Skip to main content

A few weeks ago, a friend (who loves to cook and has owned restaurants) got together a small group of friends (“The Girls”) to visit three international grocery stores she loves. I was one of the lucky ones to be invited on the adventure. Of course, we managed to have lunch together along with our shopping. We visited an Asian market, an Indian market, and lastly a Middle Eastern market. Each store had wonderful selections of foods, both prepared and fresh.

On my agenda was to get some preserved lemons to make a Tagine – a Middle Eastern meal made in a special ceramic baking pot with a conical lid. The lid allows steam to circulate during cooking, creating condensation that drips back into the food in the base and keeps it moist.

The Asian market had an amazing selection of both dried and fresh mushrooms, a major improvement over my local grocery store’s selection! I bought a big package of dried Shitake mushroom caps, fresh Shimeji mushrooms (tiny ones), black cargo rice, and gochugaru flakes (mildly hot pepper used a lot in Korean cooking). With these ingredients, I can make some recipes from my beautiful Korean vegan cookbook, including kimchi. I also picked up a daikon radish (I’ve never cooked with one and wanted to), and from the dish department (I love dishes), a teacup with a lid and tea strainer for my daughter and two small teacups for my grandchildren with cat faces, gifts for Valentine’s Day.

Onward to the Indian grocery. There were oodles of Indian cooking pots and serving dishes (did I mention I love dishes!) and a multitude of cooking spices. It was a feast for the eyes and senses. After that, we went to an Indian restaurant for lunch, a really yummy buffet.

Our last stop was the Middle Eastern market. We all came home with warm pita and naan breads. I was able to get my coveted preserved lemons! The label on the jar was in Arabic, but I could see the lemons through the glass jar, so I knew I had the right thing. How pleased I was! I am sure I can make my own preserved lemons, but I wanted to know the authentic taste before I attempted to make any on my own.

I finally made the Tagine I had wanted to cook: spices, eggplant, tomatoes, garbanzos, garlic, and preserved lemon.  My husband and I enjoyed it thoroughly. That recipe awaits another blog.

If you live near a city with interesting international food markets, I encourage you to visit them. Get together a small group of your friends and set off for a day of adventure. It will cause you to try new recipes because now you will have the right ingredients. Plus, you will have spent a delightful day with friends. I forgot to mention that the day we went was cloudy and rainy, but we hardly noticed because we were having such a good time.