I was in need of some supplies yesterday…
So, we headed out to an international grocer to get some of my faves…
I picked up some treats and essentials for things I make regularly.
Usually Mister Lovee does all the grocery shopping.
I know, wild.
I love grocery shopping too, but since he goes into town all the time, he does it.
He's a great shopper, and brings home good stuff.
Not like other men in my past life who couldn't go to a store and find cheese to save their lives.
Anyhow, yesterday I was in the mood to pick up some things, so off we went together.
Don't take me to the international super market.
I will stay forever.
I grew up eating food from all over the world.
Of course, especially Mexican.
My mom and gran and aunt Denise all are amazing cooks.
Chefs in their own way.
(Aunt Denise, mom's sis, taught me how to make choco flan, she is married to Uncle Cheese)
They make everything, and anything.
My taste buds crave all sort of tangy and spicy things.
(in my upbringing, snack foods like chips and some fruits, all get doused in Red Devil and lemon)
I also loooooooooove Indian cuisine.
You?
And Thai, and Japanese, and Middle Eastern, and and and.
Oh oh, that makes me think of the Jordanian place on the east side.
Oh my!
You get the picture.
I also was in dire need of tamarind (known as tamarindo in these parts) and Hibiscus for Jamaica, which sounds like ha-my-ka.
If you are wondering what the item in the first picture is, it's called Soan Papdi.
If you have had it, well, then you knoooow.
If you never have, you must.
It's a sweet from India, and it's very deceiving to those who have never tried it.
It looks like little cakes right?
It's not, not really in the way we think of cake.
If you try to lift it, and are not extra careful, it falls apart in your hand in a million little fibers.
It's flaky, slightly crunchy layers, of melt in your mouth goodness.
Basically, it melts in your mouth like cotton candy.
It's incredible really.
I love the almond and pistachio one you see here.
It has floral and super faint amaretto notes.
I think it should be called angel food.
Real angel food.
It's spectacular.
I think I will try to make some from scratch soon.
Although, not sure I can pull it off after seeing this video, eeeks!
It's indescribable, try it.
You'll like it, I bet.
Also got a cake of tamarind.
Should have grabbed more.
It's not "cake" but a cake of the pulp pressed together.
Which you can use as you desire.
Sauce, drinks etc.
Of course it has no sugar in it when it's in its raw state.
Just typing about tamarind makes me get a chill and my jaw clench up with tart goodness.
The grocery store where I grew up had the pods in bins.
The pods are light brown and filled with the gooey dark tart pulp mixed with seeds and fibers.
Of course, I grew up eating it in Mexican candy.
They mix in chile and sugar with the pulp, and create candies that you can't get enough of.
Tamarindo madness.
It's gooooooooooooooooooood!
I picked up some…
Moroccan Sardines.
And lots of pickled ginger, roasted seaweed sheets for sushi (nori), and a bunch of other things I didn't photograph.
If you have an international market near you, you should check it out if you haven't already.
It's one of my fave places to shop.
There are endless treasures to behold!
Endless.
From treats to cookware to endless edibles and spices.
Like, straws the width of 3 regular straws.
In all colors.
I chose blue.
(strange evening lit photos)
Lovee was a sport.
He said we could stay half the time I wanted, but double the time he wanted.
Still, I tricked him into searching for this or that, even though I knew where it was, so he would get lost for a while and I could shop more 😉
He likes to pop in on his own, get what's on my list and keep moving on.
He says I make an excursion out of everything.
Me? Never.
I have made homemade sushi for nearly every meal this week.
It's my fave.
It's been so hot, some fresh eats as such are all I wanted.
I could eat it everyday I love it so much.
I love wasabi and pickled ginger.
Are you a sushi eater?
I make different rolls than the ones I made here…
But these are my easy as pie makings.
A quick go to.
Once you get the hang of it, it's a snap.
Yesterday I made some spicy crab rolls, but I didn't photograph them.
If you have never made sushi and want to, look for tutorials on YouTube.
It's easy and fun, and makes the culinary experience extra awesome at home.
You can make vegetarian style, and put anything fresh you want inside really.
Last night I made some agua de tamarindo…
Tamarind Water.
It's tamarind concentrate mixed with water and sugar.
Soooo good.
If you can ever get your hands on a "tamarindo paleta," which is a tamarind popsicle, have one for me. They are my fave, next to lime.
Now, hide the Soan Papdi, so you can't find it too easily when you are sleep walking.
Yummmmmmmm.
What is your fave food?
Like, what could you eat almost every single day?
Your absolute fave.
I have lots and lots of faves.
But sushi is really up there.
At or towards the way top.
Getting wasabied is the best!
Too much wasabi of the brain rocks.
Opens up your sinuses brain eyes head.
You know what I mean right?
When I was a little girl and my parents took us out for sushi for the first time, my dad put the whole nub of wasabi in his mouth and almost fainted.
I think I'll change it up with some potstickers for din tonight.
If you could eat anything in the whole world at this very moment, what would it be?
Loved your post…..we just ate sushi- great minds think alike! Here in Canada’s capital (Ottawa) we have tons of international restaurants….I really love Ethiopian, Lebanese and Thai. French Canadian fare is amazing too: poutine, sugar pie and tortieres (Meat pies). Have you had any of these? Have an awesome weekend,
Nathalie
I am going to have to go visit you!! After seeing Anthony Bourdain in
Quebecois heaven, I need to go out for dinner with you one day 😉
I have been a sushi making machine this week.
I just havent wanted anything else but sushi. Maybe the
weather? Summer?
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 7/19/2013 5:19:47 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
I adore Indian foods. Chickpea Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken being two of my absolute faves. Don’t EVEN get me started on the breads and raita. Yummmmmm…
While I don’t eat sushi (I’m vegetarian), I love Japanese Udon noodles with tempura vegetables. I made them from scratch last weekend. I do like the vegetarian sushi – I think they call them “California Rolls.” Haven’t had them in a long time.
Like you, I love looking at the international foods… in Southern California, just about every nationality is represented here. It’s so much fun!
Right now… I really want – ice cream! 🙂
I’ll have to see if I can find the Soan Papdi! It sounds interesting!
I’m not a sushi person, but my husband is.
You mentioned cotton candy in your post & now I want some! I’m usually not a big candy person but I have a thing for cotton candy (and Peeps). I guess I like pure sugar! I just found some at Cost Plus World Market that is tropical flavored! Usually when you eat cotton candy you just taste plain sugar so this is awesome! I guess we all have a guilty pleasure!
The heat finally broke over here! Yesterday it was 99.1 with a heat index of over 100. That probably seems like a cool day to you with the heat you guys had. It’s the humidity that was unbearable! You just stand still outside & immediately the sweat starts dripping! (pretty picture, huh) :0)
It’s supposed to be back in the 80’s now.
Enchiladas! Mexican is my favorite. Tex-Mex mostly. I haven’t even tried sushi but if you made it,
I would have to try it 🙂 I really need to get out more!
Tamarindo palenta sounds divine 🙂
xoxo,
Deb
ps. Typing this from my kindle and it keeps changing my words lol but it’s such a lazy day hehehe
How much Fun!!!! I love those stores too and sushi and…Oh my, I am now hungry for some Sushi and happen to have some in my Fridge..Yay! About the Wasabi thing, agreed! Too much is a very very bad thing..one must be ever so careful LOL!
🖤🖤🖤
Dena
Lovely post! I love to shop delicacies from all over the world. I havent heard of Soan Papdi before but got very curious.
I’m also a sushi eater, but not every day. I like to eat different every day but always with vegetables.
I eat very different every day, but this week I was on a sushi roll
;))) Literally 😉
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 7/20/2013 12:26:50 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
ps: I made crepes for breakfastand broke the sushi roll
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 7/20/2013 12:26:50 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!
Carmen, you can make them anyway you like, that is the beauty. Lots of people love the cucumber avocado and cress rolls. California rolls have crab, cucumber, avocado – but you can omit the crab.
So many options, perfect little fresh bites of goodnes 😉
Laura, we have hit the high humidity with the monsoon season upon us. Imagine 106′ and rain, eeeeks! Pumpkin vines are out of control!! 😉 It’s the heavy growth time, I am smitten with watching pumpkin babies be born 🙂
Deb, sushi someday, for sure 😉
I just got a wonderful wasabi brain attack!
I made crepes for breakfast, but I am back to my fresh sushi bites 😉
I normally have different every day, but sushi on these hot days, yumm yummmm 😉
Vanessa:
I love the idea of international foods. I think they would make me feel so “grown-up.” But alas ~ I am a simple southern girl with a pinch of Mexican culture thrown in for good measure.
I am obsessed with fried green tomatoes (that’s my southern heritage) and tamales (grew up in a hispanic region).
I could live on fried green tomatoes and tamales.
I need to be brave and try more international foods. They scare me. Terrify me, actually!
Why? I don’t know.
Maybe because I grew up on such basic, southern food. My mom made things like ham or fried chicken, mustard greens, fried potatoes and corn bread. And I grew up in Southern California! Go figure…
Thank you for sharing all the interesting food goodies you bought. I am always sort of fascinated by the packaging.
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
I love that kind of food toooooooooo 🙂 nom nom nom!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 7/20/2013 3:52:49 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
I have many of the things in your first picture on my shelf right now. Love sushi and make a similar roll. But I haven’t had the cake things. Now I must run to the international market soon. Love all international foods.
Ohhh! Turkish delight. Rose flavoured turkish delight. Yes please. And talking of roses, rose and violet chocolate creams. So English and sweet and perfumed.
That looks so good !! Here in The Netherlands we eat a lot of different things too. WQe have all kinds of cultures in our country too, eventhough it is a little country ; )
I love Greek, Turkish, Maroccan food and when I tried sushi for the first time I loved it.
Indian, Surinam, and Indonesian food are great too.
Have a great day.
Oh….my…gosh. What a wonderful and wicked post. I’m craving EVERYTHING, especially vegetarian sushi with tons of wasabi and soy, and of course there’s nothing in the pantry or ‘fridge to make anything like what you’ve suggested. Dang!
Arrrrgh! All the Japanese, Indian, Greek, and Thai food – get into my mouth, now! Haha. ‘;^)
Girl….you are so chic in your foodie love choices.
There is a restaurant we love called Le Mediterranee and my fave is Cilicia:
Chunks of chicken with almonds, chick peas, raisins, cinnamon, and spices. I have planned to make it from a recipe a friend emailed like 2 yrs ago. I LOVE it!
XOXOXO
Lisa, that sounds delicious!! I make something very similar a few
times a month. It really hits the spot, a little curry powder some ginger
some cinnamon, chick peas (garbanzo beans), rice or potatoes or meat, raisins,
chopped mint etc. And the best is to make this with the left over turkey
from Thanksgiving… mmmm….. Then I take some plan yogurt and mix in
honey and slivered almonds, sometimes some finely chopped mint too, and put a
dolop on the hot food. Now you made me want some 😉 Mmmm,
mmmmm!!!!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 7/21/2013 8:48:16 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Vanessa,
Your sushi looks soooo good! I’m 1/2 Japanese and don’t get near enough Japanese food, even though my mom works in a Japanese Restaurant. (She lives a ways away). Hubby went on a sushi kick and started making it with whatever was in our fridge. Some turned out great and others…ummm..well interesting. I have yet to try and make it myself, but it’s on my bucket list.
My fave food I can eat all day everyday is FALAFELS! Not just any falafel, but the ones from Falafel King in my city in California. I have tried falafels many different places and none have the flavor and texture of the Falafel King. Maybe that’s why they are the Kings. I love Indian food and of course Japanese. I must visit my Indian friend and beg some of her amazing chicken korma.
My hubby just started to be open with different foods. He was the same thing, all the time type of guy for awhile. Now he’s searcing recipes on the internet and trying them out. Empanadas recently. Who is this guy?
What a cool international market that carries stuff from everywhere! We only have them by country. I will have to search and see if there are some with a little bit of everything. Thanks for all the cool tips on the different items. Are those quail eggs and what do you use them for?
Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!
<3 Dawn
Hi Vanessa!
This looked amazing! I had sushi yesterday 🙂 Philadelphia rolls are my personal favorite!! Crunchy Spicy Tuna are a close second, and you can never go wrong with your standard California roll! I actually have some leftover for lunch today with some clear soup (broth with mushrooms & scallions) Do you like sashimi? I have not gotten that daring yet
:-X, maybe one day I will try it. Stay cool in the heat!
Justina xoxo
Oh I love a smorgasbord of ethnic foods…Italian has really gotten my attention as of late. I make my own pasta, so good, and will never buy store bought pasta ever again. Toss in a little chicken, shrimp, and artichoke hearts in a pesto cream sauce and….ahhhh
Sushi works too !
So does quiche 😉
Oooh….I love a good foreign market.
It makes me so happy when they have trinkets and such….like artistic chopsticks and little sculptures and jewelry, etc.
Lucky Lovee…you make such awesome treats.
Quail eggs, tamarind, sushi! This is MY grocery pile! Going to stock up at an ethnic food store is certainly a grand day out. I see you have straws.
I picked up some of those big black tapioca balls for bubble tea (I’m planning Thai bubble iced coffee) and I need some fat straws.
Well, there’s my excuse to go back!
You have some great international grocers around you! I simply ADORE Indian food, as well. I make a wonderful mushroom curry that I could probably eat each and every day. I also love Middle-eastern food (falafels are to die for, hummus, stuffed grape leaves) and Japanese. I really love avocado rolls dipped in lots of soy sauce. 🙂 I’ve never made sushi rolls, myself. But I DO have a kit! 🙂 Looking forward to a few more sushi-making tips. I am of Portuguese descent – I don’t really eat meat much, but when I was young everyone called me “Theresa linguica” – after a spicy sausage that I simply loved. hee hee hee
“He said we could stay half the time I wanted, but double the time he wanted” Miss V, that is adorable! xxL
I’m a sushi virgin! 😀
I am quite convinced about the Soan Papdi …I will ask our Indian friends
to find me some.
I would like to try Tzatziki, because I keep hearing about it.
Something I always want to snack on is bananas with peanut butter. Pretty simple, right?
Fun post, chicka.