ISO Miscellaneous Chinese ingredients

[emannths]

This seems like a stupid thing to have to make a post for, but I'm looking for two Chinese ingredients:

Lan Chi brand Chili Paste with Garlic: http://www.lanchifoods.com/Product_Images/040_Chili_Paste_with_Garlic.JPG
and
Douchi/fermented black beans: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douchi

I've checked the Chinatown C-Mart, Reliable Market, Ebisuya (yes, I know we're staying a bit at this point), and Shaw's/Market Basket/etc.

Have you seen these things? Am I just blind?

[galangatron]

i have seen both those items at c-mart and hong kong market. the chili paste is usually in the condiments aisle and the fermented black beans are usually in a bag on the bottom shelf of one of the other aisles

[femmevox]

You can definitely by them at C-Mart. They are, as glangatron says, at the bottom shelf at the back of one of the aisles, I think the second or third aisle from your left (facing the back of the store).

They are situated with the other legumes (soybeans,black soybeans, etc.) in a clear cellophane bag. They are black and have a cooked texture, soft and squishy. 99cents will get you enough to use for about six months, unless you cook with them every single day.

[C. Hamster]

Those are very common products. I know you can find them at Kam Man.

I am very surprised that youcan't find them at C-mart or even 88/Hong Kong or whatever.

[justbeingpolite]

I know I've seen at least the Chili Paste with Garlic, and probably the fermented beans at China Merchandise in Burlington, and probably at the nearby HMart.

[galleygirl]

You can find the fermented black beans in C-Mart, probably Reliable, definitely Super 88 Allston, or whatever it's called now; Hong Kong Market? I've even seen the cardboard 'can' shown in the Wiki article at Whole Foods...

[grant.cook]

There's also a big Asian-restaurant-ish food supply store down in South Boston.. Something Packing, can't recall the name? I remember the signs saying wholesale only, but they don't care or check. They had a rather large selection of various condiments.

[StriperGuy]

Gosh, I'd be psyched to know that name or at least more or less location...

[ponyboy]

Food Pack? They actually don't really allow the public to shop there.

[StriperGuy]

Of course if you have a Tax ID number, which anyone can get...

[grant.cook]

I've been in there a half dozen times and never an issue.. and I am a 5'8" caucasian guy who reeks of "suburbia".. if they let me in, they're pretty open. I never had to supply any wholesale info when I checked out.

[ponyboy]

No customer number?

[galleygirl]

My guess is that the emporium perhaps requires no numerical identification as long as one pays in cash...

[ponyboy]

I've bought the Lan Chi Chili Garlic past at Mings and at the Allston 88/HK Mart.

[emannths]

I was at the Allston Super 88 on Saturday and saw no Lan Chi brand products. Of course, the fermented black beens were no problem.