Where to buy hard to find ingredients

A list of Ethnic Markets and where to buy hard to find items in the Boise, Idaho area

Kabul Market
5751 W Overland Rd
Boise, ID 83705
(208) 322-6660

* they sell goat for stew meat
* good selection of herbs and spices
* extraordinarily helpful staff

10-7, 7 days a week
Comment from Lady Esther: Their clock seems to run slower than ours so don't expect them to open exactly at 10 am. The Goat is a good price if you want bone in chunks for stew. Every time
I go in they have added to their selection of spices, herbs, etc.
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Middle East Market
5811 W Franklin Rd
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 344-0754
Haven’t answered the phone, message mailbox is not yet set up. I've never made it there to see what they have but I've heard good things from others.
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Thana's Little Market
4109 W. Overland Rd
Boise, ID 83705
(208) 331-3033
OPEN 7 DAY’S A WK
10-7, wed 12-6
www.thanasworldmarket.com/

 They moved into a new, cleaner and larger location directly across the parking lot from where they used to be located on Overland so if you pull in and see it's the old location just look to your right.
Every Friday and Saturday fresh fish arrives, they also have chunks of lamb and goat both with and without bone.
They also sell palm oil, hard to find dal for Indian food making, anise in bulk for cheap, cheap, pure and local honey, kaffir lime leaves, curry leaves, galangal, lemongrass, whole nutmegs, whole coriander, peeled fava beans and I've seen taro root and fresh green fava beans. They also have a lot of bean, rice and seed flours.

There is not just one kind of ethnic food represented here, but the variety of all different grocery items from around the world.
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India Food
602 N Orchard St
Boise, ID 83706
(208) 387-0000
Hours:
Mon, Sat 9:30 am - 8 pm
Sun 9:30 am - 7 pm
Comment from Lady Esther: Has a little bit of fresh produce, carries dried goods including lentils and types of flour that are difficult to find, large packages of spices, rose and orange blossom waters, rose and quince syrups, rose petal preserves, and quite a few non-food and decorative items. Their food section is at least twice as large as the Ishtar Market, although Ishtar Market is much closer to home it is worth driving half way across town to India Foods.
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Ishtar Market and Restaurant
4516 W Overland Rd
Boise, ID 83705
No phone # is listed and no business hours are listed on their door but since they have a restaurant I would guess they are open during dinner and probably lunch times. They were closed when we stopped by between 9 and 10 AM. The grocery section is maybe a third the size of India Food but they do sell Lamb out of a freezer.
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Asia Market on Fairview near Mitchell
9975 West Fairview Avenue Boise, ID 83704
(208) 321-4502

Asia Market is a source for many spices, dried mushrooms, coconut milk, Asian produce and specialties. Prices are very good, but selection of produce can vary tremendously, I haven't figured out the shipment schedule. That's where I usually get my kaffir lime leaves.
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Meats Royale
http://www.meatsroyaleinc.com/
6300 W Overland Road
(208) 375-1341
When buying meats for medieval dishes don't forget Meats Royale on Overland near Cole, they have elk, rabbit, etc.
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Just tonight I saw that the Co-op (8th and Fort) had quail in their meat freezer. "small brids" anyone?
http://www.boisecoop.com/
888 W. Fort St.
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 472-4500
7 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week
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The Herb Pantry
2012 Canal Street
Boise, ID 83705
433-1882
Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am-6pm
Their catalog shows Safron, and Saflower to name a few period ingredients. Don't get your rosebuds here, these are for decoration and have rose sent added.
http://www.theherbpantry.com/index.php/Herbs-and-Specialities/bulk-herbs-and-specialities.html
http://theherbpantry.com/the-herb-pantry-catalog.pdf