Uwajiwhat: Spice for Spiced Food

We went a different direction the other day and ended up at perhaps the newest Asian (plus more) grocery store in town: HT Oaktree Market (10008 Aurora Avenue North). When we walked through the front door and saw roasted ducks, chickens, and – can you believe it – even a whole pig hanging from a bar, we knew this was going to be something special.

Occupying the old Larry’s Market next to the movie theater, this store is a mecca for multi-cultural products at great prices. And it’s much cleaner than some of its Chinatown cohorts. Maybe too much space… with 45,000 square feet at play, we found products repeated in various aisles. (This might be okay: if you miss rice vinegar the first time around, you’re likely to find it in at least two other locations.)

We strolled the super-market for a couple of hours. In the meat department, we were beholden to the brains, blood and bowels of various animals. (They even have Silkies!) The produce section has it all – from white daikons to black beans, and everything green and in-between. Noodles? Almost any kind you can imagine.

And, as always, there are things we simply cannot understand. Our favorite: “Spice for Spiced Food.” We’re told the Chinese characters refer to salt, but upon closer inspection, the ingredients listed are cinnamon, fennel, zingiber (ginger) and clove. The package says you can use this concoction to spice those pettitoes (pig) you might find in the meat section. If anyone happens to have any experience with this product, step up with your pettitoes (human) and let us know.