Forums > Specific Focus > Mexican Kitchen

mazatman

Sep 2, 2008, 8:13 PM

Post #1 of 22 (9789 views)

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Looking for some speciality food items

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In a few weeks I'll be driving from Ottawa, Canada (Syracuse, NY) over to Laredo then down thru SLP, Guad, Colima to the Manzanillo area.

I'm wondering where, along the way, would be the best place to pick up quantities of the following items:

Olives stuffed with garlic and chile
Kalabata or Kalamata olives
Mixed roasted peppers (in jars)
Sun-dried tomatoes in oil
Dark and milk chocolate ,

Ideally, I would like to make the purchases at one place but price is a consideration so all suggestions are welcome.

Thank you,

Rod

Georgia

Sep 3, 2008, 3:58 PM

Post #2 of 22 (9746 views)

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Re: [mazatman] Looking for some speciality food items

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Well, if you're driving through Austin, TX on the way, you can go to Whole Foods (my friend's husband calls it Whole Paycheck, but it's not really that bad.) They should have most, if not all, of the foods you seek. They have a website and even a floor plan of their store in downtown Austin, which is not far off the interstate.

bournemouth

Sep 3, 2008, 4:13 PM

Post #3 of 22 (9741 views)

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Re: [Georgia] Looking for some speciality food items

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Sadly, Texas does not have any Trader Joe's stores, but you might check their website to see if they have stores on your proposed route - a wonderful source of goodies and not outrageous pricing.

http://www.traderjoes.com/locations.asp

sioux4noff

Sep 3, 2008, 9:33 PM

Post #4 of 22 (9722 views)

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Re: [mazatman] Looking for some speciality food items

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Why aren't you going to bring them with you from wherever it is you get them now?
The Costco in Puerto Vallarta has the sun dried tomatoes and also the Kalamata olives. Many stores have dark and milk chocolate.

thriftqueen

Sep 3, 2008, 9:51 PM

Post #5 of 22 (9717 views)

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Re: [mazatman] Looking for some speciality food items

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Do a online store locater check for World Market. Most large US cities have them. I think prices for speciality items are reasonable there. I have saw most of the items you are looking for there. I like to go there and buy small cellophane bags of various spices as most of them are .99 cents each, a far cry from the grocery store Shillings brand prices.

mazatman

Sep 4, 2008, 2:58 AM

Post #6 of 22 (9714 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] Looking for some speciality food items

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Thank you all for your suggestions, this is a big help.

To sioux4noff, if you must know, here are a few reasons why I asked the question:

1. I don't want to show up at the US border with several large jars containing liquids.
2. The chance of breakage during a longer trip are greater than during a shorter one.
3. I have never shopped for any of these products before (they are for someone else.)
4. The products will be cheaper in the US and there will be more variety.
5. There will be less chance of the chocolate melting on a shorter trip.

NEOhio1

Sep 8, 2008, 5:38 PM

Post #7 of 22 (9644 views)

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Re: [mazatman] Looking for some speciality food items

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We just returned from a week in Mazatlan, I can tell you now that if your are hoping chocolate youtake to the west coast will not melt you will be disappointed....HOT, HOT, HOT, MUGGY, MUGGY, MUGGY ... you never knew people so glad to hit home even in a pouring rainstorm. Stop at the last big Walmart before crossing the border and you will find them, Walmarts here may ormay not,as the same for costco and Sam's Club.

The pool, that was huge, was HOT,HOT, HOT even at night.

I did not like Mazatlan, it reminded me of Myrtle Beach. And the place is just growing like crazy. However, if you love Centro living and want to rehab a colonial-style intown large property there are many to be had and they are beautiful. Huge windows to the sidewalk, large room, center courtyards, all the architectural detail intact and not touched in 40 ever - virgin colonials. At $300K for an entire city block the price is still reasonable. But it is HOT and MUGGY this time of year.

mazatman

Sep 8, 2008, 7:05 PM

Post #8 of 22 (9634 views)

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Re: [NEOhio1] Looking for some speciality food items

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Hi there and thanks for the Mazatlan update, I've never been there this time of year.

I now live in Melaque and our nearest WalMart is in Manzanillo, it's a new store. I am driving down from Canada and I'm reluctant to leave all my shopping until the last chance in Manzanillo especially after all the interesting recommendations I've received here. So, I plan to pick up things along the way but I will leave the chocolate until Manzanillo :-))

Cheers

bournemouth

Sep 8, 2008, 7:08 PM

Post #9 of 22 (9632 views)

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Re: [mazatman] Looking for some speciality food items

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If you'll have a small cooler with you, then I recommend you buy the chocolate NOB - the Walmart in Manzanillo is a nice store but it is not overloaded with chocolate.

mazatman

Sep 8, 2008, 7:33 PM

Post #10 of 22 (9625 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Looking for some speciality food items

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I agree with you on the chocolate and I will use my plug-in cooler.

sioux4noff

Sep 8, 2008, 8:41 PM

Post #11 of 22 (9615 views)

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Re: [mazatman] Looking for some speciality food items

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Somthing you might wish to check on. The Walmart in Waco, Texas used to sell dry ice. They didn't advertise that they had it, but they did. My employer used to by it there so I know they had it.
If you could buy a chunk of dry ice, it would keep that US-purchased chocolate from melting.
The chocolate selection is improving here in Puerto Vallarta, but price and variety are still much better in the US.
BTW, I used to work for a major candy company.
Also, pack the chocolate so it is flat and then when you get to your destination, put it flat in the fridge. Even if it gets really soft in transit, it will be OK.

smokesilver

Sep 9, 2008, 8:37 AM

Post #12 of 22 (9593 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] Looking for some speciality food items

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Can you say Mars Candy?

sioux4noff

Sep 9, 2008, 9:19 AM

Post #13 of 22 (9587 views)

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Re: [smokesilver] Looking for some speciality food items

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ding-ding-ding-ding we have a winner!
A great company to work for and be retired from!! Excellent products, too.
End of sales pitch.

Georgia

Sep 9, 2008, 4:03 PM

Post #14 of 22 (9562 views)

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Re: [mazatman] Keeping food cold for two full days -easy

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To keep your chocolate, or whatever, really cold for two days do this: use a styrofoam or high quality cooler. Have the food you put in it really cold. Layer food with frozen blue ice (Rubbermaid makes them in large, flat, segmented sheets). Stay at a hotel that has a refrigerator with freezer (like a Marriott residence inn, or whatever) before you cross the border. Layer the food with the frozen blue ice sheets and DO NOT OPEN THE COOLER until you get to your destination. We find that after 36 hours the blue ice is still partially frozen.

(Now for you airline maintenance types out there: I don't mean the kind of blue ice you find on toilet drains on the airplane.)

jl1

Sep 11, 2008, 3:13 PM

Post #15 of 22 (9517 views)

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Re: [mazatman] Looking for some speciality food items

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I was not aware that their were plug-in coolers available. Do you have a brand name or recommendation?

RickS

Sep 11, 2008, 4:33 PM

Post #16 of 22 (9506 views)

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Re: [jl1] Looking for some speciality food items

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Google 'Koolatron cooler' as it seems to be one of the better makes. Some also heat too. With these things it is best to cool the contents first and then put them in the cooler. You may want also purchase an AC adapter so you can take it into the motel overnight (or get things cold the night before you leave).

thriftqueen

Sep 11, 2008, 5:26 PM

Post #17 of 22 (9499 views)

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Re: [RickS] Looking for some speciality food items

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We were looking at plug in coolers at one of the US truck stops when the truck stop manager stopped to visit with us. He recommended buying a small dorm type fridg (we have a van, with plenty of room) then buy an inexpensive converter to plug into the cigarette lighter. We liked this idea as it would keep things much cooler and one could take it in the motel room if need be when staying over night. Most US motel rooms have fridges but the Mexican ones do not so that would be a plus for us.

thriftqueen

Sep 11, 2008, 5:37 PM

Post #18 of 22 (9498 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] Looking for some speciality food items

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We like to bring some special items back from our US trips and have learned that most all major grocery stores sell dry ice. It is stocked for the hunters/fishermen. It's usually located in the front area, not where the regular ice is stocked. Ask if you don't see a freezer marked dry ice. 6 to 8 lbs. is usually sufficient for a medium size cooler. It will keep things frozen for a couple of days if the cooler isn't opened.

We use a good heavy duty styrofoam cooler and pack with dry ice. Our frozen items arrive in Mexico as frozen as when we packed them. If you want only a cooling effect the ice goes on the bottom of the cooler, and if you want to retain items frozen, place the ice on the top of everything. It is best to place a bit of cardboard between the ice and the food, so the items don't get freezer burn. We learned the usage steps from a handout folder that some place supplied with the ice.

beckidid

Sep 16, 2008, 12:40 PM

Post #19 of 22 (9437 views)

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Re: [mazatman] Looking for some speciality food items

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Rod,
In Texas on IH-35,just before you get to San Marcos.....there is an "HEB Plus" grocery store. They have excellent selections of all the items you listed. They have an excellent olive bar,too. I feel sure they probably have dry ice, too. Just ask. It is a huge grocery store on the west (right) side of IH-35. The town it's in is Kyle, TX. It will be right after the town of Buda where the big Cabela's Hunting store is located.
Good luck,
Becki

mazatman

Sep 16, 2008, 5:08 PM

Post #20 of 22 (9419 views)

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Re: [beckidid] Looking for some speciality food items

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Thank you all for your advice, it really is appreciated. As a result of your assistance I have about 6 excellent sounding shopping choices in Texas. They are all loaded into my GPS and I am now good to go!

Chow for now,

Rod

travisdyer

Sep 16, 2008, 9:20 PM

Post #21 of 22 (9401 views)

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Re: [mazatman] Looking for some speciality food items

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I am heading to Guadalajara on Friday. I am in Laredo now, and I will be going to Aguascalientes on Thursday. If anyone wants any particular item, let me know, and I will see if I can find it here. I will buy it and take it to you. You can pay me what I pay for your item. I will not charge you a shipping fee, as long as it is not a large item. Please let me know if you need or want anything. Post, email, or call (US) 615-533-8024.

Travis Dyer

Camille

Sep 17, 2008, 10:58 PM

Post #22 of 22 (9369 views)

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Re: [travisdyer] Looking for some speciality food items

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What a nice offer! You're a gentleman and a scholar!