Asian Markets

[Smithy]

 

<snippety>

ETA3:  I pointed out the skew in the stocking ...

<snip>

 

Lest I denigrate the rest of your point here - and I don't want to - let me note that in many parts of this country, including the part where I currently live, we're doing well to have something labeled as an 'Oriental' grocery.  Distinctions between Chinese, Japanese, Cambodian, Vietnamese or Korean are not to be made, and distinctions among Chinese provinces are not to be conceived.  But I digress....

 

...please elaborate on that charming but puzzling expression "skew in the stocking"?

[huiray]

The store is a small health food store that happens to be owned by a couple from Korea. 

 

In other words, it sounds like a General Store.  Not a "Korean Health Food Store".  It's a store that just happens to be owned by a Korean couple.  Would you have called it a Russian Health Food Store if it happened to be owned by a Russian couple where they sold all sorts of European stuff besides stuff from their own place of origin plus a smattering of stuff from North Africa, say?

[huiray]

 

...please elaborate on that charming but puzzling expression "skew in the stocking"?

 

 

A skew in the items that are stocked on the shelves, tending towards materials/items from a specific place - in their case, from South Korea.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

In other words, it sounds like a General Store.  Not a "Korean Health Food Store".  It's a store that just happens to be owned by a Korean couple.  Would you have called it a Russian Health Food Store if it happened to be owned by a Russian couple where they sold all sorts of European stuff besides stuff from their own place of origin plus a smattering of stuff from North Africa, say?

 

Yes, assuming they and their health food store had been there for decades like this one has.  And I'd love to have a local source of North African ingredients.

[Smithy]

A skew in the items that are stocked on the shelves, tending towards materials/items from a specific place - in their case, from South Korea.

 

Thanks for that explanation.  I had the wrong sense of 'stocking' altogether, and thought it was an interesting metaphor referring to something pointy in one's footwear. 

[hski7]

I've been very hesitant to buy beef from the Asian markets given a bad experience with an extremely tough flank steak I marinated, cooked and sliced perfectly a couple years ago... It was barely edible.  I think the prices are typically much lower at the stores because the beef hasn't been hung/aged much.  Am I wrong?  Also, the ageing would likely matter most for cuts you plan to cook quickly and eat, but be less important for cuts you may braise or cook low and slow, like short ribs?  

[btbyrd]

I think it depends on the market. I have an H Mart near me as well as a Mitsuwa market and I wouldn't hesitate to buy beef from either. They're the only markets near me where you can get wagyu beef and Berkshire pork, and my (limited) experiences with their other "normal" cuts/varieties suggests that meat from these stores is of comparable quality to better American supermarkets. But there are other Asian markets -- ones which are much smaller, less well stocked, dimly lit, and with a tiny selection of fresh foods -- that I'd pretty much never buy meat from.

 

In any case, I wouldn't let your experience with one tough flank steak turn you off from Asian markets forever.

[Anna N]

I think it depends on the market. I have an H Mart near me as well as a Mitsuwa market and I wouldn't hesitate to buy beef from either. They're the only markets near me where you can get wagyu beef and Berkshire pork, and my (limited) experiences with their other "normal" cuts/varieties suggests that meat from these stores is of comparable quality to better American supermarkets. But there are other Asian markets -- ones which are much smaller, less well stocked, dimly lit, and with a tiny selection of fresh foods -- that I'd pretty much never buy meat from.

 

In any case, I wouldn't let your experience with one tough flank steak turn you off from Asian markets forever.

I agree that one instance does not make the case against beef from an Asian market. However, here in the greater Toronto area I would have to say that I have bought beef that looked incredibly good from Asian markets and have been disappointed every time. I am not claiming it is many, many instances but certainly more than one. Having said that the beef from the Korean supermarket and that from the Japanese supermarket are expensive but good. I do not want to get into an unfathomable discussion about why we call some supermarkets Asian and some specific to a country. Asian supermarkets seem to be largely dominated by fresh Chinese meat and vegetables but also carry products from Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, etc. etc. Apart from the beef I have no hesitation purchasing almost any other meat from the Asian markets where it is usually much cheaper than anywhere else.