I am fortunate enough to live in a neighborhood with a wealth of ethnic markets: Asian, Latino, Italian, Middle Eastern, Ethiopian. But I don't tend to take advantage of this resource.

Last night, I made a trip to the furtherst of these stores — a whopping 5 blocks away.  I was met with a vast array of produce — far more varieties than I'd find at my local grocery store (over 5 varieties of mushrooms alone), and at prices roughly half to two-thirds of what I usually pay.  The fresh herbs were to die for.

These stores make a great option for those trying to eat more fruits and vegetables.  Fresh coconut and pomelos are more exciting than grabbing a banana.  A Japanese eggplant has more pizazz than a carrot

These stores are also a great place to shop for unique gifts.  For a cook, you can pick up spices or sauces that they can use to enliven their creations.  For others, you will find that most ethnic markets stock traditional Christmas treats this time of year.  What could be more fun than a trip around the world — with candy?  Just ask the folks working there to point you to traditional treats!