Thai Village Cuisine

Need help compiling a grocery list for Japanese/Vietnamese/Thai cuisine?

I would love to start making some of the delicious dishes i eat at my local restaurants such as sushi, spring rolls, fresh rolls. noodle bowls, soups, and various other dishes. Only problem is i have to idea where to start when shopping. If someone could help me out with a general grocery list to get me started that would be much appreciated!! i am not vegetarian or anything so there are no limitations to my diet. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. for japanese food http://www.kikkoman.com/index.shtml http://www.amazon.com/Ajinomoto-Dashi-Soup-Stock-5-28/dp/B0002YB40O http://www.asianfoodgrocer.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=4372 you need this 3 to cook japanese food good luck :)
2. you'll want to start off getting the right tools. example: to make sushi rolls at home, you'll need a bamboo mat, for starters. as far as food is concerned, though, you'll definitely want to get the following items: japanese: kikkoman soya sauce (don't go cheap and get another brand, it just won't compare) nori (dried seaweed sheets) - you can find these at some supermarkets, and at most asian food stores miso paste (white, red, etc... your choice. white is milder, red is saltier and more umami). fresh fish, from a quality source, if you're making raw sushi/sashimi at home some japanese specialty stores carry a tempura batter mix. i find this very convenient. if you can grab one, have at it. ricewine vinegar sushi rice (short grain) tofu (for miso soup) edamame (fresh soybeans) for salads thai: coriander/cilantro (tons and tons of this) lemongrass thai red curry paste (this often comes premixed, even people in thailand buy it premixed - it's just too hard to make from scratch) coconut milk, and LOTS of it fish sauce (easily found at most supermarkets in ethnic foods section) rice noodles (vermicelli) chili oil mangoes (can be used in salads and some main dishes, and desserts... yum!) the most important thing in thai food is balance: balance your sweet, salty, sour, and spicy flavors. as long as you do this, you're golden! good luck :)
3. You already have some ideas for Thai and Japanese lists. Here's someVietnamese stuff you might want to add ( some of the stuff is the same as theThai ingredients ) - Long grain rice Sticky ( short grain ) rice Rice papaers ( banh trang ) for summer rolls Rice vinegar Rice noodles ( banh pho ) for Pho Rice vermicelli ( for summer rolls ) Dried mushrooms ( shitake and woodear ) Coconut milk Tofu Fish sauce ( nuoc mam ) Shrimp paste ( mam tom ) Chillies Ginger and galangal Garlic Turmeric Lemongrass Tamarind Palm sugar Soy sauce Peanuts Limes Cinnamon Star anise 5 spice Herbs - cilantro, basil and mint Fresh veg are really up to you but if you can get stuff like snake beans, water spinach, pea aubergines, beansprouts, luffa, kabocha, jicama etc then you'll have a good selection of what Vietnamese people eat.