Where to Shop (IRL)

Well, that's a tricky question, and the answer depends greatly on where you live. I've received emails asking for advice and in most cases I have to say 'Unless you live in Auckland, New Zealand, I can't help you.' If you are unwilling or unable to use the online shops accessible through my Links page, you'll have to do a bit of PI work and get friendly with your local Yellow Pages. In the part of the world where I live, rice cookers are readily available in most major electrical/whiteware stores (mine came from Briscoes), but your local shops may differ. I'm sorry I can't be more informative but it really is almost impossible to give RL shopping tips to people in Skokie.

On the off chance that you DO live in Auckland, the hub of Polynesia, I do have a couple of recommendations for you. If you live in another city and would like to share information about good bento-related shops you've found, please email me! It helps if you can attach pictures, clear directions on how to get there, and if possible, a link to the store's website.

Tofu Shop - It does not just sell tofu. The Tofu Shop is a Japanese/general Asian supermarket selling produce, packaged foods and kitchenware, and it has branches in Pakuranga, Mount Eden, the North Shore and Henderson for you Westies. There's also one in Newmarket, in that underpass mall by the Rialto carpark, opposite a pretty good wet fish market for your sushi and seafood needs. Click the link for addresses, and if you need help finding those locations, use the map search at wises.co.nz.

Japanese - Lifestyle Goods Designed in Japan - This is my favourite source, located in the recently developed shopping street behind the Westfield mall in Pakuranga, or as I still think of it, the Plaza. You know where the Ware-whare is? That's right, back there. And a little further along from 'Japanese' is a British specialty store called Bramptins, where you can get Galaxy chocolate and - woo-hoo! - a can of Tizer!

The following are pictures I took on a visit to 'Japanese.' I apologise for the quality - I took them a bit quickly because I wasn't sure the proprietors would like me photographing inside their store, and I felt shy about explaining why I wanted to do it. Some of them are slightly blurry but they're not disastrous.

Anyway, this is the shop front. The kid in the doorway is not a permanent fixture. As with all the pictures of 'Japanese,' you can click the photo for a bigger version, which will come up in its own window.


Bags and pouches (for both lunchboxes and drink bottles) and cutlery. Down below you can see little bowls for rice or soup.	The Putifresh Happy Fruits range from the gloriously named Lube Sheep. Happy Fruits is very delicious! They have grape, apple, cherry and banana choices.	I haven't seen this range before but they are cute and colourful and that's all we need! Stripes and little cartoon animals.

You have plenty of choice in chopsticks - lots of patterns and colours, masculine, feminine, adult and child-like.	Here is, like, everything you ever wanted for shaping onigiri, both classical and cute.	Aaaaaaall the sushi moulds. They have neat little bits like fish-shaped soy sauce bottles, too!
		So that's my trip to 'Japanese'! This really is a lovely shop - I only took pictures of things that were directly bento-related but they also sell yukata, slippers, parasols, hair and beauty supplies, stationery, storage containers and organisers, groceries, wind chimes - all the bits and pieces you need to bring Japan into your home. If you live in Auckland, I warmly recommend it. If you don't, I hope you can find somewhere as good near you!
'Japanese' also has a good selection of dishes in traditional Japanese lacquer style - plastic of course. At the front of the shop you'll also find a range of ceramic dishes, cups etcetera, which rock but aren't practical for packing a lunch.	You can also get bento boxes in this more traditional, less cutesy-poo style. Aren't they classy? Kakkoii.