Fresh (or frozen) turmeric sources

I used to buy my turmeric roots at Bangkok Oriental Grocery on 74th & Harlem in Bridgeview, but it seems they no longer stock it. Is there any place that has fresh turmeric rhizomes in Chicago? Failing that, frozen will do. Bonus points if it's south of Madison (perhaps Chinatown), but I suspect I'll be having to head up to the Broadway & Argyle area.

Probably not where you want to go, but always available when i have been there:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=191967

its usually available at Patel Bros or any of the nearby green grocers on Devon.

lougord99 wrote:Probably not where you want to go, but always available when i have been there:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=191967

I do find myself in the neighborhood from time to time, so it's worth knowing about for me.

I'll have a look on Devon, but I just realized that I'll be in Uptown tomorrow, anyway, so I'll check out the usual suspects on Broadway and Argyle as well.

I often but not always see fresh turmeric at Assi (as reported in the link above) and H-Mart. The one time I wanted it and was in H-Mart, they didn't have it.

Binko wrote:Is there any place that has fresh turmeric rhizomes in Chicago? Failing that, frozen will do. Bonus points if it's south of Madison (perhaps Chinatown),

Binko,

No bonus points, but I've often seen fresh turmeric at North Water Market/Fresh Farms. Ted's Fruit Market may have it as well or any of the numerous markets on Devon Ave East and West of Western Ave.

Enjoy,
Gary

North Water Market/Fresh Farms
2626 W Devon
Chicago, IL
773-764-3557

Ted's Fruit Market
2840 W Devon
Chicago, IL 60659
773-743-6739

Thanks for the suggestions, Gary. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to go out to Devon Ave. tonight, and my quick perusal of the shops on Broadway and Argyle left me empty-handed (I missed Thai Grocery, though, as I was in a rush.) I'll check Devon in the next couple days. Thanks again!

Binko wrote:(I missed Thai Grocery, though, as I was in a rush.) I'll check Devon in the next couple days. Thanks again!

Binko,

Thai Grocery is no more, stock went to Golden Pacific, which may have fresh or frozen turmeric as well.

Enjoy,
Gary

Golden Pacific Market
5353 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60640
773-334-6688

Thanks everyone. I finally made it out to Devon the other day, and fresh turmeric was pretty easy to find, sold under the name "haldi." I found both yellow and white turmeric at Patel Brothers, but I ended up buying yellow turmeric from North Water Market/Fresh Farms, as their stock looked better that particularly day. This was on Sunday. My left hand still looks Simpsons yellow from handling the turmeric.

Binko wrote: My left hand still looks Simpsons yellow from handling the turmeric.

I cooked with fresh turmeric for the first time today, and I'm wondering if the yellow stains will ever come out from under my fingernails.

Staining aside, my eyes were really opened today regarding what a wonderful culinary tool turmeric is. Having used only dried in the past, I always thought the stuff was little more than flavorless food coloring, perhaps adding a vague musty staleness to otherwsie tasty dishes. But wow is fresh turmeric different: a bit of a ginger bite with sweet spice flavor and aroma reminiscent of sweet potato pie. Terrific stuff.

Roasted cauliflower with fresh turmeric, ginger, cumin and coriander:

whole foods (on halsted in lakeview) has had fresh tumeric the last few visits i've been. fairly inexpensive too. grated some on a lamb burger and it was nice.