I went to the store last week to buy groceries and had the most delightful time. I know, my life is exciting, right? Well, this wasn’t just any store. It was Uwajimaya, an Asian specialty grocery store. If you like food places, it’s a WOW! one. There is so much there to appreciate and enjoy on so many levels.

My daughter had asked me if I would make mabo-dofu (a spicy tofu dish) sometime soon. “Sure,” I said, “but I need to go shopping first” and so put together my Uwajimaya shopping list. It’s been months since I’d been last. I was amused to see that over half of my list was in Japanese even though I don’t practice it much any more. Clearly not when it comes to food though!

My trip to Uwajimaya was a bit like an artist’s date with myself as recommended by Julia Cameron in her book, The Artist’s Way. I enjoy the memories from living and traveling in Asia as well as soaking up the ambiance and inspiration that comes from being in that market.

The variety and quality of fresh fruits and vegetables on display is remarkable. I often take pictures in the produce section so I can draw from them later. I usually plan to get some of the Asian greens because they are so fresh as well as being my favorite kind of vegetable. This week I’ll be making mu shu pork with my Chinese cabbage, regular cabbage, bok choy, gai lan, you choy sum and daikon that I was tempted by.

Past the produce section and the artful displays, further in, the next aisle has prepared fresh and frozen meals to grab and go, mostly Japanese-style. This area brings memories and associations with people I’ve had meals with in the past. I always look for onigiri (rice balls wrapped in seaweed) which bring back memories of Japan where I had homemade ones on picnics. Some what strangely, but happily, paõ de queijo (Brazilian small cheese bread rolls) are found here too. I was introduced to them by a Brazilian friend and grab them whenever I can find them and think of her each time I make them.

Then it’s onward through the bakery section which is small. This is another memory area for me. I remember all the Japanese bakeries I’ve been by and the tempting goodies on their shelves. Here at the store I occasionally get the shoku-pan (thickly sliced bread) but pass up it most of the time.

The frozen section is full of Japanese, Chinese and Korean dumplings of various sorts. Never go here hungry. There are too many varieties to tempt with. One of my wish list items of things to draw are gyoza.

The next aisle over is where I find miso (soybean paste) for miso soup. Again, there are so many varieties of miso to try. I visited so many food factories during my 3 years in Japan but don’t remember seeing how miso is made.

Next up are where the ramen and canned drinks are. So many choices of ramen and instant noodles. It’s hard not to be tempted. Facing the ramen are canned drinks: coffees, teas, milky drinks, juices and soda. It’s a bit of a game to see how unusual of a drink can be found and then have a tasting at home.

And then, and then, and then… So much yummy goodness in the store. It brings back memories of when I lived in Japan, provides me good food and ideas for meals to have, and offers so much material for artistic inspiration. I left Uwajimaya in such a happy mood. I had an outing and without going very far felt like I had traveled the world. I went home and cooked.

Do you have a local place that you go to and get inspired by?

At the end of this shopping trip, I did get the seasoning for the mabo-dofu that was the reason for my outing, but forgot to get the tofu. Oops!