Shopping for some uncommon veggies?

Question

I am in the Houston area, and I am starting to get ready for the holiday season by trying out tons of new recipies I have. What are some stores that sell things like bamboo shoots, snow peas, baby corn, and other stir fry material like that?

Would Target or Walmart have any?

Answer 1

In the Houston area you should look up either "Fiesta" or "Hong Kong" markets. They're both local chains that specialize in ethnic foods and normally have a LOT of exotic produce! You can also go to the farmers market on Airline (just south of the North Loop) if you don't mind shopping at 5am, it's where many of the local restaurants and grocers get *their* produce.

The specific items you listed should be available canned (and maybe frozen) at most every grocer in Houston including the Super Target and Super Walmart stores. Thanks to how ethnically diverse Houston is, the grocery stores are the BEST in the country (and have the best prices too)! I always take a large ice chest with me every time I get back down that way to stock up on all the wonderful stuff that's unavailable up here in the panhandle.

Edit:

I just saw that you appear to be around Spring. There's a small (for Houston) grocery (Fiesta maybe?) on W. Mount-Houston @ Stuebner-Airline (a couple of blocks west of I-45) that I KNOW has the items you list, I stopped in it once hunting Epazote (a Mexican herb).

Answer 2

You can always find snow peas at just about any supermarket in a frozen stir fry mix. Baby corn is also findable in a mixture.

But, if you are vegan I would assume the goal would be to buy organic if you can. I would go to Wild Oats, Whole Foods, etc, where you might be able to find them frozen and organic or raw in the produce section. I would also try your local asian market if you were in a big city.

Walmart has bokchoy usually raw in the produce section but the size of the organic section is very small and you might not get the largest or freshest selection. They usually have just a handful of the most popular things people look for like organic tofu, some juices, apples and carrots

Answer 3

No matter where I've lived, I've been able to find those vegetables, so they aren't all that uncommon to me. You can get water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and baby corn in the Asian foods section of almost any grocery stores. Most grocery stores also carry snow peas and stir-fry sauces (just read the labels).

Answer 4

Thai Kitchen makes canned bamboo shoots which you can find in the Asian foods section of wal mart and most grocery stores, or you can get them fresh from an Asian market. Most stores have frozen stir fry mixes too.

Answer 5

Target and walmart are not likely to have much selection-they tend to stick to the mainstream stuff. An area such as Houston should have many asian, whole food, and health food stores. Try some unusual things, such as kolrabi (a root veggie similar to turnips, great raw or in salads) Sunchokes (another root, excellent raw or in stir fries) Swiss chard (leafy green, rich in iron and calcium) rutabegga (also known as white turnip-makes great oven baked fries) Horseradish root (grate it, add a little oil for homemade horseradish sauce-far superior to jarred stuff) Look around for other unusual things. Most markets have recipe cards placed close to the odd veggies-they are well worth experimenting with. Good luck and happy holiday season! Oh, homemade sprouts are great for stir fries too. You can get a sprouter and some seeds at health food stores. Try the unusual ones, such as fenugreek, chia, radish, clover, lentil, sunflower and pea sprouts. Its like having a counter top garden, and they are ready to eat within a day or two!

Answer 6

Do you have a Farmer's Market near where you live? The one I go to sells until Oct 31st. There is always one lone table that sells exotic veggies.

Answer 7

Is there an asian market near you? That is where I get that kind of stuff fresh -- and cheap. Actually a lot of good inexpensive food.

Answer 8

I highly doubt it, but you can check the health/veggie area if they have one. Your most reliable source is a health food store.

Answer 9

they might have the all ready pre package, packages i would find it surprising if they actually have it separated

Answer 10

try whole foods