Ethnic Field Guide

Ethnic Austin

a field guide to ethnic grocery stores

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3/27/2013 1:05:38 AM

Understanding this guide

Freezer Section

Deli

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

Store has area dedicated to cutting and weighing of meat.

Chinese Spotlight

Asia Market Fruit and Vegetables

Restaraunt Attached

Hours

Fresh produce is sold in this establishment.

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

Daily 10am-9pm

Address 8650 Spicewood Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78759

Phone (512) 331-5780

Seafood Fresh (and in some cases,

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.

living) seafood is sold in this grocery store.

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3/27/2013 1:05:39 AM

apple soda Description: 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.

Price:

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.99

OATMEAL IN A CAN Description: 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.

Price:

1.05

3/27/2013 1:05:42 AM

bitter melon

fresh bean curd (tofu)

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

Description: 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.

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 Price: 3.99

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3/27/2013 1:05:45 AM

Prep Time

Russian Cuisine

CHINESE RECIPE delicous, highly customizable Russian dessert

Ingredients 1 cup cottage cheese 2 eggs, beaten 3 tablespoons white sugar 2 tablespoons semolina flour 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 1/3 cup canola oil for frying

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

15

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.

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

recipe provided by allrecipes.com

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3/27/2013 1:05:47 AM

Indian Spotlight

Gandhi Bazar Hours Daily 11am-9pm

Address 12809 N FM 623 #3 Austin, Texas 78750

Phone (512)249-7600

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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.

3/27/2013 1:05:48 AM

curry in hurry

supplement section

Description:

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 Austinbased 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

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

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

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3/27/2013 1:05:52 AM

Prep Time

Russian Cuisine

INDIAN RECIPE delicous, highly customizable Russian dessert

Ingredients 1 cup cottage cheese 2 eggs, beaten 3 tablespoons white sugar 2 tablespoons semolina flour 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 1/3 cup canola oil for frying

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.

15

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.

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

recipe provided by allrecipes.com

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3/27/2013 1:05:53 AM

Vietnamese Spotlight

MT SuperMarket Hours Daily 9am-9pm

Address 10901 N Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78753

Phone (512)249-7600

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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.

3/27/2013 1:05:55 AM

Durian

Instant noodles

Description:

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”.

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

Price: $00.00

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3/27/2013 1:05:58 AM

seafood market

sting ray

Description:

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.

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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.

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

Price: $00.00

3/27/2013 1:06:01 AM

shark

squid

Description:

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.

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Shark is typically served marinated and grilled as a steak.

Price: $00.00

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

Price: $00.00

3/27/2013 1:06:04 AM

Prep Time

Russian Cuisine

vietnamese delicous, highly customizable Russian dessert

Ingredients 1 cup cottage cheese 2 eggs, beaten 3 tablespoons white sugar 2 tablespoons semolina flour 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 1/3 cup canola oil for frying

baby squid Description:

15

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.

Aww, they got the whole family!

Price: $00.00

recipe provided by allrecipes.com

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3/27/2013 1:06:06 AM

Russian Spotlight

Sasha’s Russian market & Cafe Hours Daily 9am-9pm

Address 7817 Rockwood Ln, Ste 102 Austin, TX 78757

Phone (512) 459-1449

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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.

3/27/2013 1:06:06 AM

pelmeni

balichok (balyk fish)

Description:

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.

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

Price: 4.99

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

3/27/2013 1:06:09 AM

tiny tiny bagels

Pickled Anything

Description:

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

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

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3/27/2013 1:06:10 AM

Prep Time

Russian Cuisine

vietnamese delicous, highly customizable Russian dessert

Ingredients 1 cup cottage cheese 2 eggs, beaten 3 tablespoons white sugar 2 tablespoons semolina flour 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 1/3 cup canola oil for frying

Pickled Anything 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

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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.

Description: 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

15

recipe provided by allrecipes.com

3/27/2013 1:06:11 AM

1. Asia Market 2. Gandhi Bazar 3. MT Supermarket 4. Sasha’s Gourmet Russian Market

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3/27/2013 1:06:12 AM