Made with Love

Mompreneur Sulhee Jessica Woo’s premier cookbook illustrates the art of crafting delightful bento boxes

By Melissa Gill

Sulhee Jessica Woo—the Bento Box Queen—joins me at The Gabi Coffee & Bakery on a sunny afternoon. She’s wearing a long-sleeve top embroidered with “Have a Nice Day!” and stylish black shorts. Sitting on a leather sofa with her legs folded, the mother of three sips on an iced vanilla chai with oat milk. Woo’s biggest motivation comes from her adorable daughters, Olive, Maxine and Adeline. Her visually stunning lunches—which started out as a way to encourage her kids to try new foods—have since become an internet phenomenon.

The eclectic Korean coffeehouse’s atmosphere has a relaxed allure with jazzy music and ambient chatter. Our conversation revolves around her debut recipe book, flourishing social media career and meaningful community connections.

“Let’s Make Some Lunch: Recipes Made with Love for Everyone” by Woo is a new cookbook featuring over 150 recipes for all experience levels. From breakfast-for-lunch ideas like Apple Pie Overnight Oats to dinner “leftovers” recipes like Hearty Homestyle Chili, her vibrant recipe book encompasses an array of meal possibilities. Each of the 60 lunch box ideas has two to three recipes that may be combined to create infinite lunches. She laughs as she refers to the book as her “fourth child.”

“I wanted to create it a while ago, but I stopped because my mom died. I was really depressed,” she says. “It was a lot of work and love. Everyone who was physically a part of making the book, my editor, my graphic designer, and everyone on the photo shoot were all women. I felt very lucky to have had all these cool, badass women helping me.”

Woo rose to fame on TikTok in January 2020 when she shared videos preparing her children’s imaginative bento box lunches, gleefully announcing, “Let’s make some lunch for my kids!” Surpassing over 7 million followers, her diverse content range—including lunch tutorials, family adventures and AAPI activism—captivates audiences. Before her social media stardom, she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media at UNLV and worked several different jobs, such as a cocktail server, bartender and makeup artist.

“I’ve always been a busy person,” she says. “I love working and I like learning new things. I feel lost when my girls aren’t with me. I obviously get to work from home mostly, but I do have to travel a lot.”

Over a decade ago, Woo joined a mother-focused Facebook group. The virtual community began as a forum for discussing children’s clothes, but it quickly evolved into a network of friends who grew close by sharing their parenting experiences. She met a few of them in person for the first time this year.

“We shared a lot about ourselves, like going through motherhood, and not just about clothes, but what we went through. They knew all about my divorce, my mom’s passing and writing this cookbook. During my book tour, a few of them got to come out and see me, which was one of the coolest things. It was very emotional. Being a mom is hard,” she says.

Woo has a significant influence on social media and in her hometown of Las Vegas. Philip Tzeng, recognized as LasVegasFill on social media, is a popular food content creator and podcaster who admires her work. Tzeng describes her latest cookbook as a wonderful collection with a personal touch that sets it apart.

“While I’ve never directly worked with Jessica on any projects—primarily because I’m a terrible cook—I’ve been a big fan from afar. Jessica is one of the most down-to-earth and creative people I know,” Tzeng shares with The Town. “She’s full of positive energy and is more genuine than 99.9 percent of the creators out there. Her presence comes across so well, even through the phone, which is how she’s built a massive following that’s invested in where she goes and what she does.”

In 2001, when Woo was a Las Vegas High School freshman, she took Shannon Sheldon’s Fashion Merchandising course. According to Sheldon, Woo demonstrated impeccable artistry, marked by a precision for detail. After teaching for 20 years, Sheldon now serves as the community partnership coordinator at East Career & Technical Academy, where Woo recently spoke to the school’s marketing, culinary and journalism classes. Moreover, Sheldon tailored the vintage apron Woo wears on the book cover.

“It felt good to be hired by a former student who made it big. Jessica was recognized as a good person, not just a fantastic student. She was friendly to everyone and always had a smile on her face,” Sheldon says.

Woo collaborated with the award-winning children’s meals company Little Spoon to promote her book. Through their partnership, she co-created her first bento box bundle, launched during the back-to-school season. The limited edition bento box includes a three-compartment container, a snack box, and an avocado or heart-shaped note pack.

“The Little Spoon team was amazing because they understood my brand and what I liked. Working with them was a dream. They took into consideration my tattoos, which were a big inspiration. The design was based on this,” she says, revealing a collection of small, colorful fruits, hearts, and stars tattooed across her hand. “Because people know me for my hands. It’s super cute and matches my cookbook, too.”

This may be Woo’s first cookbook, but it’s only the beginning. She’s enthusiastic about creating more recipe collections. Woo is a visionary, perpetually imagining fresh ways to expand her enterprise.

“I have so many ideas that I don’t know what to do with them. I want to do a fun one with all the holidays and themed bento box lunches,” Woo says. “The next step is getting more creative and paying attention to details. I also want to write children’s books.”

Naturally, family has remained a fundamental pillar in her life. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be a mom and pursue a fulfilling, creative career. Her late mother’s homemade meals played a pivotal role in shaping her life. She aspires to make the same positive impact through her culinary creations, weaving family values and cultural traditions into her dynamic lifestyle.

“My mom’s love language was acts of service. As a child, I loved eating. It brought me so much joy. I do things for people like my mom did, and she was so detail-oriented, like when she would give me fruit there would be no bruises,” she explains. “That is a big part of what I want to share with the world: taking the extra time to pick the best things for someone or cook for them. She wasn’t the perfect mom growing up, but she definitely showed me how much I was loved.”