Shopping Mekong

It sure looks like a variant of an American supermarket, perhaps of the discount genre.

The minute you get past the cashier barrier, though, you know you're in foreign territory.

Maybe that's why you've hesitated to shop at Mekong Market.

After all, if you're just interested in throwing together a little Americanized stir fry, you're likely to find just about all you need to your larger local supermarket.

But if you really love exploring ethnic cuisines, and if you want to add a huge new dimension to your family dinners without resorting to going out or foraging take out…ya gotta try this.

This region has dozens of ethnic markets that can give you not just different tastes on your table - but a little taste of other cultures, too.

Some of the largest food and gift markets around offer delicacies and pantry staples from every corner of the Asian world.

Mekong's not a mammoth market, but it's laid out in a fashion that's vaguely related to what Americans tend to think of as a "supermarket."

First, those huge bins of fruit and vegetables in front are just major indicators of produce specials. Last week there was also a large display of immense golden pigs and apples - it's new year's, after all!

Step inside. Take a minute to get used to the atmosphere. Asian muzak is not necessarily familiar to American ears, but it's a good reminder this is a different kind of store.

Once beyond the cashier line barrier, move to the right for frozen foods, meats and seafood.

The meat and seafood department straddles frozen and fresh; everything is labeled, and you will know most of the seafood, fish and meats.

(Okay - you probably don't use duck tongues, chicken feet or even snail meat every day. But neither do most Asian cooks, and if you have the right recipe, you just might try these in your own kitchen.

Next to the meat and seafood department, you'll find the freezer cases. These aren't labeled, aside from specific food items, so you'll want to browse a little. There's only a small section devoted to desserts or sweets, but it includes examples from India, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Japan.

Against the back wall are refrigerated cases, holding eggs, tofu, noodles, kimchi in several versions, and more.

Aisles are stacked more than 10 feet up, but the highest shelves are clearly the in-store warehouse system.

These are organized, but not in the way you might expect. We'll explore these more carefully in a next post, when we'll also get to the produce and prepared food section at Mekong Market.

Mekong Market’s daily “specials”

Mekong Market’s a stellar addition to the East Valley’s options in ethnic marketing.

Located at the heart of Mekong Plaza, the market can be a tad more intimidating than mega-store LeeLee’s, just a few miles directly south on Dobson Road.

There must be virtually no warehouse area for this supermarket: Aisles are narrow, and feel cavernous since they’re stocked nearly ten feet high.

But you can be sure you’ll find some real treasures, especially if you take a few minutes and review the produce offerings displayed just in front of the market’s entrance.

These mammoth displays sit just in front of the Plaza’s central entrance, and are clearly intended to lure shoppers with both common and uncommon fruits and vegetables.

Last summer, for instance, among the half-dozen or so usually in place, one immense carton held yams and sweet potatoes, while another had both dark red and Queen Anne cherries at insanely low prices.

More recently, persimmons and dragon fruit have been featured.

And dammit – I wish I’d purchased that dragon fruit. Never had it. Need to sample it – and it’s still available over in the produce section inside the store.

But I waited – so instead of being able to purchase two for a dollar or so, they’re now available for $2.49 a pound.

Well, heck. Now I need to decide if my curiosity outweighs my frugality.

Check back next week.