Ethnic Food Shop finds

I've never seen pieces of coconut but dessicated (shredded) coconut can be found in Indian grocery stores as well. You can also find frozen shredded coconut in larger Indian/Asian groceries. Or you can always buy the coconut and get a shredder and do it yourself at home!

Thanks. I've been putting off the DIY option but I guess shouldn't be so lazy!

I sure wouldn't call it lazy! In my mind, only South Asian ladies who have a LOT of time on their hands shred their own coconut.

For Mexican food, I go to Casa Mexico in Bethnal Green or Taqueria on Westbourne Grove. I also have to say that Cudi's food centre in Ealing is also brilliant for a variety of ethnic food/ingredients, whether you want to make something Caribbean or North African. And it's open 24 hours, which is a godsend when I crave houmous at 1 in the morning (this has actually happened.)

I am feeling a bit silly, but RIDICULOUSLY excited about the Wing Yip tip for big bag of bicarbonate of soda and large bottles of vinegar.  Tired of buying the really small packages available at the grocery store -- both a hassle and expensive.  Thanks for making my day...

Yeah we're at Wing Yip weekly, if only for the bakery. And the mass quantities of vinegar is fantastic, since I use it to clean nearly everything.

My husband did their website about twenty bajillion years ago.

I'm sorry if this was already addressed - but is there a place in London to find Puerto Rican/Cuban foods/ingredients? I packed a jumbo pack of Sazon and Adobo but just wondering if similar types of items will be available anywhere. I understand some Mexican ingredients are available but the foods are quite different and my experience with Mexican food/restaurants in the UK has not been great. It's not terribly authentic.

I need my bacalaitos and pastelillos! Hahaha. 

I'm sorry if this was already addressed - but is there a place in London to find Puerto Rican/Cuban foods/ingredients?

I don't live anywhere near London, but the answer is almost certain yes, somewhere in the entirety of the London metro area, you can buy these things in a shop.

But you might find it more convenient to just order them online.  You'll find plenty of sources if you just Google it (some may even have a local shop), but you can probably find Sazon and Adobo on Amazon, too.

Any recommendations for Kosher places in Surrey/Southwest London? I don't keep kosher myself, but as a non-practicing-but-still-cultural-Jew I would love to know a good source for some things - namely matzos (that aren't teeny tiny) and the (ever elusive) dill pickle. I've hooked my wife on matzo brie. Some Sainsburys have them, but they aren't as nice as the Manischewitz I can get in Florida.

Basically, I want Manischewitz. All the Manischewitz.

Any recommendations for Kosher places in Surrey/Southwest London? I don't keep kosher myself, but as a non-practicing-but-still-cultural-Jew I would love to know a good source for some things - namely matzos (that aren't teeny tiny) and the (ever elusive) dill pickle. I've hooked my wife on matzo brie. Some Sainsburys have them, but they aren't as nice as the Manischewitz I can get in Florida.

Basically, I want Manischewitz. All the Manischewitz.

You might find you need to make a special food shopping trip up to Hendon/Golders Green!

However... have you tried Whole Foods at Kensington High Street?  For a short time I worked in the Whole Foods in Giffnock, just outside of Glasgow, and they had TONS of kosher & Manischewitz stuff.  I don't know if that's purely because my shop was in a Jewish neighbourhood, or if all Whole Foods Markets stock the stuff... but it could be worth a look.

You might find you need to make a special food shopping trip up to Hendon/Golders Green!

However... have you tried Whole Foods at Kensington High Street?  For a short time I worked in the Whole Foods in Giffnock, just outside of Glasgow, and they had TONS of kosher & Manischewitz stuff.  I don't know if that's purely because my shop was in a Jewish neighbourhood, or if all Whole Foods Markets stock the stuff... but it could be worth a look.

The Kensington High Street Whole Foods is utopia. I can't say that I've tried looking there because it's been a WHILE since I was there last. I've been back and forth so much - used to live in Wimbledon, now back in the states, about to move back PERMANENTLY (!) but to the Guildford/Woking area in Surrey. I can always use an excuse to visit that neighborhood, though! And yes, Golders Green...

It would be amazing if Whole Foods managed to open a store around where I'll be living - or even better, Brighton, where we're house hunting Not only am I looking for the random Jewish item but I'm a vegetarian with lots of "granola" wants (kombucha, dr. bronners, raw foods, essential oils, non-soy based meat alternatives - thank god for quorn) and I find that one has to parse things together between Holland and Barrett, Waitrose (if you're lucky) and the odd "free from" item in the regulars - unless you're lucky enough to have a nice health food shop nearby. There is a Food for Thought in Guildford, but it's damned expensive. Whole Foods isn't cheap, but it somehow beats the little stores in price by the sheer enormity of its operation. Not very indie of me, I know, but these are desperate times. I've spent so much money on associated visa and solicitor costs that these next 6-12 months are going to be quite tight...

Anyway, thank you SO MUCH for responding!

I recommend an Italian family-run online food retailer, specialising in bringing the culture of great tasting, authentic and healthy Italian food to the UK.

Their range includes handmade pasta, multi award-winning extra virgin olive oil and traditional balsamic vinegar, organic honey, dairy free chocolate, chocolate coated fig specialities, organic, fair-trade coffee, wonderful pate’s, sauces and spreads, gorgeous Italian food gifts, hampers and much more.

Shop Contact

http://www.vorrei.co.uk/ [nofollow]
Chroma House, Shire Hill, Saffron Walden
Essex, CB11 3AQ
Tel: 07847 832769