mmm-yoso!!!

Yuma’s Asian Store

Tomorrow this food blog will have an outstanding post by Kirk or Cathy. But they are taking today off so Ed (from Yuma) – who has lots of days off – can write about a little grocery.

About 10 years ago, Kirk came over to Yuma and spent a couple days looking around and taco trucking. While in town, I showed him The Oriental Gift Shop that sells a wide variety of Asian trinkets and wigs and has a cooler and freezer in the back with kimchi and other mostly Korean specialties. A few shelves in that part of the shop offer rices, sauces, spices, and marinades. Kirk called it the 49.5 market, but as far as foodstuffs, it is a 9.9 ranch market at best (still my go to place for kimchi, however).

So I am delighted that Asian Store (not to be confused with Asian Star) now exists in town. From the back of the parking lot at Eddie's Grill, you can get an idea of its general location:

If you look along this strip mall that parallels Catalina Dr, past the location that was once a Staples, past the Dollar Tree, and beyond the Salvation Army thrift store, you will eventually find Asian Store right next to a Little Caesars:

The nondescript market has four aisles. The one on the far right has the carbohydrates. A large supply of various Asian rices:

Look for dried seaweed above the sushi rice:

Across from the rices are the noodles:

Along with such specialties as bean thread vermicelli, an amazing array of Cantonese style noodles:

And I have fallen in love with Thai rice sticks, which add a whole new dimension to my gringo stirfries:

The next aisle contains a miscellaneous assortment:

An area of canned goods including bamboo shoots:

and large jars of sour bamboo shoots: 

You can also find sauce packets and spice mixes: soup bases and spices:

Thai curry pastes:

and Hawaiian spicy chicken seasoning:

The other side of the aisle displays many different teas – Japanese:

or Jasmine if you prefer:

That side also has dried beans and Panko:

The next aisle displays bottled and jarred condiments and sauces on one side and a huge variety of snacks on the other:

You can buy a bag of fried pork skins:

or roasted green peas:

Across the aisle, Kirk could find his Aloha soy or teriyaki sauce:

or pungent shrimp sauce:

Of course there's Sriracha:

an entire area of various vinegars:

and such specialties as Pad Thai Sauce (which is pretty good):

At the backend of that aisle you can find some fresh produce that doesn't need refrigeration, like kabocha squash, lemons, and these shallots (only $1.19 a bag):

Which leads me to my favorite part of the store, the refrigerated produce area at the back of the westernmost aisle. Shelves full of choys:

Or long beans, bitter melon, eggplants:

Or mushrooms:

including my favorite king oyster mushrooms:

Fresh papaya strips, ready to be turned into a salad:

And if you want that salad spicy, plenty of Thai chilies:

And don't forget the time-saving peeled fresh garlic cloves:

Between the fresh foods and the front of the market are shelves filled with frozen goods:

I spend less time in this area, but you can find a wide range of frozen product. Like mochi sherbet or ice cream:

frozen quail:

beef blood:

or even pork paste or fish paste (?):

Though I am puzzled or confused by some of the items for sale, you can understand why I am delighted to shop in a market like Asian Store. Their prices are very competitive and sometimes better than Fry’s or Albertsons. The produce is fresh, seasonal, and various. In so many ways, this little grocery makes me a better and more adventurous cook. And that makes both Tina and me happy.

Fruitland & Deli- A fruiteria in El Cajon.

Fruitland & Deli has closed.

mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog you are perusing. Cathy is writing today, because Kirk is busy perusing things and ed (from Yuma) is busier perusing even more things.

Hi again.  In the last two years, a friend has taken me to Jamba Juice.  Twice.  I was overwhelmed both times, having to order from the huge menu board with many choices and derivations.  I always have gone to Fruiterias around town and could not understand how JJ had peaches in February... and finally asked my friend who looked at me and slowly said "it's frozen fruit"...Oh. OH.  I tried to explain my not understanding.

Then, I realized I have never even posted about Fruiterias on this blog.  So, here is a post about one in East County. {A fruiteria is basically a fruit shop where fresh fruit is served in various ways and other items, usually sandwiches and chilled seafood, are offered so as to make small meals. A neighborhood Mexican Bistro Cafe -no tacos or burritos or salsa bar.}

 

Fruitland and Deli has been on this corner where Second turns into Jamacha at Main Street in El Cajon for about three years now. It is in the same parking lot as Dubai (now Sultan)is located.
Clean and not too small (seating for about 25) inside, it offers items all Fruiterias offer...
with a menu in English above the ordering area.

Happy colors decorate the interior.  A selection of hot sauces are on every table.

 
Ices(raspados), smoothies, milk drinks(licuados), all juice-juices, 'diet' juices (not with artificial ingredients, but with vegetables as well as fruit...(you drink for the diet effects)), iced coffee drinks, fruit bowls-large in size, even the 'small' for $6.50-(plain, topped with yogurt or cottage cheese, crema or condensed milk and granola), paletas(ice cream on a stick..wonderful flavors), sandwiches, seafood, tostilocos (another post), tamales and salads.
#1 Licuado (milk shake) (small) ($3.60)There is powdered milk in this one,  made with papaya, banana, cantaloupe, banana and strawberries.
Medium camarones coctele (shrimp cocktail)($9.60) We counted 23 good sized, plump and flavorful shrimp in this one. The broth was mostly lime juice, not overly tomato.  However the cucumber, avocado and cilantro made this quite delightful and very flavored. It's refreshing.

We decided to share a pork torta (#1)($6.50), especially after the Young Man behind the counter told us the bread was made fresh daily in the store.
This sandwich, made with a good portion of sliced, moist and flavorful pork roast and a bit of mayonnaise, was topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapeno and avocado and is definitely a meal in itself. The bread was indeed fresh, with a nice crispy crust and it was toasted.

Everything here is fresh, seasonal and takes a short while to be brought out, because it is all made to order.  This is how I enjoy eating.

Fruitland & Deli 109 Jamacha (between Main and 2nd) El Cajon 92019

The Fruit Stand

Just a quick "Hump-day" post about our "local" produce stand, called.....The Fruit Stand. If you've ever driven on Morena Boulevard, maybe to or from Costco, you may have seen the signs.

Today the Missus decided that she wanted to make some Guacamole, so we decided to stop and grab some produce.

The Fruit stand used to consist of a group of stands sitting outside in the parking lot, but I think last year's rain kind of pushed them indoors. It also seems alot easy to not have to move all the stands indoors every night.

Now The Fruit Stand has expanded into selling nuts and dried fruits, as well as produce. Another great thing about the Fruit Stand is that much of the produce is grown locally.

On this visit, in addition to all the "fixins" for Guac, the Missus couldn't help but pick up 2 3-packs of locally grown strawberries.

This being a "drier" year, the strawberries seem to be much sweeter.

So support your local farmers, and go ahead and check out those neighborhood produce stands!

The Fruit Stand
4330 Morena Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117

Sorry, no photos of those avocados(camera-shy) or the Guac(laziness on my part). But here's the "quick and dirty" recipe:

The Missus's Quick and Dirty Guacamole
(All quantities are estimates)

3-6 Ripe Avocados
1/2 Onion Chopped
2 cloves garlic
2-4 Jalapeno Peppers - roasted till the skin is charred. Remove skin and slice. (For a milder Guac make sure to remove seeds and "veins"
1/2 tomato seeded
1/3 Cup fresh squeezed lime juice
1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Cilantro
Salt to taste

1 - Combine onion, garlic, cilantro, tomato and jalapeno in a food processor and finely chop
2 - Remove avocado from skin and place in a bowl, and mix in chopped items from the food processor(you may want to do this slowly), and taste on occasion. Use a fork to mix the avocado for a chunkier texture.
3 - Slowly add lime juice and salt to mixture, and check for taste.

Refrigerate for 20 minutes to let the flavors fuse together.