Feeding a Food Obsession

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you know that the Missus goes through periods of extreme food obsession, whether it’s something as simple as eating Her way through a flat of strawberries every other day, or as extreme as going through 10 different types of feta cheese over the course of a week. But when there are several overlapping obsessions, we’re in line for some major shopping. So on a recent weekend, food obsessions intact we did some shopping. Luckily, the area West of Fairmount Avenue and either University or El Cajon Boulevard is filled with Markets. There is practically a different market, or produce stand, about every two blocks or so. And we’re not talking about "chain" supermarkets, either. So here’s a typical morning…..

Stop#1 – World Foods Supermarket

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Obsession – Purple Sweet Potatoes. The Missus, says this years crop is very good, and tastes even better then Her beloved Okinawan Sweet Potatoes:

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She simply roasts them in the oven, and eats them. 7 Pounds of Sweet Potatoes later we’re off to our next stop.

World Foods Supermarket
5245 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115

Stop#2 – United Oriental Food Market

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I hadn’t been back to United Food Market in some time. And made sure to check out the hot table items.

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But the Missus had something else in mind. She got a large ($5.00) Green Papaya Salad, which was made on the spot.

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This ended up being a large tub of Papaya Salad, though ordered medium, it was pretty spicy. Well, no time for Satay’s today, we got one other item on our list, so we’re off…..

United Oriental Food Market
5349 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115

Stop #3 – Minh Huong Supermarket

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At the Cambodian New Years Festival, the Missus developed one of Her latest obsessions, green mango. This came into full bloom, when I showed Her how ate it "back home", simply green mango with Shoyu and Sugar. She was hooked. We did stop at a few places before this market, which we had never been to, even a market called Minnehaha Food Market, with no luck. As we entered we headed straight for the small but well stocked produce department.

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While I wandered around the market…..

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The Missus found what she was searching for:

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And not a moment too soon. I was about to steal this sign and use it as a name tag:

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Minh Huong Supermarket
4770 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92105

Funny thing, the Missus always tells me she hates shopping in markets, and I usually have to shop solo. Unless there’s a obsession that needs to be filled.

Here’s the latest. This past week a local supermarket chain has got corn on sale for something like 12 for $2. Now the corn is really not of the greatest quality.

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But it’s perfect for my Stovetop Smoker:

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2 tablespoons of Alder and 18-20 minutes later, and viola!

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Pretty decent smoked corn. So it’s been 3 days and 9 ears of corn! Hmmm, another obsession in the making????