Author Archives: David Dettmann

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About David Dettmann

Food obsessed and frequently nostalgic.

Unusual food finds at Cousin’s Supermarket in North Philly

Posted on October 9, 2015 by David Dettmann

Cousin’s, a Philadelphia institution since 1976, is a very unique supermarket. It has a commendable selection of attractive produce, and aisle upon aisle of fascinating non-perishables from all around the globe. Just to be clear, Cousin’s is not an Asia-focused … Continue reading →

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Sweet preserved daikon and Pad Thai

Posted on September 26, 2015 by David Dettmann

Pad Thai (ผัดไทย literally “Thai-style fry”) is one of the most popular and best known dishes in the genre of Thai cooking, both in Thailand and abroad. The name of this dish comes from a time of nation-building for Thailand, … Continue reading →

Posted in - Featured Food Discoveries, - Recipes, Chinese food, Thai/Lao food | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New Maido! now open in Ardmore

Posted on August 29, 2015 by David Dettmann

Maido! A Marketplace of Japan is again open, at their new location in Ardmore off the main line (5 E Lancaster Ave). I never got a chance to catch this notable Japanese grocery store/lunch option before it closed up and … Continue reading →

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A Mongolian favorite: stew-fried noodles with mutton

Posted on July 24, 2015 by David Dettmann

Tsuivan цуйван (“tswee-wen”), or what I am calling “Mongolian stew-fried noodles”, is a national favorite in Mongolia. It isn’t a primary celebratory food, or a fancy thing that you would take your date out to a restaurant for. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in - Featured Food Discoveries, Mongolian food | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Ulaanbaatar post #3: A tribute to Mongolian “greasy-spoon” eateries

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David Dettmann

Chances are, traditional Mongolian foods are totally unlike what you imagine them to be. Taiwanese, Chinese, and American Mongolian Barbecue and Mongolian hot pot chain restaurants have done plenty to influence the global popular imagination of what Mongolian food is … Continue reading →

Posted in - Featured Food Discoveries, - Guides, - Unique food traditions, Mongolian food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Spicy pickled cowpeas and leftovers for breakfast

Posted on July 9, 2015 by David Dettmann

For me, breakfast is an important meal. I’m not big on cereal or doughnuts or the like however. Ever since my time living in Thailand, I adopted the habit of eating leftovers, fried rice, noodles, or random things on toast. … Continue reading →

Posted in - Featured Food Discoveries, - Recipes, Chinese food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Southern Thai-style curried okra

Posted on July 6, 2015 by David Dettmann

Today’s ingredient isn’t super exotic. Okra is of course widely available in the US. Okra looked particularly good at my local Cambodian market, and it became today’s breakfast. This recipe comes from a beautiful Thai language cookbook that I found … Continue reading →

Posted in - Featured Food Discoveries, - Recipes, Thai/Lao food | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The pleasures of Bustleton Ave, or, “amazing Uzbek and Georgian food finds in Northeastern Philadelphia”

Posted on July 3, 2015 by David Dettmann

Today I have another travelogue for you. This time it is of several Russian markets and Uzbek restaurants of Northeastern Philadelphia. NE Philly, particularly the neighborhoods of Bustleton and Somerton, is home to a huge population of fairly recently arrived … Continue reading →

Posted in - Featured Food Discoveries, - Featured Markets, - Guides, Central Asia/Uyghur food | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cured kudampuli fruit and Kerala-style fish curry

Posted on July 2, 2015 by David Dettmann

Several months ago I found a South Indian market (Kashmir Garden–interesting name for a market specializing in Tamil and Malayali cooking…) in Northeastern Philadelphia. Among my finds there of unique chile peppers, I also brought home a cured sour fruit … Continue reading →

Posted in - Featured Food Discoveries, - Recipes, Indian food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Thai coconut pancake cups – Khanom khrok

Posted on June 9, 2015 by David Dettmann

This weekend I attempted to replicate a popular Thai street food at home, Khanom khrok ขนมครก (literally mortar-shaped snacks). I drastically underestimated how easy this would be, especially since I was using a pre-mixed powder from Thailand. Using the cooking … Continue reading →

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