sugar cane source in north jersey

[tommy]

this summer is the summer of the mojito. it's official because i said it.

so, i'll be looking for pieces of sugar cane which can be used as the swizzle stick, just like they do at Havana in midtown NY.

any thoughts on where to find this stuff? if it grew like mint i'd be in business.

[Jason Perlow]

I think Jollibee in Bergenfield has them.

[tommy]

i'm not sure how i put this in the wine forum, but the question would no doubt be better served in the NJ forum. perhaps someone who does stuff like that could punch a few keys and make that happen. although i'll check out jollibee and if they have them then it won't matter where this post is.

Edited April 30, 2006 by tommy (log)

[Jason Perlow]

I'll tell you where I have DEFINITELY seen large amounts of sugar cane. Not in Jersey, but not far away either, in the Bronx.

There's these two Dominican brothers that park their white van alongside Webster Avenue, not too far from the highway, that set up a stand with fresh mangos, pineapples, papayas, coconuts, melons, oranges, etc, and make fruit salad, juices and fruit shakes (excellent, by the way) and sell Cane Juice as well. They've got stalks of sugarcane piled up there under their tent they have set up. I was there on Monday, so I know they have been doing it at least recently.

They are there on nice (read, not rainy) days during the week and on weekends. If you are going to do some shopping on Arthur Avenue, head back to the Cross Bronx via Webster and you will see them on the way back. I think they are there until about 7PM.

Edited May 1, 2006 by Jason Perlow (log)

[tommy]

this summer is the summer of the mojito. it's official because i said it.

so, i'll be looking for pieces of sugar cane which can be used as the swizzle stick, just like they do at Havana in midtown NY.

any thoughts on where to find this stuff? if it grew like mint i'd be in business.

[Jason Perlow]

This is spooky but I could swear we did this before.

I'll tell you where I have DEFINITELY seen large amounts of sugar cane. Not in Jersey, but not far away either, in the Bronx.

There's these two Dominican brothers that park their white van alongside Webster Avenue, not too far from the highway, that set up a stand with fresh mangos, pineapples, papayas, coconuts, melons, oranges, etc, and make fruit salad, juices and fruit shakes (excellent, by the way) and sell Cane Juice as well. They've got stalks of sugarcane piled up there under their tent they have set up. I was there on Monday, so I know they have been doing it at least recently.

They are there on nice (read, not rainy) days during the week and on weekends. If you are going to do some shopping on Arthur Avenue, head back to the Cross Bronx via Webster and you will see them on the way back. I think they are there until about 7PM.

[chezcherie]

melissa's packages both the cane and the swizzles. if you don't have a grocery store near you that carries them, you can order over the net:

melissa's sugar cane clickety

they are kinda shrinkwrapped, and will last quite a while, so you might want to order a summer's worth, if you can't find them locally.

i love to use these for shrimp "pops"--make a paste with chopped raw shrimp, chiles, garlic, etc., and form into little lollipops on the sugarcane stick and grill or broil.

now, those would be nice with a mojito!

[KARENR65]

I have seen them (pre-packaged) at my local Shop-Rite

[menton1]

http://www.tropicislemusic.com/food/snacks1.htm

http://www.maui-info.com/SugarCaneStix_peeled.html

[tommy]

thanks all. looks like mail order is the way to go. i'll also keep an eye out at local supermarkets. i had no idea they'd carry this stuff.

[scott123]

I have seen them (pre-packaged) at my local Shop-Rite

←

I've seen them at my Shop-Rite as well (I shop at the one in Wharton). They've always been in the Latin produce area. I'd try Twin Cities supermarket in Elizabeth. That's the only place I can get fresh bitter oranges year round.

Edited May 3, 2006 by scott123 (log)

[Curlz]

Would Corrado's carry it?

I agree about the Latin markets...one of those places in North Bergen probably has it, but I don't know any specifically.

[tommy]

I agree about the Latin markets...one of those places in North Bergen probably has it, but I don't know any specifically.

←

yeah, great, thanks curlz. i'll drive up and down Bergenline ave in north effing bergen looking for sugar cane. you're talking to a guy who just got his shaving cream shipment from Amazon.com. between the cross bronx expressway, north bergen, and mail order, you can probably guess which i'm going to opt for. (in fact, i thought the box was the sugar cane and i got all excited, but i just opened it and it's shaving cream. normally i'm very excited to get shaving cream in the mail, but today, with visions of mojitos dancing through my head, not so much)

[KatieLoeb]

Tommy:

Your local Vietnamese restaurant might be able to tell you where they get theirs for the ubiquitous Shrimp on Sugar Cane appetizers.

I've seen it at Pathmark before, with the other Latino produce like plantains, boniatos, etc.

Let me know if you want a couple of cool mojito variations.

[Rachel Perlow]

There were two of these sugar cane threads, I've merged them.

[slkinsey]

Admin: Discussion on making Mojitos has been moved to this excellent thread in the Cocktails forum.