Table of Contents
Introduction vii
What Is Bento? 1
Bento Boxes 2
Bento Making Tools 5
Bento Making Techniques 10
Bento Packing Basics 18
Be Creative! 22
Bento and Food Art Tutorials 23
Rice-Based Bentos 23
Piggy Onigiri 24
Sheep in a Meadow 26
Relaxing Panda 29
Ice Cream Buddies 32
Baby Bear 34
Bunny and Sunflower 36
Penguin Onigiri 38
Baby Pandas 40
Puffer Fish 42
Soboro Lion 44
Scrambled Eggs Clown 46
Ninjas 48
Baby Inari Sushi 50
Witch 52
Sleeping Kitty Cat 54
Hot Dog Bear Sushi 56
Scrambled Eggs Chick 58
Tomato Ladybugs 60
Piggy Spam Musubi 62
Koala Onigiri 64
Bread-Based Bentos 67
Bear Sandwich Rolls 68
Penguin Sandwich 70
Piggy Pocket Sandwich 72
Snail Sandwich 74
Mashed Potato Duck Sandwich 76
Animal Bread Balls 78
Chicks in Bread Cup Nests 81
Hot Dog Bunnies 84
Bunny Carrot 86
Seal Sandwich 88
Mermaid 90
Sleeping Teddy Bear Sandwich 92
Cat and Yarn Pita 94
Piggy Chicken Wrap 96
Bread Car 98
Tiger Bread Buns 100
Hot Dog Bread Bun 102
Owl Bread Buns 104
Dog Burger 106
Astronaut 108
Salad and Noodle Bentos 111
Sleeping Bunny Salad 112
Cow Salad 114
Quail Egg Mice 116
Pesto Pasta Frog 118
Meatball Pasta Bear 120
Shrimp Snail Pad Thai 122
Special Occasions 124
Sushi Birthday Cake 125
Mother's Day Hen and Chicks 128
Father's Day 130
Christmas Santa 132
Wintery Snowman 134
Spooky Halloween 136
Halloween Monster and Mummy Sandwich 138
Easter Chicks in Bunny Suits 140
Valentine's Day Rose Wrap 143
Back to School 146
Seasonal Bentos 148
Spring Sunflower Bee 149
Summer Girl 152
Fall Squirrel 154
Winter Girl 156
Raincoat Bear 158
Sunny Day by the Beach 160
Night Time 163
Food Art 167
Curry Polar Bear 168
Swimming Ducky 170
Ham Piggy 172
Puff Pastry Soup Bear 174
Soup Kitty 176
Tomato Soup Owl 178
Pizza Bear 180
Animal Tortilla Chips 182
Bonus Food Art Recipes 185
Hot Dog Bread 186
Steamed Chick Cake 189
Bunny German Cookies 192
Steamed Piggy Buns 194
Bear Cream Puff 197
Recipes 201
Meat 201
Seaweed Pork Rolls 202
Japanese Beef Curry 202
Chicken Nuggets 203
White Wine Chicken Stew 203
Chicken Veggie Roll 204
Chicken Teriyaki 205
Pork Nuggets 205
Veggie Pork/Beef Rolls 206
Chinese Pork Chops 206
Ketchup Pork Chops 207
Brown Sauce Pork Chops 207
Grilled Chicken Balls 208
Cajun Spiced Grilled Wings 208
Chicken Carrot Stir-Fry 209
Chicken Salad 209
Chicken Tofu Patties 210
Chicken Milk Stew 211
Ground Pork and Potato Stir-Fry 211
Lemon Chicken 212
Tonkatsu 212
Black Pepper Chicken 213
Chicken Veggie Stir-Fry 213
Honey Chicken 214
Meat Soboro 215
Crispy Chicken Fillet 215
Pork Carrot Patties 216
Pork Cabbage Stir-Fry 216
Japanese Hamburg Steak 217
Seafood and Egg 218
Ketchup Shrimp 219
Fried Salmon Belly Fingers 219
Garlic Shrimp 220
Crispy Fried Shrimp 220
Salmon Mayonnaise 221
Cheesy Fish Fillet 221
Salted Salmon 222
Lemon Soy Sauce Salmon 222
Lemon Dill Salmon 223
Cheese Baked Shrimp 223
Scrambled Eggs 224
Green Bean Omelette 224
Tamagoyaki 225
Vegetables 226
Sesame Broccoli 227
Zucchini and Tomato Baked with Cheese 227
Bell Peppers Stir-Fry 227
Squash Stir-Fry 228
Sriracha Asparagus 228
Potato Salad 228
Broccoli Pasta Salad 229
Green Beans and Mushroom Stir-Fry 229
Butter Mushrooms 230
Broccoli and Carrot Stir-Fry 230
Soy Sauce Okra 230
Sesame Spinach 231
Pea Shoots and Mushroom Stir-Fry 231
Asparagus and Corn Stir-Fry 231
Noodles and Soup 232
Chicken Carbonara 233
Seafood Aglio e Olio 233
Meatball Pasta 234
Chicken Bolognese Pasta 235
Pad Thai 236
Pesto Pasta 237
Curry Pumpkin Soup 237
Asparagus Soup 238
Tomato Soup 238
Glossary 239
Templates 246
Acknowledgments 247
About the Author 248