Any idea? I want to make stuffed grape leaves and don’t know where to look. I haven’t seen them at Jason’s or the other expensive import groceries nor did I see them at the Indian market (which I didn’t expect to have them).
Probably not gonna happen but if anyone can point me in the direction of mahlab/mahlebi/mahlepi (a flavoring made from the ground pits of a certain kind of cherry, used in Armenian, Iranian and a lot of Mediterranean cooking) I would be eternally grateful.
I am really surprised that nobody seems to know, or at least know if it’s possible.
A few years back I bought a tin of Greek stuffed grape leaves from Jason’s at 101. They were out of date and on deep discount. I went back the next week and they were still there, still on sale. It’s possible that there’s little local demand for them.
You might have to get a little creative. If you can use any grape leaves, there are MANY vineyards in the Central Taiwan. You’re in Taipei, so go to the weekend farmer’s market at XinSheng (adjacent to the computer mall on Civic) and find one of the wine makers. Ask them if you can buy leaves and tell them that you’ll come back next week for them. They will ask you lots of questions and tell you how crazy you are, but if you really want them keep pressing them and tell them they should bring some next weekend for you to buy. Give them a small deposit and they will feel compelled to fulfill your order. Or, plan a trip to their vineyard.
As for the cherry flavoring, can you make it yourself? You can easily find California cherries for sale right now. Dry the pits and grind them up yourself?
Your best bet, at least for the cherries, might be to have a friend from back home mail you some. Make sure the bottle is unopened and has the original labeling. (You don’t want some immigration officer thinking its contraband.)
:+) Last time I was back in the US I bought a book all about how to live the “pioneer lifestyle”. Living in Taiwan sometimes is like going back in time to when you had to do everything yourself.
Channamasala, I was thinking the same thing (stuffed grape leaves), but haven’t gotten around to it yet. I did notice that Yi Wei foods has medium-sized Drossa grape leaves in brine. Try Breeze, Jason’s and other large supermarkets with lots of imported items for things like feta or good olive selections.
There are already threads on where to buy lamb, pita, phyllo dough and hummus, as well as good olive oils, of course, and how to make pita and hummus, I believe, so for those items please go to those threads.
Do you have any other specific items you’re looking for? In general I recommend starting a new, separate thread for each item, with the item in the thread title, as this really facilitates title-based searches and merging. As for small shops specializing in a broad range of Middle Eastern foodstuffs, I’m unaware of any but, like you, wish to hear if there are.
Thanks all!
I know where to get the lamb, I don’t need phyllo, and I can make my own hummus and babaghanoush. (I’m buying this stuff to throw a party next week, for which I will make the food of my homeland - I’m part Armenian from Musa Dagh, Turkey - my family is part of the post-genocide diaspora). I successfully made lahmacun (I needed to practice) last week after visiting the halal butcher I found on Forumosa. I’ve been making my own hummus and babaghanoush in Taipei for years so I know the drill there (hint - you dont’ need to spend NT$300 on tahini. Regular sesame sauce, the kind with no ingredients other than sesame, works just as well and costs a fraction of what tahini does, when you can even find tahini).
I can’t make my own spice from cherries here - it needs to be dried and ground from the pits of the St. Lucie cherry. California cherries won’t do. I don’t have time to have anyone mail me some. The party is next week…so I have to give up my dream of making cheoreg (it’s OK, I also had to give up on Armenian string cheese).
I might send my husband to look for grape leaves though. Thanks for that!
I’m well acquainted with the fancy supermarkets, which is why the grape leaves thing is so surprising. I really expected one to have some. I refuse to buy pre-made ones because dammit, I can make them myself from scratch and they’ll taste better! Same reason why I won’t make pre-made hummus. My Nana would roll over in her grave if I bought pre-made hummus.
Oh, I see, it’s an order online thing. I submitted a contact form - let’s see what happens. Also looks like a good source for pine nuts!
I agree. Especially if you enjoy cooking foreign food at all (or grew up around a rich culinary heritage and want to re-create the food of your childhood as I am trying to do) it’s really like pioneer-style hunting and gathering!
b’teh avon!
I don’t know where you are, but if you are in the vicinity of a mosque there are usually some middle eastern type stores that have that specialty type food. Shit you not…
I’m in Taipei (Jingmei) which is not that far from the mosque in Da’an, but I have never seen any specialty shops around there.
Anyway, Yi Wei foods is delivering the grape leaves to me tomorrow. Thanks, Dragonbones!
I’m just going to have to give up on the mahlabi.