I often get in a rut in the kitchen when I find myself opting for quick and easy recipes over the more authentic one. This is because during this simplification I lose sight of the community behind the food. I decided I wanted to challenge myself and try to make red curry paste from scratch based on Leela Punyaratabanhu’s recipe in her book titled Simple Thai Food. This recipe is what led me to Talard Thai Mart. This market is accessible via the 36 bus (Broadway) and is near the Berwyn red line. Balmoral is a great bike route headed east to the market, which takes you through the Lakewood Balmoral historic district of Edgewater.
The market serves a niche in the neighborhood (and the city) for essential Thai ingredients. This especially pertains to Makrut Limes, which are very specific to Thai curry preparations. While I have found galangal and lemongrass at H Mart or Joong Boo, this specialty ingredient is one main reason why this store stands out. It also features a cafeteria style restaurant in the back that allows you to try some harder to find curry dishes. I was able to find chili paste in soybean oil (nam prik pao), galangal, lemongrass and Makrut limes. There were, however, so many other special items left to be discovered for next time.
I learned a lot about the Thai community in Chicago through this visit. The staff was warm and welcoming, and I feel excited to venture back for my next recipe. Not only has this made me a more educated home cook, but it has made me more curious to try new dishes when I go out to Thai restaurants in the city.
