There is an inexpensive wine, Puerta Plata, that I found at Trader Joe's that I would like to buy again, but we won't go to TJ's because the aisles are too narrow, and I don't think I trust the shoppers there to keep a good distance. They should really limit the number of customers in that store, but I don't think they have been doing that, but then I haven't really looked.

Anyway, if you do drink wine or use it for cooking, you might want to stock up on that while you are in Portland.

When we are in Cathedral City/Palm Springs, there are quite a few items that we cannot find there - particularly Japanese groceries - and so I make a point of taking those with me from Los Angeles, where they are very easy to find, especially in my neighborhood. Bangkok Market on Melrose, which I used to go for Thai ingredients, has now closed, as the owner has retired, and so I will have to go to Bangluck Market instead. As you can see, it might not be in the best part of Hollywood, from the first photo. There are lots of huge Korean markets in Koreatown, not far from Thaitown, but none in the Palm Springs area.

Specialty pastas, Apple Cider Vinegar (if you can find it,) canned fruits such as blueberries, sweet cherries etc., maybe a hunk of really good cheddar - believe it or not, you CAN freeze it!

probably some yeast ... maybe some spices to replace those aged containers in the cupboard ... miso, if you can find it ...

"----She is a painter and had a big show that opened the week of the shutdown. ---"

Would it be too much to ask for? Can you post a few samples of her work?

You are very talented. I just want to see if you got your talent from your Mom.

dcarch

I can get just about anything delivered. More exotic is easier to find here than the common things no one has. I'd look for good cheeses, if you're a cheese fan, because they're less available in rural areas, usually. My new favorite is Cypress Grove Lamb Chopper. Interesting bottled sauces that can bring an easy different flavor to a standard dish. Go through recipes you've been wanting to try and note down ingredients you can't get near home. Look for interesting and exotic produce. Had any rambutan lately? Yum! Also, think about basics--do you have a good local source for nuts, or is that something better found in the city? Good luck with your list and shopping. Definitely an opportunity to make the most of.

Lars, you might try different TJs. I haven't been shopping for months but even before the first shutdown, my local store was limiting the number of shoppers in the store at one time.

Busy day - I didn’t get everywhere I wanted. But the show was taken down, packed up and brought back home and half unpacked. My mom is zonked.

I went into a halal shop and got several bags of still warm fresh pitas, za’atar, tahini, couscous and pistachio halvah.

At the Italian grocers I bought kalamata olives, salami, a gallon of Spanish olive oil, Aged Asiago (grated and a chunk), Pepato sheep’s milk cheese, Brie, Giant Greek beans and a small bag of Caputo OO pizza flour. And Grana Padana for my mom.

The gallery treated everyone to a lunch from a street food Colombian restaurant. I had an Arepa stuffed with beans, veggies and avocado with a spicy yogurt sauce. It was delicious!

All in all a nice break from sanding, weeding and that big pile of firewood.

Oh, that sounds like a nice shopping trip and a good lunch, double bonus!

I checked your link, I like "rust apparition #14", it looks like stars, kind of peaceful...

Annie

Sounds like you are set to make pizza! Do you make your own mozzarella?

I make my own za'atar, but I also buy some at a Lebanese/Turkish market. I store it in the freezer, since it has sesame seeds.

I love halvah also, but I try to eat very few sweets. However, I cannot resist buying baklava when I find it in a Greek or Armenian delicatessen.

Do you normally have trouble finding Brie? I know that some stores have more varieties of it than others, but I consider it a basic staple. Trader Joe's has quite a few to choose from, but Bristol Farms and Gelson's have the best selections of the stores where I shop here, and they have stores both in Los Angeles and Rancho Mirage/Palm Desert.

Did you go to any fish markets? I don't know whether you live on the coast or not and whether you are able to catch your own seafood.

So I was set to buy fresh mozzarella. They sell tubs full of small rounds. I was considering that when I saw the inexpensive Brie. I can easily get Brie at the local grocery store but this was like half the price. I am not sure why. I bought one to see if it was ok.

Usually I would take mom to the wonderful Harbor Fish. They have a great selection and pack stuff up in ice for a long drive. Yesterday she was exhausted and we were limiting our exposure.

Halvah was something I thought we could bring to mom’s birthday party. It is very sentimental for her. As a child her and her best friend would pool their pennies and go to the one store in her hometown. Where the patient shopkeeper would carefully slice $.67 worth for them. My sister and I love it too.