No recipe today, folks, but just some general musings about the joy of the Asian grocery. Personally I can’t imagine living anywhere else than Apollo Bay but the facts have to be faced – the Asian cook faces some severe challenges down here (no insult intended to Nick’s IGA on the Main Street which has a good selection of basic stock). Anyway, we were in Geelong today which meant a long overdue trip to the Asian grocery. It’s a great little place and often has a small but diverse selection of fresh produce. Today I got some Thai basil,Vietnamese mint and rice paddy herb. I’ve never cooked with the latter but the flavour is insane and totally unique: lemony, peppery, swampy. I am seriously considering a bit of amateur rice paddy cultivation so I can have a supply of this stuff fresh. Also some kaffir lime leaves and galangal. Of course I had to bring these home and package them up and put them in the freezer and it almost broke my heart to have to do it. I’ve put some aside for tomorrow night – prawns on the beach for dinner if this incredible weather holds. I’m thinking I might toss some prawns in szechuan pepper and salt, cook ‘em fast and roll them up in rotis with the fresh herbs. An afternoon swim, sand between the toes, a beer on the side and life will be good.
Another highlight today was the purchasing of 3 different types of stinky little fish. A big jar of shrimp paste – I’ve been in need so I can have a shot at a shredded chicken salad I learnt in a Balinese cooking class. Some dried prawns because I’m keen to try out a recipe for toasted, shredded,crispy, prawny madness from Burma. And finally some dried anchovies. Queenscliffe music festival is coming up and I thought a big round of nasi lemak for breakfast for the gang would go down a treat. So I’ll be toastin’ those wee little buggers up.
Oh and I’ve also now got a pile of banana leaves in the freezer waiting to wrap themselves around something tasty.
Shoe shopping sucks the big one – spend your money at the Asian grocer instead.
