Okay, so I only went around part of the world... Yesterday, I took a trip around Lexington to visit some of the international stores that call our community home. Are you looking for some authentic jerk seasoning for babecue season? Would you like some fresh, homemade pita bread for your hummus? How about some rice cooking wine for that asian creation? Look no further than a few of these locally owned businesses.

My first stop was Ali Baba Mediterranean Territory next to Morris Book Shop on Southland Drive.  

They have all the spices, grains and fresh pita bread you need to create a tasty mediterranean or middle eastern meal. They also specialize in halal meats, which are specially pepared according to the dietary laws of Islam.

The next stop on my trip was the Yu Yu Asian Market in the Waller Ave. shopping plaza.

They offer a variety of spices, sauces, and grains that are common in many Asian cuisines. They also have a slection of fresh fish that are a staple to so many Asian communities. If you are feeling adventurous, try some of the interesting treats and sweets for sale!

My last stop on yesterday's trip was Nana's African and Caribbean Market in the Eastland Shopping Center.

Need some casava meal? How about some ginger beer? This is the place to go! Just inside the door there's a neat selection of sodas in the cooler. Grab a few of those, some jerk seasoning, and some charcoal and you are ready to celebrate the warm spring weather with some friends!

Need some inspiration before heading to the stores? Check out this small sampling of the great selection of international cook books housed at LPL.

The New Book of Middle Eastern Food

Author: Claudia Roden

Publisher: Knopf (2000)

Binding: Hardcover, 528 pages

From the Lands of Figs and Olives: Over 300 Delicious and Unusual Recipes from the Middle East and North Africa

Author: Habeeb Salloum, James Peters

Publisher: Interlink Publishing Group (1994)

Binding: Hardcover, 288 pages

The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa

Author: Marcus Samuelsson

Publisher: Wiley (2006)

Binding: Hardcover, 368 pages

The Real Jerk: New Caribbean Cuisine

Author: Lily Pottinger, Ed Pottinger

Publisher: Arsenal Pulp Press (2002)

Binding: Paperback, 224 pages

Modern Caribbean Cuisine

Author: Wendy Rahamut

Publisher: Interlink Books (2006)

Binding: Hardcover, 322 pages

The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook: 101 Asian Recipes Simple Enough for Tonight's Dinner

Author: Jaden Hair

Publisher: Tuttle Publishing (2009)

Binding: Hardcover, 160 pages

The Spice Merchant's Daughter: Recipes and Simple Spice Blends for the American Kitchen

Author: Christina Arokiasamy

Publisher: Clarkson Potter (2008)

Binding: Hardcover, 240 pages

Cradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Spice Islands of Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia

Author: James Oseland

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (2006)

Binding: Hardcover, 384 pages