shopping for spices

somewhere around here, there's a thread that is dear to my heart, wherein carnivore directed me to check out sahadi's, the lebanese emporium of all that is good. sahadi's has good, fresh, cheap spices, and now features prominently in my hopes for the afterlife.

http://www.sahadis.com/

it's on atlantic. there's a bus you can take to pretty close by.

sweet tea wrote: somewhere around here, there's a thread that is dear to my heart, wherein carnivore directed me to check out sahadi's, the lebanese emporium of all that is good. sahadi's has good, fresh, cheap spices, and now features prominently in my hopes for the afterlife.

http://www.sahadis.com/

it's on atlantic. there's a bus you can take to pretty close by.

Awww... shucks.....:oops:

Sahadi's is the best though. It's also great for olive oil, olives, halvah, all types of condiments, coffee, tea, cheese... And you can get a big pack of frozen lamajun for unbelievably cheap. Looking for kaffir lime leaves? Curry leaves? Banana leaves? Look no further. And we have the good fortune to live in close proximity to this wonderful place.

Chenkwe.

There's also that place on 7th ave, I believe around Garfield but I could be off. It's called International something, I think the people who run it are Turkish. The sell spices by the pound and also have a bunch of gourmet type foods, cheeses, oils, etc.

For the last 7-8 years I've bought nearly everything from Penzeys. They're expensive, but fresh and high-quality. Makes the grocery-store stuff seem like sand. I used to go to a couple of the shops when I lived near them, but now use penzeys.com. They're opening up a store in Grand Central this year, though, if it's not already open.

I'm with Pitu on the PSFC. They do carry great spice and everything nice. However, since the Coop isn't on everyone's agenda I just walked back from Veggie Castle on Church Ave by Flatbush and stopped in some the West Indian markets along the way. Check 'em out if you're looking for stuff like corriander, cayenne, nutmeg, curry, banana porridge, etc. The C-Town by Hawthorne and Flatbush also has a nice spice selection.

pitu wrote:
The Park Slope Food Coop sells very fresh spices in miniscule bags, but you have to be a member
HOW TO JOIN THE COOP

There is abundant discussion of the virtues and trials of the Coop
elsewhere

This is true. I toured the co-op this past weekend and was impressed not only by their spice variety, but that you could get them in small quantities, for like 25c.

Captain Salty wrote: there's a store on franklin ave and maybe sterling that sells 99.9% pure MSG in 8oz bags for $1.00

best spice ever!

It's the other 0.1% I wonder about.

While i was down by Flatbush and Midwood I stopped by a couple fruit and veggie stores that stock West Indian food stuff. I noticed bags of off-beat stuff like banana and oats porridge, bulgar porridge, peanut banana porridge,etc. They're made by a company called Jamaica Kitchens. I will try the banana oats tomorrow. The stores I hit, mainly between the Washington Ave intersection and Midwood have a small but very interesting selection of West Indian and African supplies. I'm guessing the farther you go down Flatbush, The Junction being the stopping point, there should be bigger stores with more variety. Like i say however, the stores i hit are no slouches.

Idlewild wrote: While i was down by Flatbush and Midwood I stopped by a couple fruit and veggie stores that stock West Indian food stuff. I noticed bags of off-beat stuff like banana and oats porridge, bulgar porridge, etc. They're made by a company called Jamaica Kitchens. I will try the banana oats tomorrow. The stores I hit, mainly between the Washington Ave intersection and Midwood have a small but very interesting selection of West Indian and African supplies. I'm guessing the farther you go down Flatbush, The Junction being the stopping point, there should be bigger stores with more variety. Like i say however, the stores i hit are no slouches.

My old stomping grounds! I grew up right by the junction! Have you been to Northeastern Market?

Carnivore wrote: [quote=Idlewild]While i was down by Flatbush and Midwood I stopped by a couple fruit and veggie stores that stock West Indian food stuff. I noticed bags of off-beat stuff like banana and oats porridge, bulgar porridge, etc. They're made by a company called Jamaica Kitchens. I will try the banana oats tomorrow. The stores I hit, mainly between the Washington Ave intersection and Midwood have a small but very interesting selection of West Indian and African supplies. I'm guessing the farther you go down Flatbush, The Junction being the stopping point, there should be bigger stores with more variety. Like i say however, the stores i hit are no slouches.

My old stomping grounds! I grew up right by the junction! Have you been to Northeastern Market?

My old stomping grounds also Grew up off Midwood Street and went to highschool not too far from the junction (many moons ago! LOL)

Kalustians on Lexington betw. 28th and 29th. Just a block from the 28th St. stop on the 6. Every spice you could imagine -- fresh and at good prices. Also just lots of aisles of really cool and unusual international food. Upstairs is a kick-ass middle eastern deli, with a mujadarah sandwich that will make you weep a little bit.

Sushipants wrote: Kalustians on Lexington betw. 28th and 29th. Just a block from the 28th St. stop on the 6. Every spice you could imagine -- fresh and at good prices. Also just lots of aisles of really cool and unusual international food. Upstairs is a kick-ass middle eastern deli, with a mujadarah sandwich that will make you weep a little bit.

I love that place. And the mujadarah sandwich is delicious. I used to get that all the time when I worked near there.

The old guy who works in that deli is also hilarious.

sounds delish.