I was in the most intereesting food store today

[Tab]

On my way back from the hospital yesterday, I noticed to my right a store called "Siberia Food Market" and underneath the same name in Cyrillic. On the side was a big sign, "European Food". I was not in the right lane (with traffic) so I couldn't check it out, but I had to return today and made a point to be able to get to it.

Very interesting - lots of foods from all over. Plenty from Russia, also Azerbaijan, Tel Aviv, Greece, almost any other place you can think of. Fresh ethnic cheeses too, including "Amish Cheese", although by law those have to be made in the States.

Regrettably, I don't read Russian, or any of the Slavic languages, so I didn't know what half this stuff was, but some also had English translations as well, and then there were a few things that although I couldn't read them, it was obvious what they were. I can't even type out the names of some of the stuff because I don't have a Cyrillic font. But this is what I did get (just as a sampler, I'll certainly go back):

A Smoked Beef Salami from Tel Aviv

Something I thought was beef jerkey (much flatter and skinnier), but looking at the drawing on it of some northern person pulling a long fish out of an ice fishing hole, I'm guessing it's more of a fish jerkey. It also has a shipping sticker in English on it that says "Eviscerated dried vobla", and ingredients are listed as "Vobla, Salt".

Something that was in the cheese section that has a picture of a cow on it, I can't write the title but under it it says "Spread, Fresh Made" and the ingredients are listed as 50% butter, 30% soybean oil, 20% Kefir, Spread.

A packet of "Delicios Dry Squid", from Israel, ingredients "Squid, Salt, Sugar".

And finally, from Haifa, "Cold Smoked Butterfish" (present in a package like lox or smoked salmon is here). Ingredients: "Butterfish, salt, natural wood smoke".

I figure that'd get me started.

On edit: I forgot I also got a bottle of whole marinated tomatoes. That looked interesting. They are from the Ukraine. Ingredients "Tomatoes, vinegar, salt, sugar, garlic, dill, spices". Of course "spices" can cover a lot of territory.

[eleny]

1. Vobla...

"... a Russian food made of different kinds of fish (such as bream, perch, smelt, etc.) which has been salt-dried for several weeks."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vobla

I'd love to roam around a store like that!

[sazemisery]

2. Eleny - You left out the most interesting detail

Vobla (also spelled wobla) is a Russian word for Caspian roach (Rutilus rutilus caspicus), and also a Russian food made of different kinds of fish (such as bream, perch, smelt, etc.) which has been salt-dried for several weeks. Vobla originated in Russia, and is a common Russian meal or "snack" that goes well with beer. It is popular in many Russian households and beer restaurants.

Vobla is generally eaten without sauces or side dishes. Many people like to eat their Vobla with a glass of beer, which lessens the salty taste of the fish.

Vobla could be considered as raw fish, but it is neither raw nor cooked, but rather salt-cured. It is soaked in brine for two weeks and then is thoroughly air-dried for another two, which in the end acts as a form of chemical cooking.

Names for Vobla in other languages: Kazakh: karakez; Azerbaijani: kulme, bobla; Turkmenian: - kasli akcapagy; Persian: koolmeh; English: Caspian roach.


For Tab's sake I hope it is fish. :evilgrin:

[eleny]

5. I did that on purpose....

I should have known better!!!

[Arkansas Granny]

9. It's OK. It is a fish.

Rutilus rutilus caspicus, commonly known as Caspain roach.

[sazemisery]

17. I couldn't imagine making jerky out of insects.

:evilgrin: :rofl:

[Arkansas Granny]

28. I'll bet that if you looked long enough you could find it. Check this out.

http://www.thailandunique.com/store/edible-insects-bugs-c-1.html

I'm not quite that adventurous, :scared: but dried bugs would be a lot like jerky, I suppose.

[sazemisery]

30. I would eat it if I had to and I might..

try some of that Scorpion Vodka!

[Arkansas Granny]

31. Yeah, it might have a little "bite" to it.

[Tab]

33. I think I'd pass on the "Scorpion Lolly"

If I want some vodka, I don't think I need to include a scorpion in the experience.

[Warpy]

13. The international grocery here

leans a little more heavily to Asia and the Caribbean than to eastern Europe. Still there are occasional great finds and I love their produce.

One great thing to look for in the deli case is smoked whitefish, often available even in my neighborhood market. It's wonderful on saltines.

[eleny]

15. Smoked whitefish on bagels with cream cheese, onion & tomato

One of my favorites.

Sometimes I find it at our King Soopers around the holidays. But I should visit the Russian neighborhoods for this type of great stuff.

[Warpy]

16. You know what I'm taking about

They have it around here during the high holy days, especially. I can eat it plain and do, although a thin slice of red onion and some cucumber make it divine.

[eleny]

23. Oh yes, the red onion with cuke combo... mmmmm..mmmm....good!

[Tab]

25. I'm going to try that

I've never mixed stuff like that with cukes, though, but it should be good.

[eleny]

29. Sliced cukes, sliced white or yellow onion and sour cream are a great combo for summer

Just be sure that they're chilled in the serving bowl.

[The empressof all]

18. I love it in any form

I remember every Sunday morning we had a whitefish. I loved picking every morsal around those bones. Although it was rare that we had any left over my mother sometimes bought two I guess so we could have white fish salad for Moday lunches. She'd serve it open faced on Arnolds White Bread or on Ritz Crackers with a half an olive on top. I believe it was just white fish, mayo and a bit of finely chopped onion....God was that good.

[eleny]

24. I worked with a great bunch of people at NYC social services

Some of us would play Hearts at lunch when we weren't in the field making visits. Then every so often we'd get together at someones house on the weekend to play cards. The spread was always the same - assorted smoked fish like lox and whitefish, bagels, creamed cheese, onions and a huge pot of coffee.

That was back in the early '70s and the memory is still sweet.

[elleng]

36. Had a great Jewish deli near home in DC, years ago;

5+ years ago.

We'd often order their 'super bagel' for brunches, parties with guests. LARGE bagel-type roll with our selected favorites. Whitefish salad has always been one of my favorites.

[elleng]

3. Good to see such in the Far North!

When visiting a friend in NY who lives in Queens, I've seen lots of interesting shops and restaurants. One food shop contains similar kind of variety as you describe.

I dearly love NYC for this reason, the real melting pot I learned about in elementary school in Brooklyn.

[eleny]

4. Queens is the borough with the most diverse population

I grew up there closer to the beaches in the southern part of the borough. But up north nearer the 59th St Bridge, it's a smorgasbord of nationalities.

[Tab]

6. Just tried the "Delicious Dry Squid"

Undecided on the first bite (it wasn't bad, though) but by the third one I realized they are oddly addicting. I'll be working on them first.

Also note I edited above, I forgot to include this jar of whole marinated tomatoes from the Ukraine.

[elleng]

7. Oh, yea,

I remember pickled tomatoes, green, eh?

[Tab]

8. No, they're red actually

I've seen green pickled tomatoes from the south, but I don't think I've ever seen red pickled tomatoes.

[The empressof all]

14. Are you sure they are tomatoes?

There's a variety of peppers from that area that are round like tomatoes.

[Tab]

20. The ingredient list in the OP says "tomatoes"

And they had a few different kinds, some said "tomatoes" in english.

They're about the size of Roma tomatoes, except round.

[troubleinwinter]

47. Now ya made me miss 'cuttlefish'.

My grandmother lived in Hawaii and she'd send me packages of salty/sweet dried squid for snacking. She is passed now, so I don't any longer get Christmas packages of cuttlefish.

[kestrel91316]

10. We have lots of Russian markets around here (and kosher, and Middle Eastern),

and their 99 varieties of smoked fish corpses have me mystified, lol.

They have those big jars of sour cherries that you can't get at American groceries, so I will have to retire and die here so I can keep getting them. I buy them for pies and such, but I can never keep them around long enough - I just open a jar and tuck in.

[elleng]

11. Where is 'here?'

.

[kestrel91316]

12. Tarzana, CA - Little Tehran, Little Israel. Large Jewish emigre population.

[grasswire]

19. have you seen my posts about the local Russian grocery?

My last foray there netted $25 in Easter candy. Beautiful colorful candy. Whee! One of these days I'm going to take $100 and buy a feast of stuff to try. Especially the birch water and the pickled vegetables of so many kinds.

[Tab]

21. This place had lots of interesting candy

but I don't usually eat candy.

They also had a side display of beautiful Russian porcelain.

There were lots of treats, but they were all in Russian and I didn't know what half that stuff was.

I'm definitely going back, though.

[elleng]

26. Halvah is prolly sesame seeds, fyi!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halva

[elleng]

27. We talked about birch water some time ago.

What is it?

[Tab]

22. Well, I just tried the dried vobla and the smoked beef salami

Had I realized the volba was fish when I got it, I might have thought twice. It'll be an acquired taste. It is edible, but in a sort of dried anchovy sort of way (or what I would imagine a dried anchovy to be) except maybe not as strong. I could see munching on it on a cold Russian night in my dacha accompanied by lots of vodka. I'll try some more, but maybe my dogs will like it better.

The smoked beef salami from Tel Aviv, however, was just absolutely delicious. I only tried a small chunk but it was really flavorful and yum.

I'll work on the rest over the next few days. I'm curious what that Kefir spread will be like.

The squid is already long gone.

[Tab]

34. I just went to have some more of the smoked beef salami

I knew my son had tried a slice and really liked it.

What I didn't know was at some point between last night and this evening he had managed to scarf down 85% of it.

There wasn't much left.

But it was damn good.

[hvn_nbr_2]

32. That sounds almost exactly like a store near me

The one near me (San Francisco peninsula area) is called Europe Mart or something like that. I went in expecting French, German, Italian, Austrian, but it was all eastern European plus Israeli and some other Middle Eastern. Labels just as you describe: many languages that I can't read, some English translations that more or less make some sense, some very unfamiliar items and ingredients. They have some very interesting deli salads too.

[hippywife]

35. I really wish we had a more diverse population

of immigrants here. Sure we have the Latino and there is a Philippino grocery I know of, but nothing quite so interesting as the things you find in larger cities.

[troubleinwinter]

37. I am so jealous.

When I lived in the SF Bay area, it was dangerous for me to go into the Asian markets, cuz I bought a bajillion bux worth of stuff, whether I knew what it was or not.

Where I live now, the most exotic market we have sells "Barry Goldwater's Chili Mix".

:crazy:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

38. You may hate me for this,

but my Sunday plans with my pal Tony is that we first have a big breakfast at the Original Pancake House - they make their own corned beef hash, which is sublime - and then we're hitting Penzey's.

From there, we're going to the Korean grocery, where we'll probably have some noodles in the little restaurant next door to the grocery store.

The next stop will be the Omaha Steaks outlet store, where we'll just get whatever's on special sale. Tony loves their chocolate cheesecake, and I'm a sucker for their chicken roulades. Prices there are routinely 50% of their retail prices (and no shipping charges!), and when they have a sale, they knock another 30% off.

Then, we're going to the Thai market to stock up on things that really are essential, like fresh lemongrass, rice flake, and dipping sauces, as well as more black vinegar and the ongoing need for hot oil and sesame oil.

We'll stop at HarrisTeeter because the Vidalias are in, at $.49 a pound, and the Smithfield baby back ribs are on sale, two for the price of one!

On the way home, we'll stop at the Viennese bakery and, for dinner, we'll probably pick up some sushi at Akasaka, the place that's so good, I take clients from Japan there because it's so good.

I love the Washington, DC area. I love the huge immigrant influx we've had in the last thirty years, and I love how expansive our local culture has become...............................

[troubleinwinter]

39. I hate yer guts.

Need any Barry Goldwater Chili Mix?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

41. Thank you ...........

You really broke me up with that one.

:toast:

[troubleinwinter]

40. The highlight of my life right now

is that daughter & SIL are gonna visit shortly from San Francisco area and I have told them that they may NOT come without REAL artichokes (not the tasteless stupid things from Safeway) and REAL 'Honest-to-Gawd' San Francisco sour dough.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

42. The bread .............

We have some spectacular bakeries around here, but I have memories of waking up to some still-warm rosemary sourdough bread from a bakery down the street from where we lived in the Western Addition (which was a really bad neighborhood back then, but still a great foodie place - like the whole city).

Oh, the artichokes. Oh, man, now I hate yer guts.

And any noodle shop in SF is, at the very least, wonderful. I never had a bad meal in that city.

That's all. Only two things?

You're easy ............................

[troubleinwinter]

43. We got some serious guts hatin' goin' on here.

You just HAD to mention San Francisco noodle shops??!!!!
:spank:

That does it. I'm sending you some Barry Goldwater Chili Mix.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

44. Hey, it's after 1 a.m. here,

and I just made myself hungry. You have GOT to feel sorry for me now. You MUST!

There was a little place not far from Koreatown that fixed this noodle dish with the biggest, fattest oysters you've ever seen. It's the taste I'd like to have in my mouth at the moment of my death, it was that good.

I'm hungry. And I should be going to sleep now.

Pity me, and did you ever consider fixing that chili with some good noodles, maybe?

<running away-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->

[troubleinwinter]

45. NOW how am *I* supposed to sleep?

Ya got me all rememberin' noodles in duck broth with slices of roasted duck on top.

And remembering Edsel Ford Fung, The Rude Waiter, insulting, theatening and frightening the customers.

[troubleinwinter]

46. (for thems what don't know)

Edsel Ford Fung was a famous (infamous?) waiter in a San Francisco Chinatown noodle shop. One had to walk through the kitchen on the ground floor to get to the dining room upstairs.

He was RUDE. INSULTING. SCARY. He'd call you out loudly from across the room, then come at you. Gawd help you if you ordered something that he wasn't in the mood to bring you. The Soup Nazi couldn't polish the soles of Edsel's most worn out shoes.

Nobody knows the name of the eatery. It was just called "Edsel Fung's" by everybody.

They had fantabulous noodles, too.

[troubleinwinter]

48. Hah!

Wiki has Edsel Ford Fung

Edsel Ford Fung was born and raised in San Francisco's Chinatown. He worked the second floor of the Sam Wo Restaurant on Washington Street... As head waiter, Fung greeted visitors with an admonition to "sit down and shut up." He is also known for calling patrons "retarded" and "fat", criticizing people's menu choices before telling them what they should order, slamming food on the table, complaining about receiving only 15% tips, and groping female patrons. An imposing man with a crew cut hair style, he was also notorious for seating people with strangers, forgetting orders, cursing, spilling soup on customers, hazing newcomers, refusing to provide forks or English menu translations, and busing tables before diners were finished.

"...the world's rudest waiter." ... genuinely rude... and "madman."

[Tangerine LaBamba]

53. And I missed him?

Damn. I feel seriously deprived. I especially like the "groping female patrons" part.

Some people just make art wherever they are .......................

[Tangerine LaBamba]

52. Absolutely great!

I never heard of Edsel Ford Fung, but I can imagine. That city has some wonderful characters. I loved living there.

We used to hit a sushi place on Divisadero, near Western Addition, called Godzilla, which was, of course, decorated with all kinds of Godzilla toys and posters.

And a sushi chef who occasionally went insane. With sharp knives. Made for some interesting times.

He liked me, though, for some odd reason, since we didn't share a common language, and I don't eat raw fish. At the end of every meal, he'd come out with an orange he had carved so that it still looked intact. He'd hand it to me, and it would fall open in my hands, displaying a flower, a bunch of palm trees, or - his personal favorite - an erect penis.

Good eating, San Francisco style .....................

(Just curious, I checked out Godzilla, and, wonder of wonders, it's still there!!! http://tinyurl.com/cwd55g)

[grasswire]

61. the name of the eatery is Sam Wo's

Most people know that but don't know Edsel's name.

Damn, that takes me back. Walk in through the kitchen, go upstairs, food comes up via a dumb waiter.

Wow.

Sam Wo's. Great place.

[Tab]

62. I can't eat the real SF sourdough

it gives me hiccups.

[elleng]

49. All this is excellent, IF

one DARES drive in Virginia! They appear to have DELIBERATELY made it difficult to get from ONE place to ANOTHER!!!!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

51. Get outta here!!!

No, I don't mean that literally, but I know what you mean. If you're not familiar with the area, it can be confusing. Although, in truth, Arlington is a much bigger mess than Alexandria, which is home. Arlington's developed in such a random mish-mash, it's as bad as some areas of DC, which is another nightmare if you don't know exactly where you're going.

But, for me, there's no place worse than the inner Maryland suburbs - Chevy Chase and the like - that absolutely baffle me. I have to go there twice a year, to meet with the accountants, and I get lost every damn time. It's not like their offices have moved - they haven't - but no road stays the same from one six-month period to another.

elleng, Mapquest is our friend .......................

[elleng]

54. It ends up, Tange, that my brother's coming thru Sat,

so I'm picking him up at National (OBAMA National, we call it!) and we'll go to Old Town. (Have to take him to Dulles later.) SO, I'll BE IN VIRGINIA!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

55. I'll pray for you,

but if you're going to be in Old Town, and you want to go a bit north and avoid the inevitable weekend crowds of tourons, there's a place I really love that's funky and fun and has great food, if you'll be around for lunch:

http://www.stardustrestaurant.com/index.html

One of my all-time favorites. My dentist's office is across the street, and we periodically meet there at the end of the day to get sloshed on good wine and make fools of ourselves. She's far worse than I am, but the folks at Stardust are just terrific.

In any event, be safe and it'll be all right. The roads to NATIONAL AIRPORT - that's all it's ever been to me - are clearly marked and easy to follow. You just watch the signs to get to Old Town.

And going to Dulles is sort of like being in Maryland, so my sympathies, dear heart.

Have a great time!!!

[elleng]

56. THANKS!

Will be going to National thru DC; not a problem, and Old Town from there, CINCHY! GREAT menus at Stardust! The kid (brother) asked for Paella! REALLY spoiled by Mom! If crowds bother us/him, will head for Stardust! THEN have to figure out Dulles!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

57. To go to Dulles from Old Town,

just go north on Washington Street (the main north-south drag that you took from the airport to get to Old Town), and stay on it as it turns into the GW Parkway and you'll see the signs for 495 to Dulles.

It's really simple, honestly. You'll be fine.

PAELLLA?

Here's the place you want to go: http://www.lastapas.us/

Right in Old Town, close to the public parking lot (which is pretty big), and it's FABULOUS! Check to see if they're open for lunch on Saturday, and if you need a reservation. The food is sensational!

Lucky you .....................

[elleng]

58. GRACIAS, MERCI, DANKE!!!!

Smiling here, Tange!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

59. Isn't DU great?

You can get anything you want, just like Alice's Restaurant!

I'm glad I could help - but, be warned - it's gonna be HOT on Saturday.....................

[elleng]

60. Yea, I heard! SO, may have to unearth SHORTS????

Was in Florida with folks until November, and haven't been warm since!

As for DU being great, Ms. LaBamba, its more like YOU are great! LOTS in common: DC area restaurants, transportation, deregulation, etc., etc., etc!!!

[grasswire]

64. my fave ethnic place in NoVa (to bring this back to ethnic)

....was the Samadi Sweet Shop on Arlington Blvd. God, it was just filled with filo pastries of all kinds. Just delicious stuff.

There is another DUer who shares my memories of that place, as well as a great old fondness for the Fish Market on King Street.

[elleng]

67. Where's the Fish Market on King St?

This 'visit' may get me into a VA sort of mood!

[grasswire]

69. where King St. meets the Potomac

(almost) -- it's at the base of King St. Across the street is the river.

The Fish Market is an institution located in historic buildings in Old Town. In its heyday in the 80s, live ragtime entertainers performed in several dining rooms and the place had a waiting line down the block to get in. Because one of the pianists was my best friend of many years, I could get in and get guests in too.

Seafood, schooners of beer, lots of singalongs of local favorites, it's a long-time tradition for celebrations. Although live music exists just a couple of times a week now, it's still a very popular joint.

I'll have the huge shrimp salad and a Tanqueray and tonic, thank you very much.

Those were the days, oh yes those were the days. Thank you, Mr. Ray, for supporting live music all these years.

[elleng]

71. Sounds 'kewl,' as some would say!

.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

68. Samadi? On Leesburg Pike in Bailey's Crossroads?

That's the only Samadi I know, and that one was terrific. It's still there, probably still turning out their little masterpieces. Some good food in that place. They usually had a few entrees, too, and they were very, very tasty.

The Fish Market downtown was such a great joint, a place where all the young lawyers - back in the old days - congregated after work to down a few and hatch some plots. Their food never was anything special, but who cared? The place was just plain fun ...................

[grasswire]

70. oh yeah....on Leesburg Pike

31 flavors of baklava, NASA's travel guide says.

[grasswire]

63. why don't you take him back to National and let him take a shuttle...

....to Dulles? It would be a lot easier for you. Although there really is nothing to be skeered of when driving there, IMO.

If I were going from Old Town to Dulles I would take go back up to the GW Parkway and take the Parkway to 495 and then go north to the Dulles Toll Road. It's prettier.

Gee, I miss Washington.

[elleng]

66. It is pretty, or, it has been. Haven't been out and about much, tho.

Don't get to see him much, so I'll take him wherever he has to go. He lives in Iowa! And not skeered at all! Have driven LOTS, all over!

[Tab]

72. Um, have you ever driven in Boston?

Washington is laid out like a checkerboard.



Boston is laid out like a plate of spaghetti.



With one-way strands, no less.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

73. If you think DC is laid out like a checkerboard,

you weren't playing checkers, and someone lied to you.....................

[elleng]

74. Like Firenze! Maddening!

My mother went to college and lived in Boston for many years; its rumored that she drove therein!

[Tab]

50. Tried the Smoked Butterfish

Actually my son asked about it - the same one (well, I have only one) that ate most of the smoked beef sausage - so we opened it. Each gave it a try - a little stronger, saltier, and fishier than smoked salmon - but we both sort of liked it. I figured it would do better on a cracker and with a slice of cheese (and smoked beef salami, had there been any left), so I put them on Whole Grain Wheat Thin crackers with a slice of Irish "Blarney Castle" cheese, and they were much more palatable and he ate them right up.

It's so nice to have him interested in food. For the longest time it was only "Mac and Cheese" or hot dogs or pizza, and god forgive you if you deviated in the slightest. Now he's trying all kinds of interesting shit and, even better, rejecting a lot of the old stuff (for a while he was rejecting pizza, which was most annoying, but fortunately, that stopped).

[Tab]

65. Just tried the marinated tomatoes

Ohmygod, they were sooo good.

The marinated tomatoes and the smoked beef sausage.... I can look forward to those. Those are definitely repeats.

Wow.