Most British towns have a store similar to the one above. With so many diverse nationalities all over the UK, Asian/Middle Eastern foods are now sold everywhere.
Taj in Brighton is a real favourite of mine; it is also perfectly positioned opposite Waitrose, so, when there, I do all my shopping in one spot.
This shop is a dream. It's big, and they sell everything you could possibly imagine, from the rarest spices, to unheard-of fruits and veg'. Just walking around the shop is like being on holiday.
The smell is wonderful, and continuous Arabic music completes the exotic picture.
Here in France we have three main groups of immigrants, those from North Africa, The Caribbean, and Vietnam. Most supermarkets cater for much of their basic needs, and street markets sell the rest. There are very few comprehensive stores that sell 'exotic foods'; at least, I only know of one, and that is miles away.
If I was granted one wish, it would be to import Brighton's Taj, and re-plant it near to my usual Leclerc supermarket.
Honestly; I promise I would never moan again!
We have mostly East European shops selling sausage like your favourite kabanos and preserved fruit and vegetable salads which I like. We've got snow again this morning.
ReplyDeleteI love Kabanos sausages. I think it's cooler here this morning. Still dark so I'll see in about an hour or so.
DeleteHere there's a bezirk or district with a big Turkish market which is very popular with locals and visitors and lots of Turkish shops. I used to like a speciality which is a cake made with honey but nowadays I have to watch what's left of my teeth so no longer on the menu. :-(
ReplyDeleteMy late father in law was at our Embassy in Ankara, and became very addicted to all those very sweet Turkish 'delights'. I think his favourite was the honey-rich Baklava.
DeleteDid all his teeth fall out ,-)
DeleteNo; just mine!
DeleteUp here in the wilds of outer west Cumbria we don't have much in the way of exotic food suppliers, probably because we don't have a very high % of exotic people; but some supermarkets have a Polish shelf.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been back to the UK for decades, but I imagine that those Polish shops are now everywhere. As long as they sold Kabanos sausages, I'd be very happy.
DeleteWe've got a Paris Store (which is part of a chain of Asian supermarkets) in Tours Nord and try to get there once a year to stock up. It's the only place I can get tofu that is edible and I like to eat tofu occasionally. Last time we were there I got various sauces, a new bamboo steamer and a few other things. It's a shame it's a bit out of the way for us as the prices are really good. The big Paris Store in Paris is on two sites, across the road from each other, and is enormous.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I didn't think ANY tofu was edible!
DeleteThe one shop I know that sells Indian and other products, is about 60 kms away, and frankly only has a very small selection. It's also in a small town where parking is impossible. I need my Taj.
Our village stores run by a couple of handsome brothers from Sri Lanka stock an amazing selection of pickles, spices and fresh herbs - perfect for a Saturday like today when snow is threatening and I can spend a few hours with Madhur Jaffrey in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good afternoon (with the Rugby as well). I have to rely on Amazon.
DeleteA version of the English, "Pop down the road to the Pakis and get....". Maybe not. The store you feature is tidy and spacious. Our shops like that are generally not.
ReplyDeleteThat's it. I think the owners of Taj would take you outside for a public flogging if you were to make a mess!
DeleteI'd also enjoy ealkimg around in that Taj store of your picture! We have an African/Asian/Indian store in our neighbourhood which is snobbed by locals but, I like to go in and look around. I buy hot curry for my husband from them; the Italian supermarket curry is mild and tastes of nothing.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria x
Ealking = walking
DeleteWe were once invited for a curry by our ex-Parisian neighbours. They asked us if it was TOO HOT; we couldn't even taste that it was curry! We like it quite hot.
DeleteThe smells... I miss coffee-roasters.
ReplyDeleteI remember one in East Grinstead, it used to belch out blue smoke onto the street. Wonderful smell.
DeleteI really like stores like that. We have the two very large markets here that are similar. It is always a treat to shop at either one.
ReplyDeleteNothing like them! Unfortunately her, people are very insular; they wouldn't dream of eating 'foreign muck'. They didn't even drink Tea until a few years ago.
DeleteThis reminds me of Stokes's cafe on the High Bridge over the Witham in Lincoln. It has been there throughout my lifetime and is there still. There is a coffee roaster in the window and it is constantly roasting beans - the smell puthers out into the High Street - it is one of the constant smells in the city.
ReplyDeleteWe always grind our own beans for our mid-morning coffee, and occasionally I 'dry-fry' the beans in a small cast iron pan for a while before grinding. It gives off that same smell as the old High Street roasters. Lovely.
DeleteI'm envious of those markets you describe so sensually. I can smell the spices and see the vivid colors. (My number one dream is to visit Morocco and see/experience the spice markets. I've never been out of the Southern USA). Sadly, here in the USA, everything is sterilized to death in markets. I do love a good Farmer's Market where local folk sell produce off the backs of their trucks. That's the only way to buy fruit and veggies! Lovely post, Cro! xo
ReplyDeleteGet you to Marrakech! It's one of the great experiences in life. There is a huge central Square called the Jeema al Fna (I hope my spelling is correct) which is everything an Arabic meeting place should be. In the evenings it turns into a huge open air restaurant. You should go!
DeleteIt never ceases to astound me how many different foods are now available to us. When I first came to live on Lewis in the '70s the most exotic food one might find in the shops (no supermarket as such) was an orange.
ReplyDelete(I hope my spelling is correct) which is everything an Arabic meeting place should be. In the evenings it turns into a huge open air restaurant. You should go!สมัคร D2BET
ReplyDelete