Road Trip: SF Supermarket - Rowland Heights(LA), and also a quick question.....

*** SF Supermarket is now GW Supermarket

On a recent trip back to Rowland Heights, I was unable to suppress a laugh when I saw this branch of Shun Fat Supermarket(aka SF Supermarket). I'm sure if you take a look at this photo, you'd have no clue as to why I find humor just staring at the front of one, of many Asian Supermarkets in the area.

Well let me explain. When we lived two blocks from here, this used to be a Vons Supermarket. Aside from the Produce Guys, this branch of Vons used to have some of the ruddest employees I have ever experienced. So rude, that we used to avoid shopping here, and would take the time to drive several miles away and shop at the Albertson's on Azusa instead. I'm sure those cashiers could now be gainfully employed at Hong Kong Market across the street, home of the ruddest(yes now that Vons is gone there has to be a #1) cashiers. So I guess I enjoyed, and savored the irony and "Karma-tic" moment.

As I entered, I passed the Tea and Boba stand, the dried and preserved snacks stand, and the bakery, and made sure to stop in.....Produce, of course!

And all the usual suspects were there, from the Celery-Lettuce(Celtuce):

I have some smoked Hunan Pork at home that would cook up real well with this.

The Chinese Celery looked really fresh:

If you've never had Chinese Celery, you'd be in for a surprise. Chinese celery, though much thinner then the varieties we are used to in the U.S., is very resilient and fibrous, and the celery flavor is much more intense then regular celery.

I thought the Pea Shoots made a nice photo-op.

As I was leaving produce, I noticed these jumbo packs of Boba. They probably should sell them at Costco....

In keeping with the standard configuration of Supermarkets, the meat and seafood section took up the entire rear of the market.

Overall, very clean, with a minimal pungency level. The selection was good, for example the selection of every part of the pig except the oink.

And what would a trip to that market be without an interesting sign.

This one was right above the "basins" that held clams and other shellfish. Can you imagine what prompted the posting of this sign???? Of course it could be that no one could understand what the phrase "plesa don't wash your hang" meant.

As I was walking along the chiller, something caught my eye:

I couldn't believe my eyes. Kohala brand kimchee, from Hawaii. Unbelievable, I can't even remember the last time I saw a bottle of this stuff.

Right across the Kimchee and milk(what a combo), was a nice collection of dried fish:

Good stuff, though I don't think I'll be bringing it to the company potluck.

There was one area in which SF Supermarket was lacking.

It was in the snack isle. Pretty unimpressive. The largest display was for this:

Well maybe tastes really are changing......

Shun Fat Supermarket
18475 Colima Road
Rowland Heights, CA 91748

After driving around a bit, we found an interesting restaurant that I really don't remember seeing before. It was on Hacienda, right next to Malan Noodle House:

The English name is Boiling Point, but the Chinese name is something along the lines of "Boiling Point, Stinky-Stinky Pot". Anyone eat here? I'd be very interested.

Comments

[mizducky]

Hi Kirk--you know, I've been eyeing the Chinese celery and celery-lettuce on my Asian market visits, wondering how they get used. Inspired by this post, I think I'm going to pick some up the next time I see it, and give it a go. (So many greens, so little time!)

And speaking of amusing signage (the Stinky Stinky Pot is definitely a winner!) does it also seem to you like all the Asian markets have standardized on calling that one bit of piggy "pork melt"? You may have seen my guess that they might actually mean "milt", which is the spleen--but as I have no idea what the hell a pig's spleen should look like, I could be totally off here. So what the heck is that stuff anyway? :-)

[Kirk]

Hi mizducky - It is spleen - here's a recipe:

http://www.meal-master-recipes.com/m5/mm24586.html

[Kathy]

Hey Kirk!
I've also received some pretty surly service at the Hong Kong Supermarket - funny thing is, they're just as mean in the new york branch!

[milgwimper]

Kirk,

I need to go shopping! Unfortunately for me, the Goldnen Phoenix here is taking its sweet time remodeling (or fixing to close, can't tell), you live in San Diego, and Jo lives in North Carolina...*sigh* ;P Now that you feel so guilty and sorry *wink*

That store looks really nice, and the produce does look fresh. I don't think I have ever cooked with celtuce before, I will have to keep my eyes open. :)

[RONW]

old story already....that Kohala brand kim chee is owned and produced by Mike Irish, who also owns keoki's lau lau and Halm's kim chee.

[Joanna]

Smelly Smelly (or Stinky Stinky)
Pot is a concept from Taiwan, where people love stinky tofu, a fried version of fermented tofu.

Anyway, it's a play on word, that the Taiwanese use to describe this type of HotPot eating.

Stinky cheese for dessert afterwards anyone?

[Christine D.]

Ugh, I dunno about you, but those boba balls look really nasty! Maybe it's the lighting, but their lighter-than-usual color makes them look like kibble.

Asian supermarkets seem to be springing up everywhere! I wonder how the locals take to them, especially the older caucasian ones.

[Jean]

Rude?! LOL! Me thinks that's part of the criteria for employment. We've got two SF Markets here in Sactown and hubby and I avoid it as much as possible.

[elmomonster]

For a sec I thought that frozen boba was tempeh. What are the cross streets of this Shu Fat?

[TS]

Is the boiling point off of haliburton and hacienda?

[Kirk]

Hi Kathy - So I guess you got the "standard service" there!

Hi Mills - No Golden Phoenix....what are you going to do. I hope the do open, I've got some fun memories of the place.

Hi RONW - I just didn't expect to see it in a Chinese-Vietnamese Market in Rowland Heights!

Hi Joanna - So I'm assuming it's hot pot with Chou Dofu. How interesting, the Missus loves Chou Dofu. I'm not very fond of it, though.

Hi ChristineD - Hope you're enjoying your summer. Yep, those Boba looked a bit "off". There are a ton of Asian Markets in the Rowland Heights/Diamond Bar area. 2 - 99 Ranch Markets(used to be a 99 "Green Market" as well - we used to see Monks shopping there), a Nijiya, SF Supermarket, Hannam Chain, Hankook, another Korean Supermarket that used to be California Market, something called Yamato on Gale, Hong Kong Market, India Sweet and Spices, and I think you could almost call TS Emporium a market of sorts...I'm sure I'm missing one or two. Talk about saturation!

Hi Jean - I guess it's the status quo...too bad, that's how stereotypes start.

Hi Elmo - It's right across the street from Hong Kong Plaza, you remember...home of the fried pork rectum!

Hi TS - Yep, right next to Malan Noodles.

[gourmetish]

I just had chinese celery last weekend for the first time. So good! Check out my upcoming post. I think you'll be proud of where we went to eat. :)

[Kirk]

Hi Kady - I'm lookng forward to it!

[milgwimper]

Kirk,
*nod* I have such good memories with you and Jo. It doesn't seem like they are closing for good. There is a security officer that watches the front glass doors. I have seen a new neon sign indoors, and I am crossing my fingers and praying they will open soon. Oh there is a small Chinese store downtown, but it doesn't carry everything I am looking for, so I have to do a lot more driving to get all of my groceries. It isn't so much fun when gas is expensive.

[Kirk]

Hi Mills - Well that is good news!

[elmomonster]

Ahh I know exactly where it is now. Let's use the fried pork rectum place as the point of reference for all your future travels to Rowland Heights! ;-)

[Kirk]

Hey Elmo - Will do, I guess we can use that as a landmark.....would rectum-fy location problems!

[Rachel]

Wow that celtuce sure looks strange. Do you peel off those brown bits? I love boba tea but I don't think I could ever be bothered to make my own ;) Good to know it can be found in supermarkets though.
Despite the bad engrish, the sign is quite sensible esp if it was over the clams ... that is the best way to spread hep B!

[Kirk]

Hi Rachel - You peel off the layer of "skin" before eating - I've seen people eat this raw - in fact there's a movie called "The Girl From Hunan" where people are eating it throughout the movie.

[gabriella]

I will have to take a trip there.