Top 10 Exotic Markets to Spice Up the Next Meal

There’s a reason I refer to my style of cooking as “califusion comfort cuisine." With the exception of a couple markets next door in Citrus Heights and Carmichael, Fair Oaks plays host to particular food markets - some small, some large - carrying unique and exotic ingredients.

I always get so excited when I stumble onto foods I’m not too familiar with or have never even heard of. Using these finds in my recipes is like taking my family on a journey and traveling through our taste buds to places we haven’t been.

Many of these markets, family-owned and operated, are so authentic it’s like stepping into another part of the world. Tastes of saffron rock candy, rose water, herbal powders and supplements, fresh fish from Hawaii and spices from around the world are at your fingertips, just to name a bit more than a few.

How about jumping over to Morocco for their famous chicken pie known as Chicken Bastilla? A savory saffron chicken and spicy omelet filling inside a lightly crisped shell, sprinkled with fried almonds then sweetened with orange blossom water and finished with a garnish of powder sugar and cinnamon. Or we could go the other direction and swim onto some macadamia nut crust Opaka Paka, also known as Hawaiian pink snapper.

Here is a top 10 list of some of my favorite places around town to get those exotic and fresh tastes sure to spice up your dinner table tonight.

1. Tak Food Market - Bordering the Fair Oaks and Carmichael communities I must have looked like I was lost. Then a woman approached me explaining, “this is a Persian store, and you can have lunch here.” The beef, chicken or lamb kabobs with traditional sides were part of a special menu item for under $5. My little girl, Kaia, thought it smelled good. I told the woman how I couldn’t believe I hadn’t known about Tak before and what a neat store it was. A melting pot of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Persian ingredients such as special teas, herbs and spices, honeys, rice and breads along with rose and orange blossom waters, saffron rock candy to snack on and even a small selection of fresh produce including long beautiful purple eggplant, colorful peppers, tomatoes and onions crowded the shelves. There was also a small cooler that held fresh game hen and lamb shanks. Traditional dishes could be prepared using some of these finds like ghormeh sabzi, an Iranian herb stew usually made with parsley, leeks and fenugreek leaves which is then cooked with kidney beans, red onion, chive, pierced dehydrated limes and beef, or other meats, seasoned with turmeric. To soak up the stew, Persian rice - called polo rice - is the perfect pairing.
2. Desi Bazaar Grocery - This is a market that some in town refer to as "the cornucopia of Indian food." As expected, aromatic curries flow through the air when you enter and there is a wealth of diverse products to choose, including potent spices, chutneys, lentils, Indian beverages, produce and frozen items ready to heat up and eat including samosas, a pastry with a spicy potato filling. A dish I enjoy making, and it was perfect for Kaia when she began eating solid foods, is Dal, or spiced lentils. Simply cooked down to a porridge-like consistency they easily take on Indian spices like cumin, coriander, cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon and clove. They’re best when also cooked with aromatics including onion, ginger and garlic.
3. Sunshine Natural Foods - A few doors down from Desi Bazaar, Sunshine has been owned and operated by Navin and Ulupi Patel for more than 20 years. This market sets itself apart from all the others by carrying quality health foods including vitamins and supplements including traditional healing Chinese herbs, organic produce and groceries like Bob’s Red Mill products. “We keep our grains and nuts in the freezer where they stay freshest," Navin shared with me. He also mentioned that they carry a lot of gluten-free foods and have regular customers that have been coming to their store for many years. Although some of the items here can be on the pricier side, it’s well worth it. I’d say our health is priceless.
4. Trader Joe’s - The friendly staff here keeps the store stocked with quality and organic produce, meats, poultry, dairy, ready-to-eat meals and flowers. There are also packaged and canned items, like an Israeli couscous blend only sold here as well as certain beers and wines also exclusively sold here. Considering the unique quality of these groceries, the prices for them are actually reasonable. I’m always sure to purchase my olive oil here knowing its quality for the money - under $10 for a pretty big bottle.
5. Fins Seafood Market and Grill - Diving into number five on the list is a different style of market, serving our community since 1991. Set anchor for lunch, dinner or pick out your own underwater delicacy to take home and cook. Unlike others, this seafood market offers a number of shellfish, Chilean sea bass, catfish, Alaskan halibut and Wild King salmon. Some come straight from the islands of Hawaii flown in daily like the Ono, Opaka Paka and Mahi-Mahi.
6.  World Market - A hop, skip and a jump over to Citrus Heights, not only gourmet food and beverages can be found, but also eclectic kitchenware, furniture and art. When making my way here I am usually going for their spice selection, most for under a dollar. You can even get two vanilla beans for that price, which is hard to find. A couple other spices which I’ve never seen anywhere else and am very fond of are the ras el hanout spice, a warming northern-African spice blend that contains rose petals, and also the Caribbean-inspired key lime spice blend that pairs perfect with seafood and fish dishes. An easy meal to make is pan-seared chicken breast seasoned with the ras el hanout spice, needing nothing more than a roasted vegetable and some fluffy couscous with the flavor it packs. On many occasions it’s taco night in our home and I often turn to the key lime spice to toss with some shrimp to put a twist on the classic.
7. Elliot’s Natural Foods - The super-food grocer not only specializes in carrying vitamins and supplements, but also grass-fed meats, free-range eggs and fair trade coffee, refrigerated and frozen. Take the family on a flavor trip aboard their palates as there are also ready-to-use goods from Asian, Greek, Indian, Italian and Oriental cuisines all for under $10. If more of a helping hand is needed with preparing meals, there is also a refrigerated and frozen section with whole meals that only need heating.
8. Honey-Baked Ham Company - It's just the place where you can get the original honey-baked ham, along with classic side dishes. It had to make the cut. Not just suitable around the holidays, this deli is open year-round for other festive get-togethers or simply for lunch. For under $40 you can purchase gourmet mustards, chutneys and soup mixes perfect for gift giving.
9. Raley’s- Now hear me out. It's still a very popular place and having more locations than most markets in Fair Oaks, Raley’s is still a good option when looking for new flavors. Inside you can find the international foods aisle that carries items to create and compliment dishes from many cuisines such as Mexican, Indian, Thai and Creole. For beginner cooks I would suggest taking a trip down these aisles for inspiration following the conveniently placed directions on most of the packages. The prices for these items are usually fair if not on sale, some being able to feed a family of four for under $10.
10. Safeway- Similar to Raley’s, Safeway also has an international foods aisle, keeping their shelves filled with most of the same products. Still, you can be inspired and create something you’ve never had like a spicy gumbo or saffron paella. Certain customers tend to frequent this grocer more than others due to its lower prices.