Ethnic Austina field guide to ethnic grocery stores

Field Guide.indd 1 3/27/2013 1:05:38 AM

Understanding this guide

Freezer Section Deli

Restaraunt AttachedFruit and Vegetables

Seafood

Means the store has one or more freezers dedicated to storage of frozen foods.

Store has area dedicated to cutting and weighing of meat.

Store has affiliated restaraunt either within or next to main grocery area.

Fresh produce is sold in this establishment.

Fresh (and in some cases, living) seafood is sold in this grocery store.

Chinese Spotlight

Asia Market

Daily 10am-9pm

The main attractions at Asia Market are their unique vegetable selection that typically costs less than produce at other local grocery stores and the attached restaraunt, Asia Cafe that serves authentic Cantonese cuisine.

Address

Phone

Hours

(512) 331-5780

8650 Spicewood Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78759

Field Guide.indd 2-3 3/27/2013 1:05:39 AM

apple sodaDescription:

This Taiwanese drink can also be found at MT Supermarket and other import stores around Austin. If you’re looking for something different but not too crazy, this drink is it. It’s like a lighter, more refreshing version of Martinelli’s sparkling apple cider. Plus, the can is so cool that it’s practically begging to be washed and hoarded.

.99Price:

OATMEAL IN A CANDescription:

Thirsty for some breakfast? This stuff takes the idea of instant oatmeal to a whole new level. The cans are sold unrefridgerated and come with cute little spoons for convenience.

1.05Price:

Field Guide.indd 4-5 3/27/2013 1:05:42 AM

bitter melon

Description:This stuff is all the rage all over Asia. You can typically find it in drinks, curries, and even in pickle form.

Keep an eye out for this wrinkly melon, as it is widely recognized for its anticancerous and properties, and is often used in the management of Diabetes.

Price: 3.99

fresh bean curd (tofu)

Description:Regulars who shop at Asia Market come in daily for their freshly made Bean Curd, tofu noodles, and tofu pouches.

Made from the thickened skin that rises to the top of soy milk when it is boiled, this is an item you won’t find at your local H-E-B.

Price: 3.99

Field Guide.indd 6-7 3/27/2013 1:05:45 AM

enoki (enokitake mushroom)

Description:Straight out of a Miyazaki film, these long, ghostly mushrooms are commonly used in East Asian foods, particularly soups.

They typically grow on the Chinese Hackberry tree and are thought to promote cardiovascular health as well as improve the immune system’s response to invaders.

Price: 3.99

CHINESE RECIPERussian Cuisine

1 cup cottage cheese2 eggs, beaten3 tablespoons white sugar2 tablespoons semolina flour 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 1/3 cup canola oil for frying

delicous, highly customizable Russiandessert

recipe provided by allrecipes.com

1. Mix together the cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar. Stir in semolina and all-purpose flour, and work into a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, and roll into a 1-inch thick log. Slice the log into 8 pieces, then pat each piece in additional flour to form a patty.

2. Heat the oil over medium heat until hot. Fry the syrniki in hot oil until golden brown on each side, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Ingredients

Prep Time

15

Field Guide.indd 8-9 3/27/2013 1:05:47 AM

Indian Spotlight

Gandhi Bazar

Daily 11am-9pm

Hidden between an Olive Garden and a McDonalds, Gandhi Bazar is a breathe of fresh air to the Anderson Mill neighborhood. Here you’ll find the usual imports as well as unique organic products and religious artifacts.

Address

Phone

Hours

(512)249-7600

12809 N FM 623 #3 Austin, Texas 78750

Field Guide.indd 10-11 3/27/2013 1:05:48 AM

curry in hurry

Description:So quick to prepare that they’ve dropped the “a”, these vegetarian curry pastes are sold ready-to-serve. They are prepared and delivered to the store daily by the Austin-based company Curry in Hurry.

Since the curries are cooked on a daily basis, the flavors change from day to day, and you can call ahead to figure out what’ll be offered.

Price: $00.00

For more information about Curry in a Hurry products visit www.curryinhurryaustin.com

supplement section

Description:This store carries many health supplements, including a line devoted entirely to diabetes management.

They also have a section dedicated to organic Indian foods that can’t be found at an ordinary imports store.

Price: varies

Field Guide.indd 12-13 3/27/2013 1:05:52 AM

self serve Grains & Rice

Description:Spend five minutes talking with the owners about their store and you will hear about their pride and glory, the self serve rice and grain section.

The sizing and variety offered makes choosing rice a highly customizable experience, something that is totally unique in the world of Indian grocery shopping.

Price: afsdf

INDIAN RECIPERussian Cuisine

1 cup cottage cheese2 eggs, beaten3 tablespoons white sugar2 tablespoons semolina flour 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 1/3 cup canola oil for frying

delicous, highly customizable Russiandessert

recipe provided by allrecipes.com

1. Mix together the cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar. Stir in semolina and all-purpose flour, and work into a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, and roll into a 1-inch thick log. Slice the log into 8 pieces, then pat each piece in additional flour to form a patty.

2. Heat the oil over medium heat until hot. Fry the syrniki in hot oil until golden brown on each side, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Ingredients

Prep Time

15

Field Guide.indd 14-15 3/27/2013 1:05:53 AM

MT SuperMarketVietnamese Spotlight

Daily 9am-9pm

MT Supermarket is the Mecca of Asian import stores in North Austin. Though the store is Vietnamese owned you can find Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Indonesian and Mexican items here.

Address

Phone

Hours

(512)249-7600

10901 N Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78753

Field Guide.indd 16-17 3/27/2013 1:05:55 AM

Durian

Description:The Durian typically grows to be about a foot long, weighing between 2 and 7 pounds. This combined with its spiky exterior make standing under the Durian tree a potentially fatal experience.

Durian is infamous for its odor, which is so bad many countries ban its consumption in enclosed public spaces (such as hotels). Its ripened smell leaves one’s breath, as Anthony Bordain delicately put it,“like you just french kissed your dead grandmother”.

Price: $00.00

Instant noodles

Description:Instant noodle brands range from the Nissin Stove Top that graces most dorm cupboards to the more exotic brands that can only be read with the help of an employee. (Hint: those are typically the best ones)

The instant fare here covers the whole gamut of carb+broth combinations imaginable, ranging from your standard Japanese Ramen noodle soup to the trendy Vietnamese Pho.

Price: $.35-.1.25

Field Guide.indd 18-19 3/27/2013 1:05:58 AM

seafood market

Description:In the event that you wish to taste the creatures of the deep, you can buy them by the pound at MT Supermarket. Maybe you’re making Squid tea sandwiches, Shark soup, or a traumatizing aquarium--whatever you need it for, these are just a few of the many types of seafood they have in stock.

Just keep in mind that you’re going to need to pay to have it gutted, or you’re gonna have a bad time.

This section is not for the squeamish.

Price: $00.00

sting ray

Description:I hope that if you remember anything from this field guide it’s that if you need some Sting Ray meat, MT Supermarket’s got your back.

The only edible part of the sting ray is its wings. Many imitation crab meats are made from sting ray wings.

Price: $00.00

Field Guide.indd 20-21 3/27/2013 1:06:01 AM

shark

Description:Though its pretty unnerving to see shark sold by the pound, apparently shark is pretty delicous. MT Supermarket may be one of the only stores in Austin that sells the stuff but it’s a fairly common delicacy.

Shark is typically served marinated and grilled as a steak.

Price: $00.00

squid

Description:Yes that is an enormous squid, and yes, that is its enormous horrifying eye.

Price: $00.00

Field Guide.indd 22-23 3/27/2013 1:06:04 AM

baby squid

Description:Aww, they got the whole family!

Price: $00.00

vietnamese Russian Cuisine

1 cup cottage cheese2 eggs, beaten3 tablespoons white sugar2 tablespoons semolina flour 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 1/3 cup canola oil for frying

delicous, highly customizable Russiandessert

recipe provided by allrecipes.com

1. Mix together the cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar. Stir in semolina and all-purpose flour, and work into a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, and roll into a 1-inch thick log. Slice the log into 8 pieces, then pat each piece in additional flour to form a patty.

2. Heat the oil over medium heat until hot. Fry the syrniki in hot oil until golden brown on each side, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Ingredients

Prep Time

15

Field Guide.indd 24-25 3/27/2013 1:06:06 AM

Sasha’s Russianmarket & Cafe

Russian Spotlight

Daily 9am-9pm

Easily overlooked amongst the many strip malls of West Anderson Lane, Sasha’s is truly a hidden gem. With bizarre snacks and a wide variety of beverages, it is the perfect place to pick up a unique gift for friends and family.

Address

Phone

Hours

(512) 459-1449

7817 Rockwood Ln, Ste 102Austin, TX 78757

Field Guide.indd 26-27 3/27/2013 1:06:06 AM

pelmeni

Description:Pelmeni is a traditional Russian dumpling that is typically stuffed with chicken, beef, or veal--all of which are sold in this store.

Given its grab-and-go nature, Pelmeni has a connotation as a food primarily for children and bachelors. Summed up, Pelmeni is like Russian Ravioli.

Fun fact: Pelmeni is derived from pel’nyan’, which is a Russian word meaning “ear bread”. Yum.

Price: 4.99

balichok (balyk fish)

Description:In Russia, the word balyk refers to dried fish that has been salted and had its bones removed. It is added to other dishes to add flavor or can be eaten by itself as a snack.

Basically, this stuff is the Russian equivalent of Beef Jerky, and it is typically eaten accompanied by a cold beer.

Price: 6.59

Field Guide.indd 28-29 3/27/2013 1:06:09 AM

tiny tiny bagels

Description:One of the many unique items Sasha’s carries is its mini bagels. They come in two unofficial sizes- tiny (shown here) and tinier.

The texture and taste is more kin to that of an unsalted pretzel than it is bagel, but the little guys are perfect with hot cocoa or jam.

Price: 3.99

Pickled Anything

As you can imagine, the process of pickling food arose from the need to preserve foods during Russian winters, but continued because it just tastes so good. Sasha’s

is pretty serious about the pickled imports they carry, devoting an entire row to all things preserved. Bulgarian tomatoes? Tiny fish? Like the Portlandia sketch, you name it, they can pickle that--and Sasha’s probably has it.

Price: varies

Description:

Field Guide.indd 30-31 3/27/2013 1:06:10 AM

Pickled Anything

As you can imagine, the process of pickling food arose from the need to preserve foods during Russian winters, but continued because it just tastes so good. Sasha’s

is pretty serious about the pickled imports they carry, devoting an entire row to all things preserved. Bulgarian tomatoes? Tiny fish? Like the Portlandia sketch, you name it, they can pickle that--and Sasha’s probably has it.

Price: varies

Description:

vietnamese Russian Cuisine

1 cup cottage cheese2 eggs, beaten3 tablespoons white sugar2 tablespoons semolina flour 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 1/3 cup canola oil for frying

delicous, highly customizable Russiandessert

recipe provided by allrecipes.com

1. Mix together the cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar. Stir in semolina and all-purpose flour, and work into a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, and roll into a 1-inch thick log. Slice the log into 8 pieces, then pat each piece in additional flour to form a patty.

2. Heat the oil over medium heat until hot. Fry the syrniki in hot oil until golden brown on each side, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Ingredients

Prep Time

15

Field Guide.indd 32-33 3/27/2013 1:06:11 AM

1. Asia Market

3. MT Supermarket4. Sasha’s Gourmet Russian Market

2. Gandhi Bazar

Field Guide.indd 34-35 3/27/2013 1:06:11 AM

Field Guide.indd 36 3/27/2013 1:06:12 AM