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Marthe48

(23,621 posts)
Mon Jun 8, 2026, 08:16 AM 8 hrs ago

My daughter stopped at an international market

called Jungle Jim's, SW of Columbus, Oh. She brought me a jar of Jamaican jerky marinade and a banana bloom. Looking forward to marinating something. But I've never heard of or saw a banana bloom. Yay, Internet, I found out how to prepare it and a recipe for chutney. Of course, I don't have all of the ingredients. I've heard of tamarind, have never seen it locally. I learned that curry is not just a mixture of spices, but also an actual evergreen shrub, with spicy aromatic leaves. Also learned about jaggery, which is an unrefined sugar, and would make a great name for a cat! Or a dog

Saw a recipe for using banana bloom as a base for vegan fish. You flavor it with Nori, dill, and 2 other common ingredients. You can get canned banana bloom.

Off to the kitchen.



4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
My daughter stopped at an international market (Original Post) Marthe48 8 hrs ago OP
I've been to that store EYESORE 9001 8 hrs ago #1
I live relatively close to Jungle Jim's.... FarPoint 8 hrs ago #2
Cincinnati is technically "SW of Columbus" Dear_Prudence 7 hrs ago #3
I looked on a map years ago Marthe48 7 hrs ago #4

EYESORE 9001

(29,949 posts)
1. I've been to that store
Mon Jun 8, 2026, 08:23 AM
8 hrs ago

It’s slightly overwhelming, but I never left without something good.

FarPoint

(14,978 posts)
2. I live relatively close to Jungle Jim's....
Mon Jun 8, 2026, 08:58 AM
8 hrs ago

I live in Dayton Ohio off I-75..... Our family has gone there for years....Brett, when he was in High School culinary classes,/ senior year he and his peers would go to Jungle Jim's....they showed the methods of fabricating meat/butchering, fish all kinds of things regarding local and international foods.... They gave them lots of different foods and a huge discount every time they would shop....

This is a beloved international grocery store.....I get my fresh fish there...

Brett...he went then on to New England Culinary Institute in Vermont...got his 4 year degree...did internships in NY city at Per Se with Thomas Keller, Ojai Resort in LA and final 3 months in France.....He is now a Chef in Alberta Canada...has a high end pub just voted top 50 in Canada....I'd say his Jungle Jim foundation experience planted some good seeds for his career.

Dear_Prudence

(1,202 posts)
3. Cincinnati is technically "SW of Columbus"
Mon Jun 8, 2026, 09:13 AM
7 hrs ago

But Jungle Jim's has both of its massive locations in Greater Cincinnati, one just 15 minutes from our house. It is a great place to visit and to bring visitors, with foods and people from all over the world. My Grandparents would send a Christmas box over from England when I was a kid; Jungle Jim's has Sherbet Fountain and Cadbury Flake candies. I was doing some Indian cooking for awhile and assembling the spices in the India aisle was fun. Asafoetida anyone?

Marthe48

(23,621 posts)
4. I looked on a map years ago
Mon Jun 8, 2026, 10:05 AM
7 hrs ago

and don't remember the exact location. Thanks for pinning it down.

Still hoping I can go sometime

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