as our family lived overseas in Taiwan when I was young , and Mom would pack me lunch in a stainless steel bento box everyday . At lunch time , the class president or whoever's the designated lunch person , would collect everyone's bentos , and take it to the cafeteria to be heated in these giant steamers . ( The cafeteria back then didn't really sell lunches , they sold snacks like steamed pork buns , marinated tea eggs , marinated tofu-gan , and occasionally real stir fried noodles , and no soft drinks . Their main function is to steam lunches that students bring to school . ) Then he / she brings it back to the classroom , and everyone picks up their hot lunch . I still have my stainless steel lunch box .
I read the review from Maki , and I agree , for someone who does not have access to an asian grocery store , the recipes may not be practical . But these photos inspire me to make beautiful adult bentos that are aimed at a healthy balanced meal over the cute Japanese chara-ben ( character shaped bentos ) , which usually have alot of rice decorated to look like their favorite anime characters .
I don't always follow the Japanese guidelines of packing bentos , but I do agree with a Japanese study that for maximum health , you need to eat 30 different kinds of food every day . So I divide my bento box into fourths , fill 1 / 4 protein ( chicken , egg & tofu ) , 1 / 4 rice or gluten free starch , 1 / 2 vegetables ( combo of different vegetables ) . Then I take a piece of cut fruit in a second small snack size bento .
Just looking at these bentos , I've made bentos with lots of Chinese food that I cook , and made them prettier with these ideas .
050 4 OMG I use this book all the time . The recipes are just right for lunches or light dinners and are easy to convert to multiple servings . For those of you who are confused about some of the ingredients listed , that is what Google is for . Just look it up . There are many American ingredients that can be substituted for any Asian ones that can't be found easily , but if there are any Whole Foods Markets in your area , they pretty much have everything you need .
051 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
It arrived quickly , and in perfect condition .
Unfortunately , most of the ingredients required for the recipes will be difficult to acquire where I live . The instructions are clear , however , so they would be easy to follow .
052 4 It arrived quickly , and in perfect condition .
Unfortunately , most of the ingredients required for the recipes will be difficult to acquire where I live . The instructions are clear , however , so they would be easy to follow .
054 4 If you like to take your own lunch and if you have an affinity for Japanese food , try it ! It takes a bit of time to prepare Bento boxes , but it's fun and brings something else and healthier into your lunch boxes . Make some more to be prepared to have you co-workers try something ! And it gives you lots of ideas to experiment with food .
056 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
This is good menu book to get more ideal what you can cook for lunch box . I like all the rice cook menu .
057 4 This is good menu book to get more ideal what you can cook for lunch box . I like all the rice cook menu .
058 4 i only wish I had better access to the ingredients . nonetheless , it's a useful cookbook if you're an american or english speaker getting into bento making . great pictures and easy to understand directions .
059 4 I have yet to make a single recipe from this book . I live in a small town in the Southeastern United States , and these ingredients are simply not to be found . What a shame !
060 4 This book is full of pretty pictures and wonderful looking dishes . The author relies to heavily on the same few ingredients . Does every recipe have to have tofu puff and burdock root in it ? Even after a trip to my local Asian market I was unable to find or figure out what many of the listed ingredients were , much less where to purchase them .
062 4 This review is from :
Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ( Paperback )
For people looking to have a more balanced lunch , this book can be an inspiration . Why not make the lunch box colorful in content AND nutrition ? A lot of the pictures feature boxes with fruits that are not only eye-catching but also appetizing . Typical American lunchbox is so boring , making people think that American mothers do not have nutrition knowledge and practice .
063 4 For people looking to have a more balanced lunch , this book can be an inspiration . Why not make the lunch box colorful in content AND nutrition ? A lot of the pictures feature boxes with fruits that are not only eye-catching but also appetizing . Typical American lunchbox is so boring , making people think that American mothers do not have nutrition knowledge and practice .
065 4 There is just something about watching animated characters eating animated food - that makes you ravenous ! I don't know what it is about anime like pita ten - or that beginning part of spirited away - but it always makes me crave a bento box or chinese roasted duck ! So if you're like me - and want to actually eat the little triangles of rice while you're watching an anime - THIS is the book for you !
My friend who is actually an animator loaned me this book and now i have to get it for myself ! EVERY SINGLE recipe has a picture - and every picture a recipe ! It is utterly fantastic ! It's hard to imagine cooking such small amounts of food however - and i'd rather just open a bento to go store based on all of these wonderful recipes . . . but it would be great to use these recipes for party ideas etc . there's pickle recipes , rice ball and rice ball wrappers , different kinds of rice recipes . . . . low fat recipes . . . sprinkle recipes - similar to the rice sprinkles with nori bits you can buy at the store . there are even just add water soup ideas !
great book ! it should be in everyone's personal collection !
066 4 After reading several of the reviews for this book by people who purchased it I was looking forward to making bentos as soon as I got home . However , every group of recipes called for ingredients that I both did not have in my home and could not pick up at the local grocery store . I needed to go to a specialty grocery store where no one spoke English and half of the stuff had no English labels . I wouldn't be surprised to find out that they were laughing at the dumb American trying to find pickled plums and devil's tongue jelly ( never did find the pickled plums ) . The instructions are easy to follow , but if you don't have an Asian grocery near you or you're afraid of looking like an idiot , stick to restaurants .
067 4 I like the concept of this book ( small meals with a Japanese flavor that are made for taking and eating on the go ) . The recipes and ingredients are geared for those familiar with Japanese ingredients and cooking techniques AND who have easy access to a Japanese or Asian grocery store . I'm not familiar , and don't have easy access , so this book isn't very practical for me . Therefore , I decided to return it using Amazon's easy return policy . Instead , I'll search for a book that not only has great Japanese recipes but has ones that I'll actually be able to make !
069 4 There's no introduction of what a Bento Box is . The entire book lists out about 40 recipes with over-simplified cooking steps . It contains no detailed instructions nor practical preparation steps . Besides the big & beautiful pictures showing the finishing bento box dishes , I personally do not find this book helpful at all on either making or knowing Bento Box . Disappointed .
( Reviewed by Otto Yuen , 28 - May - 2007 )
070 4 If you are wanting to learn more about the art of bento boxes this is not the book for you . The book consists of only recipes . Why is it called Bento Boxes : Japanese Meals on the Go ? I have no idea . It was a waste of money .
061 4 The recipies in the book are wonderful and it's full of beautiful pictures . With the popularity of oriental foods growing , it's not hard to find most of the ingredients either ! The only qualm I have with this book is that I would have liked it to have some cultural background on the bento box . It's such a curious tradition for us Americans and it would have been nice to have some sort of introduction for the book , explaining a little bit about bento boxes . Other than that I think it's a great cook book !
012 4 This is a terrific book with easy to follow recepies . Pictures are just wonderful and the instructions are easy to follow . I am a Japanese American so I have enjoyed eating some of the traditional recepies in this book . Reminds me of the food my father used to make for us . I would recommend this book to anybody .
030 4 This is well planned out . and it actually helps you plan out your boxes . Although the bento display is not as creative or cute as some would like it , the dishes themselves are fantastic . A great addition to your bento box cookbook collection .
Other recommended reads :
Easy Japanese Pickling in Five Minutes to One Day : 101 Full-Color Recipes for Authentic Tsukemono
Harumi's Japanese Cooking : More than 75 Authentic and Contemporary Recipes from Japan's Most PopularCooking Expert
Harumi's Japanese Home Cooking : Simple , Elegant Recipes for Contemporary Tastes
035 4 This book has fairly simple recipes for your bentos . Good book for someone who's making their first bento lunches . Recipe instructions are not as detailed as some people may want , but most of it is common sense .
053 4 the book is great i enjoyed the recipies theyre easy to understand and pretty simple i just hope youre around an asian market because a lot of the ingredients are a little difficult to get your hands on otherwise ^ _ ^
055 4 This is a gem of a book . The ingredients are well listed , the presentation is awesome , and it is as healthy as easy to prepare .
