Indian spices

[martyn94]

No, it was the post above from Rosaria03 just out of the blue....but maybe it's genuine. Sorry, didn't mean 'is that you' so much as 'have you posted this recently'?

It made sense to me, once I read it. (Incidentally, my own post is wildly garbled, over a few words. A plague on auto-correct, not for the first time).

Maybe they were just browsing and found me, though you do have a search function. The question remains: is there anywhere round here, or any couple of places not too far apart, which reliably has a pretty comprehensive range of middle-eastern/south Asian/ south-east/east Asian spices plus ideally a few of the corresponding fresh/frozen herbs (kaffir lime leaves, thai basil, holy basil, curry leaves, lemongrass, galangal, "Vietnamese mint", usw...). Szechuan "pepper" is hardly very exotic any more, for example, but where?

Or for that matter, an "epicierie orientale" with cheap "violette" olives and lots of dried pulses, and cooking figs. That must exist somewhere, but the olive stalls on the markets here sell every sort of olive but that, and at twice the price.

In passing, I'm sure that currypax(TM) are fine, but I take a certain masochistic pleasure in doing it for myself (and usually adding extra cardamom seeds, just to express my inner swede).

[Sue11]

There is a small shop on the edge of the main market square in Figueres which sells all manner of dried fruits, nuts and spices. These can be purchased by whatever weight you require. Sorry, don't know name of it, but not too far away.

[sue and paul]

Frutos secos/ Fruits Secs is the name of the shop

[cufc]

Going back to getting hold of spices, I have mine sent by SpicesofIndia. You soon save the cost of delivery on spices, pappadoms, pickles, chutneys and pastes.

We're making our annual Curry Night for the French in our village next month: they love it!!!

[martyn94]

Going back to getting hold of spices, I have mine sent by SpicesofIndia. You soon save the cost of delivery on spices, pappadoms, pickles, chutneys and pastes.

We're making our annual Curry Night for the French in our village next month: they love it!!!

Thanks. In truth, I tend to buy them in Paris when I'm there: it's just that there's always something I forget.

I'm interested in your curry night: I've always found French people (generalising wildly) a bit "frileux" about spicy food (and not only chilli-hot, just spicy). But maybe people are more adventurous down here.

[Lanark Lass]

Have you tried some of the markets? I have bought spices at St Cyprien plage and Le Boulou, for instance. A good selection available.

[cufc]

We were surprised how well attended our first one was and how much they enjoyed it. This is our fourth year now. I find the bits and bobs hardest to find here like chutneys, pads and decent naans. A curry ain't a curry without them all!!!

[Lanark Lass]

The 5 Continents at Mas Guerido sells Pataks chutneys. Not sure about naans tho'

[martyn94]

We were surprised how well attended our first one was and how much they enjoyed it. This is our fourth year now. I find the bits and bobs hardest to find here like chutneys, pads and decent naans. A curry ain't a curry without them all!!!

I just make my own mango chutney (it's about the only thing you can reliably do with supermarket mangoes which never quite ripen): the "brand leader" seemed pretty gluey and sad last time I had it, as well as a silly price. Though I guess it's pretty "Anglo-Indian" in any event. Garlic/lime/mango/ginger/aubergine pickles should also be easy enough, if you can shift enough to make it worth bothering.

[meithcnul00]

Hello there,
Spices offer much more than a decorative addition to meals. Aside from making food taste better, they can help to protect against obesity, as well as chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Thanks

[martyn94]

[martyn94]