I agree that anchoring malls with high quality grocers would be a big draw. Often, my most pleasurable shopping experiences are wandering the aisles of an H Mart or Pacific Ocean Marketplace.
In fact, I visited Honolulu many years ago and my Japanese friend took me to a mall that seemed to have an entire floor dedicated to Japanese foods and concessions.
I live in Aurora, Colorado and we have a surprisingly great number of independent small grocers and larger chains like H Mart, but certainly none inside a mall. If that were the case, I'd probably never leave!
Laura -- in cold Colorado, an Asian market would be perfect for a mall. If I get back to Honolulu, I'm looking for your Japanese food spot. That sounds like a mini Japanese depachika -- fancy department store food hall.
And, if fate takes me to Aurora, Pacific Ocean Marketplace sounds great.
You bring up a good point in that big markets such as H Mart, especially their super stores try to create that multiple concessions type of shopping experience -- the bakery, booze, medicinal areas are somewhat separate from the food ingredients. Thanks for weighing in!
First, I love your down-to-earthness about you and the way your write. Feels like you are taking TO me.
Second, good on you for taking an interest in people regardless if you’ll ever meet them. We need show kindness and interests to each other around the world. My mother used to say “it costs nothing to be nice and kind to other...”
Third, there are some amazing food court courts in Vancouver, BC (specifically in Richmond, BC municipality) that sell really good asian food.
Finally, thank you so much for your recipes and stories.
I love the Woks of Life cookbook! It seems the Bay Area should have more Asian markets, more ethnic markets of all kinds as we are so multicultural. I would love to see more of them.
Nordstrom pulled out of Oakridge Mall over two decades ago, as did Sears. I love grocery shopping and I love a mall with everything in it. Ordering items and hoping someone doesn't pilfer them from your porch is not the same experience.
Ranch 99 falls short of customer service, and too few Japanese and Korean items I often look for. Southern California appears to have everything. I have seen Lucky and Safeway stock some items, but not much selection. World Market has some surprises.
My favorite store in the East Bay is Tokyo Fish Market in Berkeley. Small, but well stocked. Much too far from home. I hear H-Mart is coming to Dublin at a future date. Still an ethnic market desert in Concord/Walnut Creek area.
I'm right with you, Christine! We should have nicer Asian markets. I go to Eataly in San Jose -- at the Valley Fair mall! -- and wonder how come we can't have something like that for pan-Asian food? Asian shoppers frequent that mall. Or the Westfield in San Francisco!
Tokyo Fish is a gem but it is far away. I go there when I'm buying wine at Kermit Lynch. H-Mart skews toward Korean groceries but does have a better pan-Asian inventory, including some Viet ingredients that I seldom see at Chinese markets.
I forgot to mention Marukai in Cupertino. Not much expansion in Northern California. They are owned by Don Quijote, another great market, but in Honolulu. Hawaii has everything Asian!
Wendy! I have the Sichuan style with pickled chiles on my list. The problem is tracing down the pickled chiles. I brought some back with me in 2010, from a trip to Chengdu and used them up. I think we can make them but have not tried it out.
I have made YXQ with doubanjiang and it's got the Sichuan flair and punch. Thanks for asking.
At last, a recipe for eggplant with garlic sauce that seems doable. I live in Santa Cruz and wonder what is your favorite market for Asian ingredients? (San Jose?) I doubt there is a market in Santa Cruz, Shoppers Corner doesn't have much nor do any other market where I shop. Any suggestions? I love your news letter and pass it on to several friends. Thanks so much!
Oh gosh -- try mining these spots for Asian ingredients:
Nob Hill in Capitola
Luckys on 41st
Staff of Life in SC (I haven't been to the Watsonville location)
If I go to SJ, I'm usually at Lion on Saratoga; or Mitsuwa nearby. I like Hankook on El Camino over the smallish H-Mart on Stevens Creek. For hardcore Viet groceries, I go to Thien Thanh or Tai Thanh in SJ. In Marina, Steve's Filipino market is a bit funky but I found all that I needed during the pandemic.
The 99 Ranch at the Oakridge mall is better than other ones in the South Bay.
I do shop at Staff of Life and I have shopped at Steve's Filipino market in Marina. I guess I have to go to San Jose. If you haven't heard of this market (Middle Eastern/North African), the International Market and Deli in Pacific Grove on Lighthouse Ave. is a great market and they have delicious gyros.
The only other option is something like Wee, which delivers but I've never tried it.
I've wondered about that Int'l market in Pacific Grove. I'm so glad you like it. I'll check it next time I go to the Aquarium. I also read about this Lebanese spot in Seaside:
Gosh I love your newsletters, Andrea! Every one is a treat, but this one is especially packed with great stuff. Can't wait to make my favorite vegetable this new way (to me). And thanks for the tip about another local 99Ranch outpost! Also, I love the way the survey results played out. Keep it coming, Andrea! <3
Bonnie! Your feedback and encouragement helps a lot. I'm muddling through Substack but when folks let me know what works and what doesn't I can better streamline things.
You’re so welcome. The mushrooms add texture to the dish. I’ve been playing with other renditions for this dish so stay tuned! I bought a lot of eggplant… :D
I live in Florida, & our growing season is different than most of the rest of our country. I went to our local Farmers’ Market yesterday where I bought three globe eggplants. I have already planned how I am going to cook them (a dish I call “eggplant pizza”) but I’m sure I can buy more next week & use them in this dish. It sounds scrumptious!
Sounds delicious! I'm going to try it!
Susan Spungen! So happy to have you here as I'm a huge fan of your Susanality Substack!
I agree that anchoring malls with high quality grocers would be a big draw. Often, my most pleasurable shopping experiences are wandering the aisles of an H Mart or Pacific Ocean Marketplace.
In fact, I visited Honolulu many years ago and my Japanese friend took me to a mall that seemed to have an entire floor dedicated to Japanese foods and concessions.
I live in Aurora, Colorado and we have a surprisingly great number of independent small grocers and larger chains like H Mart, but certainly none inside a mall. If that were the case, I'd probably never leave!
Laura -- in cold Colorado, an Asian market would be perfect for a mall. If I get back to Honolulu, I'm looking for your Japanese food spot. That sounds like a mini Japanese depachika -- fancy department store food hall.
And, if fate takes me to Aurora, Pacific Ocean Marketplace sounds great.
You bring up a good point in that big markets such as H Mart, especially their super stores try to create that multiple concessions type of shopping experience -- the bakery, booze, medicinal areas are somewhat separate from the food ingredients. Thanks for weighing in!
Is it still worthwhile cooking it without the chilies? I’m intolerant of chilies.
Sure! I've never done that but I'd try this:
Increase the ginger from 2 tsp to 1 Tablespoon
And for some numbing heat instead of chile heat: Use 1/2 to 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorn instead of the dried chiles
If you don't have Sichuan peppercorn, skip and see or use more ginger.
Let us know how it works out, Karen!
I've been following you since Asian Dumplings and have really enjoyed seeing your growth and pivots. Thanks for all that you do to keep us connected!
After the Beijing duck, the garlic eggplant at Sun Wah in Chicago is my very favorite. Can't wait to try this recipe at home.
Abit late to the party, Andrea!
First, I love your down-to-earthness about you and the way your write. Feels like you are taking TO me.
Second, good on you for taking an interest in people regardless if you’ll ever meet them. We need show kindness and interests to each other around the world. My mother used to say “it costs nothing to be nice and kind to other...”
Third, there are some amazing food court courts in Vancouver, BC (specifically in Richmond, BC municipality) that sell really good asian food.
Finally, thank you so much for your recipes and stories.
I love the Woks of Life cookbook! It seems the Bay Area should have more Asian markets, more ethnic markets of all kinds as we are so multicultural. I would love to see more of them.
Nordstrom pulled out of Oakridge Mall over two decades ago, as did Sears. I love grocery shopping and I love a mall with everything in it. Ordering items and hoping someone doesn't pilfer them from your porch is not the same experience.
Ranch 99 falls short of customer service, and too few Japanese and Korean items I often look for. Southern California appears to have everything. I have seen Lucky and Safeway stock some items, but not much selection. World Market has some surprises.
My favorite store in the East Bay is Tokyo Fish Market in Berkeley. Small, but well stocked. Much too far from home. I hear H-Mart is coming to Dublin at a future date. Still an ethnic market desert in Concord/Walnut Creek area.
I'm right with you, Christine! We should have nicer Asian markets. I go to Eataly in San Jose -- at the Valley Fair mall! -- and wonder how come we can't have something like that for pan-Asian food? Asian shoppers frequent that mall. Or the Westfield in San Francisco!
Tokyo Fish is a gem but it is far away. I go there when I'm buying wine at Kermit Lynch. H-Mart skews toward Korean groceries but does have a better pan-Asian inventory, including some Viet ingredients that I seldom see at Chinese markets.
I forgot to mention Marukai in Cupertino. Not much expansion in Northern California. They are owned by Don Quijote, another great market, but in Honolulu. Hawaii has everything Asian!
Happy New Year! I agree, some recipes in PTFS definitely add flavor....Great variation on a longtime favorite. Can't wait to try it.
Have you tried Sichuan style where the "fish flavor" comes from pickled chiles?
Wendy! I have the Sichuan style with pickled chiles on my list. The problem is tracing down the pickled chiles. I brought some back with me in 2010, from a trip to Chengdu and used them up. I think we can make them but have not tried it out.
I have made YXQ with doubanjiang and it's got the Sichuan flair and punch. Thanks for asking.
I forgot to mention, I like the recipes with the news letter and talking to strangers is a plus.
Thank you, Charlotte! Your feedback helps lots.
At last, a recipe for eggplant with garlic sauce that seems doable. I live in Santa Cruz and wonder what is your favorite market for Asian ingredients? (San Jose?) I doubt there is a market in Santa Cruz, Shoppers Corner doesn't have much nor do any other market where I shop. Any suggestions? I love your news letter and pass it on to several friends. Thanks so much!
Oh gosh -- try mining these spots for Asian ingredients:
Nob Hill in Capitola
Luckys on 41st
Staff of Life in SC (I haven't been to the Watsonville location)
If I go to SJ, I'm usually at Lion on Saratoga; or Mitsuwa nearby. I like Hankook on El Camino over the smallish H-Mart on Stevens Creek. For hardcore Viet groceries, I go to Thien Thanh or Tai Thanh in SJ. In Marina, Steve's Filipino market is a bit funky but I found all that I needed during the pandemic.
The 99 Ranch at the Oakridge mall is better than other ones in the South Bay.
I do shop at Staff of Life and I have shopped at Steve's Filipino market in Marina. I guess I have to go to San Jose. If you haven't heard of this market (Middle Eastern/North African), the International Market and Deli in Pacific Grove on Lighthouse Ave. is a great market and they have delicious gyros.
The only other option is something like Wee, which delivers but I've never tried it.
I've wondered about that Int'l market in Pacific Grove. I'm so glad you like it. I'll check it next time I go to the Aquarium. I also read about this Lebanese spot in Seaside:
https://www.ediblemontereybay.com/blog/found-treasure-monterey-hala-markets-falafel-wrap/
I have several lovely eggplant resting in the fridge. I'll be making this recipe!
Yay!!! The skin on eggplant is suppose to be loaded with antioxidants so bonus nutrition!
Gosh I love your newsletters, Andrea! Every one is a treat, but this one is especially packed with great stuff. Can't wait to make my favorite vegetable this new way (to me). And thanks for the tip about another local 99Ranch outpost! Also, I love the way the survey results played out. Keep it coming, Andrea! <3
Bonnie! Your feedback and encouragement helps a lot. I'm muddling through Substack but when folks let me know what works and what doesn't I can better streamline things.
As always, thank you for including notes on a vegan version! I am SO looking forward to Ever-Green Vietnamese! <3
You’re so welcome. The mushrooms add texture to the dish. I’ve been playing with other renditions for this dish so stay tuned! I bought a lot of eggplant… :D
Thank you Andrea! I also just got the Leung´s book for Xmas, I´m going to be making these!
Hooray! It's a great cookbook so I'm happy to know you'll be cooking from it!
I live in Florida, & our growing season is different than most of the rest of our country. I went to our local Farmers’ Market yesterday where I bought three globe eggplants. I have already planned how I am going to cook them (a dish I call “eggplant pizza”) but I’m sure I can buy more next week & use them in this dish. It sounds scrumptious!
Amazing, Jean. Florida is magical with its growing prowess. Eggplant surprising keeps well so hopefully you can keep on keeping on with the eggplant.