Yamaimo - Japanese Mountain Yams

[kinkistyle]

Hi there. I am going back to NYC soon after a 6 year stint in Osaka, Japan including 2 years of culinary school here.

I am planning on opening my open restaurant in the city and am kind of hard-up for ingredients that are common-place standards here in Japan including: Dashi Konbu Seaweed, Katsuo-bushi (Bonito flakes).

I am especially interested in buying Japanese mountain yams (Yama-imo, Naga-imo, Tsukune-imo) since it is a main ingredient in so many different kinds of dumplings and mousses, and is fresh produce.

I realize Chinatown is a literal treasure trove of asian groceries but I don't ever remember seeing Yama-imo or Naga-imo. I remember seeing one article where Wylie Dufresne bought some at the Union Sq. Greenmarket, but I need these puppies in relative bulk -- not the occasional quirky special.

Anybody ever see them for sale at relatively low-prices in bulk?

Thanks for the help!

[raji]

Wow you'll have to let me know when and where. Everyone knows the food's better in Kansai anyway....

I imagine you can find something _close_ at the markets in Chinatown... and it's more about the texture as there aren't a lot of flavor in those...But it seems like the Japanese imogrowing coalition has them all wrapped up - the cheapest I've seen them is at Mitsawa which is just the other side of the hudson in Edgewater, and even then, not too cheap.

I go through a lot of them making okonomiyakis during baseball season...

[Luckylies]

Sunrise mart (on 9th st ) might be able to help you find leads. Also Asia food market on mulberry might be able to help. good luck.

[magic168]

Funny you mention that....in San Francisco, they just started popping up at the Chinese grocery stores. Around $3 a pound. I would imagine the same in New York's Chinatown.

[magic168]

By the way, I would love some simple recipes for mountain yams, if possible! I'd love to try cooking with it.

[Sethro]

You should have no trouble at all finding kondu and Bonito flake. Try Asian Market on Mulberry. They have just about everything, and will deliver small quantities same day.

[kinkistyle]

You should have no trouble at all finding kondu and Bonito flake. Try Asian Market on Mulberry. They have just about everything, and will deliver small quantities same day.

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Great! I was somewhat concerned about katsuo-bushi. But I was considering substituting yam-powder something along those line for the yams. Hopefully Asian Market will have them on the cheap.

Thanks for the info folks! I can't wait to head back to NYC and start looking for locations then I can start drawing up floorplans and applying for permits. Woopee

Edited June 4, 2006 by kinkistyle (log)

[Sethro]

I was trying to remember where we got our ube from at Nobu, and I think the Japanese produce purveyor was Akimono.

Hope that helps.

[dabestspooner]

you should have no problems finding yamaimo, alot of the japanese vegs come from this one farm in canada, can't recall the name. You should take a trip to mitsuwa one day and check out labels on the japanese eggplant, shiso, mitsuba, mizuna, shishito, negi, peamon, daikon, etc and try to look them up.

[mascarpone]

There is a supermarket called Yagura on 41st Street between 5th AVenue and Madision (close to B,D subway at 42nd street and New York Public Library/Humanities). I have gotten Yamaimo for Yamekake there and it is quite good and less expensive than Sunrise Market.

[kinkistyle]

Thanks for all the great info folks. I am heading back to NYC to talk to my lawyer and scope out locales at the end of July and will pay a visit to various Japanese markets to check on the producers (I never thought of doing that, heh). Can't wait.

[raji]

Found this on Alibaba

http://liansheng.en.alibaba.com/group/5011...aimo_Root_.html

I could ask any number of chefs that use them in town but I don't know any that use it in significant quantities....

Thanks for all the great info folks.  I am heading back to NYC to talk to my lawyer and scope out locales at the end of July and will pay a visit to various Japanese markets to check on the producers (I never thought of doing that, heh).  Can't wait.

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