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Treats & hidden gems from Cork's ethnic food shops

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    #32
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,949 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    [quote="scuby;116528334"

    Cork Oriental Supermarket Dalton avenue[/quote]

    That's a very strange place.
    It was interesting when they had the restaurant going.
    They are, generally, unfriendly to the point where it's almost funny.

    It's worth a gander in there but, mostly, I prefer to give my custom to the friendly folk in JiaJia.


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    #33
    Pen Rua
    Registered Users Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Pen Rua


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    That's a very strange place.
    It was interesting when they had the restaurant going.
    They are, generally, unfriendly to the point where it's almost funny.

    It's worth a gander in there but, mostly, I prefer to give my custom to the friendly folk in JiaJia.

    I had a poke around there once and recalled it being relatively more expensive than JiaJia and they had very little small pouches of spices etc. All big bags not suited to a two person house.


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    #34
    igCorcaigh
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 11,350 Mod ✭✭✭✭igCorcaigh


    New Mexican products in Mr. Bells!

    Mole sauce, epazote, tomatillos....

    https://twitter.com/MrBellsCork/status/1370691570903740417?s=19


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    #35
    Pen Rua
    Registered Users Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Pen Rua


    Where could I get fine cornmeal in the city centre? I can see it on Mr Bell's website, but I'm not keen on €6.95 shipping.


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    #36
    igCorcaigh
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 11,350 Mod ✭✭✭✭igCorcaigh


    Pen Rua wrote: »
    Where could I get fine cornmeal in the city centre? I can see it on Mr Bell's website, but I'm not keen on €6.95 shipping.

    Mr Bells is open though.


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    #37
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,949 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    Pen Rua wrote: »
    Where could I get fine cornmeal in the city centre? I can see it on Mr Bell's website, but I'm not keen on €6.95 shipping.

    How fine?
    Polish shops sell cornmeal (polenta to me) but it's not flour fine, if you get me.


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    #38
    Pen Rua
    Registered Users Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Pen Rua


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    How fine?
    Polish shops sell cornmeal (polenta to me) but it's not flour fine, if you get me.

    The recipe I want to try says "normal, finely ground cornmeal" - hard to suss it out from the video.


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    #39
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,949 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    Pen Rua wrote: »
    The recipe I want to try says "normal, finely ground cornmeal" - hard to suss it out from the video.

    What's it for?


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    #40
    Pen Rua
    Registered Users Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Pen Rua


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    What's it for?

    Cornbread. :p


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    #41
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,949 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    Pen Rua wrote: »
    Cornbread. :p

    Hmm, the stuff I'm talking about is probably a little to coarse for cornbread.


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    #42
    LapsypaCork
    Registered Users Posts: 235 ✭✭LapsypaCork


    Pen Rua wrote: »
    Where could I get fine cornmeal in the city centre? I can see it on Mr Bell's website, but I'm not keen on €6.95 shipping.

    I’m pretty sure I saw it in the newly opened Tesco in Douglas.


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    #43
    Pen Rua
    Registered Users Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Pen Rua


    Would any (city centre) ethnic / Asian etc store have peanut oil?

    I’m looking for it for a recipe (frying) and it is sold in Tesco, but circa €2.50 for 500ml and I suspect I would need a couple of bottles.

    I happened to be passing Khan Spices on North Main St but no luck.


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    #44
    Samhain
    Registered Users Posts: 241 ✭✭Samhain


    Try Jia Jia, I have seen different oils there. Fyi, peanut oil is also known as Groundnut oil.


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    #45
    Pen Rua
    Registered Users Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Pen Rua


    Samhain wrote: »
    Try Jia Jia, I have seen different oils there. Fyi, peanut oil is also known as Groundnut oil.

    Will do. That was in my head - the value for money in Jia Jia for things like soy sauce, rice wine vinegar etc is much, much better v Tesco


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    #46
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,949 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    Pen Rua wrote: »
    Would any (city centre) ethnic / Asian etc store have peanut oil?

    I’m looking for it for a recipe (frying) and it is sold in Tesco, but circa €2.50 for 500ml and I suspect I would need a couple of bottles.

    I happened to be passing Khan Spices on North Main St but no luck.

    Peanut oil is actually a pretty neutral oil.
    I'd be happy using sunflower oil in its place.


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    #47
    Pen Rua
    Registered Users Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Pen Rua


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    Peanut oil is actually a pretty neutral oil.
    I'd be happy using sunflower oil in its place.

    We have vegetable oil to use instead, but was hoping to be able to find peanut oil at a half reasonable price. It seems to be an American thing to use it for frying.


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    #48
    fulanoquetal
    Registered Users Posts: 51 ✭✭fulanoquetal


    Pen Rua wrote: »
    We have vegetable oil to use instead, but was hoping to be able to find peanut oil at a half reasonable price. It seems to be an American thing to use it for frying.

    Peanut (or Groundnut) oil is a pretty neutral oil - no taste of peanuts as such (don;t think of comparing to toasted sesame oil !).

    The americans do use it a lot a. because they grow a lot of peanuts and b. because it has a relatively high smoke point (I think). However, a good quality sunflower oil should be a good substitute.

    I used to buy a 5 gallon container of peanut oil for frying Thanksgiving Turkey whole.


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    #49
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,949 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    Lion Killer wrote: »
    Where can I find some horse meat?

    I'm not aware of anywhere in Cork that sells horse meat.


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    #50
    Herb Powell
    Registered Users Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭Herb Powell


    Probably anything in Iceland


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    #51
    Pen Rua
    Registered Users Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Pen Rua


    I gave up on my quest for peanut oil. Jia Jia did stock it, but it was only 600ml so not much more efficient.

    Separately, I stopped into the new Indian / Asian shop on North Main Street. They still don't have a sign over the front, but it came up as Fresh N Frozen Cork on my banking app.

    They have a fresh meat counter at the back, but I didn't look at that too much. I did notice their staff / butcher had a full chef type uniform on (complete with the tall chef hat).

    They mainly stock frozen goods - breads, meat, fish, veg etc. A lot of the stuff has £ promotional offers on them, so I'm guessing a lot of it comes via the UK.

    There's very little in terms of spices, rice, dried or canned goods.

    They have a fridge of various drinks & cold meats, and seem competitively priced.

    We picked up some frozen bread (paratha) which was 40c cheaper than the Asian Foods place up the street. A 5 pack of the garlic one came to €3.08 and a 20 pack of plain ones (different brand) was about €5 or so, I think.

    It definitely feels newer and a touch cleaner than the other two Indian shops on North Main St, but it would only be of use if you're looking for specific frozen stuff.


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    #52
    igCorcaigh
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 11,350 Mod ✭✭✭✭igCorcaigh


    I've been looking for the frozen veg paratha that they used to sell in Khan Spices on NMS. They were lovely. Nicely spiced and flakey. Can't find them anywhere now.


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    #53
    Pen Rua
    Registered Users Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Pen Rua


    Cork could do with a solely Mexican grocery store. I’ve been trying to track down corn tortillas in vain. I did try Mr Bells, and whilst they sell the corn flour you would use there’s no premade ones. I had been looking up Mexican recipes and they require different types of dry chilles. You can get them from a shop in Dublin but delivery is €€€ and long.


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    #54
    snotboogie
    Registered Users Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭snotboogie


    My favourite is Cork Oriental Supermarket, awful unfriendly service but a better selection than Jia Jia. They had a hot pot restaurant running out the back at one stage!


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    #55
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,949 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    Pen Rua wrote: »
    Cork could do with a solely Mexican grocery store. I’ve been trying to track down corn tortillas in vain. I did try Mr Bells, and whilst they sell the corn flour you would use there’s no premade ones. I had been looking up Mexican recipes and they require different types of dry chilles. You can get them from a shop in Dublin but delivery is €€€ and long.

    You need to look in Mr. Bell's again.
    The have a big range of corn tortillas now. Different sizes and some flavoured ones. Good simple ingredients, too.
    They are on an outside shelf facing The Pig's Back.

    They have a selection of Mexican dried chillies, too.

    Superfruit have had fresh tomitillos recently, too.


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    #56
    Pen Rua
    Registered Users Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Pen Rua


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    You need to look in Mr. Bell's again.
    The have a big range of corn tortillas now. Different sizes and some flavoured ones. Good simple ingredients, too.
    They are on an outside shelf facing The Pig's Back.

    They have a selection of Mexican dried chillies, too.

    Superfruit have had fresh tomitillos recently, too.

    Oh blast. Thanks for the tip. I might go back later.


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    #57
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,949 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    Pen Rua wrote: »
    Oh blast. Thanks for the tip. I might go back later.

    Chillies are inside. Ask.


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    #58
    Pen Rua
    Registered Users Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭Pen Rua


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    You need to look in Mr. Bell's again.
    The have a big range of corn tortillas now. Different sizes and some flavoured ones. Good simple ingredients, too.
    They are on an outside shelf facing The Pig's Back.

    They have a selection of Mexican dried chillies, too.

    Superfruit have had fresh tomitillos recently, too.

    Thanks - I went back and found them. Didn't realize they have goods on the outside too.


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    #59
    l14masasddadsg
    Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭l14masasddadsg


    Pen Rua wrote: »
    Cork could do with a solely Mexican grocery store. I’ve been trying to track down corn tortillas in vain. I did try Mr Bells, and whilst they sell the corn flour you would use there’s no premade ones. I had been looking up Mexican recipes and they require different types of dry chilles. You can get them from a shop in Dublin but delivery is €€€ and long.

    There's frozen Blanco Nino ones in Musgraves if you know someone with an account. I think they're planning on getting them into regular supermarkets, but haven't seen them about yet.


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    #60
    anacc
    Registered Users Posts: 229 ✭✭anacc


    Pen Rua wrote: »
    Cork could do with a solely Mexican grocery store. I’ve been trying to track down corn tortillas in vain. I did try Mr Bells, and whilst they sell the corn flour you would use there’s no premade ones. I had been looking up Mexican recipes and they require different types of dry chilles. You can get them from a shop in Dublin but delivery is €€€ and long.

    Mr Bells have them online for delivery or pickup in Togher.


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    #61
    JackieChang
    Registered Users Posts: 1,494 ✭✭✭JackieChang


    Surprised nobody has mentioned Zaiqa in Togher / Tramore Road area. I guess it's a bit hidden and nothing out of the ordinary.

    It's an Arabic spice supermarket. Has the usual spices, veggies, frozen goods, fresh meat counter etc. They also sold a nice Syrian flat bread last time I was there. Think it's made in Cork.

    Before the lockdown they had a restaurant with seats in there too. Had a few kebabs there.


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