Uptown produce -- Old World Market

I thought this might be a good place to recommend my favorite produce store in my neighborhood, Old World Market on Broadway and Winona (5129 N. Broadway is the address).

The place is scary from the outside, and certainly smells kind of funky when you get immediately inside (i blame spilled blood or meat stored at slightly high temperatures). But the produce here is as cheap as you will find anywhere, and very very fresh. I scored red bell peppers last week for 99c a pound.

The store is run by Mexican folks, but caters to an African and West Indian clientele, so in addition to the normal produce offerings, they also carry some interesting roots and greens, and do a lot of business selling habanero (aka scotch bonnet) peppers.

They have some groceries as well, but the only things worth getting if you don't know a lot about African cuisine are the various jerk sauces--as authentic as it is, I can't see myself starting to cook in palm oil.

They also have very cheap meat--you'll probably want to play it by sight, as I've gotten stuff that's been fresh and tasty, and other stuff that's been borderline.

As a produce stand, this can't be beat--I think it's better than the Del Rey a block north. Just don't come here expecting to find brussels sprouts or arugula and you'll be fine.

(In case anyone's wondering why the heck I'm posting this, when I first moved to the neighborhood, a friend told me to avoid this place at all costs, solely based on its appearance I'm sure. Glad I ignored him.)

Thanks for reminding me of this place.I've wanted to try it since I saw it advertised in Afrique.

Hi,

It's been a while since I was at Old World, though it is a fun place to visit. Some relatives of mine were Peace Corp volunteers in Africa. My first visit to Old World was to buy a container of groundnuts to make a stew my cousins described.

When I have been there on Saturdays, the time I am ever there, there are freshly cooked items for you to take home. There is also a wide variety of dried fish, much I am totally unfamiliar with and rather pricey.

I'm glad you have joined us today and look forward to your participation.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:I'm glad you have joined us today and look forward to your participation.

Thanks for the welcome! I used to look at chowhound but didn't like the interface. Sorry I missed out on the listserv (is it still going?) as that's my preferred method of communication. Still, this board is cool.

Hi,

The listserv is still alive though hardly kicking. Its' purpose in life was sidelined when we moved lock-stock-and-barrel to LTHforum.com. Yet every once in a while it is active, so signing up completes the LTH cycle.

If listserves are a favored form of communication for you, then please note there have been maybe less than 30 e-mails in the last six months. A year ago, it was 30 e-mails a day or more. Back then it was back channel communication to plan get togethers and gossip about stuff not allowed on CH due to their policies. Since we now have a freer reign on LTHforum, the listserv is simply a relic of our past ... hint: I'm not sure it would be appreciated if you wanted to initiate chatty dialogue there at this point.

Follow this link to sign up.

not sure if you've been there, and tho' not for produce, another little oft overlooked gem in the neighborhood is shan foods, tucked away in a travesty (aesthetically and architecturally speaking, much like the strip that old world is in, but not quite as bad) of a strip mall on the corner of winona and sheridan.

there, you can get uber-cheap basmati rice, south asian and ethiopian spices and spice mixes, injera, fresh, piping-hot nan, nuts, prepared meals, hot takeout items, and a whole host of other stuff.

it's a really fantastic place -- part convenience store, part grocery, part restaurant.

For my part, I don't regard the list-serve as active any more. I would much prefer good info to be shared here where people are, will know to look for it, and have all the technological tools to search for it.

I suppose if we're going to discuss it further that should be in Site Chat.

foo d wrote:not sure if you've been there, and tho' not for produce, another little oft overlooked gem in the neighborhood is shan foods, tucked away in a travesty (aesthetically and architecturally speaking, much like the strip that old world is in, but not quite as bad) of a strip mall on the corner of winona and sheridan.

Oh yes! I've eaten there a few times and think it's quite good (I just have to remember not to order Paya--ick). Also bought pickle there on a couple occasions--not gotten the rice as I don't eat it enough to justify buying a 25lb bag.

What about the Pakistani grocery about a half block south on Sheridan? Anything worthwhile there?

i've not been in the other grocery that you mentioned. always thought of it as just a standard convenience store and never thought to go in. maybe i'll make a trip there today and report my findings.

as for the basmati rice at shan, i believe that we got a 10 lb bag (the smallest weight offered). might still be too big for you, but it's a helluva lot easier to store than a 25 pounder.