Oh happy day! I collected a number of addresses for Asian “Feinkosten” or supermarkets and was prepared to walk the entire city for shrimp paste and tamarind concentrate, which I needed for the Pad Thai recipe. I walked for 15 minutes around the block and there it was: “HongKong Market”…fresh cilantro (its sooo rare here you’d think it was illegal to grow|-|), bean sprouts (also rare), Thai basil (yum), Kaffir Lime leaves (never found it in the U.S.)…everything I needed and ca. 50 – 100 c cheaper than the closer store that just opened. Frozen shrimp that didn’t look like it had been there for 3 years also was affordable.
I bought my first Mortar & Pestle there, I am so proud! I have always been fascinated with this tool; its use being important for both science and food. I also like that they can be both functional and beautiful, especially the ones made of wood or a Thai Stone M&P. My next culinary project: creating the Thai curry paste!
Tomorrow, I plan to visit the Alte Pinakothek Museum since I have the weekend to myself. Alex was bused early this morning to Frankfort for his firm’s (mandatory) 25?th anniversary party. Because there are approx. 400 employees working there no guests were invited. It should be a fun party considering ca. 99% of the employees are all male, hmmm. Yeah I am a bit disappointed that our rare time together was disrupted by work, but he’ll return tomorrow night, no biggie.

I should have been warned that last weekend was the last of the fall season. Yesterday, I walked through the English Garten to take pictures and all the leaves were washed to the ground. The Chinesischer Turm was being boarded up and the See Biergarten had only a few tables available by the lake. Last night I wondered why it was so bright in the apartment and then realized all of the camouflage has died and I can see to the other side of the Kinderpark. We’ll need curtains for the side windows for sure to keep out the cold.