Cathys don't knock it 'til ya' try it "Sandwich"

[jglass]

I was reading that dried tomatos should be the texture of dried apricots. Is that right?
If I store mine in a jar with evoo do I need to keep them in the fridge?
If you have a list of specialty stores in Lexington that you like I would love to know of them.
Our friends go to lexington just about every weekend. Their daughter just graduated college there and their son is going to start college very soon. I could ask them to pick some items up for me. Im sure they wouldnt mind.

[KYHeirloomer]

Trouble is, I know where the places are to find them, but not to send somebody.

For instance, there's a new fish store in Chevy Chase. I can find it, but damned if I know what the streets are. Somewhere off Tates Creek Rd. is all.

I really should start collecting business cards for these places. But let's see what I can do:

Good Foods Co-Op is at the end of Southland Dr., off of Nickolousville Rd. Across the street from there is Ali Baba, a Lebanese market and lunch counter.

Parisi International Market is off Richmond Rd., just before you reach New Circle (coming from I-75). It's kind of tucked-in behind the McDonalds. If you then get on New Circle, going to the right, you'll come to Soul Market, just before the turn off to Sam's. Soul is general Asian foodstuffs, and, if you time it right, has some of the best produce in Kentucky.

Bluegrass Farmer's Market is on Richmond Rd. You can see it from the road, but I have no idea what the cross-street is. It operates on Saturdays. Lexington Farmer's Market operates on Tues., Thurs., Saturday, and Sunday, at different locations. They are having problems, though, and nobody is sure if they're going to be around much longer.

Sagar India Market has two locations, one at Keithshire Place (which you'll never find without a guide) and one at the Andover Shoppes, by Hamburg Place. They have crazy hours, though, and you never know when they'll be open.

The Liquor Barn near Hamburg has the best deli counter in the region, with cheeses and cold cuts you can't find anywhere else. That, for instance, is where I bought the tasso for last night's jambalaya.

The Fresh Mart is on Tates Creek Rd, right off New Circle. If it means anything, they're in the old Sloan's building. There's a (rather expensive) cheese shop in the strip mall there as well.

There's supposed to be a Chinese market next to Central Baptist Hospital, but I haven't had a chance to check it out.

Whole Foods (used to be Wild Oats until they were bought out) is in Lexington Green. Across the street from them is Bed Bath & Beyond, which also has a location in Hamburg Place. You'll find Linen & Things at Hamburg as well.

Whew! I know I'm leaving some out. And I'm sure there are others I don't know about. But this is a start.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

All those wonderful markets!!!!! Sighhhh

[KYHeirloomer]

Not all that many, Cathy, especially for somebody raised up in New York, and is, therefore, spoiled. And it's been a long road ferreting them out.

For instance, I learned about Sagar by accident, when I mentioned, at the Good Foods Co-Op that I was having difficulty finding curry leaves. This was before the ban.

Somebody asked, "did you try the Indian market?" To which I replied, "what Indian market?" There then ensued a discussion about exactly where they were located, what their hours were, etc. Took me another two weeks to actually figure out their location.

Despite what Emeril and them say, X is not available "everywhere." Indeed, "everywhere," seems to exclude everybody who doesn't live in either New York, Chicago, or LA. But the fact is, too, that all big cities, and most not so big ones, do have these ethinic and neighborhood places. If you take the time to find them, they can be godsends---particularly to someone like me, who hates ordering on-line.

Often, too, you find sources in unlikely places. It never would have occured to me to look in a liquor store for offbeat meat and cheese products. I discovered that counter when I went in looking for some wine.

And so it goes. Now, if I could only find a restaurant supply store within a reasonale distance......

[CanMan]

Originally Posted by jglass

I was reading that dried tomatos should be the texture of dried apricots. Is that right?
If I store mine in a jar with evoo do I need to keep them in the fridge?

Yes, items in room temperature oil are a magnetic for bacteria.

[shipscook]

KY,
ban on curry leaves?

Nan

[KYHeirloomer]

Yeah, Nan,

But it was apparently short lived.

If I understand it correctly, one case of leaves from Hawaii was infected with that citrus disease carrier. So all further shipments into California were banned until things go straightened out.

If I understand it correctly, all curry leaves coming to the mainland are first fumigated. Somehow or other that one slipped through. USDA has modified its inspection system, and the ban was lifted after just a month. But shipments are just now starting to catch up with demand.

As of a week and a half ago my supplier was still telling people he had none because of the ban.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Hi KYH & Nan,

I am not a big fan of curry, at one time I used curry in everything, and just kind of made myself sick of it I Used to frequent this Indian Restaurant in California and just kind of decided it was not for me anymore. I wonder if I will ever get back my taste for it!

Have either of you heard about turmeric being good for carpal tunnel syndrome? It has an anti-inflamatory property and so some health-food advocates say it can help. I have been taking it for that, and darn if my memory did not improve.......like by a 100% improvement It's crazy, but wonderful I am just enjoying it! Thought I would pass along the word!

Hope ya' all have nice weekends, Cathy

[KYHeirloomer]

Cathy, don't confuse curry leaves with the spice blend curry. They are different things.

Curry leaves bring a unique flavor to foods they are added to, and there is no substitute. If you have a recipe that calls for curry leaves, and don't have any, it's better to just leave them out than to try and find a sub.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Thanks For Letting Me Know That, I Will Maybe One Day Try To Get Some Maybe When We Venture Down To Atlanta And Find A Suitable Market There!