Checked out this new and first African grocery market in Wilmington. It's located in the same…read moreparking lot/strip mall as Verizon. Felix, the owner is from Nigeria. He was friendly and very helpful in explaining the products and giving ideas of recipes to make. He grew up watching and learning how to cook from his mother so he was knowledgeable of many different recipes.
I was looking for specific Ethiopian ingredients but he does not have any at this time. He was willing to purchase some so hopefully they will have some in the future.
It's a small store but there was a lot to look at. Seems like a lot of the ingredients are Nigerian, where the owner is from. Items included tea leaves, beverages, spices, different flours and powders (Nigerian bean, brown guinea corn, custard, iyan pounded yam, plantain, yellow gari (cassava)), seeds (ukwa, ground ogbono), crayfish (dried whole and powder), rice, dried stockfish, sauces (Jerk BBQ, browning, etc), oils (palm, olive oil), and calaba chalk (to treat nausea during pregnancy).
Some of the canned goods were Jamaican Akee fruit, spinach callaloo and palmnut concentrate. There is also a small section of fresh produce including okra, onions, malanga, plantains, avocado as well as freezer section of protein/meat (hen, smoked turkey, beef, fish, stripe, cow's feet). Besides food, African bracelets and clothing, hair and skin products were available.
Ended up getting ingredients to make an egusi stew with the help of Felix. Purchased frozen Okazi leaves, ground egusi seeds, Maggi seasoning (They also have crayfish flavor too), Fufu mix, and Nigerian ground red pepper. Will also plan to use onions, ground crayfish (which I already have), and chicken to add to the stew. Can't wait to make it!
Felix is thinking about having samples of different foods and having recipes that go along with it.
Cool store to get African food and ingredients and awesome owner to chat with. Hope to see Ethiopian products in the store soon!