It's not Walmart; it's El Super!

Do you get weary of doing the marketing at the same old American chain stores?  Yes, it is comforting to know where the french fried onion rings are located, but do you find yourself plodding down the same old aisles and making the same old food choices week after week?

A trip to an ethnic grocery store may be just the inspiration to spice life up a bit.  In El Paso, Texas, my home town, we have several Hispanic grocery stores.  "El Super" is my favorite.  On a recent Saturday morning, my husband, Wayne and I were craving a coffee and Mexican sweet bread. We headed to "El Super" to have breakfast and buy a few specialty items. 

"El Super" grocery store

Upon entering the store, the sights, sounds, colors and aromas are a vivid reminder that you are in a new environment.  Large colorful murals adorn the walls.  Don't the fruits and fresh juices make your mouth water?

Mural at "El Super"

Our first stop was the bakery for sweet bread and coffee.  My favorite bread is the "concha " which has the shape of a big, round shell.

Bakery at "El Super"

I resisted the urge to buy "francesitos,"  the iconic Mexican rolls, crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.

"Francesitos"

We sat at a long picnic table to enjoy our food and drink while examining the very alluring produce department.

Produce department of "El Super"

Fruits and vegetables are attractively displayed in large, overflowing bins that remind me of cornucopias of abundance and plenty.

Chiles poblanos

One of the items on our shopping list for "El Super" was jamaica, dried hibiscus flowers used to make a cooling summer drink.

Jamaica, packaged or loose

To make Jamaica Flower Water, I use a recipe in Diana Kennedy's  The Essential Cuisines of Mexico.

Put 2/3 cup of  jamaica flowers in 3 cups of water and bring to a boil.  Continue to boil for 5 minutes over brisk heat.  Remove from stove and add one more cup of water, 1/3 cup sugar (or other sweetener) and set aside for at least four hours or even overnight.  (Overnight produces a full rich flavor!)  Strain the liquid into a jug, check the sweetness, and serve well chilled. I serve the drink over ice.   

Some people prefer more sweetener, others like a little lime added for tartness, and still others prefer a lighter drink by combining it with club soda.  The deep red color of  jamaica flower water and the rich taste will help you dream of a tropical vacation.

Our last buy was an impulse purchase.

Water jug

Water jugs were on sale at "El Super" for under $10.00!  We bought two for gifts and one for the house.  Mexican clay water jugs have a reputation for keeping water cool. If this jug can perform that miracle in the triple digit El Paso summer heat, I will be pleasantly surprised.  If not, I will still enjoy looking at the jug  on an equipale table in our front hall.

A trip to "El Super" was a lot more fun than Walmart!