Two forces drove me to El Rey’s supermarket last Saturday: 1) I’m reading Conversations with Texas Writers which, with all its references to South Texas, made me miss the Mexican markets filled with everything from tomatillos and Café Bustelo to coffins and Conjunto CD's; 2) I planned to make Key Lime Pie and needed A LOT of limes.
We pulled in the tiny, crowded parking lot on 16th Street. On our way to the entrance, we passed a lady with deep lines in her tanned face pushing a tamale-filled cart, as well as several other vendors selling roasted corn, flavored ice, and small plastic bowls packed with fruit.
Stepping through the door, we discovered narrow aisles crowded with imported items, families shopping for food, and one college Spanish class apparently on a food-related scavenger hunt.
I squeezed by the class, turned the corner and found myself facing an entire aisle filled with colorful religous candles. Feeling nostalgic, I picked out one with the Lady of Guadalupe. While I’m Protestant, not Catholic, these candles always remind me of a few years spent in Corpus Christi, Texas and, as writer Viola Canales says, of the “richness of its [Hispanic culture’s] traditions and rituals.”
Candle in hand, I strolled down the aisles, soaking in the melodic notes of the Spanish language rolling around me, and eventually passed by a small bakery tucked into the front corner and the deli lining the back. Not needing any protein-related items at the moment, I bypassed the slabs of beef, chicken and pork and made my way down a wall lined with spices, over to the fruits and vegetables. There I was met with mounds of poblano peppers, papayas, nopales (cactus pads), and lush little limes – 12 for $1. I plucked two dozen from the stack and popped them in a plastic bag.
After cruising down the remaining aisles laden with Goya beans, rice, chipotle sauces, guava juice, and all manner of other products, we made our way to the check out.
Waiting in line, I looked down and noticed a cooler filled with a variety of paletas (popsicles). I slid open the door and pulled out one of my favorites, a chunky white coconut bar.
As soon as we paid and made our way back to the parking lot, I pulled the plastic wrap off my paleta, bit into the cool, coconutty goodness and thanked my lucky stars for the wealth of ethnic markets and cultural diversity that can be found here in Milwaukee.
Where to find it: El Rey has several locations in the Milwaukee area including 1023 S. 16th St. (Cesar E. Chavez Drive) and the Milwaukee Public Market.
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