Stopped in at the local Asian market yesterday to buy a few ingredients for
tonight's dinner. Couldn't believe the produce prices! Lemons and limes,
11 cents each. Green beans and broccoli, $.79 a pound. Strawberries (yeah,
I know, out of season, but the kids like 'em) $1.50 for a container that is
usually $2.50 at the supermarket. Herbs, ridiculously cheap. Etc, etc,
etc.

I don't shop there often, because it is usually so packed. But I realize
that I've been going there on weekends, when I have more time to chop up all
the stuff needed for the dishes we like. Turns out that the place is
practically deserted on weekdays! I'll be going back for our produce, for
sure. (Especially since I forgot the lemongrass).

My two-year-old loved seeing the live crabs and big ol' dead fish, and he
liked the free cookies they set out near the cashier. :-)

Meanwhile, the 5-yr-old decided to try my pork and beef chili last
night....she liked it! I'm thawing some more for her lunch at the moment.

Tonight's dinner: Warm Beef on Cool Noodles from May Pham's Best of
Vietnamese and Thai Cooking. Will post the recipe if it's any good.

CHris

On 2005-11-02, Chris > wrote:
> Stopped in at the local Asian market yesterday to buy a few ingredients for
> tonight's dinner. Couldn't believe the produce prices! Lemons and limes,
> 11 cents each. Green beans and broccoli, $.79 a pound. Strawberries (yeah,
> I know, out of season, but the kids like 'em) $1.50 for a container that is
> usually $2.50 at the supermarket. Herbs, ridiculously cheap. Etc, etc,
> etc.

Yep. Most ethnic markets are under gringo radar. I do most of my
produce shopping at a Mexican fruit stand around the corner, the
prices being half to a third of the supers. They even carry lemon
grass and fresh basil. When I do make the occasional trip over the
hill to an oriental market, I stock up on pork and spices.

nb

notbob wrote:
> On 2005-11-02, Chris > wrote:
> > Stopped in at the local Asian market yesterday to buy a few ingredients for
> > tonight's dinner. Couldn't believe the produce prices! Lemons and limes,
> > 11 cents each. Green beans and broccoli, $.79 a pound. Strawberries (yeah,
> > I know, out of season, but the kids like 'em) $1.50 for a container that is
> > usually $2.50 at the supermarket. Herbs, ridiculously cheap. Etc, etc,
> > etc.
>
> Yep. Most ethnic markets are under gringo radar. I do most of my
> produce shopping at a Mexican fruit stand around the corner, the
> prices being half to a third of the supers. They even carry lemon
> grass and fresh basil. When I do make the occasional trip over the
> hill to an oriental market, I stock up on pork and spices.
>
Yes, one of the great advantages of living in a populous, diverse
place. But you have to be selective. The Mexican grocery near me has
good produce at low prices, but low quality meat. Even so, a far
better selection of oxtails and beef shanks and beef short ribs than
the anglo supermarkets. The Asian groceries are not as close but the
produce and seafood and fresh Asian noodles are great. Poultry is
good, pork is good, beef is not. I get good beef at Costco even though
I then have to freeze some of it. -aem

notbob wrote:

> Yep. Most ethnic markets are under gringo radar. I do most of my
> produce shopping at a Mexican fruit stand around the corner, the
> prices being half to a third of the supers. They even carry lemon
> grass and fresh basil. When I do make the occasional trip over the
> hill to an oriental market, I stock up on pork and spices.
>
> nb

And don't forget the terrific prices at ethnic butchers. I render my own
lard, buying all the pork fat I need for *pennies* at an oriental market
over the hill. Oh, and the house-made chorizo at a local Mexican mercado is
the best I've ever had.

Spitz
--
"Home, James, and don't spare the horses!"

On 2005-11-02, aem > wrote:

> good produce at low prices, but low quality meat. Even so, a far
> better selection of oxtails and beef shanks and beef short ribs than
> the anglo supermarkets. The Asian groceries are not as close but the
> produce and seafood and fresh Asian noodles are great. Poultry is
> good, pork is good, beef is not. I get good beef at Costco even though
> I then have to freeze some of it. -aem

A lot depends on the ethno-pop density. I've been to Mexican
supermarkets out in CA's Central Valley that have great beef
selections. One, in Visalia, had gorgeous cuts of skirt steak on sale
for the insanely cheap price of $1.79lb! I can't even find skirt
steak around here, anymore (SFBA). While it's true Costco has pretty
decent quality beef, their selection sucks. Try and find skirt steak
or even brisket at a BA Costco.

nb

In article <gw5af.583$Qs3.196@trnddc01>,
"Chris" > wrote:

> Stopped in at the local Asian market yesterday to buy a few ingredients for
> tonight's dinner. Couldn't believe the produce prices! Lemons and limes,
> 11 cents each. Green beans and broccoli, $.79 a pound. Strawberries (yeah,
> I know, out of season, but the kids like 'em) $1.50 for a container that is
> usually $2.50 at the supermarket. Herbs, ridiculously cheap. Etc, etc,
> etc.
>
> I don't shop there often, because it is usually so packed. But I realize
> that I've been going there on weekends, when I have more time to chop up all
> the stuff needed for the dishes we like. Turns out that the place is
> practically deserted on weekdays! I'll be going back for our produce, for
> sure. (Especially since I forgot the lemongrass).
>
> My two-year-old loved seeing the live crabs and big ol' dead fish, and he
> liked the free cookies they set out near the cashier. :-)
>
> Meanwhile, the 5-yr-old decided to try my pork and beef chili last
> night....she liked it! I'm thawing some more for her lunch at the moment.
>
> Tonight's dinner: Warm Beef on Cool Noodles from May Pham's Best of
> Vietnamese and Thai Cooking. Will post the recipe if it's any good.
>
> CHris
>
>

The asian market is one of my favorite places to shop for all of the
above reasons. ;-)

I can get good stuff for excellent prices, and it's just a lot of fun to
go there, once you get used to the smell. <lol>

Cheers!
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 16:08:44 GMT, "Chris" >
connected the dots and wrote:

~Stopped in at the local Asian market yesterday to buy a few
ingredients for
~tonight's dinner. Couldn't believe the produce prices! Lemons and
limes,
~11 cents each. Green beans and broccoli, $.79 a pound. Strawberries
(yeah,
~I know, out of season, but the kids like 'em) $1.50 for a container
that is
~usually $2.50 at the supermarket. Herbs, ridiculously cheap. Etc,
etc,
~etc.

Limes 30/$1 15/$.79 Pineapple 1.49 Hajaya<?> persimmons $6/case of
24, Honeydew melon 1.50 Ginger: 99 cents for 12 ounces fresh.

~I don't shop there often, because it is usually so packed. But I
realize
~that I've been going there on weekends, when I have more time to chop
up all
~the stuff needed for the dishes we like. Turns out that the place is
~practically deserted on weekdays! I'll be going back for our
produce, for
~sure. (Especially since I forgot the lemongrass).
~
~My two-year-old loved seeing the live crabs and big ol' dead fish,
and he
~liked the free cookies they set out near the cashier. :-)
~
~Meanwhile, the 5-yr-old decided to try my pork and beef chili last
~night....she liked it! I'm thawing some more for her lunch at the
moment.
~
~Tonight's dinner: Warm Beef on Cool Noodles from May Pham's Best of
~Vietnamese and Thai Cooking. Will post the recipe if it's any good.
~
~CHris
~

>
> A lot depends on the ethno-pop density. I've been to Mexican
> supermarkets out in CA's Central Valley that have great beef
> selections. One, in Visalia, had gorgeous cuts of skirt steak on sale
> for the insanely cheap price of $1.79lb! I can't even find skirt
> steak around here, anymore (SFBA).

Notbob,

Can I take a guess it's RN Market on Lovers Lane? (Yes, the road is
actually called Lovers Lane.) If not, which market? Just curious.

If you're out this way often, let me know, and I'll tell you some of my
secret places to get the best fresh-from-the-oven bread, the best road
side fruit stands, etc. Oh yah, and the farmstead dairy that makes
some of the best white cheddar in the world. I buy it direct from
their little sales trailer. (I don't mean to offend any Brits out
there, but it is some of the best in the world.)

Thanks,

Ken