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  • Post #61 - June 8th, 2016, 4:47 pm
    Post #61 - June 8th, 2016, 4:47 pm Post #61 - June 8th, 2016, 4:47 pm
    Ever in search of bargains, I always stop by the Clearance section at my local Jewel. Not sure why it was there, but there was a marked-down box of Sri Lankan Curry from Marion's Kitchen. I bought it, and today, I prepared it. I'm happy to report that the words "restaurant quality" printed on the box accurately describe the results. The kit contained packets of whole spices, curry paste, and coconut milk, and I supplied the onion, tomato, and chicken. The curry it produced is wonderful.

    Marion, who has a Thai mother and lives in Thailand, produces a range of these kits -- which are, I've now learned, the hottest gourmet goodies in Australia. Given how much Asian food is available in Australia, I figure that's high praise indeed, and makes me want to search out other offerings. Fortunately, Marion's Kitchen kits are now sold in the U.S. -- the website has a map that will show you where to buy it (including Jewel).

    Instructions are clear and cheerful, include ideas for multiple variations, and even relate how to control the heat with the spices enclosed. Genuinely yummy results. Won't replace going out for dinner, but a real lifesaver when one needs to stay home and work. I'm sure they're probably all good, but I'm really in love with the Sri Lankan Curry at the moment (still eating it, in fact).

    Here's Marion's website: http://marionskitchen.com/
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #62 - June 9th, 2016, 3:57 pm
    Post #62 - June 9th, 2016, 3:57 pm Post #62 - June 9th, 2016, 3:57 pm
    Nuco Organic Coconut Vinegar with Coconut Syrup

    Remarkably good. Like a really good, reduced balsamic vinegar. Tasting it triggers lots of ideas -- the sort of things one would drizzle a balsamic reduction over (I want to try it over avocado next).

    Also really good straight -- which the bottle and website actually recommend -- as an energy drink. Mighty tasty stuff.

    http://www.nucoconut.com/products/coconut-vinegar/
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #63 - June 15th, 2016, 5:58 pm
    Post #63 - June 15th, 2016, 5:58 pm Post #63 - June 15th, 2016, 5:58 pm
    Browsing the Shop & Save across from Superdawg last night, I came across 'eggplant caviar ikra Russian Style' on sale for $1.99/19oz jar. A purely impulse purchase, it fell into my cart and onto my kitchen table. Holy cats, this is good. I ate a good half cup of it a spoonful at a time when I got home before forcing myself to put it away and beelined for the fridge after work tonight for more.

    There are a couple mentions here on the board, mostly in the Costco thread and as appetizers around town here and there. This particular jar is from Bulgaria and is distributed by AP Global. Don't bother visiting their website, it's a ghost town.

    Eggplant has always been 'just sort of there' when I've tried it in the past, dominated by other flavors like smoke , garlic & tahini in baba ghanoush, tomato, herbs & cheese in Parmesan or potent sauce in a Thai curry. It is front & center in this great spread. I'm now staring at a half empty jar.
  • Post #64 - June 22nd, 2016, 7:31 pm
    Post #64 - June 22nd, 2016, 7:31 pm Post #64 - June 22nd, 2016, 7:31 pm
    BrendanR wrote:Browsing the Shop & Save across from Superdawg last night, I came across 'eggplant caviar ikra Russian Style' on sale for $1.99/19oz jar. A purely impulse purchase, it fell into my cart and onto my kitchen table. Holy cats, this is good. I ate a good half cup of it a spoonful at a time when I got home before forcing myself to put it away and beelined for the fridge after work tonight for more.


    Interesting. I've only ever had the French style (caviar d'aubergine) -- but thinking to the time when anyone with money in Russia had a French chef, I'm interested to hear of its having a Russian version. Definitely be looking for this. Thanks.
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #65 - July 3rd, 2016, 9:55 pm
    Post #65 - July 3rd, 2016, 9:55 pm Post #65 - July 3rd, 2016, 9:55 pm
    Browsing in the little Asian Market on Dundee, in Palatine (next to Sushi Para), I picked up a few necessities -- but added to that a new (to me) snack that caught my eye: Calbee Jagabee Butter Soy Sauce, "kicked up by Kikkoman." The package says these are "thick, whole cut potato crisps," but the illustration looks like French fries. The crisps themselves look very much like fries, but with a crunch somewhere between potato sticks and chips. The taste of butter and soy sauce is surprisingly tasty. Fun, crispy, tasty snack to take somewhere the people are just a little bit adventurous but not quite up to the dried baby octopus snacks.

    Shared them with a friend. We'd both buy them again.
    https://www.snackinn.com/calbee-jagabee ... -soy-sauce
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #66 - July 12th, 2016, 7:33 pm
    Post #66 - July 12th, 2016, 7:33 pm Post #66 - July 12th, 2016, 7:33 pm
    One of my favorite brands of prepared foods is Cracovia, a Polish brand that is widely available in Chicagoland. I've loved their buckwheat soup and their mushroom soup for years, but this week, I picked up a new (to me) product: sauerkraut stew.

    It's mild, rather than sharp, but flavorful. The ingredients are pretty simple: sauerkraut, carrot, mushrooms, tomato, plum, spices. Really delicious when you need a quick option for a side dish -- or a quick snack. Fun discovery -- and likely to become a staple.
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #67 - July 12th, 2016, 8:37 pm
    Post #67 - July 12th, 2016, 8:37 pm Post #67 - July 12th, 2016, 8:37 pm
    My favorite Polish soup, Cynthia, is tripe soup, which a deli here in Montréal makes. Does Cracovia do one, too?
    Our deli lady also makes a wild mushroom soup which is to kill for! Next time you're in MTL, let me know and we could give it a try!

    Geo
    Sooo, you like wine and are looking for something good to read? Maybe *this* will do the trick! :)
  • Post #68 - July 13th, 2016, 1:57 pm
    Post #68 - July 13th, 2016, 1:57 pm Post #68 - July 13th, 2016, 1:57 pm
    Geo wrote:My favorite Polish soup, Cynthia, is tripe soup, which a deli here in Montréal makes. Does Cracovia do one, too?
    Our deli lady also makes a wild mushroom soup which is to kill for! Next time you're in MTL, let me know and we could give it a try!

    Geo

    Cracovia's offerings all appear to be vegetarian, so no tripe soup. If the world allows me to visit Montréal again, I'll definitely take you up on your invitation to sample the offerings at your deli.
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #69 - July 17th, 2016, 10:56 pm
    Post #69 - July 17th, 2016, 10:56 pm Post #69 - July 17th, 2016, 10:56 pm
    Was going to a friend's house this evening, so I stopped at my favorite place for buying unusual snacks—World Market. They always have a lot of fun things on offer, but a couple of new nibbles caught my eye this afternoon. "Somersaults: crunch sunflower seed bites," salt and pepper flavor. Both the flavor and ingredient list are dominated by sunflowers and black pepper, with a bit of whole wheat. About 3/4-inch across, they are small in size but big in flavor. Also offer a good bit of protein and fiber. Highly recommended.
    http://somersaultlifecompany.com/

    Next, I picked up two packages of Thai Rice Crackers, from Bangkok Cookies, in Tom Yum and Crab Curry flavors. These, were, again, small bites with big flavors -- and tasted remarkably like their namesake dishes. Ingredient lists look remarkably like recipes for the dishes. For example, Tom Yum includes (along with the crunch rice that is the base) lemon grass, galangal, kaffir lime leaf, soy sauce, shrimp, and roasted chilli. Both flavors were excellent, though less subtle than the sunflower bites. (Doing a search for a website for this, I ran across a travel site that identified these as one of the top souvenirs to bring back from Thailand. This way, there's no jet lag.) http://www.tripzilla.com/bangkok-delici ... nirs/33542

    So many enticing things at World Market. (Also picked up some Volpi salame -- most excellent stuff -- but that wasn't a discovery today, as I already knew I loved it.)
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #70 - July 24th, 2016, 6:19 pm
    Post #70 - July 24th, 2016, 6:19 pm Post #70 - July 24th, 2016, 6:19 pm
    It's hard to choose from the large number of various eggplant and pepper relishes, ajvars, and the like available at Fresh Farms Niles. We've tried a few in the past, but my most recent pick is the winner so far: Garden Made brand "Eggplant Georgian Style" has nice chunks of eggplant in a slightly spicy tomato and pepper sauce. The eggplant is tender but not mushy. Like most of the relishes I see at FFN, Garden Made comes from Bulgaria. It was delicious with the store-made beef-lamb cevapcici and made for a nice hot-weather dinner along with homemade cold cucumber soup. We will have to try some of Garden Made's other products.
  • Post #71 - July 24th, 2016, 6:47 pm
    Post #71 - July 24th, 2016, 6:47 pm Post #71 - July 24th, 2016, 6:47 pm
    EvA wrote:It's hard to choose from the large number of various eggplant and pepper relishes, ajvars, and the like available at Fresh Farms Niles. We've tried a few in the past, but my most recent pick is the winner so far: Garden Made brand "Eggplant Georgian Style" has nice chunks of eggplant in a slightly spicy tomato and pepper sauce. The eggplant is tender but not mushy. Like most of the relishes I see at FFN, Garden Made comes from Bulgaria. It was delicious with the store-made beef-lamb cevapcici and made for a nice hot-weather dinner along with homemade cold cucumber soup. We will have to try some of Garden Made's other products.


    Sounds wonderful. It's now on my list for my next visit to Fresh Farms. Thanks, EvA.
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #72 - July 27th, 2016, 12:33 pm
    Post #72 - July 27th, 2016, 12:33 pm Post #72 - July 27th, 2016, 12:33 pm
    For shoppers of T.J. Maxx's "gourmet" foodstuffs:
    http://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining- ... od-sources
  • Post #73 - July 28th, 2016, 10:27 pm
    Post #73 - July 28th, 2016, 10:27 pm Post #73 - July 28th, 2016, 10:27 pm
    excelsior wrote:For shoppers of T.J. Maxx's "gourmet" foodstuffs:
    http://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining- ... od-sources


    Yes -- a wonderful source for interesting exotica. Thanks for posting the article.

    Also, if you're somewhere they have a HomeGoods store, and not a T.J. Maxx -- know that they're the same company, and HomeGoods, too, will have a few aisles of goodies. Fun shopping. However, it's good to have some idea what things normally cost, because some of their prices are outstanding, but some items are not substantially discounted.
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #74 - September 18th, 2016, 7:55 pm
    Post #74 - September 18th, 2016, 7:55 pm Post #74 - September 18th, 2016, 7:55 pm
    Not really today's discovery -- but recent and just opened my second jar today.

    Cracovia Sauerkraut Stew

    Ingredients: cabbage, onion, olive oil, tomato concentrate, mushrooms, plum, spices.

    A mild sauerkraut, but with a lot of flavor.

    Got it at Tony's, but I imagine it would be any grocery store with a Polish aisle.
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #75 - October 2nd, 2016, 9:08 pm
    Post #75 - October 2nd, 2016, 9:08 pm Post #75 - October 2nd, 2016, 9:08 pm
    I'm sitting here, sipping a cup of my latest discovery -- Tiesta Tea. I'm having Kiwi Cherry Bonanza, though previously I had a cup of Citrus Sunburst. Both of these yummy teas are in their Immunity line -- so geared for health. Other categories are Energizer, Slenderizer, Relaxer, and Eternity.

    Chicago-based company. Little video on their site says they were inspired by tea blends in Europe -- and I've seen a lot of those types of fruit-heavy blends on my own travels. Their website shows that they have real tea as well -- full range of classics. But my first encounter with the brand was these fruit teas.

    These are fun, tasty "teas" with nice ingredients. Very much enjoying these. Here's their website: https://tiestatea.com/
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #76 - October 3rd, 2016, 6:35 am
    Post #76 - October 3rd, 2016, 6:35 am Post #76 - October 3rd, 2016, 6:35 am
    Yeah, I *love* that stuff, Cynthia! Can't find it anywhere up here in far Upstate NY, so I have to get it from Amazon. Pricey, but well worth it: a little bit goes a long way.

    Geo
    Sooo, you like wine and are looking for something good to read? Maybe *this* will do the trick! :)
  • Post #77 - October 3rd, 2016, 9:25 am
    Post #77 - October 3rd, 2016, 9:25 am Post #77 - October 3rd, 2016, 9:25 am
    Sorry Cynthia, I just realized that I'd somehow transposed two of your posts, so please ignore my remark!

    Geo
    Sooo, you like wine and are looking for something good to read? Maybe *this* will do the trick! :)
  • Post #78 - October 3rd, 2016, 9:28 am
    Post #78 - October 3rd, 2016, 9:28 am Post #78 - October 3rd, 2016, 9:28 am
    And so here's my most recent discovery (actually, I learned about this stuff from a great blog "The Woks of Life"), one really fine Chinese chili+bean sauce:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051D84GI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    The bean flavour is different from any other sauce I've ever tasted--very, very beany. Good but not overpowering heat. Wonderful stuff!

    Geo
    Sooo, you like wine and are looking for something good to read? Maybe *this* will do the trick! :)
  • Post #79 - October 3rd, 2016, 2:09 pm
    Post #79 - October 3rd, 2016, 2:09 pm Post #79 - October 3rd, 2016, 2:09 pm
    I use Lao Gan Ma sauces all the time. I use the black beans you linked as a substitute for fermented black beans (dou chi) in every recipe despite being in some cases quite different. They just taste that good.

    I use their chili crisp as a general purpose chili sauce. Their other chili sauces are good but not as indispensable IMO.

    I also really like their fermented bean curd. However, I would avoid their version of doubanjiang. It's not really the same product at all.
  • Post #80 - October 3rd, 2016, 2:21 pm
    Post #80 - October 3rd, 2016, 2:21 pm Post #80 - October 3rd, 2016, 2:21 pm
    Tnx for the chili crisp tip, botd--just scored some from Amazon! : )

    The best Pixian doubanjiang I ever had is this one:
    https://www.amazon.com/Pixian-Sichuan-Xian-Broad-Paste/dp/B00FBSMS38/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1475525956&sr=8-3&keywords=pixian+doubanjiang First found it at a Sichuan grocery in Montréal. Can't live without it!

    Geo
    Sooo, you like wine and are looking for something good to read? Maybe *this* will do the trick! :)
  • Post #81 - October 6th, 2016, 9:36 pm
    Post #81 - October 6th, 2016, 9:36 pm Post #81 - October 6th, 2016, 9:36 pm
    Thanks for the two posts on the great bean sauce. Always fun to have something to look for.

    Today's discovery for me was a fun find -- at Sunrise, the new Indian mega-mart in Wheeling (IL). Picked up a few favorites, and then saw a package of Lay's: India's Magic Masala. I've learned when traveling that familiar names are often attached to unfamiliar tastes. These chips are imported from India, "made with best quality potatoes," and doused in a wonderfully flavorful spice masala -- all the usual suspects: chilli, coriander, mango powder, ginger, black salt, black pepper, turmeric, and sugar. Not something that would warrant driving all the way out to the store, but if you're at the store for other Indians delights, definitely a fun thing to sample.
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #82 - December 8th, 2016, 4:25 pm
    Post #82 - December 8th, 2016, 4:25 pm Post #82 - December 8th, 2016, 4:25 pm
    I just read something about a thing called 'chicken salt' that is apparently very popular in Australia. They use it on fish & chips and generally as a salt substitute. Here is a basic recipe that I found.

    http://luckypeach.com/recipes/australian-chicken-salt/

    There is also a website entitled chickensalt.com, but it leads to a chicken free vegan product (contains tumeric) that is allegedly similar in flavor to the Australian chicken salt.

    Has anyone tried chicken salt at home or abroad? If so I would love to hear about any experiences. I am thinking about making a batch for home use and will report if/when I do.
  • Post #83 - December 8th, 2016, 7:02 pm
    Post #83 - December 8th, 2016, 7:02 pm Post #83 - December 8th, 2016, 7:02 pm
    Not sure if Sunrise has been talked about on LTH, but I have never been there. Sounds like a place I need to check out.
  • Post #84 - December 9th, 2016, 7:10 pm
    Post #84 - December 9th, 2016, 7:10 pm Post #84 - December 9th, 2016, 7:10 pm
    lougord99 wrote:Not sure if Sunrise has been talked about on LTH, but I have never been there. Sounds like a place I need to check out.


    Do you mean the Indian grocery store on Dundee Rd. in Wheeling? If so, while I mention it above, I don't think it has gotten it's own thread, if that's what you mean. It's a wonderful place -- nice people and great selections. Not quite as heady as a day on Devon Ave. -- but a lot easier to get to for those of us in the suburbs. Fresh veggies and fruit, homemade goods, plus all the usual spices, pickles, snacks, frozen foods, and other items needed for Indian cooking. But you definitely should check it out if you like Indian food -- 14,000 square feet of shopping opportunity. Bonus for this location, Dundee Rd. in Wheeling is also home to Krystyna's Grocery, a Polish/Eastern European spot in the same strip mall as Sunrise, and about a mile west, Carniceria Jimenez, a splendid place for all things Spanish and Latin American (including a great little café). Definitely a target rich environment for food shopping.

    But here's the site for Sunrise -- maybe it will lure you in for a visit: http://sunriseindiansupermarket.com/
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #85 - December 10th, 2016, 12:10 pm
    Post #85 - December 10th, 2016, 12:10 pm Post #85 - December 10th, 2016, 12:10 pm
    Cynthia wrote:But here's the site for Sunrise -- maybe it will lure you in for a visit: http://sunriseindiansupermarket.com/

    I too appreciate the heads-up about this store, and look forward to visiting it. The website, though, will not be interesting until they get around to populating it with the products they carry.
    "Your swimming suit matches your eyes, you hold your nose before diving, loving you has made me bananas!"
  • Post #86 - December 18th, 2016, 7:58 pm
    Post #86 - December 18th, 2016, 7:58 pm Post #86 - December 18th, 2016, 7:58 pm
    Okay -- this discovery is not actually a recommendation, but rather simply a report on something that amused me. At Sunrise, the Indian store in Wheeling, I purchased a delightfully multi-cultural packet of what turned out to be essentially spicy ramen noodles. But what amused is that the package identifies them as Manchurian Instant Noodles and Original Hakka Cuisine, but Product of India, with a package printed in English and Arabic.

    The world, especially when it comes to food, is wonderfully blended.

    (And yes, I know there's a substantial Chinese population in India, and just as there is Chinese-American, there is also Chinese-Indian, but it was the multiple layers of ethnicity that I found interesting.)
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #87 - January 22nd, 2017, 2:59 pm
    Post #87 - January 22nd, 2017, 2:59 pm Post #87 - January 22nd, 2017, 2:59 pm
    I loved the pickled watermelon appetizer at Chaihana, and I missed it when the restaurant closed. Didn't miss it as much as the sour spinach (sorrel) soup, but still, was sorry that it was gone.

    So today, when I strolled into the Garden Fresh in Buffalo Grove, imagine my delight when, in the area with barrels of pickled foods, one barrel contained pickled watermelon. Had to buy it, and I'm now enjoying it as I sit here at the computer. Not exactly like that at Chaihana, but close enough.

    And for fans of pickles, these barrels hold many delights -- whole green tomatoes, great wedges of red cabbage, fresh pickles, cooked pickles, small red tomatoes, sauerkraut, slices of watermelon, and more.

    Love this store.

    Garden Fresh
    770 S Buffalo Grove Rd
    Buffalo Grove, IL
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #88 - January 22nd, 2017, 4:07 pm
    Post #88 - January 22nd, 2017, 4:07 pm Post #88 - January 22nd, 2017, 4:07 pm
    Having enjoyed a couple of slices of pickled watermelon, I thought it was time to try the other treat I bought myself today at Garden Fresh -- homemade lamb chebureki. I have nothing to compare it to, since I haven't had chebureki before, but I thought it was lovely -- definitely tasted like a visit to someone else's home.

    But thinking about it, and knowing that the Mongolian Empire reached all the way to Eastern Europe, spreading the love of meat-filled dumplings across the entire region, I'd say that, if I were to compare it to something, it's most like the huushuur I had in Mongolia -- another half-moon, lamb-filled pastry that is fried rather than boiled. Except this was crispier than huushuur.

    And in the fridge for tomorrow, a small mushroom casserole, also said to be homemade. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- whatever else might be wrong with the world, if you love to grocery shop and eat, this is the best time in history to be alive!
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #89 - January 22nd, 2017, 10:48 pm
    Post #89 - January 22nd, 2017, 10:48 pm Post #89 - January 22nd, 2017, 10:48 pm
    Cynthia, do you know if the pickles in the barrels at Garden Fresh are lactofermented (Ha! My spell checker tried to change that to "lactose rented" --- who rents lactose?) or just brined?
    "Your swimming suit matches your eyes, you hold your nose before diving, loving you has made me bananas!"
  • Post #90 - January 24th, 2017, 10:41 am
    Post #90 - January 24th, 2017, 10:41 am Post #90 - January 24th, 2017, 10:41 am
    Katie wrote:Cynthia, do you know if the pickles in the barrels at Garden Fresh are lactofermented (Ha! My spell checker tried to change that to "lactose rented" --- who rents lactose?) or just brined?


    I have absolutely no idea. Try phoning -- they're usually pretty eager to share information.

    And love the "lactose rented" -- spell checker can be amusing -- if you catch it.
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com

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