Those not so uncommon words heard throughout markets in Mexico.
We have noticed some things that we were acustomed to in the states that we have had a hard time on more than one occasion finding down here.
I am curious as to others feelings on this and if they have other suggestions. Many friends ask what they can bring down and I can never think of
anything because I have learned to live without when not available.
But, here are the beginnings of a list and hope some may be able to add to it. And remember, if you can't live without any of these things, you are
better off bringing them with you.
1. Root Beer
2. Tonic Water
3. Worcestershire Sauce
4. Good toilet paper
5. Parmesian cheese
6. Canned soups (they have the basic ones)
7. Bug Spray
8. Fishing Tackle
9. Spices
10.English Muffins
11.Wet Wipes
12.Tampons
13.Charcoal Lighter Fluid
14.Castrol Motor Oil
15.Good Deoderants
16.Specialty and good quality Batteries
17.First Aid Stuff
18.Name Brand Food Items
19.Shampoo
20.Coleman Lantern Mantels
Most of these things can be found in the tourist areas of Baja but not always. And enough times that we have learned to be prepared without counting
on finding them here.
But, despite what we are lacking here,many grocery items are better but I will save that for a different post.
[Edited on 11/23/2004 by jrbaja]
What I
Tio Rocky - 11-22-2004 at 05:06 PM
commonly bring back....
Canned Chili beans
Artichokes
Brown Rice
A Big T-Bone
Breakfast Sausage (not hot dogs)
Polish Sausage
Fresh head of lettuce
Rolaids
I would add that in my experience, you don't find many of the prepackaged cuts of meat we're used to seeing in stores in the states. Unless you have
a carneceria hand cut them for you, a 12 oz. New York strip or some nice thick lamb loin chops will be pretty hard to come by. However, when in Rome
. . . .DanO - 11-22-2004 at 05:27 PM
I hadn't seen Tio Rocky's post when I put mine up, but I had to add something about artichokes. I was in Ensenada a few years ago with some friends
who live out on Punta Estero and they had a huge bowl of chokes out on the table. I remarked that I'd never seen them in the stores around town.
They told me that these were growing wild on the land of a farmer they knew who was going to plow them under as weeds, basically, but let people onto
his land to pick what they wanted before doing so. A far cry from Castroville, although the two places aren't really that far apart. The wild chokes
were delicious, by the way.
Hey!
Tio Rocky - 11-22-2004 at 05:34 PM
Hey, Hose A...... I can come by anytime and take some of that off your hands if your getting tired????
When I first saw this post, "Guess what I can't find" .... I was going to respond by saying you might try standing on a mirrow....
Tio Rocky......
[Edited on 11-23-2004 by Tio Rocky]
You guys bring beef??
jrbaja - 11-22-2004 at 05:45 PM
With all the different types of beef available down here, including tender cuts, birria, machaca, asadas, cabezas, and then add carnitas, venado,
chivo, borrego, liebre, etc., I am truly surprised.
Am I missing something from those u.s.butchers?
JRs list
TMW - 11-22-2004 at 05:45 PM
Just curious but why Castrol motor oil? Don't the Pemex stations and auto parts stores carry mfd approved motor oil.
Beef
Tio Rocky - 11-22-2004 at 06:03 PM
I also live in Ensenada and the average beef I fine here is good but not great?. But with that said there are a couple of places here that have great
beef.
Hose A?. there is a small store on Second St. at the south end of town just before you go over river? it?s on the corner?if you go in and ask for a
thick t-bone they will cut it from a frozen piece but it is really good?.
I have an Argentinean friend who has a store in LA?.. his son fly?s for one of the Argentinean Airlines?. He comes to LA twice a week with an ice
chest behind his seat full of Argentinean Beef?.freshly cut 24 hours before?.. Sorry folks?.. hands down the best?. That?s what I bring back??
Tio Rocky
I'm talking about the majority of places
jrbaja - 11-22-2004 at 06:09 PM
in Baja. Smart and Final, Auto Zone and McDonalds don't count.
We have 3 butcher shops here that we frequent and usually get a filete(mignon), fresh cut carne molida, thick cut chuletas de puerco, todo esta
bien!! La Paz gets Sonora beef in some of their carnicerias.
We will have you up for a filete in the near future. You be the judge!
Seldom do we bring meats back from the u.s. But, around this time of year, you sure can't beat the price of turkeys up there!!
Whoa...I see something missing from these lists
vgabndo - 11-22-2004 at 06:10 PM
If you were married to my sweet wife you would be importing WHIPPED CREAM. Cool-whip is one of her basic food groups, and with rare exceptions, even
the canned stuff is not to be found between Santa Rosalia and La Paz. Saul's Tienda in Mulege, and Quatro Altas in Loreto sometimes! Gypsy Jan - 11-22-2004 at 10:29 PM
Great subject, what I can't find...
even in urban N. Baja (Jr, I know your thread was about outlying areas).
1. Good quality kitty litter in sufficient quantity. I understand the economics of why there is a lack of supply, the average Mexican family isn't
going to cut into its food budget to buy expensive clay for a non-useful animal. But, even Costco in TJ doesn't have the KL. We have three indoor
cats (ages 22, 18, and 14, they have to stay indoors) and we use up a 40 lb. box each month.
2. Good quality large breed dog food. There is one granero in Rosarito that carries Nutromax large breed at a 2.5 markup from U.S. prices.
3. Outside of urban areas, yogurt doesn't seem to be available
4. Can't find good cheese. With the large amount of goats I see on the hillsides, why isn't goat's milk and cheese more readily available?
5. Cheese, Pt. II. With the large amount of dairy herds, why aren't there several operations producing cow's milk cheeses?
6. Organic food. Depletion of the water table is a huge issue in Baja. Why isn't there more of a conservation effort and/or investment in organic
and hydroponic farming techniques to provide gourmet items to the very hungry U.S. market?
7. Reasonably priced, good quality Mexican wines (and tequila). The supermarkets and the liquor stores are stocked full of Spanish, Italian and
French imports that undercut local Mexican product with price and quality. What's up with that? I know the import duties tack on a heavy penalty,
what's with the Mexican attitude about "If it's not selling, put the price up." My preference is to buy local, but sheeshh!Dave - 11-22-2004 at 10:41 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by jrbaja
La Paz gets Sonora beef in some of their carnicerias.
I have a Sonora meat purveyor stop at my place every two weeks. His beef tenderloins are the best I have ever tasted. (I lived in KC for ten years!)Bookerman - 11-22-2004 at 10:51 PM
"Guess what I can't find?"
What, your thumb?
KC??????????
Barry A. - 11-22-2004 at 10:53 PM
David K - 11-22-2004 at 11:11 PM
Kansas City... Barry, I believe Dave means Kansas City.
Gypsys Jan and queso...
Herb - 11-23-2004 at 12:07 AM
you don't have to get far out of the urban areas in N. Baja. Even if it is just highway 3 between Ensenada and Tecate.
My wife and I have a saying similar to Neal Johns' philosophy about dirt roads:
If you pass a sign that says, "Hay Queso" and you don't stop to investigate, you'll regret it! (Actually, we've found this to be true about "Miel" and
just about anything else anyone at one of these ranchos is proud enough to post a sign beside the road about. That's how we discovered Pay de Datil in
the San Ignacio area and Dulces in San Bartolo.)David K - 11-23-2004 at 01:01 AM
Queso is everywhere in Mexico, so maybe I don't understand Gypsy's post...?
Antonio (BajaCactus) and I went walking through some of the food malls in Tijuana searching for Pitaya Dulce fruit and there was all kinds of cheeses
for sale (and free samples!).
In the mountains, goat cheese is a big product of the ranch people.
back to the beef
bajajudy - 11-23-2004 at 07:26 AM
Here in Los Cabos we have Costco, Sorrianos and CCC but I buy all my beef from a local chain Frutas y Verduras. They have the Sonora beef that in my
opinion is the absolute best. I just bought 8 New Yorks about 1 1/2 inches thick and they cost me 341 pesos... The flavor is better than anything
you can get in the states.
Throw those puppies on the grill and grrrrrreat.Mexitron - 11-23-2004 at 08:10 AM
SEVERAL ranchos WEST of SANTA AGUEDA make goat cheese.
El BULE has over 250 GOATS ...
LAS HIGUERAS has over 200 ...
El RANCHITO has a load of GOATS ...
CANDELARIA has a bunch ...
SANTA ROSA .....
SAN JAVIER ...
They ALL make GOAT CHEESE daily and transport it to SANTA ROSALIA on sunday morning where it is sold out of a few homes. Some might go in the stores
....
Makes the best QUESADILLAS ..... very similar to JACK CHEESE .... I used to bring blocks of JACK down on vacations ..... until I tasted some of theirs
heated up on a tortilla .... It is the same ..... and theirs is so inexpensive .... mmmmDave - 11-23-2004 at 02:41 PM
Half & Half
100% sweet cream butter
Quality produce at reasonable prices
loose leaf teas
Decent wine selection
Quality Detergents
Quality paints
Economy size anything that is truly economical
Produce
jrbaja - 11-23-2004 at 03:03 PM
Swap meet on Sundays and Wednesdays in Rosarito.Gypsy Jan - 11-24-2004 at 12:04 AM
Back to queso, queso, queso
Thanks to all for your responses,
but I think you missed my point,
I was referring to quality and variety,
not lack of quantity.
The Mexican Chihuahua (also queso Manonito), the Monterrey and the Manchego cheeses all look mostly the same and taste mostly the same, nothing stands
out, but that's OK, they are supposed to be mild, melting cheese.
The Asadero, the Oaxaca string cheeses all look mostly the same and taste mostly the same. I don't know of a commercial brand that has a great taste.
The Mexican aged cheeses, the cotija, are bland and dry.
Where are the Pecorinos (aged sheep cheese), the Parmesans (aged cow cheeses), and, on the very big end where are any bleus (goat, sheep and cow)?
And, to the best of my knowledge, there are no fresh or aged goat and sheep cheeses of any kind available in the local markets of Rosarito.Dave - 11-24-2004 at 05:37 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
Where are the Pecorinos (aged sheep cheese), the Parmesans (aged cow cheeses), and, on the very big end where are any bleus (goat, sheep and cow)?
Seems I recall a place that carries Pecorino Romano, Parmisano Reggiano, swiss, aged provolone, cheddar, horseradish cheddar, cream cheese and
occasionally chevre and gorgonzola. Now if I could just remember where.
And back to my point
jrbaja - 11-24-2004 at 05:53 PM
"Thanks to all for your responses,
but I think you missed my point,
I was referring to quality and variety,
not lack of quantity."
I betcha that between Tijuana, Rosarito, La Paz, and the Costco in San Jose, all of our "favorites" are to be had.
But, wouldn't that be a long list. Mexico does have some very good cheeses but probably not a lot of "specialty" cheeses.
In the mountains, everyone makes cheeses. Different kinds in different areas. Somewhat of an example is the trucks with queso de rancho that you
see most everywhere as Herb mentioned.
Cheeses can be found anywhere in Baja and the home made varieties are delicious so I really don't count that one on the list. Store bought cheeses
are mediocre as a rule.
But, if you really need a good Camembert instead of what's available locally, try Costco, San Jose del Cabo or the new Calimax in Rosarito
[Edited on 11/25/2004 by jrbaja]Gypsy Jan - 11-24-2004 at 11:43 PM
and to return again to my point...
there are abundant fresh materials and cheese makers available and perhaps many good specialty cheese in the hamlets of Baja, isn't this a great
opportunity for the country?
If I go to the markets in the cities, the only interesting cheese available is imported and usually poor quality because of origin and lack of good
storage.
In the countryside and villages and towns of France, the people have the same reverant attitudes towards local farm products, but they go beyond just
supporting the local butcher, they demand locally produced vegetables, honey, and individually crafted cheese in infinite varieties.
I think that Baja could develop this kind of niche farming opportunities to great effect, since the euro's strength has driven the cost of European
specialties so high.
IMHO, I don't know anything about food production, I appreciate artisans who are passionte about food, wine, art, etc.Bruce R Leech - 11-25-2004 at 08:34 AM
Jr. lets see if we cant remove a couple thanks from your list.
1 Worcestershire sauce is sold in most stores under the name of salsa iglacia in several brands Maggi is best.
2. Parmesan cheese is now produced by Leches DE villa and is in about 2 stores here in Mulege, it is fresh and better if aged about one month and the
grated
3. Tampons you can roll your on, with a Little practice. I'm not sure but I think we could make theme out of Bamboo
Like I said Bruce
jrbaja - 11-25-2004 at 09:43 AM
Most of these items can be found in the tourist areas, like Mulege.
But, when you get away from the places that cater to the gringos, you probably won't find any of these items.
And chances are, Carrizo would be a better idea for "roll your own" as the bamboo might be a little large, depending on hooz using them!
You be the judge!