Just Bento

I've had a great experience ordering bento bowls (MonMode) from LunchAPorter in Montreal. They have regular bento boxes and accessories as well, and last I heard they were expanding to a Montreal brick-and-mortar shop, but their shipping is reasonable and quick (and I'm in the U.S.). http://www.lunchaporter.com

Thanks for the link and the recommendation - I'll take a look.

If you're looking for functional and durable, try Home Hardware or Canadian Tire; either ought to carry the Starfrit Lock&Lock containers. Home Hardware also has a slightly cheaper house brand, Store N' Lock. I have several of their 420mL glass bowls, with plastic lids & silicone seals. I use them for soups and chili, they are microwavable and dishwasher safe, and they have not leaked on me once! A 700mL plastic square Store N' Lock lists for $5 and I bet it would make a fine one-compartment bento.

This week I'm looking for something a little fancier, and I think I'm going to end up ordering overseas! Fenigo.com in Kitchener, ON and JBox.com have the same Hakoya plastic bento, dark lacquered wood finish, two tier 310+440 mL, microwave and dishwasher safe. Even with overseas shipping, JBox is cheaper by $6. Even if you lived in Kitchener and could go pick it up from Fenigo, it'd only be $2 cheaper than having it shipped from Japan.

--Nelson in Inuvik, NWT, Canada

If you're looking for Hakoya or Shinzi Katoh bento boxes, Omiyage.ca carries a selection of each. Omiyage is an online shop based in Ontario. Shipping is $5.00 in Canada.

Happy bento-ing!

http://omiyage.ca

Try your local Asian Supermarket- my favorite here in Edmonton is T&T Supermarket, and you can find them through out the country.

There is a small oriental store in the byward market in Ottawa, it's on 9 Byward Market Square, between Clarence and York. They have a few bento items, all japanesse quality.

- Egg molds 5$ a pair (like these ones http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2008/07/egg-molds-kawaii-ne.html)
- Stainless Steel Cookie Cutters 5$ set of 3 or set of 4
Rice Molds between $4-$8 (onigri, squares, drops, stars, like these ones here
http://lilyanetteviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/rice-molds.html)

I second T&T Supermarket in Edmonton, but from what I've seen all they really have a handy supply of is generic (some cute, some more adult in style) bento boxes and little in the way of veggie cutters, picks, that sort of thing (perhaps I've been looking in the wrong section?).

I have noticed chopsticks, cooking supplies and onigiri shapers, but the shapers are not the fun animal-shaped or character-shaped ones. Also, Dollar stores have stuff you can use in bentos- generic wooden toothpicks and lockable plastic containers, as well as an assortment of smaller containers and (on occasion) silicone baking cups.