Valeries Carniceria

It has been a few years since I've been to the grocery but it's a good shop. I think I was pricing out taco presses. I have been to their hot food outlet that's around the corner at the back end by the alley, and that has been very good every time I've been there.

Since I was in the n'borhood this morning, I decided to stop in to see if they sold manioc starch (tapioca starch).I think I was the only customer in the place when I arrived. Happy-sounding Mexican music was playing, and a woman was standing behind the checkout counter slicing spines off cactus leaves (for nopales). I browsed around the store and shared an "hola" with a man from the butcher area.They did not have the manioc starch I was looking for, but I found a "brick" of espresso coffee that I decided to try in my stovetop espresso pot.The woman at checkout was friendly and gently curious about my Spanish-speaking capability (dusty and limited). However, I was able to thank her and wish her a good afternoon in Spanish as I left.

Ancho?Thats right, I needed Ancho chile powder. Fortunately Valerie's is here. They have a nice selection of spices and condiments for a store this size.Is it Burrito Mercado? No. But is a nice shop run by friendly people. My Spanish is rustier than Jennifer's, but I had no problems.I was hoping for some fried carnitas, but didn't see any. They had chicharrones the size of my head though.They did have Queso Fresco and my Tamarind Jarritos though, so I left a happy man.