Your local Asian Market

If you’ll be exploring the world of Chinese (or Asian cooking in general...) go and seek inspiration in authentic ingredients, or at least have a look at some of these ingredients before you jump into trying out your recipes. Visiting an Asian market is like going to a museum for me, in the sense that I’m always going to discover something new. The abundance of exotic goods is simply insane. More often than not, the goods you’ll find at these stores will come from a host of Asian countries, not exclusively China. So if you’ll be trying out some Thai, Japanese or Vietnamese dishes, for example, you will be covered here as well..

To illustrate just how much more expansive Asian markets are, the “Asian” section in most ordinary magalomarts (as Alton Brown likes to refer to them), usually consist of a single shelf dedicated to “Asian” goods. Those goods are usually limited to Americanized products like cans of La Choy chow mein or an assortment of Kikkoman sauces.

In contrast, your local Asian market may have an entire isle dedicated just to noodles! Another isle dedicated only to various sauces. And another isle dedicated exclusively to specialized cooking utensils. Half an isle populated with different kinds of Nori for your sushi making needs, and an entire isle dedicated to various teas.

 The produce section is normally quite extensive, as Asian cooking relies heavily upon fresh ingredients. Many of these products are familiar to you, while many others are exotic and unfamiliar, which certainly encourages a degree of experimentation. You’ll never know what you will discover until you try some of these more unfamiliar goods! 

 A good example of this is that prior to my having shopped at an Asian market I’d never so much as heard of a bitter melon. Now, bitter melons have become a staple in my cooking. I should also mention that you will find the prices to be quite a bit lower for most items, certainly for the produce, than you will find at your local magalomarts. And you will find the selection far more extensive as well. In addition to the produce boxes are water filled bins of fresh water chestnuts, of bamboo shoots, of bean sprouts and even of fresh made tofu. You simply scoop out how much you want and bag it. And best of all, its crazy cheap!

 You will find too an extensive sea food department with more types of fish and shellfish than you night find in an aquarium! Some of the sea creatures will be alive in tanks. Others will be fresh, lying on beds of ice. Head on shrimps as well as “cleaned” shrimp, as well as several varieties of other shell fish, squid or crabs. Additionally, there is usually quite a selection of frozen fish, and fish related items as well.

 

Exotic sights more common to the streets of Chinatown are present as well. Freshly roasted duck, and other birds, can be found hanging about as well.

I cannot suggest strongly enough to check out your local Asian market, or several of them if they exist in your area. If one hasn’t got what you’re looking for, then certainly another will. There are 3 such stores very near me. They are all great, but one has quickly become my favorite and I find myself visiting that one far more than the others. I’m sure you will find a great one near you too. So check them out, you won’t be sorry!