Thank-you, Lars! The only place I've been is See’s. Your story with all the sensory descriptions made me so happy!

I haven't changed my shopping habits based on the store's ethnicity. I shop whatever stores carry what I want.

Some of the ethnic markets that we go to have been slow to enforced the mask rules, but when that changes, we feel comfortable shopping there again.

It sounded like a wonderful, sensorial voyage to sunnier climes!

I agree - that place sounds wonderful!

The only ethnic store “near” here (Vietnamese) was one of the first sites with known covid exposures last spring, so I haven’t gone there, or to that city, since the pandemic started. :(

We have an Asian market about 30 minutes away, so don't go often. When the pandemic was first starting, before mask mandates and lockdowns, we were in the area so we stopped by. They were already requiring masks, taking temperatures outside the door, and limiting occupancy. It is a small space, so distancing is difficult. They were controlling it voluntarily, and very well.

I haven't been in the vicinity, so I haven't been back. But I was impressed.

Over the years I have found that the local Asian markets here are the absolute best for produce in the cold months.

Haven't been back to the Asian markets this season yet because we are just limiting where we go, period.

The Asian markets here cover a lot of different Asian cultures and also include aisles of products that cater to the Central American populations around here, too.

The local white bread standard grocery stores do leave a lot to be desired.

Sounds like a fun place to shop. All I have are the dull grocery stores. The meat market I like to shop at is a small old store with old wooden floors but they wear their masks under their nose so don' t go there for now. I wonder if their business has gone down.

"Lars

-------- noticing that it is now less crowded that it was a few months ago. I felt fairly safe there, ----- "

If the parking lot is full, I don't go in.

dcarch

I've only been to a Latin market and an Asian market a few times since March. Neither has changed much except that there is plexiglass at the checkout counters now. I bought 6 dozen tamales, 'mild' green sauce, fresh corn tortillas, and a few pork bellies at the Latin market both times.

The Asian market still reeks of fish when I walk in but I quickly get used to it in a few minutes. Besides the usual staples of rice wine, soy sauce, and various other sauces, they have a great selection of seafood at decent prices so I always stock up on shrimp, scallops, and occasionally a couple live lobsters.

We have quite a few tiny-sized ethnic food stores. I haven't gone in one since last year, when my favorite Egyptian one moved. Instead we go to the large international food store. I love it for fresh produce (much of which I recognize) at a good price, and of course all sorts of "foreign" (said with affection) foods. From early in the pandemic, their store workers and patrons were almost 100% masked, sanitized, and distanced, so it was comfortable from a health perspective.

(edited to correct typo: ethnic, not ethic!)

I've only been to one Asian store since this has all began. I don't remember there being open bins of food there except for maybe produce. There were not a lot of people there unlike past times.

A lot of stores in this area hand out free samples including the Asian stores. Most have stopped doing that except Costco which will now give an occasional packaged single serve item instead of a cut up piece.

I went to the mall the other day when it opened. This was the first time I had been there since March. I noted several of the gumball machines were empty and hadn't been refilled. Some still had candy in them which made me wonder how old it was and think about how grubby those machine handles must be.

"Asian" markets in Los Angles are generally more specific, such as Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Cambodian, etc. The one "Asian" market that I go to specializes in Middle Eastern products, but also has a lot of items from India. These types of markets are more rare in Coachella Valley (Palm Springs to Palm Desert), and so I have to stock up on Japanese food items in L.A. before I come here.

We tried to go to a couple of Japanese markets near our house in L.A. before we left, but there were long lines to get in. Everyone was wearing masks, and so I felt safe about going there, but I did not want to wait in a long line, and so we bought some of the Japanese items I wanted at Gelson's. Of course the selection was not as good, and I could not find the brand of Japanese soy sauce that I wanted or the brand of sesame oil that I normally buy at the Japanese market. I was able to buy sushi rice and nori, but it was more expensive than at the Japanese markets.

We have a great little Asian store just a couple of miles from us. I used to go on their produce delivery day--it was like a feeding frenzy! So now I avoid weekends and produce delivery days, but feel quite safe going mid-week. Of course, their produce is pretty well shot by then, but I can stock up on other items I can't get in a regular grocery store. Last visit I bought a dozen cans of straw mushrooms for Thai curry soup and a big bag of star anise, which I use for making my own chai tea mix. I find the best deals there! We also have a much larger Asian store across town--it's more like a supermarket. But I don't feel nearly as safe there, it always looks a little grubby and I noticed they weren't wearing masks.

I haven't been to any since moving up here, but the other day, while driving around in Lufkin, I saw they have an Asian market. I will go first chance I get.

We have a few tiendas within an hour drive, and that's pretty much it for ethnic stores around here. I go to one that is a bit closer and also in a shopping area when I can get a few stores done at the same time. Excellent tamales, and they carry one of my fave teas and best dry packet chicken noodle soup. But I still order a couple times a year from Amigo Foods- they carry some things I just can't find anywhere in person. There's a small regular grocer about a half hour away that has a surprisingly plush tiny section of wursts in the cooler and a full shelf section of European goods not usually seen on the shelves elsewhere around here. For other ethnic, it's an hour plus drive for the most part.

My shopping habits there haven't really changed. I usually go 2-3 times a year, and I still go about that rate. Last time I went I got a very nice embroidered mask :)

I haven't been to an Asian store in a couple of years. Not since the one that was about 3 miles away closed. No Hispanic markets in my area & haven't been to the ones farther away.

I did shop in a real Mexican grocery when I was in MX in Oct-Nov. Was quite comfortable shopping there. When you enter the MX store, there is a floor mat that is saturated with a sanitizing solution where you wipe your shoes, something I have not seen here in the US. All the employees were properly masked as were all the customers, without exception. Plexi barriers where you check out.

@dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m You stated above: -------- noticing that it is now less crowded that it was a few months ago. I felt fairly safe there, ----- "

If the parking lot is full, I don't go in.

Sounds like a really good rule of thumb to follow, if it is necessary to go in a place.

There is a small asian market I like about 50 miles from me; you step into the store to wonderful smells, but with masks, that is a bit lost. The elderly gentleman that owns the store - he has to use a magnifying glass to check his prices - is very pleasant and will take you to the general vicinity in the store of something if you ask. The type of biz I will continue to support. I like to buy my bulk spices there. I feel I know him very well, even though it is just by association when I check out.

yes ... If the parking lot is full, don't go in.

ETA: It is the only place I have found my black vinegar ...

Visited my local Asian emporium in October. It's a huge store - more like a warehouse - but access was being restricted and masking was required for entering. because of the size of the store and the restricted access, distancing was not an issue and it was easy to shop freely without concern.

Local Latino markets are much smaller but one grocery here has a massive ethnic food area that sells all the same products as do the smaller markets so I have not felt deprived of any goods that I may have wanted. They also do their own seasoned carne asada and homemade tamales and tortillas - they have everything I need!!

Beesneeds' use of the word 'tienda' reminded me of a tiny store a tiny town near here. The name is Tienda Edith. I've never stopped, but I smile every time I see the sign.

There is only one SE Asian- Chinese (now) anywhere close, but it is out of the way. I’m sure the owners would fill a basket for me to pick up if asked. Until Recently, I could either grow in the garden or fetch at the large grocery market, or rely o my pantry or 2nd fridge full on condiments. I am out of Sichuan peppercorns/prickly ash berries, but will now order those online (better looking).

I’m glad you found that market enjoyable Lars. Now for more videos. I love hearing and watching you and Kevin. Wonderful voices.

Question for Lone Jack. Which store are you finding the fish. Probably in the City Market area that I avoid like it has the plague even before the virus. Too many people and too high of shelves.

This area because it was a resettlement site for years has a mix of ethnic groups so various stores and shops but few group specific ones. The Indian Emporium which was the only Indian one that I know of had been recently sold last summer and was clearing all merchandize. I wish I could find a new one. There are a couple of very small African, Caribbean, and Ethiopian food stores scattered in my area. Sorry but the sign states African so have no idea what region and looking at what was there I think it was just a name being used. There are no Hispanic shops as such just some small stores. There is one grocery store that caters to multi-national Hispanic's on the weekend but it is not the cleanest place so I avoid it. I understand that it has the best bakery with things from many countries.

The closest "ethnic" grocery of any type around here is Grand Rapids, which is 50 miles one way. Elery and I used to make a day of it, going to the Mediterranean market for Ajvar and feta cheese, the Hispanic grocery for fresh tortillas and various peppers, the Asian market for Indonesian soy sauce and gochugaru/gochujang. After that we'd make a Penzey's stop, a Trader Joe's visit and maybe a Costco run!

Now we don't go to Grand Rapids, too many people and it's kind of a hot spot. I haven't been to any of the above places since March and won't be going there again until things seem a bit more settled. Because I have so much contact with Mother, I try to not expose myself to anyone/anything that is unnecessary, and I don't NEED to go to any of those places, I can get pretty much anything I want on line.

It's not nearly as much fun, though....

Annie

I should have gone with Kevin when he went to the Middle Eastern (Syrian/ Lebanese/ Turkish) market, partly because he bought the wrong lavash bread, but also because there were more things I would have bought that he did not want to pick out himself. He did buy the olive oil that we needed at a good price.

I wanted to buy kimchee at the Japanese market, but I might just make it myself. I keep gochugaru in the freezer because it takes me a while to go through it, as I buy it in large quantities at a Korean supermarket in Koreatown. I haven't been to Koreatown or Thai Town in a while either.

Lars if you decide to make Kimchee could you please start a thread? You are so entertaining, and I would try making it for the first time if you would tutor us.

TVQ that looks yummy!! Is that a quart jar? What is that pink top under the ring?

The first time I heard about kimchi was in the early 1980's. Koreans buried vegetables in pots in the ground and let them rot for months, then dug them up and ATE THEM -- no WAY, that's crazy talk!! Times have changed for the better, seems an understatement. Now, so many decades later, I understand about fermenting foods and love that kimchi is so widely available. Funny how things change.

I pretty much stayed away from any grocery store except Publix for a couple of months. Then I ventured out to Target during senior shopping a couple of times, and finally I went to a few Farmer’s markets on Saturday mornings before my own produce started coming in. I also went to a middle eastern market for a few spices but I always go in the early or middle of the week and it is never crowded. I had not been there since maybe January and didn’t go until I think June.

I will have to try a Latin market as your descriptions Lars are wonderful. Makes me hungry.

Lucille--yes, it's a quart jar. It took about a 2.5 lb napa cabbage to fill it. The pink lid is a silicone fermenting lid. It has a tiny hole in the "nipple" part to let gases out during the fermentation process. I also use them when I make sauerkraut.

Your shopping trip sounds like fun Lars. You also sound like a very accomplished cook! ☺

I can certainly do a kimchi video, but there are already quite a few out there. Still, I have my own methods, and I could demonstrate that. I use quart jars with an air-lock lid, which is the same lid I use when I make sauerkraut. The last batch of sauerkraut that I made will be ready on Thursday, but I cannot start kimchi until I get back to L.A.

We made some more pizza videos today, but I haven't looked at them yet. I think I will be able to upload them to Youtube later this week.

maifleur - yes, it's the Chinatown Asian market a couple blocks northeast of the Kansas City farmer's market. It's usually not very crowded when I go there.

The San Antonio market on Kansas Ave. and Mill St. (I think) is where I get the hand made tamales and pork belly. They also serve food there and it is very good.

Most of the generic Asian stores here in this Eastern metro area are run by Koreans. Being the savvy entrepreneurs that they are, they don't just sell Korean things. They go for the wider market of just about anything that is not European in origin. And, even then, you can still buy some more common grocery store things such as bread, milk, canned soups, etc.

One of the larger ones is Chinese centered, but they do as the Koreans do and sell other cultural foods as well.

I like to shop there and one of them is generally on my grocery buying trips.

But we are limiting ourselves just because it is what it is and I haven't been back in there since last Spring.

Our boring old grocery stores are mostly that, just boring and increasingly full of processed junk or totally overly packaged food items.

The Asian markets may reek of fish, but at least they smell of something that is food.

I sure do wish that we had more variety from Central America available to us around here. They have some darned good food!!! I wish I could find fresh tamales.

"Lars

I can certainly do a kimchi video, but there are already quite a few out there. Still, I have my own methods, and I could demonstrate that.------"

Kimchi is a very serious food for the Koreans. A national pride. They even make a special home refrigerator specifically designed for keeping kimchi. Many Korean homes have that.

A big international scandal is brewing recently. The Koreans are not happy that the Chinese and the Japanese are claiming that they invented Kimchi first.

Lars, don't start WW III! LOL.

dcarch

^^^ reminds me of an episode of M.A.S.H when Frank Burns thought Korean locals were burying a land mine near the perimeter of the camp. Turned out to be a Kimchi pot when they dug it up.

darch, I think that war has already been started. Anyway, I have watched some videos by Euro-Americans that left something to be desired, and so I think I could improve on that.

There are already many variations of kimchi, and there is no reason to make it such a grim and serious affair. The point of food is to make it enjoyable.

I buy Korean kimchi at Japanese markets because they are closer to me than the Korean markets. I almost never go to a Chinese market. There is a 99 Ranch Market in Gardena, not too far away (but further than several Japanese markets), but it is not that good of a market. There is an H Mart (Korean) in Torrance that is somewhat closer to me than Koreatown, but I have a lot more options for Korean supermarkets in Koreatown, and some of them are huge.

The point of food is to make it enjoyable

Absolutely (and to end up with delicious food). I will add, at least for me, that at this late time in my life, I do like enjoyable education, and even though there are plenty of videos out there, I know I will enjoy yours. Also you are upfront about stuff that doesn't go so well like that pizza, so I trust your videos to give the whole picture.

I discovered japanese peanuts in Mexico, I love them. Finally I found them here in southern California in hispanic areas at places like 7-11. Now I stop in one every once in a while to get my fix.

Torrance is full of Japanese stores, restaurants as many Japanese work in the area (near the ports).

Japanese or Japanese-Americans?

Japanese.