Shopping with Jet Tila (I wish!)

I have tried to make Asian dishes in the past and some have been okay, all palatable, but never close to anything I can get in a restaurant.  As a little background, my husband and I are fairly good cooks.  We don't usually have a hard time making delicious meals, but honestly, I'm not great at following a cookbook (although I collect them).  I mean, the dishes turn out, but they don't live up to the expectations. 

Next thing you should know, I got this cookbook, "101 Asian Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die," for Christmas.  I follow Jet Tila and his wife on Facebook and I love them.  They are always so happy and have great tips.  They seem like real people.  So, naturally, I was excited to get his cookbook.  It has great photo's and easy instructions and helpful hints! 

After 5 days for staring at the cover of the cookbook, I decided to make a list!  I read the shopping tips, the foreword, the definition of YUM, and about the Wok.  Then, I wrote down the first four dishes I wanted to make (in no particular order) and made the shopping list.  Since, the last time I attempted to make an Asian dish was probably almost ten years ago, I had pretty much NONE of the ingredients needed.  So, the list was rather long.  Finally, I was ready to go.  My hubby drove me, two pre-teens, and one disgruntled teenager 30 minutes to the largest Asian shopping center in the area.  I had been there once, but no one else had.

Shopping there is a cultural experience in itself on a calm day, but December 30th was anything but calm.  Luckily, I only needed one kind of noodle and I found that right off the bat!  I was feeling pretty confident until I turned the corner to look for sauces.  The isle was filled with people who seemed to know exactly what they were looking for and where to find it, while I was standing there looking at a wall of sauces that all looked the same and yet very different at the same time.  I read labels looking for things that Jet had suggested such as which country they should come from.  First of all, I'm reading labels written in different languages and over and over again I see the words, "Made in the USA."  UM NO!  I need it to be made in Thailand or Vietnam!  Why is this so had and why can't Jet just send me a box of the sauces I need so I can get started cooking in his cookbook successfully?  Is that too much to ask?

An hour (or more, probably much, much more) later, we had all the ingredients (not as Jet recommended) we needed except the meat.  Admittedly, we finally asked for help.  We sent the two tween boys off to find different ingredients and they would ask someone for help and come back with something that seemed to look right in their hands.  Then, I asked for ingredients and followed around people why they read labels and searched for things like "chili paste in soybean oil."  We never found that, but the nice man at the store assured me that would work.  We shall see when I make Spicy Basil Beef.  Of course, I have nothing to base it off of so it probably won't matter anyway. 

If this shopping experience was any inclination of how the recipes will go, I should have restocked the shelves and walked out immediately!  I have to find an easier way to shop for ingredients!  Shopping might kill me.

#JetTilaPleaseSendMeIngredients