lalmirch

Hi Steven, Man this thread is all over the place. I have many of those outrageous prices stories, sadly. My worst? The dreaded flexible pricing. In EV/LES a certain market on the corner who watches what you're willing to spend and charges accordingly. They are used to yuppies just throwing down money and not noticing the register anyway. I've actually had him try and change prices on me because I've pulled out my money too readily. This behaviour is from cultures where haggling is part of the sale, I'm guessing. "two fifty... oh oh I sorry, three fifty." Besides, you know why it's high. Because they can. Because you'll still buy it. Or someone will. It's not priced so you, the one customer, won't say no. They don't @#$@! care if one person says forget it! - they set the pricing up and up until everyone is saying that. If only one person in ten walks away laughing, then that's the correct price. We know you'll be back. Or someone else will. We can wait. Still there's some justification in paying $1.00 for one single onion... Well, like when it's 3am and it's literally under your window, and he'll still sell you beer when his coolers should be locked by law... (breaks into song: I LOVE NEW YORK)

UPDATE Man, eating and shopping with you guys is going to be fun. No wonder some of you have thousands of posts!! Spot-on with Dowel's curry leaves. Fresh, and he says that they are rarely out of them and that if I want larger quantity we can work something out. They are $1.75 per bag, each bag containing about 6 stalks 10-12" long. Very expensive compared to the dried, but the smell oh the smell. The bags were in an old soda fridge on the right closest to the front window, on the bottom shelf. Pan's other place on Bayard St. is called Udom's on the south side of the street. You might have to look for it, it's one of those storefronts that blends into the background and you can look directly at it without seeing it. I think this will be an excellent resource. I'm going back again on a weekday when all the tourists aren't there. (in a post-911 bad economy I won't say "damn tourists" but I won't shop on weekends unless forced at gunpoint or rumbling stomach.) Pan, wisdom beyond your years. Thanks a million. I'll try the first resturant you suggest, on faith. HEY! Can you do anything about BBC America cancelling EastEnders?!!? :angry: Seriously, thanks for the help folks...

Hey thanks Pan! So Dowel carries curry leaf in the fridge? Excellent. I'll check today. Right now in fact! Lime leaves: I've been getting super-refrigerated/frozen ones from that store on Mosco, actually. Bangkok Center Grocery, very nice people and great prices on Mae Ploy stuff, rice, etc. but the "fresh" stuff--- well I guess it depends on what day you are there. (FYI non-NYC's or people that don't get to Chinatown much - http://www.templeofthai.com/ is Bangkok Center Grocery.) I'll check out Bayard St for your other source too. Suzanne if they are "double leaves", that is, a shiny smooth-edged leaf that looks like two are attached end-to-end, and very stiff they are probably bai ma krut. Kaffir limes themselves look kinda like limes only if limes were cratered like the moon's surface. But your suggested store is right by Mosco and Bayard where I'm already headed so I'll certainly stop in. Thanks! BTW While this has nothing to do with produce - If you guys go through a lot of coconut milk, I'm currently on a quest to find the best per-can price. 0.79 for Chaokoh or Aroy-D at Hong Kong Supermarket. Not that the Goya at the local bodega is any different, but it's $1.49... Thanks for the fast replies, I'm off to Dowel for curry leaves!

eGullet virgin. Hi Everybody! This post goes with the one Ethnic Groceries: Where do you go? I've lived in the Lower East Side for the last decade. Dowel. Hong Kong Supermarket. Kam Man. muchas bodegas y supermercados. So while many ethnic grocers of many nations are around within a mile, I still do not know where to get many fresh ingredients. Many things we can get by with frozen or dried versions, or even close substitutes, but these have no substitute: Curry leaves. Sri Lankan it's karapincha. It's kari patta in Hindi. Knowing how to say it still doesn't help me locate it. I cannot find them fresh. Can anyone help? Have MetroCard, will travel. Also having a rough time sourcing fresh Thai kaffir limes (and leaves, and ripe prik kee nu suan!) and Moroccan blood oranges. This is New York. Someone's gotta know someone that knows someone thats... Anyway thanks for reading even if you don't have an answer.