we took the long way home and stopped by the NPP in Normal Heights (well south of it), which is on the corner of Wilson and El Cajon Blvd.
We used to have a North Park Produce in Chula Vista which opened in 2007 and closed a few years later. I loved it because they had all kinds of international products and a great and affordable selection of ethnic fruits and vegetables. After the owner died, his family didn't want to continue the store. They still have this location as well as one that is off Balboa (but has since been renamed Harvest Market; I believe Cathy has an upcoming post on here recent visits).
The entrance is in the back by the parking lot.
I didn't take too many interior shots. They are smaller than the NPP we used to have but carried many of the same items...
such as nuts, candied nuts and such.
along with a Halal meat department:
Exotic juices for cheap! Screw Whole Foods and all those frou frou stores!
Plus jams from Eastern Europe...note the prices. Those are not typos.
I loved seeing this, all of the different syrups and waters (orange blossom and rose)...
My favorite brand of the pomegranate syrup is the Corta's which I've used in the past to make Fessenjan a ridiculously easy Persian dish consisting of this particular syrup, walnuts, a chopped onion and chicken. In fact, I bought a bottle that day and plan to make this chicken soon.
Assorted sweets, biscuits and Turkish delight.
Lavash and other flatbreads...
Their deli section had a wide variety of olives, feta cheese and meats (Kirk's post is linked at the end; he has more in depth pix).
If I didn't hate feta cheese so much, I would have been excited.
Processed meats shelves. I found the cylindrical cans with the "loaves" interesting but would probably not want to eat that. Corned beef on the other hand, yes.
I was curious about these...I may have to buy one bottle next time to try.
I hesitated on these because I'd never seen them in a regular store, except for Specialty Produce (which doesn't list the price). The first and only time I had a mulberry was at the pretentious True Food Kitchen in Fashion Valley (not my choice). These fruits were part of a fall salad that we had as part of KD's birthday lunch. They had an interesting flavor but I didn't want to spring nearly $8 for this amount, in case that it sucked. There wasn't a smaller size to commit to. But maybe I will next time once I figure out how else to incorporate them into dishes or salads.
Many of their candies were European. They even had "illegal" Kinder Eggs but they were called something else.
Not shown was their fucking awesome section of Ritter Sport chocolates. They sell for $1.99 at Trader Joe's. They are only $1.50 here! The writing on the packages was also in German which was cool but the downside is trying to figure out what flavors they are. I'll have to get some unfamiliar flavors in the future for research. My favorite is the dark chocolate with marzipan and the dark chocolate with hazelnuts.
Outside, cheap succulent plants!
What I bought...
The pomegranate syrup, a tin of sardines, Italian hazelnut cookies, and Indian snack mix.
This was quite addicting - it had crunch from the nuts, cornflakes and potato sticks, along with sweetness and "chew" from the dried yellow raisins, along with a lightly spiced flavor.
Who else went to this location of NPP?
Kirk himself went here way back in 2006
Plus Kirk's post on the Clairemont location:
February 2013
North Park Produce
3551 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 516-3336
www.northparkproduceonline.com
I definitely wouldn't buy fresh produce here after seeing the bugs and gnats on many of their fruits and vegetables. A lot of the vegetables, especially the leafy ones looked past their prime. This made me feel kind of bad since this store probably services a lot of lower income folks from nearby City Heights. They don't deserve gross produce. As for items that I woulnd't mind getting here, despite the bugs, are the sealed/canned or packaged items. I hope they still have those cheap succulents on sale. I might have to go back with TC so she can make her terrarium.
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