"Mick Cant" wrote

> I am married to a Filipina and waiting for her to join me here in
> the UK,after her settlement visa is finalised.

> I know they have rice three times a day, I would hope to be able to buy a
> similar rice here that is mostly used there.
> My wife tells me it is "premium Japanese Rice", but they do grow a lot
> themselves, can anyone tell me what types to look for in the UK?

Mick, she's mostly used to medium grain rice, of which Calrose (grown USA)
is a very popular brand with the Filipena shoppers when they can get it.

For side rices as she will be used to some variety, get a bag (normally sold
in burlap) of long grain basmati from India. (USA Basmati doesnt have the
level of distinct aroma but is workable too, but as a newlywed, get her the
good stuff).

From my experience, most Filipeno's arent that fond of mochi rice. It may
be a regional thing though and I only know Manila and Subic areas. Get a
small bag and see if she likes it. She's apt to make desserts with that
sort.

She may take well to an Italian ariborio (short grain) which is less sweet
than a mochi rice and probably lots cheaper where you are.

There's other stuff she'd appreciate having handy but run this list by her
for a brand check?

Datu Puti brand: Soy sauce, vinegars (several types, especially the one
with the chiles in it called Sukim Maasim and the brown one that is sweet).
Tiparos: Patis (she may have another brand in mind or not know this one but
it's fairly well exported). This is a less salty 'fish sauce' and something
she'd be familiar cooking with. 'Fish Sauce' btw is a generic name and can
even mean soy sauce when it's translated but take my word for it, patis is
not soy sauce.

For fish, she'd probably like to have some milkfish frozen, and tilapia is a
likely one as well. Shrimp of course. She's going to be very specific on
it's quality which means it was frozen correctly and kept so until she's
ready to fix it. If I recall right, she will find frozen shrimp that are
headless and butterflied, a little wierd.

If you have some sort of 'asian grocery' in your area, get a good path
worked out for her to get there but don't try to get the veggies in advance.
Just like the Japanese, she'll want only the *freshest* produce. The level
of 'fresh' is quite different and something you got 3 days ago, may not pass
her standards unless it's a sweet potato etc. If no Asian grocery, the most
accessable place with lots of variety in vegetables.

Things I know to warn of a taste difference between USA and 'Asia'. USA
Mustard greens are very much stronger tasting. I think turnip greens will
be as well but not sure. I do not know about UK versions. USA Broccoli and
Asian types tate the same for the stem, but the asian types do not have the
'flowerettes' (though they sold that type too in some places, of which Subic
seemed to be one).

Get a 20lb bag of calrose medium grain. Tuck it in the freezer for 2 weeks
then a plastic bug-proof keeper (size it if you do not have one and get one
for her). When I lived in Japan for almost 7 years, this was regarded as
highly as 'Premium Japanese Rice' by the Japanese who had access to the USA
military commisary. It's apparently cheaper and a little better. Another
brand is 'Koko' in a white bag with a red label. Almost as good as Calrose
brand and quite close. If she wants some long grain and the India basmati
is too strong tasting for her recipes, try Texas version of it.

Although she may like brown rices also, ask her first. They have a nutty
taste many orient-raised folks outside India find objectionable.

Run this by her? My email isnt grunged and I'd love to talk with her if she
wishes! I don't know if she's from the more money side of the culture or
the average level of it. I'm more familiar with the average side of it ;-)