Yep, I like all sorts of "ethnic" markets and products for use in living history.
I go to the "Latin America" aisle at one local market and get dried corn to make into parched corn, as well as cones of sugar, and chocolate for making into beverages. You can also get coarse ground corn meal.
Kosher stores are a good place to find spices and although NOT PC..., try a Kosher Coke (available around Passover/Easter). They are made with real sugar not corn sugar, and the taste is better.
I also like Armenian or Indian stores for there you can find spices available two centuries ago, that have dropped out of the standard American "spice pallet", plus you can find lots of different teas and green coffee. I get my gunpowder tea and a dried beef sausage called
soudjouk from the Armenian store. It's similar to
Landjäger sausage, doesn't need refrigeration (and I have to mail order Landjäger where I live so buying soudjouk is quicker).
A local "European" store here stocks Knorr brand
erbswurst, which is another type of dried, pea soup.
The local fish market (mine is Korean) is a good place to get fish with the "head on" if you are going to try to make
Stargazy Pie, but I'd opt for a less oily fish than that called for in the recipe, and sometimes you can find trout or catfish with the head on if you want to broil them or plank them at an historic event.
So definitely check out local "ethnic" markets.
:thumbsup:
LD