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Help ! Been here a month and can't find items at the grocer
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raulyn



Joined: 09 Nov 2007
Posts: 64
Location: D.F.

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:01 am    Post subject: Help ! Been here a month and can't find items at the grocer Reply with quote

Rye or Pumpernickle bread.

I saw a restaurant next to the American Embassy that has sandwiches on their menu with this bread. The chef said to try Walmart.

Cornmeal

I want to make corn bread.

Cheddar cheese

I saw a U.N. selection of cheese but not one type of American cheese. Except for the horrid processed stuff.

Baking Soda

When I asked, I was told to try the pharmacy!

FOUND Barley

The market near Eje central and Victoria had it by the kilo.


Finding a decent food processor was a trial. But I did it. Who has ever seen so many blenders in their lives?

Getting sheets mailed to me. Anything over 250 t.c./in is unheard of here.
Palacio de Hierro had some 450 t.c. so I bought those to tide me over.

Can anyone direct me to a grocery store that has these items?
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sarliz



Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Posts: 198
Location: Jalisco

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, I'm not sure where you are, but I've been able to find cheddar cheese at a big Soriana in kind of a posh neighborhood in Guadalajara. Not the greatest cheddar ever, but it purported to be from Wisconsin, so I gave it a go.

I know I've bought a box of Arm and Hammer, and I refuse to give WalMart any of my money, so I know it didn't come from there. It's true though that they prescribe gargling and/or nose flushing with baking soda for throat problems here, so that why it'll be at the pharmacy. And as it's sold by the name of its chemical formula, it's probably the same stuff, no?
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awest



Joined: 30 Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Location: DF

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I haven't had any problems finding the cheese at a larger grocery store, like it was mentioned it's not as good as you are probably use to. The baking soda is also there. Now for the bread.....I haven't a clue unless you can make your own.

Sorry not much help but thank god all I ask for is peanutbutter and cheeseburgers:)
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raulyn



Joined: 09 Nov 2007
Posts: 64
Location: D.F.

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am in D.F., centrally located. I have been to the Soriana in Delta Mall. None of these things are available there.
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spiral78



Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You're lucky you're not further afield than Mexico - basically, living abroad requires dietary changes in most cases - some of them drastic:)

For example -I like cornbread too, but I've done happily enough without it for more than 12 years now - it's just unheard of where I live. Pumpernickel and rye bread, also out of the question.


I think it's part of the cultural experience - learning to live with what's local Smile
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tagastelum



Joined: 09 Jun 2006
Posts: 49
Location: Delegaci�n Cuauht�moc | M�XICO DF

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mmmm...corn bread. Use instant polenta. I buy mine at a great little Italian grocery in San Rafael called Partimar, which is located very close to the San Cosme metro station. It's located on Rosas Moreno between Icazbalceta and Alfonso Herrera. I promise, you will keep going back to this little gem of a market!
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raulyn



Joined: 09 Nov 2007
Posts: 64
Location: D.F.

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the suggestion. I know approximately where that's located.



Also, I understand the whole immersion thing. But, I'm sure most understand that sometimes that once-in-a-while taste of home can help ease the sudden and abrupt changes in one's environment. When I eat out and about, I don't look for restaurants that cater to tourists. (Try finding one of those in the middle of the Sierras in Oaxaca or in Chiapas) Although, when I am at home, I like to have some tastes from home.

When I originally moved from the southern part of the USA to NYC, there were lots of things that I couldn't find. So, I made due for nine years.

Before I give up on my quest in D.F., I thought I'd ask here for those items.
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notamiss



Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:39 pm    Post subject: Re: Help ! Been here a month and can't find items at the gro Reply with quote

raulyn wrote:
Rye or Pumpernickel bread.

Comercial Mexicana has a braided dark and light rye, and also sometimes some European-style dark rye breads.

raulyn wrote:
Cornmeal
I want to make corn bread.

You want to make coal in Newcastle! Develop a taste for tamales instead!
(Actually I sympathize. Tortillas and tamales aren't the same as corn bread. Have not found cornmeal yet, but I�d bet you could get the right effect, more or less, by using harina para tamales�which you buy in molinos�in a cornbread recipe.)

raulyn wrote:
Cheddar cheese
CostCo

raulyn wrote:
Baking Soda When I asked, I was told to try the pharmacy!
Yes. Also sometimes in the supermarket; look in the section of cleaning supplies, or around the same area as candles and shoe polish. The baking soda sold for deodorizing is exactly the same stuff as for baking.

raulyn wrote:
FOUND Barley
The market near Eje central and Victoria had it by the kilo.
Further possibilities: if I remember right, I got mine at a Nutrisa (which has locations everywhere).
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Phil_K



Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2041
Location: A World of my Own

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't speak American Twisted Evil but if you mean Baking Powder by Baking Soda (what makes your bread rise), it's called Royal, and it's the only brand I know of in Mexico.

...BTW, why hasn't self-raising flour reached Mexico? I'm 46 y-o, and I've known it all my life England.
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notamiss



Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Phil_K wrote:
I don't speak American Twisted Evil but if you mean Baking Powder by Baking Soda (what makes your bread rise), it's called Royal, and it's the only brand I know of in Mexico.

...BTW, why hasn't self-raising flour reached Mexico? I'm 46 y-o, and I've known it all my life England.


Baking powder and baking soda have slightly different ingredients, chemical properties and flavours. Baking powder consists of baking soda plus some other things added, I forget the details. Basically (hah!) if the pH of the batter is acid, the recipe will call for baking soda, and if not, it usually calls for baking powder. Some recipes call for both.

What makes your bread rise is yeast, anyway, not baking soda or powder (except for so-called �quick breads��these are essentially muffins in loaf form.)

Why no self-raising flour in Mexico? I postulate 2 reasons: 1) people here don't as a rule bake much anyway, so not much market for baking supplies. How many people you know use their oven as a storage cupboard? Nearly everyone of my acquaintance.
2) We don't use self-raising flour in North America. It just isn't an American (in the continental sense) thing. If we want to try an English recipe that calls for it, we have to use regular flour and add the baking powder and salt ourselves.


Last edited by notamiss on Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:23 pm; edited 1 time in total
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amaranto



Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Posts: 133
Location: M�xico, D.F.

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You're not gonna find anything like Vermont extra-sharp here, but you have a choice between 2 or 3 different kinds of cheddar at Chedraui.

I miss cheddar cheese!
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danielita



Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 281
Location: SLP

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I found pumpernickel at the Soriana--go before noon, it runs out quickly and it's not at every Soriana. Shop at one of the "fresa" Sorianas and you should find it.
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raulyn



Joined: 09 Nov 2007
Posts: 64
Location: D.F.

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

amaranto wrote:
You're not gonna find anything like Vermont extra-sharp here, but you have a choice between 2 or 3 different kinds of cheddar at Chedraui.

I miss cheddar cheese!


Can you direct me to this store. I went to their website and D.F. is not an option in their store locations.
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amaranto



Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Posts: 133
Location: M�xico, D.F.

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The only one I've been to is 2 or 3 blocks from metro Zapata. Anyone you ask there should be able to direct you to it. It's in a mall.
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notamiss



Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX

PostPosted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.chedraui.com.mx/chui/zona_polanco.html

Although the URL says �Polanco,� this seems to be a list of Chedraui stores all over DF and Edomex. Anyway, I sometimes find cheddar at Comercial Mexicana, too.
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