Cooking + Food Shopping Advice In WARSAW, Please...

I'm wrapping up a great 2-week visit here and want to make a special thank-you meal for my hosts (they like curry, and I make a great curry...), as well as bring back some food- and cooking-related gifts/souveniers.

So, does anyone have any advice about:
1) What grocery store or area I might find ground, 'Indian'-type spices in? (that is, coriander, cumin, turmeric, allspice - which last is called what in Polish?) I only need a small quantity. Someone told me there was an excellent food/ingredient market or bazaar 'na Polnej', but they couldn't say exactly where it was, or if it's even still there.

2) Where I could most likely find old or used book stores that might have the best selection of old (not antique, though maybe pre-war) books, especially children's and/or cookbooks?

3) Which supermarket - chain or otherwise - has the widest selection of non-perishable groceries but not the highest prices? I've actually found a lot of great gifts at the 'Albert' near my hotel, but I wonder if any other chain might be as good, but perhaps less expensive? Or open 24 hours?

4) Lastly, are there any outdoor organic or 'farmers'-style food markets in the Warsaw area, maybe weekly if not every day? I know a lot of little sidewalk booths sell fresh fruit & vegs here and there - I'm wondering if there's a larger or more varied grouping anywhere, any particular day - maybe with local cheeses, honey, jams, etc? I'd also love to hear about any 'marche aux puce' or flea-market-type markets or bazaars - I hear the one called 'Yarmark Europa' is pretty wild, and will only be around for a little while longer, and also that there's a great 'Targ Staroci na Kole'.

Thanks for any guidance...it's been fanTAStic here; I'll definitely be back!

coriander- Kolendra
cumin-Czarnuszka siewna (not too positive)
tumeric- Klacze Kurkumy
allspice- Ziele Angielskie or maybe kubaba?

Good luck!

Fisz, you must have a very good polish-english dictionary :)

Nah...just the know how ;)

...I guess I was correct about the unsure ones?

My Polish textbook makes a big deal about "picking up a shopping basket when you are in a shop", even if you have to wait in line first to get a basket. Doesn't say why. Interesting.....

It could be a marketing plot, you buy more when you get a basket...

Hello Moose :D
As for your questions:
1) the spices should not be too difficult to find in any bigger supermarket or hipermarket. You mentioned Albert, but you may want to check out also bigger shops like Tesco (there is a big one near the Kabaty metro station - you just leave the station, go up and you'll see it) or Carrefour (one in Arkadia mall - Jana Pawła street / rondo Radosława, one in Warszawa Wileńska mall - in the district of Praga, near the zoo - just take any tram going towards Praga from plac Bankowy and leave at Dworzec Wileński stop). Of course, there is more, but these ones I mentioned are easiest to access from the city centre) You may also find those hipermarkets handy if you need the non-perishable goods (your question 3 :)). The prices are comparable in all, my personal favourite is Tesco, and as far as I remember, the one on Kabaty is open 24h/day, 7 days a week)

2) This I would have to research - there was this huge used books store in Koszykowa, but haven't been there for ages... you may try this link though antologia.pl - that's a web site of an old books store in Mokotowska street, but you can browse their stock online too.

3) Organic fresh veggies and fruit in the centre - try Hala Mirowska (not the very building, but behind - there is lotsa stalls with fresh veggies, fruit and flowers). As for the jarmark Europa - it does not exist any more (at least that's the official version, the stalls had to go because the new stadium will be erected there), but maybe it's for good - that's not the place I would recommend for tourists ;) Targ na Kole - wonderful flea market with vintage furniture, knick-knacks, records, clothing... everything!

If you have any more questions, I will be happy to help ;)

Pimenta dioica, yes.

Apr 21, 09, 17:47 - Thread attached on merging:
Specialty food in Warsaw

I'm trying to find some xanthum gum (in Polish Guma ksantanowa) to do some gluten-free baking. I'm in Warsaw and I've tried the health food store at Zlote Tarasy, but they didn't have it. Does anyone know of any other specialty food stores around here where I might be able to find some?

Picking up a basket is simply a Polish custom. It's considered somehow polite or correct. Doing so keeps one from standing out as a brand new tourist.