throwback thursday: ginger miso dressing

The kid loves going to the supermarket with me, because it's an endless buffet. And she has always been all about the buffet. Exotic chips and flavored popcorns are available to sample. And then ask mom if we can buy a bag, which are usually, curiously, on a two-for-one sale. Hmmm ... The man behind the cheese counter at our local Publix knows her by name, and when he sees her coming he always slices up some Manchego or some other cheese he thinks she might like. And she does. It is great to watch her broaden her horizons along with her palate.

Lately, at Whole Foods, she has become enamored of cucumber slices on offer that are being used to tout a ginger miso salad dressing. She likes it so much that the last time we went she insisted I try it and buy it. I did and did. Not only was I impressed by the kid wanting a salad dressing (she's not much for salad, but will eat her own version of crudités that we have dubbed "bits and pieces"), but I was immediately brought back, with one bite, to my own salad days in New York City in the '80s.

It had outdoor seating for warm days ... (photo from Yelp)

An art student never has much money. What little I had went towards art supplies, and maybe a vodka drink on a night out from time to time. Food was always a secondary concern, but when hunger did strike, one of the places my friends and I frequently found ourselves was at Dojo's on St. Mark's Place. Dojo's was (presumably) healthy food, and even better, it was cheap. Plus, they served alcohol, so some sake or a Rolling Rock would sometimes sneak their way in to our evening menu. My friend Sibylle introduced me to the place, and one of its signature dishes, chicken sukiyaki salad with carrot ginger miso dressing. Mixing the noodles and the greens may have been funky enough, but it was the ginger miso dressing that made it a dish to reorder and reorder. The dressing also appeared on their soy burgers and I'm sure lots of other recipes, but it was the chicken sukiyaki salad that became our go-to fuel.

New York has changed immeasurably since those days, and a quick online search has confirmed what I feared, that Dojo's is long closed. But those memories of fun evenings and delicious ginger miso dressing remain.

what a letdown

A new grocery store opened nearby the other day, that is apparently part of a chain, called ALDI. But what a disappointment. We wandered through the aisles and there wasn't a single thing there that looked tempting or even palatable to me. Admittedly, I'm a much more picky food shopper these days, trying to buy fresh and organic food as much as possible, and trying to steer clear of processed food as well. So ALDI, which seems to fashion itself after the food section at Costco, is definitely not for me.

What also seemed a bit upsetting was that not only was all the food featured from brands that I had never heard of before, but that it was also unclear where the food — whether meat or fruit or vegetable, originated. Times are tough and everyone is looking for bargains, but it seems that one of our most basic needs, to feed ourselves, is consistently where our country falls short. Consumers consistently get offered crap to eat and for the most part, accept it.

It is apparently a German-based food chain which is looking to open stores all over south Florida:

But the German-based grocer, whose U.S. headquarters is in Illinois, has indicated it plans to open about 20 stores in the county and 60 throughout South Florida. The West Palm Beach store will make nine in South Florida. ALDI claims to save shoppers 50 percent over other supermarkets. — Palm Beach Post

The store claims to offer quality merchandise, but there was certainly nothing organic or locally-produced in its bins. I suppose it is good that there will be local jobs created from the opening of these stores, but I have to admit that I'd far rather see local Publix supermarkets expand, or get a closer Whole Foods market — I currently have to travel a few exits on I-95 to get to the closest one. Publix continues to expand its organic offerings which make my trips to Whole Foods more occasional than regular.

I don't think we'll be going back to ALDI anytime soon. I am curious as to whether the locals will take to it. I have to admit that part of me hopes not.