One-stop shops

A trip through the winding alleys of INA market was once firmly inked in the to-do list of every traveller, expatriate and local resident fancying an exotic meal at home.

Want to rustle up an exotic menu at home? Step into any of the exclusive outlets for your ingredients and more

A trip through the winding alleys of INA market was once firmly inked in the to-do list of every traveller, expatriate and local resident fancying an exotic meal at home. But Delhi8217;s one-point stop for scrumptious goodies has now got competition from a string of region-specific stores that offer everything from homegrown food products to native pots and pans.

For instance, if you plan to pair a bowl of steaming homemade noodles with something exotically Korean, a drive to A-Mart can solve your kitchen worries. The spacious store in Mahipalpur has South Korean food as its forte. Run your eye through the racks, and you will spot tins of egg tuna in soya sauce, silkworm pupa Rs 135 for a can, snail tuna Rs 185 and black rice Rs 600 a pack. A large freezer in one corner is layered with packs of meats including shrimp nuggets Rs 380 for 500 gms and ready-to-eat momos. 8220;There are over 5,000 Koreans staying in Delhi and NCR and many are regulars at our store. Japanese and Chinese expats too flock in as do patrons from MNCs in Bangalore and Chennai,8221; says Ellen Lee, general manager, A-Mart, adding that the products are flown in every month.

At Hauz Khas village, a bright red banner announces Northeastern. A fleet of stairs leads to an equally bright shop on the second floor. The recently opened shop is laden with black pottery and Rs 500-Rs 4,000 colourful tribal jewellery Rs 50 for a pair of ear rings and Rs 3,000 for a neckpiece. Set up by Ashim Pearl, a professional potter, the store has found a loyal clientele among the well-heeled crowd that struts the posh village market and wants to furbish kitchens with ethnic pottery. Though footfall has decreased at Hauz Khas of late, Northeastern still boasts a number of patrons.

A Manipuri, Pearl came to Delhi in 2000. 8220;Black pottery is a dying art form and I thought Delhi was the best platform to revive it,8221; she says. At her workshop in Mahipalpur, five artisans from her hometown spin out beautiful kettles, flower vases and candle stands. 8220;Initially, it was difficult to get raw materials, but now I rely on friends travelling home,8221; says Pearl, who will also be participating in a group exhibition at India Habitat Centre next month.

The Sikkim Organic Store in Pamposh Enclave offers fruits, pickles and teas that have come all the way from the hills. Set up by the government of Sikkim and Sikkim Apex Grower Association, the store boasts goodies like Nakema ginger, Dallae chilli, Lapsi or Ningro pickle and fermented mustard leaves for garnishing soups. There are packs of Temi tea Rs 65 for 125 gms and a bamboo basket holds Iris flower buds Rs 15 a piece. The store also offers flowers like lilium and anthurium. Awareness about the benefits of organic food makes the store a popular stop. 8220;We get lots of customers from south Delhi,8221; says Kiran Rai of the store.

At Safdarjung Enclave market, Yamatoya could be your stop if you plan to roll out a Japanese meal. Options here include nori sheets, sushi mats, lacquered soup bowl, packs of dried baby sardines, a variety of tinned food and sauces like teriyaki, hashed beef, and oyster sauce Rs 250 onwards. Spread over two levels, the shop is a favourite haunt of expats and locals.

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8220;There are a few shops in Munirka too that sell typical Northeastern food and most of my friends in Delhi go there,8221; adds Pearl. These apart, popular chains like Food Bazar, Spencer8217;s and Le Marche are the new hotspots for picking up bonito shavings, scallops and salted salmon. Looks like, there won8217;t be a trip to INA market soon.

Contact:
A-Mart: 26789999
Sikkim Organic: 64523997
Northeastern: 9891353308