Simple elegance!

I really liked the simple explanation of what Bento is and the historical back ground in the introduction.
It struck a nerve! "What motivates us to make bento is that it enable us to make safe and healthy lunches for our families."
There are other reasons of course but when my 'fussy eating' kids were in school we had the 'anglo' equivalent. The plastic sectioned container that they had to pack themselves (fussy comes with a price tag--and no they didn't have allergies, they had preferences), with the cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicum strips, fruits (blueberries, strawberries etc.) As they became older it was salads and other goodies that could sit in their lockers safely without becoming bacteria's playground.
Now if we'd have had this fabulous book then, their culinary expertise could have expanded ... and mine I guess as chief food purchaser. Mind you half the fun is the box itself. There's a lovely section describing these. Makes me want to rush off and buy some for my grandkids. So much more chichi (elegant) than the cheap plastic containers we used.
The recipes are straightforward and mouthwatering. The color plates really are attractive and add to the overall presentation of such a welcome and understated addition to our culture that this recipe book for Bento is.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

I love Bento Boxes. I adore the cuteness, the small packaging and the healthiness of them. I look forward to opening I open my lunch box, there is happiness there. We all deserve a special packaged lunch. I have been making bentos for many years and am always looking for fresh ideas and found several in this book. My favorite has to be the Halloween bento, I am making that cat for my boxes.
This book is great for the beginner bento maker. The steps are clearly written, the ingredients are readily available in most grocery stores. Anyone can jump into bento making right away and not feel overwhelmed. The photos are beautiful and give great examples on how to set up your boxes. Give it a try, you'll never go back to dull bagged lunches again. ( )