Curry leaves in the North Bay? Where?

[maria lorraine]

Any help you can provide in finding these, I'd much appreciate.

East Bay, also.

[Cynsa]

Jai Ho in San Francisco has fresh curry leaves in small plastic bags in the refrigerator case at the back of the store.
Enter through the Safeway parking lot on Webster St. and look for it near Popeye's Fried Chicken.
1462 Fillmore Street
[phone]

[bolaurent]

Apna Bazaar has them, fresh, invisibly stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Ask!

7500 Commerce Boulevard
Cotati, CA 94931
[phone]

[maria lorraine]

Great! Thanks.

[chefj]

Also Malabar in San Rafael usually has them
www.malabarindianstore.com/

[Earl Grey]

Isn't there a new herb and spice vendor in the Oxbow Market in Napa? I don't know if they're open yet.

[LarryW]

Curry leaves are always available at any Lion supermarket in the east/south bay. They're very inexpensive, just a couple of dollars for a bunch.

[wearybashful]

I was just ;looking for curry leaves, nobody seems to have any now. The lady at Mekong in Santa Rosa said they were the same as bay leaves. That does not seem right to me; unless what I was told were curry leaves that i bought before was something else. I would have recognized bay leaves, I think.

[adrienne156]

Curry leaves are a completely different plant, has very different smells/flavors, and bay leaves are usually used dry while curry leaves are used fresh. I just saw them on Friday at Milan in Berkeley, but I suppose that's a bit of a trek from Santa Rosa...

[jeanlass]

I was in Asia Gourmet last week and they had one package in the freezer section-- which I bought! (My husband's gone balti-mad.) If you garden, it's definitely worth growing. I had one in my last garden. Very easy to grow in our Mediterranean climate (similar to lavender).

[chocolateninja]

I've actually been recently contemplating growing some (I'm also hoping to get a quince plant and maybe a kaffir lime)...especially after seeing what the plant looks like on the recent episode of "Gourmet's Diary Of A Foodie" on PBS. It's cute. (Well, I think most plants are cute, I guess. *gryn*) Do you think it's hard to get ahold of? Maybe something that Harmony Farms or maybe even Pricketts Nursery would be able to get for me?

[wally]

In Berkeley, the guy at Berkeley Hort said that they got them in the spring and fall and I had just missed them (October 2nd). I got some mail order.

[jeanlass]

chocolateninja, I haven't seen curry plant for sale locally-- but then I haven't done an in-depth search! Harmony is a good bet, or Emerisa gardens in NW Santa Rosa. King's sometimes has unusual culinary plants; I bought a lemongrass there last year. Would love to grow kaffir lime... King's might be a good source for that, too, as they've always got a ton of citrus.

[rabaja]

A couple other options in the East Bay are Berkeley Bowl and Monterey Market.

[wearybashful]

In Santa Rosa, I've seen them at--- oops, I just lost my memory for names. Well, at the largish Asian market on Sebastopol road, kind of across from the side of Lola's, and also in the market that's right in the little triangle formed by Petaluma Hill Road joining Santa Rosa Blvd. (that's close to ThaiLao too.)

Although I have to say, when I bought them, they didn't seem like a very strong flavor to me--- nothing like the wow factor of lime leaves or Thai basil.

[Melanie Wong]

Agreed that the flavor is more subtle. You'll need to steep quite a few, but the elusive scent and taste are worth it.

Are these the places you're thinking of?

-----
Phnom Penh
923 Petaluma Hill Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Asian Market
1110 Petaluma Hill Rd, Santa Rosa, CA

Mekong Market
206 Sebastopol Rd, Santa Rosa, CA

[maria lorraine]

I'm trying to make vadouvan, an Indian spice mixture. The curry leaves are quickly fried, at least till they pop!

Many thanks for the leads, everyone. Chowhound is such a great resource.

[wearybashful]

Thanks, Melanie, I did mean Phnom Penh and Mekong. I haven't been in the other one.

[maria lorraine]

Very good tips, wearybashful. I'm set.

[JiyoHappy]

Ranch 99 always
Indian grocery stores everywhere

[sonomasal]

You might try G&G on College Ave. in Santa Rosa - if they don't have them, they will order then for you. They have a diverse selection of international foods.

[LiseS]

I am always able to find them on the back wall of the produce section at Ranch 99 Supermarket in the Pacific East Mall in El Cerrito. I actually wrap individual portions in paper towels and then freezer bags to store--they keep well.

[Melanie Wong]

Thailao market in Santa Rosa has had fresh curry leaves in the past, best to call ahead. There were a couple of Fijian-Indian grocers in Vallejo that might be worth contacting. Asia Gourmet in Santa Rosa is worth checking out. http://www.asianfoodandgifts.com/

[chocolateninja]

I know for a fact that Asia Gourmet had them when I visited sometime in November. They also had Kaffir lime leaves as well, in the refrigerated case in the back.

[chocolateninja]

Is places broken? Trying to linktoplace again here. If it doesn't work:
Asia Gourmet
4100 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa
[phone]

-----
Asia Gourmet
4100 Montgomery Dr, Santa Rosa, CA

[Eat_Nopal]

Damn it! I needed some for some Indian dishes... and I meant to go visit our friends at Asia Gourmet... before I knew it I had mindless driven past it, and I stopped at Thailao instead... they had Coconut Vinegar for $1.25 (big homerun)... but the owner told me "No good, now" when I asked about Curry Leaves.

[srr]

VIK's in Berkeley always has them. They are in the warehouse next to the chaat house, usually behind the register.

[Lori SF]

Maybe Milan International on University in Berkeley

I have only walked by this place never been inside-Westerley Coffee Tea & Spice
Tiburon

Is Napa too far North because there is DEAN & DELUCA

In SF Rainbow Grocery is nice all mostly organic and then the SF Herb Shop.

[adrienne156]

I buy mine fresh from Milan in Berkeley and then freeze them. They do lost potency over time, but will last about 4-5 months before needing to be replaced.