Prepping for a Class

The open-air market is such a fun place to be. Getting jostled by the masses, bargaining for vegetables, trying not to step on the hungry cats. It's such an adventure to daily get your groceries. Wanted to give you a glimpse into the shopping routine right before a cooking class begins.

Before I ever even think about entering into the chaos, I need to take some time at home or in my car to write out my list. Once I am surrounded by the noise, my brain doesn't think in an orderly fashion, but more about survival. So first is the ever-important LIST.

My first and main goal is to get them working on the CHICKEN (if that's what's on the menu.) I head over to the chicken stand and pick out my nice, plump 2 kilogram chicken that's lively running all over the place, and then quickly walk away. I choose not to watch as they do what they do to it in order for me to take it home.

Little tip: If you ever go to an open-air market in the hopes of purchasing some meat, chicken or fish, and you have the choice between some with flies on it or some right next to it without flies, TAKE THE STUFF WITH FLIES. I know it sounds crazy, but that is much fresher than the other stuff. If the flies wouldn't eat it, then neither should you. But make sure to wash it real well before cooking it.

As they are prepping the chicken, I then head back a couple of stalls to my main VEGETABLE guy. (There are over 30 vegetable-vendors in this specific market, and I chose this guy a long time ago cuz he seems very honest and genuine.) I take a look at his onions/tomatoes/bell peppers/eggplants/ etc. I am always looking for the freshest ingredients for our customers to cook with. It's hard to believe that I pay 55 cents for over 2 pounds of onions and less than a dollar for that same amount of tomatoes.

Next comes the freshest of MINT, CILANTRO & PARSLEY. These greens make the class smell so good and the tea taste heavenly. I could not do without these things. Then I head over to my little corner store to pick out my apricots, garlic, olives, walnuts, ginger, etc. This is what I call my MISC. section of shopping.

Finally, it's back over to the chicken guy to pick up my purchase. I am so glad that I don't have to chase a chicken around my backyard and do all that preparation myself. I am not a violent guy whatsoever and am thankful that there are other people to do that dirty work in my stead.

Oh...I almost forgot about going by the bakery to get some of those very tasty COOKIES that are a necessity at the beginning of every single class. You cannot consume the tea at the beginning without adding more sugar to the equation in the form of sweets. Ain't nothing like getting the party started off on the right foot.