Today, I had an adventure. For the first time ever, I went into an ethnic food store. I went with my CS to Bangla-Pak, an Indian food store. We have only 2 very small Indian foodstores in my city, so we drove about 20 minutes to the other store in a nearby city. CS has been there frequently because that is where he and his Indian friends go to buy authentic Indian food. I was excited. Earlier in the day, we had had a conversation about Indian food, and what all it entails. I, myself, have never eaten it.

I was like a kid in a candy shop looking at everything and asking about everything. I think I now MUST try the lemon and lime pickles, aka in English, pickled lemons and limes. He showed me the names of spices and I told him what they were called in English. The place sells HUGE bags of rice at a lot better prices that I expected. Also, they sold fresh chicken. I was totally excited and told CS that I would definitely go back with him. They sell fresh chicken cut every which way, but at a totally cheaper rate than most of the local supermarkets. Also, I definitely now want to try chutney and curry. I saw what REAL curry actually looked like. The stuff in the supermarket that my pharmacy is located within, sells some Indian food that looks horrible. I told CS about it, and he giggled and said NOT to eat that stuff, that it was as bad as it looked. I also would LOVE to try the frozen tortillas that have the onions, potatoes, etc already made into them.

I was hoping to find fresh Lychees..but alas, I will have to make a trip to the Asian food market in another nearby city that I know that carries them. CS actually had never eaten them and didn’t know what they were, so I will definitely have to get him to try them. My grocery store just started carrying longans, and I am super excited about that.

The only strange thing about the experience was that I felt like I was being stared at. I was the only white looking person there, and the whole strip-mall complex was entirely Indian-based. I am not sure if it was a good thing or a bad. Later we went to a low cost grocery store for fresh fruit and vegetables that were better priced than the Bangla-Pak.

The only downfall is that I had to explain to CS about my food allergy to coriander aka cilantro. I am not sure he entirely understands what it does to me, that I go into anaphylactic shock. I told him it closes my throat, so he specifically did make sure I didn’t get near it when he was shopping for it. I am curious to find out that if I eat coriander seeds cooked into stuff, if I will have the same reaction I have to the leaves themselves. When I eat fresh carrots, I have an allergic reaction, but once cooked and in VERY tiny quantities, am usually okay. Even cilantro cooked causes the throat closure, so, I am just going to have to try and make it myself through the good ready made meals that CS pointed out to me. Only one way to find out..but I will be careful.