Friday, June 11, 2021

Foodie Fridays - Local Foreign Food Markets


 Local foreign food markets, sounds like a contradiction in terms, how can it be local and be foreign?  Living in Lexington Kentucky, a city of 250,000 people in the middle of nowhere, I discovered an amazing Asian market, primarily Japanese.  Why was there a Japanese market in the middle of nowhere?  Toyota has a major manufacturing plant nearby, and brings in staff for training and cross training, assigning them for anyplace from a few weeks, to a few years to the Camry assembly plant.  That is where I discovered that the Japanese have delightful fluffy filled pastries, hot and cold canned coffee drinks, and that sticky rice, aka, sushi rice, makes a delightful risotto at a fraction of the price of Italian Arborio rice. 

Across the from the subway station, 10-12 minutes walk from the condo, is a Balkan market, featuring eastern and central European foods.  That is where I discovered relatively inexpensive fresh salmon caviar, if half pint jars for about $20.  In the same strip-shopping center is a small Mexican market - a larger one is down the hill half-a-mile away.  On the north side of old Town Alexandria, is a Russian market.  

Now I know I am lucky living in a major metro area, with a lot of international residents, and embassies, there are a lot of options here.  But there are more and more hispanic markets in smaller towns.  Anyplace that there is a concentration of immigrants, there will be local shops that stock foods that remind them of home.  These are not places that will replace your everyday shopping, but places where we can discover specialty items that add variety to our tables.  

The last stop at the Russian market, yielded cookies and caviar. 

16 comments:

  1. The Reading Terminal Market in Center City is like the United Nations of food and produce.

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  2. Those markets are wonderful. It at first suprised me in this little city, but, having such a large ex-pat community, we have a number of exceptional ¨local international¨ markets, too.

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    1. Can add an extra layer of fun to such a beautiful place

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  3. It's fun to do some gastronomic exploring!

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  4. Anonymous6/11/2021

    Whatever thoughts people have about immigration, by golly haven't we benefited by some great food.

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    1. Yes, and most of us are immigrants. One of my grandmothers, just over 100 years ago.

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  5. i love trying new foods and going to different markets. i mean, why not?

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    1. As long as it doesn't bite me first

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  6. I love shopping in ethnic markets. You can find all kinds of treats.

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    1. Your area should have some fun options

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  7. I get over faced and embarrassed at foreign markets, I shouldn’t

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    1. Go boldly, ask what it is, most are eager to share.

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  8. I am mad-jealous! I would regularly shop at one of these places if we had one.

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    1. https://yasha-from-russia.business.site/

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