How about fresh tortillas? In a lot of cities there are places where you can buy them in bulk, but I haven't heard of any place like that around here.

- by gd on Sep 24, 2007 at 9:32 PM | link

How about treacle? It's this syrupy stuff from England. Light but thick. We used to eat it in school on steamed sponge pudding for desert. I think it was everyone's favorite. I recently got my hands on a can of treacle pudding. A teenager who visited England this summer brought it back for me. Treacle is something I've been missing for 28 years!

- by Lori Cullen on Sep 26, 2007 at 5:36 AM | link

How about sashimi-grade tuna? I've had bad luck at the local Price Choppers, and I think I confused the staff when I asked, "Can I eat that raw?"

Thanks!

- by Kerosena on Sep 26, 2007 at 2:53 PM | link

Where can I buy Gumbo File powder in bulk, locally?
(It is ground up sassafras leaves and is used as a thickener and flavoring in cajun/creole dishes)

- by Benny on Sep 26, 2007 at 3:00 PM | link

You can buy frozen sushi-grade tuna as well as unagi, mackerel, octopus, and tobiko (no ikura as of yet, but I am hoping) at Kim's on Central Avenue.

Here is the address and phone number. Call ahead. They usually have it, but once I drove all they out there and they were out. It isn't going to rock your world, but is good. And if you ask Mrs. Kim, she will teach you how to make her spicy tuna sauce. I will do a post about that soon.

Kim's Oriental Shoppe
1649 Central Ave
Albany, NY 12205
(518) 869-9981

For directions:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=kim's&near=Albany,+NY&fb=1&view=text&latlng=42720519,-73836254,1544255043048794215

I've also seen it once in the back freezer section at the coop, but when I called, they said they don't carry it regularly.

Honest Weight Food Coop
http://www.hwfc.com/

I used to have a sushi chef who would hook me up with some of his fish when I had a party or something. If you have a favorite chef, you can always ask.

As far as the kind of fresh fish that you might see at a place like Yaohan in Fort Lee, NY, I haven't found that here.

- by celinabean on Sep 26, 2007 at 4:42 PM | link

Regarding fresh tortillas

Not quite sure about the fresh part but u can try Frank and Giovanni on morton ave. It’s a little Spanish store called la Marqueta

- by from my friend karen on Sep 26, 2007 at 10:47 PM | link

Somebody asked me this question on my blog awhile back. Check it out: http://blogs.timesunion.com/tablehopping/?p=565#comments

- by Steve Barnes on Oct 3, 2007 at 11:29 AM | link

Just to clarify, Steve has a post about where to find gumbo file.

- by celinabean on Oct 3, 2007 at 3:58 PM | link

I fell in love with the Lettuce Wraps at P.F. Chang's this weekend. My budget doesn't allow me to eat out every night, so I decided to make them myself (plus I can control the fat content that way). Here is the link to the recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/15865

I have few (OK, no) Asian ingredients in my house. I am a bog box grocery shopper, that's just the way it is. I can get everything in one place and it's cheaper, from what I've seen, than the specialty stores. That said, I went to Hannaford since they have a larger Asian section. I ran into a few problems, though, and hoped you could help.

* I couldn't find garlic or chili paste. Is it OK to mix chili powder with water and create a "paste" or is that something else? How about the garlic?
* I couldn't find rice wine vinegar so I bought Rice Wine and Rice Vinegar and mixed them together. Are either of those really rice wine vinegar? Is there a such thing as rice wine vinegar?

My wraps weren't as tasty, or pungent, as those at Chang's. Please help!

Thank you,
Kristi

- by Kristi on Oct 18, 2007 at 10:16 PM | link