I knew that the things I had just wouldn’t work for the full range of stir-fries that can be done.  I didn’t have any chili paste, nor any hot oil… and safeway didn’t have any either in the asian section (about 3 shelves 3 feet wide).  Fortunately, there is a corner near by that has two asian food stores.  One was more an import items, the other was a grocery store – I went to the grocery store.

Fortunately, right where I walked in there were the sauces and oils.  Everything was in Chinese first, English second.  I could be done right there.  I walked around once, just to see what was there.  Fish heads, ok.  Sea bass steaks that were a foot across, ok.  Pig uterus, I’ll stick to Safeway for my beef and chicken needs..  It was just a little bit surprising to see that packaged, nice to see that everything is being used rather than going to waste… but I’m sticking to classic rounds and loins instead.

Bringing the oils and chili paste back I opened it and looked at it.  The oils didn’t have much smell, but the paste, when I opened that up, that was hot.  No more than a dab goes into my stir-fry.