Reykjavík Grapevine - sep. 2020, Blaðsíða 35

Heilsuval offers a wide variety
of products from across Latin
America. From Peruvian aji to
Mexican ancho chilies, and from
Brazilian Sazon to Argentinian
Yerba Maté, Heilsuval has you
covered and some.
What’s impressive is in its show-
casing of distinct Latin American
cuisines and cultures, Heilsuval
does not peddle the ‘any chilli
will do’ trope, nor does it consider
special requests for products they
don't yet stock cumbersome. Such
is their dedication that discussions
about tamales led him to sourcing
speciality tamale flour!
When in Heilsuval, I strongly
recommend you abandon restraint
and pile your cart with chocolate
de mesa (unconched chocolate
roundels that are proof that hot
chocolate is indeed food of the
Gods), El Yucateco salsas, fresh
tortillas and sodas from seemingly
all of South America.
Burn your recipes for Mexikósk
kjúklingasúpa and let Heilsuval
show you the way.
Istanbul Market
Istanbul Market, Mon to Sat: 10-19,
Grensásvegur 10
Long before MS was caught with its
feet in feta nee feti, Istanbul Market
has been broadening our palates,
one saline block of sheep’s milk feta
at a time. For everything Turkish
and a slice of the Levant, this is your
one-stop spot.
There are assorted peppers all
year around—pale yellow wax pep-
pers, their bellies waiting to be
stuffed or fried, and green bell pep-
pers that bear no hint of bitterness,
perfect with grilled meats. Fall sees
the arrival of fragrant quince, each
one larger than my fist, perfect
for poaching. There are chestnuts
to be roasted and whole walnuts
for languorous coffee come win-
ter. Summers are for sweet, sandy
grained watermelon. If sad, past
their prime Bónus melons are all
you’ve ever had, better prepare to
be blown away.
Linger at the cooler and kaymak,
gossamer thin filo and various
sausages wink at you. Turn around
for a variety of pickles, lentils
and Turkish delight. There are
silvery Turkish tea sets, and long
flat swords to grill late summer
kebabs. Do not leave without a bag
of barberries, (essential for polov)
and tubs of halva.
Mi#austurlanda
Marka#urinn
Lóuhólar 2
Two years ago, I walked into a
nameless store after my usual haul
at Fiska, drawn in by the bags of rice
lined up against the wall. On asking
what the name of the store would be,
the young man behind the counter
shook his head in dismay and
wondered aloud what a mouthful
‘Mi!austurlanda Marka!ur’ would
be. Looks like his sibling vetoed him
after all. The straightforward name
lends to its wares well.
The no-frills store stocks dates,
olives, steamed rice (for long
grained pulavs and tahdig), dried
fragrant herbs and entire shelves
dedicated to tea. And chillies.
Think gentle heat of the pul biber,
smoky chocolatey notes of dark Urfa
rubbed with oil and the now hard
to find Aleppo pepper. A simple
bowl of yoghurt, humble eggs
and chopped salad become more
than the sum of their parts with a
sprinkle of this magic dust.
Vietnamese Supermarket
Mon to Fri: 11-18, Sat-Sun: 12-18
Su#urlandsbraut 6
and Bankastræti 11
This supermarket has consistently
offered fresh produce and I often
run there to assuage the deja-vú
that plagues Icelandic mainstream
chains (ever noticed that regardless
of the season the cucumbers, bell
peppers and mushrooms don’t even
budge from their shelf locations?).
Yard long beans are almost
always available. Fresh leafy greens
are more than just kale. There are
bags of moringa leaves, slender
stalks of morning glory, red and
green amaranth, winged beans,
aubergines purple and long, round
and white, fresh mustard leaves,
raw papaya and fiery chillies
waiting to be braised, stir-fried or
pickled.
There are multiple shelves
dedicated to the wonder that is
rice and various types of rice paper
and rice flours for every occasion
(sticky, glutinous; for Banh Xeo
to Banh Cuon and everything in
between), plus canned goods and
various noodles for every cuisine.
35The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 07— 2020
Istanbul Market
Food
Ó!INSTORG | 101 | REYKJAVÍK | ÍSLAND
SNAPSBISTRO.IS | +354 5116677
FRENCH ONION SOUP
Icelandic Ísbúi cheese, croûtons
2.490 kr.
MOULES MARINIÈRES
steamed mussels from Brei"afjör"ur
2.600 kr.
FISH OF THE DAY
chef´s special
3.990 kr.
Lunch offer from 11:30 - 14:00 1.990 kr.
EST. 2012REYKJAVIK
ban thai
There's a reason why we get an award every once a year
B E S T T H A I F O O D 2 0 1 9
Always been the best from the reviews
in our local people and local newspaper.
Best goddamn restaurant 2011
Top Ten of Best restaurants in Iceland ( DV. 17.06.11 )
www.banthai.is tel : 55 -22-444, 692-0564 banthai@banthai.is
very reasonable prices
R E S T A U R A N T
recommend : two very good thai restaurants
MIXED thai restaurant, hverfisgata 125, tel : 588 -1818
YummiYummi thai restaurant, hverfisgata 123, tel : 588 -2121