Getting groceries is
one of those everyday activities that should be so simple but can be radically
different depending on the country you are in. It is one of my favourite
things to do as I find that visiting supermarkets tells you so much about a
country and the people that live there, they condense a lot of what is
important for daily life in one place. Everyone
likes to visit the market when they get to their holiday destination as it
gives a colourful insight into daily life.
I find the supermarket does the same, albeit in a rather less glamorous and
photogenic way and I often stop off at one, even when I am on holiday just to browse. I can also say that while
I love to visit and get produce from
markets wherever possible life is busy and sometimes a supermarket can just be
easier, particularly with three children in tow.
Wet Market Section |
In 1990s Diyarbakir
(Turkey) we went to a variety of stores that reminded me of the type of all
purpose ‘feed store’ seen in western movies.
We would stand at the counter and hand over the grocery list. In Nigeria we would visit 4 supermarkets each
trip as what was not available in one was potentially abundant in another (and
this information would inevitably be forwarded to all friends leading to a
shortage!), the butcher and fishmonger would bring meat directly to us in a
rather foul smelling van. In Venezuela
we basked in an abundance of American produce, in Norway there was a shortage
of fruit but an abundance of hot dogs and whale meat and in Kazakhstan I could
pick up cheap caviar with my bread but had to go to a separate bazaar for good
quality if seasonal fruit and vegetables.
The Netherlands (Albert Heijn) and The UK (Waitrose and Lidl) are, in
many cases the gold standard for me – produce from around the world, available
fresh and at my convenience.
Beautiful Fruit and Vegetables |
Shopping in Sarawak was bizarre as I could buy Waitrose branded products in my local supermarket
together with Australian, Pakistani and American imports but for good quality fresh produce we had to go elsewhere. Shopping here in the
Peninsula is even easier. Just about
everything is available from the local supermarkets with the exception (as in
Sarawak) of good quality meat. I have
explored the meat markets in Ipoh but most of the produce is simply not really
tasty. I have been spoiled in previous
postings as meat in Kazakhstan was ok (if you knew where to go) and in the UK
we got it direct from source as my Father in Law kept his own herd of
cattle. In Venezuela as well the meat
was melt in the mouth beautiful. I find
that meat here is expensive for what you get, I buy the expensive cuts and stretch
a small amount by bulking out with extras.
Fresh fish |
Other than the meat,
however, I can get literally everything under the one roof and the quality is
good. Ipoh is well served for fresh
produce, being near the Cameron Highlands we get local temperate produce as
well as the inevitable tropical offerings.
I have never seen so many different types of Mangos on offer and I can
buy three different types of cucumber and a huge array of tropical greens. A lot of the fruit is imported from a variety
of destinations; China and the US seem to be the most common. No matter what the origin I always wash and sterilise
it before eating, just to make sure.
Malaysia has a love affair with instant noodles |
Rice and noodles are
staples here, in fact one of the biggest problems I have is tracking down a 1kg
bag (which will last us 2 months or so) as most people buy gigantic sacks. The array is almost bewildering, Jasmine,
Basmati, Thai, Long Grain, Short Grain, Glutinous, Boil in the Bag, Red Rice, Brown
Rice…… the selection for noodles, instant or otherwise is equally extensive. Being a mixed race country I can get Indian,
Chinese and Malay ingredients very easily and pretty much everything that I
need to cook western favourites. Unlike
Sarawak, however, there are fewer western convenience foods and mixes available
in Ipoh. I suspect that KL, where there is a large expat community, will have
more. It is not, however, a big issue because there is such other variety.
Rice in huge quantities, it is the main staple |
Malaysia has taken
to the packet mix like a duck to water.
No need to make your green curry or sambal from scratch, it is all
available premade and ready to pop into the pot, just add meat and
vegetables. These are an excellent shortcut;
they make tasty meals but cut out the time with the mortar and pestle. For when I am feeling as though I want to
make a bit more of an effort but not too much I have invested in jars of ready-made
ginger, galangal, garlic and lemongrass paste.
I am still looking for some turmeric paste – it dyes everything yellow
when I make it up myself.
Ipoh has a large Chinese Community so pork is readily available. |
Like meat bread is often inferior in the supermarkets but many have a bakery either in the same building or just next door so it is not a big issue. Baking stuff is
readily available, even self-raising flour although I tend to just add baking
powder and keep only plain in the house. Fresh milk is also more readily available here than it was in Sarawak, because we use very little, however, I tend to buy the long life, shelf stable, cartons. Baby formula is, like in Sarawak, readily available in a number of brands. Ready made weaning foods are also on the shelves but there is a limited variety of options. This is not a big issue for me as I tend to make from fresh in any event or just feed family foods but I do (gasp!) keep some jars for when we are out an about. The baby is fed up of the two options, a pumpkin based slop and a carrot based slop.
Malaysians have a sweet tooth so the chocolate, sweets, flavoured yogurt
etc aisles are extensive. Because of the
range of different cultures here there is always some festival or event to
celebrate and the shops will have promotions for the festivities. The main ones are Christmas, Chinese New Year,
Ramadan and Eid but even away from these times there is always something going
on.
The supermarkets are always busy, particularly at weekends |
There is always some celebration.... |
I have a selection
of supermarkets to choose from. The
Malay supermarket, Mydin, is round the corner from the children’s school. I have an hour between collecting my daughter
and my son so we often pop in there to collect formula (RM15 cheaper than elsewhere)
and top up any extras I need, there are no non Halal products available
there. There is a Giant just round the
corner from our home which I also use for the odd corner shop run. Both have extensive homeware sections so are
good places to pick up tea towels, charcoal, Tupperware etc, it has a non halal
section but it is limited to alcohol only.
Alcohol is easily available for those who want it. |
We have the option
to shop at Tesco here, it is significantly more expensive than the other
supermarkets and much like in the UK I find the quality of their product fairly
inferior for the price paid, their fruit and vegetables often look tired and
out of date and many of the dried products on the shelves are close to sell by and stale,
I do pop in for English style biscuits (Jaffa Cakes, Ginger Nuts and Chocolate Digestives) from time to time. My favourite place to shop is Aeon, the fruit
and vegetables are always fresh, the seafood is very fresh and high quality and
the meat is the best in town. There is a
good wet market in store and I can even buy cut flowers (surprisingly hard to
find here). The non halal section does a
good range of pork meats and imported products and a good alcohol selection
although the meat is more important to us as we drink alcohol only
infrequently. As with all non halal sections we have to purchase the products in section and there will be a non Muslim cashier available to facilitate that. There is also what appears at a glance (I have never really bothered with it in any posting) a good organic section and they
have the best cheese selection in Ipoh, I can even buy hummus, easy enough but
time consuming to make fresh so I prefer to cheat.
Even fresh flowers are available |
All in all, outside
of Europe, possibly the least challenging posting I have lived in for stocking
up the larder.
Click on the picture for more posts on life in Ipoh.
Click on the picture for more posts on life in Ipoh.