122301 Mon Dec 08 14:49:50 -0800 2003 16 8 Midwest 0 665162 OK...turns out soup dumplings were secretly abundant in MN...but here's a *real* challenge....anyone in MN know where I can find some sable (smoked black cod)? I've tried Byerlys/Lunds, Whole Foods, Kiev Foods, Kramarczuk's, La Chiam, Coastal, Minsk Market, Morey's, Fishmans, Zaroff's and anywhere else I could think of. I'm looking at about $50/pound off the 'net when you factor in shipping, but that's looking like the only solution. Help! Mon Dec 08 14:49:50 -0800 2003 0 Dave 1 665179 Man, that is a tough request. Especially considering the fact that good lox is so tough to find in the Twin Cities. With smoked salmon, I had such bad luck at other outlets that I have resigned myself to just buying it at Costco, where it is decent but not great, but at least very reasonably priced -- about $7-8 per pound. I would have thought they would have the sable at Kramarcuk's. I once found smoked sturgeon there. However, it is probably just as well that you did not find it because the smoked sturgeon there was not good. If you are ever in Westport, CT I have a deli where you can get great sable, but I am blanking on options for Mpls. Tue Dec 09 10:17:31 -0800 2003 665162 0 Josh Resnik 2 665252 Wow, great conversation everyone! Speaking of which, Dave, I can relate to your buying lox at Costco. The only barely acceptable stuff here in Rochester, MN is at Sam's Club. Sad, sad little food town we have here (and before anyone asks, there is NO reason to make the trip down here for anything consumable). I've been thinking of going up to Cecil's for their lox breakfast, but haven't made it yet. Does anyone in the Twin Cities sell lox in their restaurant better than the Costco variety? Also, who has the best Challah in the cities? While the local bakery (Daube's, one of Rochester's only gems) does a decent job, I'm hunkering for variety after 3 and 1/2 years of the same tasting bread each week. I'm considering baking my own now... Thanks everyone! -Garris Mon Dec 15 00:38:36 -0800 2003 665179 0 Garris 3 665256 Garris, I wish I had something for you. If I could, I would buy a small storefront somewhere in the neighborhood of Ford Pkwy/Cleveland Ave, and open a Russ & Daughters-style place specializing in these kinds of foods. I think it could be a huge success, and would definitely fill a glaring void in the T.C. landscape. To keep this conversation chow-centric, in an earlier post, I listed out a few places, all hit-or-miss in the lox department, that you might try if you find yourself with some extra time in the cities. Believe it or not, Byerly's has been introducing some interesting cured/smoked salmon products -- not traditional varieties of lox, but some pretty tasty. Be aware, they are mixed in different places throughout the store -- meat aisle, around the deli, with the cheeses, next to sushi...you just have to search. For challah, you may want to enter a new thread. Mon Dec 15 10:23:33 -0800 2003 665252 0 Dave 1 665180 Just a shot in the dark - have you tried Cecil's? I'd also call around to seafood wholesalers and see if they can get it to a retailer for you. Tue Dec 09 13:40:24 -0800 2003 665162 0 Brad Ballinger 2 665182 I haven't tried Cecil's specifically, but I used to go there all the time when I lived up the street and they never carried it. Outside of my house, I've never seen it in Minnesota -- it has always been one of my favorite foods and when I was in New York in October, it renewed my interest to try and find it here. I also thought about the wholesale route and the gentleman at La Chaim on Randolph was kind enough to give me the name of their supplier. Anything's worth a try, but I'm not expecting any luck as I'm sure they will simply note the non-existent demand. I wish I could just order 20 pounds, freeze it and eat it for years, but no such luck. Tue Dec 09 15:03:36 -0800 2003 665180 0 Dave 1 665190 Ok, here it is at $35 / lb off the net... http://www.smoked-fish.com/store/products.aspx?sn=SmokedBlackCod&cat=14 I'm not certain, but here's where I'd look in the twin cities 1. The fish guys at the Minneapolis farmers market. I'm not sure if they're there in the winter. 2. Maybe it's called Minsk Market. I can't recall the name, but I went to a Russian deli in a strip mall in St. Louis Park, I believe it was very close to the Lone Star. They had lots of odd fish products, maybe they'd have it. 3. One or two of the smoked fish specialists on the North Shore...Lou's Fish (www.lousfish.com) or Russ Kendall's Smoked Fish House in Knife River 218-834-5995 4. Clancey's Meat Market in Linden Hills. 5. I think I had it once at Restaurant Alma. You might call them and ask them if they could tell you where to find it. Tue Dec 09 17:37:53 -0800 2003 665162 0 Jim Grinsfelder 2 665194 I think the market you're referring to is in the same strip mall as the Lone Spur on Cedar Lake Road (at Hopkins Crossroads, across the street from the Crossroads Deli.) in Minnetonka/SLP/Hopkins. It is called European Delicacies, or something like that. I did some searching on the Net, and you might try Euro Gourmet on Minnetonka Blvd in Minnetonka. Tue Dec 09 19:46:29 -0800 2003 665190 0 Danny 3 665198 You're right, I was thinking of the Lone Spur but I don't get out there much so I forgot the name. And it was European Delicacies. That rings a bell. They had reasonably fresh salmon caviar for a low price. Tue Dec 09 21:25:44 -0800 2003 665194 0 Jim Grinsfelder 1 665197 I work at Whole Foods in St. Paul and I know that they can order almost anything. Tue Dec 09 21:10:59 -0800 2003 665162 0 anabug 1 665201 Sadly, I don't think you will find it here. How about online from Zabar's (see link below). That new place in uptowm (Zelo's?) sells "Bagels from NY" for 95 cents each to go with! They are the best I've had in Minneapolis. Link: http://www.zabar.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/ParametricSearch-Start;sid=I9dp8JyAV9TWpaNWg-RjIzRA3QYr26Nnafc= Tue Dec 09 23:28:48 -0800 2003 665162 0 esme 1 665203 i would suggest a cheap plane ticket to NYC and head right to russ daughters on the lower east side with a cooler. Wed Dec 10 01:59:23 -0800 2003 665162 0 mark grossman 2 665206 Now you're talkin'!! With Russ & Daughters, Yonah Schimmel's and Katz's within 3 linear blocks of each other, I would challenge anyone to find a better concentration of pure, unadulterated noshing in the world. Incidentally, I always think about the "foods of my youth" around the holidays, and a NY Bagel (or bialy) with a heaping mound of fresh sable, scrambled eggs with matzo, onions and lox mixed in, washed down with an egg cream on a Christmas Day morning is as good as it gets. To keep this focused on "Midwest Chow"...I really appreciate everyone's input on this query. Some places I hadn't thought of were mentioned and I'll let you know what I find -- including non-sable items of interest. I'm intrigued by the Whole Foods post. Does special ordering apply to items that don't have broad demand? I usually assume there has to be a possible "upside" to special ordering beyond one customer's interest. As a health-conscious eater, I'd be happy to give places a reason to carry this item on a regular basis (good health properties with the Omega 3s etc...protein rich, conforms to Atkins diet...all the current "trendy diets".) Wed Dec 10 11:52:46 -0800 2003 665203 0 Dave 1 665208 Another thought might be St. Petersburg Restaurant in Robbinsdale, I haven't been there yet, but I've been meaning to try them out, since they're in the neighborhood. They have a website too: http://www.myvodkabar.com/ Wed Dec 10 13:55:19 -0800 2003 665162 0 Danny 1 665250 I doubt you will find anything decent in MN. My family has tried many kinds, but never lucked out. I live in NY now and go back to Mpls often, whenever I head back for a visit, I am always asked to pack one big bag filled with real bagels and smoked fish.... I am a good seat mate on the airplane!! That is my holiday gift to my family next week when I head in to the twin cities. Bagels, Lox, and Sable. I buy the fishes from zabars. Sun Dec 14 17:34:54 -0800 2003 665162 0 Former Minnesotan Now New Yorker 2 665255 Back in the day when you could wait for people arriving at the airport gate, we would go to pick up my grandma flying in from NY. Without fail, the plane would pull up to the gate, and about 30 seconds later we would know if my grandma made the flight or not -- because when they opened the door of the plane, an explosion of onion, garlic and smoked fish essence would blast out of the walkway door. Out she'd come eventually, only carry-ons were 2 huge, recycled Applebaum's bags with all the makings of a deluxe brunch. Of course, you could only get away with that on a flight from NY. Ah..the holiday memories. Any chance you'd be interested in bringing back two bags this time??? Mon Dec 15 10:10:20 -0800 2003 665250 0 Dave 1 665688 Dave, I know it's too late, but yes, you can get some ... although maybe not always ... one of your replies mentioned the guy at the Mnpls farmer's market. You can go to the source ... called Captain's Select at 214 22nd Ave N (turn right off of Washington, one block north of Broadway) ... (612) 522-7060. Ask Earl, Stuart or Bill if they can get it and when. I know we've gotten it at least once to make a sauce for an artic char dish. We've had the fresh sablefish quite a few times, but were only able to get the smoked sable once, so you should ask about seasons, etc ... While there, try the BEST oysters in the world ... kumamoto oysters, don't cringe at their price, worth every penny. We've even had them bring us some live sea urchins a couple of time. Tell them I sent you, they'll be real glad to help you. Wed Jan 14 20:00:26 -0800 2004 665162 0 lev