Mano Negra
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- May 21, 2009
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If you live on this side of town and have problems finding herbs and spices, other than by trekking to the Barrio Chino or the Gato Negro, you will be delighted to hear a spice stall started today in the covered market in San Telmo. They have only just started stocking it but already have a lot of hard to find items spice wise, a nice range of freeze dried herbs and various dried fruits and nuts. The people seem to be charming. When I asked what tumeric was in Castellano and they didn't know, the girl rang her dad who spoke perfect English and he explained it to me (starts with a C but I've already forgotten). I spent a bit of time with them and tasted a lot of their spices (yes I am anal about food) and they are good quality and very reasonably priced (by the 100g).
I hope all the expats that love a bit of spice will support their initiative. I have no commercial interest, I was just pissed off that I was going to have to change my cooking plans due to a lack of curry powder, and wondering why no one had a shop in San Telmo....and lo and behold, there is a God,,,,even if he is called Diego?
For those of you unfamiliar with the food market in San Telmo, it is on Defensa on the left a couple of blocks down from Plaza Dorrego. In my view it has the best collection of food in Buenos Aires, including several excellent fruit and veg stands, a selection of butchers specialising in different things, a couple of chicken providers (they don't seem to be classed as butchers here), one of BA's best fiambre and cheese people...(I recommend the Serano ham, pancetta, crottins of goats cheese and Roquefort), and assorted other stuff. It is also not a tourist venue so the prices are not ridiculous...for instance Osso Bucco still works out something like 14 pesos per kilo! Just outside the market on the left hand side is one of the best pasta shops in BA, with excellent pesto too.
In case your mouths aren't already watering, a bit of explanation on what you can get in the market that is not easily available in the supermarkets.
Fresh herbs, Corriander (cilantro), basil, rosemary, tyme, sage etc (ask for it if it is not on display at the stand you are shopping at and your guy will run round and get it from someone)....Chillies (variable heat)...Fruit that is ripe today (including avocados).
Natural yogurt (Fiambre guy)
The big bones left over from the hams, cook them up with beans and stuff to add flovour to a cassoulet or favada asturiana.
Freshly made sausages of all types.
Chicken carcasses. 2 pesos a kilo, you never need to buy a stock cube again.
Butchers that will cut, debone and prepare everything to your exact specification!
Actually, the only thing lacking is a fish stall.
Really, you never need to go to the supermarket again....what a delight!
Anyway, I hope you will support the new herb and spice stand, it would be great if they developed a following and could then start stocking the more arcane condiments we might require!!!
I hope all the expats that love a bit of spice will support their initiative. I have no commercial interest, I was just pissed off that I was going to have to change my cooking plans due to a lack of curry powder, and wondering why no one had a shop in San Telmo....and lo and behold, there is a God,,,,even if he is called Diego?
For those of you unfamiliar with the food market in San Telmo, it is on Defensa on the left a couple of blocks down from Plaza Dorrego. In my view it has the best collection of food in Buenos Aires, including several excellent fruit and veg stands, a selection of butchers specialising in different things, a couple of chicken providers (they don't seem to be classed as butchers here), one of BA's best fiambre and cheese people...(I recommend the Serano ham, pancetta, crottins of goats cheese and Roquefort), and assorted other stuff. It is also not a tourist venue so the prices are not ridiculous...for instance Osso Bucco still works out something like 14 pesos per kilo! Just outside the market on the left hand side is one of the best pasta shops in BA, with excellent pesto too.
In case your mouths aren't already watering, a bit of explanation on what you can get in the market that is not easily available in the supermarkets.
Fresh herbs, Corriander (cilantro), basil, rosemary, tyme, sage etc (ask for it if it is not on display at the stand you are shopping at and your guy will run round and get it from someone)....Chillies (variable heat)...Fruit that is ripe today (including avocados).
Natural yogurt (Fiambre guy)
The big bones left over from the hams, cook them up with beans and stuff to add flovour to a cassoulet or favada asturiana.
Freshly made sausages of all types.
Chicken carcasses. 2 pesos a kilo, you never need to buy a stock cube again.
Butchers that will cut, debone and prepare everything to your exact specification!
Actually, the only thing lacking is a fish stall.
Really, you never need to go to the supermarket again....what a delight!
Anyway, I hope you will support the new herb and spice stand, it would be great if they developed a following and could then start stocking the more arcane condiments we might require!!!
