We thought it would be a good idea to set up a quick reference list of where to shop for some hard-to-find items from home. As we all know, shopping for food is an all day affair, here, so hopefully, this list will give you a head start.This list is a working document...if you find an additional source for an item listed below, or want to add an item that you found in a supermarket somewhere, please reply in this thread and we'll update the Master List from time to time.

The item will be in bold, and the availability in each store will vary between red (rarely available), yellow (occasionally available) and green (frequently available). You'll notice the vague phrasing, there...that's because nothing is certain in Yucatecan supermarkets. As items gain widespread availability, they will be rotated out of this list.

"Where in the world can I find..."

Fresh Milk: Fresh milk is catching on here in the Yucatan, and the national dairy board is running a series of ads (depicting shattering children, no less) that will only make it easier to find. For now, your best bets are: Wal-Mart, Superama, Mega, Chedraui, Costco, Commercial Mexicana

Chunky Peanut Butter: You just can't make a suitable PB&J without some good ol' Skippy Super Chunk. But where is it? Wal-Mart, Superama, Mega, Chedraui, Costco, Commercial Mexicana

Prepared Horseradish: This one can be tricky to find, and when its available, its in short supply. Buy in bulk. Wal-Mart, Superama, Mega, Chedraui, Costco, Commercial Mexicana

Sliced Deli Roast Beef: It will often have that weird technicolor sheen, and will be a flat-gray like you've never seen, but when roast beef desperation comes calling, you can find it at: Wal-Mart, Superama, Mega, Chedraui, Costco, Commercial Mexicana

Breakfast Sausage: Another item that is spreading like wildfire here in the Yucatan. It used to be available only at Costco, but for a sure thing, check out: Wal-Mart, Superama, Mega, Chedraui, Costco, Commercial Mexicana

Non Lime-Flavored Mayonnaise: If you don't agree that a "hint of lime" enhances the flavor of everything, particularly Hellman's mayonnaise, you'll find the untainted stuff here: Wal-Mart, Superama, Mega, Chedraui, Costco, Commercial Mexicana

Entirely Solid White Water-Packed Total Albacore Super-Chunk Canned Tuna: After a day spent sampling one from every brand of Mexican-brand tuna available, I can safely say...ain't none of it Star-Kist. For the tuna that is so mild, white, and fluffy, that it is barely part of the fish family, head to: Wal-Mart, Superama, Mega, Chedraui, Costco, Commercial Mexicana

What about you? What hard-to-find item do YOU have a secret source for?

Hey, Malcolm,



For those of us who do most of our shopping in Progreso, I was thrilled to find both extra chunky peanut butter and sweet pickle relish at El Paso. Boy, that was a really good day! I learned about El Paso either on this forum or Dropped In. Thanks.



beachbum

Where is El Paso Beachbum ? And don't tell me Texas . Is there a new store in town??

Hola, Ms. Starfish!



El Paso is a little import store right across the street from the plastic store. Not sure of the street number. They have some food items that cannot be found at Bodega. Prunes and prune juice if you are interested in that. LOL. Also dishes, and a small selection of other items. Check it out.

That's a good call...we need to compile a master list for the beach living section, as well.

Fresh milk! if you are in the center of town and hear acow mooing look for the motor bike tha is painted like a gateway commputer box and hail the driver he is selling milk.

Finally, after seven months in Mexico, I got into Sam's Club where I bought a gallon of fresh milk. I'm a big milk drinker and my mouth watered on the way home.



When I finally popped the lid and poured a tall glass, it tasted weird. I checked the label a couple times to make sure it was real milk. Seems I got so used to Nutri-Leche that the milk tasted a bit...well...off.



Sure cured my craving for fresh milk. The Nutri-Leche will do just fine.

HP Sauce was available at Chedraui yesterday. Fellow Canadians, run to get yours! We were at the Chedraui off Calle 60 in the north part of the city, near the Siglo XXI. It is in an aisle of imported foods, sorted by region of the world and for some strange reason is in the section marked "Asia". Anyway, when A1 just won't do, get yourself some HP.

[quote="beachbum":364fu4e5]Hola, Ms. Starfish!



El Paso is a little import store right across the street from the plastic store. Not sure of the street number. They have some food items that cannot be found at Bodega. Prunes and prune juice if you are interested in that. LOL. Also dishes, and a small selection of other items. Check it out.

They also carry Newzealnd butter in the can. It is great.

Has anyone ever found the elusive cornmeal? Anywhere?

We saw cornmeal at Pascadeli in Merida when we were there on Wednesday.