Guest Blogger Zina Bennion visits Chaos Asian Market

I have been obsessed with the grain quinoa lately. So when I found a new recipe for Chinese Greens with Quinoa and Peanuts, I pretty much couldn’t sleep till I’d made it and tasted its deliciousness. However, making such a dish could prove difficult as it called for broccoli rabe, daikon, bok choy, and snow peas- produce that I may be able to find at my local grocery store, but would undoubtedly be expensive and of dubious quality. Sigh. Lucky for me a short 2 ½ blocks away from my house is the remarkable and wonderful Chaos Asian Market where I was fully confident I could find all these things at a much more reasonable cost and quality assured. So I rushed over and indeed every single thing I needed (and much more) was happily waiting for me. This has been my experience on many an occasion, and I love shopping at this great little store.

I first heard about Chao’s Asian Market when my friend told me you could buy a well stuffed bag of basil for a mere $1.25 or so. I couldn’t believe it and as I was on a pesto making kick I made my way down to their store (located 77 N University Ave). There I found not only the incredibly priced basil but a whole host of hard to find Asian produce, noodles, tofu, frozen sea animals, oils, spices, sauces, novelty treats, and more. I was delighted to find this treasure trove, and even more delighted with how low their prices were and how incredibly nice and friendly the owners and workers are.

Chaos has been here since 1974, when Mr. Chao first came to Provo to visit some friends. He was impressed with how clean, beautiful and nice it seemed and so he changed his plans to move to California (where much of his family resides) and opted for this newfound community. Over the years he and his lovely wife have raised two talented children and run this successful family business with the customer as their first priority, always treating people as friends not just customers. I asked Mrs. Chao (who now entirely runs the business) how they keep their prices so low and she said that they want it to be affordable always for their customers, and that they have never had money or business expansion as a goal. As a result they have multi-generational customers who are always loyal. Mrs. Chao commented that they now have young students come in to the store with their parents who used to shop there when they were in school. Many of their cliental are part of the Provo Asian population, and others served missions in, or have lived in Asian countries and crave authentic Chinese, Thai, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean or other foods. Mr. Chao made it a point to learn basic conversational skills in most Asian languages so he could always greet his customers in a friendly and personable way.

I go to Chao’s to find standard items at bargain prices (three bunches of scallions for a dollar! A large bottle of sesame oil for four dollars!), hard to find ingredients, and to explore totally new and unknown tasty treats. Then there is their find collection of rice cookers, cookware, and even starts for hard to find vegetables like Japanese eggplant! So stop by, and be amazed by the wealth of culinary adventures and kind hearted service you’ll find!

Mrs. Chao and Zina at the checkout.

The tasty meal Zina made using ingredients from Chaos.

Guest Blogger Rob Bennion

Network locally, shop locally; keep the revenue downtown!

I have had the privilege to live in a few different places during my 28 years: London, Brazil, Hawaii, Japan; and have traveled to many states and countries: all over the US, parts of Canada, most of Western Europe, much of South and Central America. Something that always makes a place stand out is when there's a real sense of community, and character. I think a lot of this has to do with how well the local businesses and community support each other.

I've been out of the state for a few years, and coming back to Provo I received a pleasant surprise: downtown's looking great! Kudos to everyone who's made this happen . . . downtown Provo is beginning to have that sense of community support I'm talking about.

When I have the option, I try to shop from locally-owned and operated businesses. You may see my wife and I biking around town with our 2 kids in tow in the little red bike stroller as we ride around supporting our local businesses: eating at the Lotus Garden or El Salvador Restaurant; buying art supplies at Provo Art and Frame; or getting ice cream at Maestro's Gelato. I like to have meetings with my band at the Smokehouse, and when family's in town we go to Los Hermanos. We've been to Comedy Sports, seen many music performances at Muse, Velour, and many other places that don't even exist anymore.

As a musician I've performed at many local venues over the years: Pier 54, the Station, the Palace, Starry Night, ABG's, Atchafalayas, The Roasted Artichoke, Mama's Cafe, Muse Music, Velour, Seven Peaks, and the once great Omni/Edge dance club. I remember when No Doubt opened for local band Stretch Amstrong's cd release party right here in P-town! Great job Cory Fox in keeping the music scene going through all these venue changes.

It's not always convenient to shop locally as big-box stores push out the little guys. I believe that we can all help create this sense of strong community; where people choose to pay a little more perhaps for the better customer service, better product, and improve the local flavor.

I'm a saxophone player and band leader in constant contact with many event coordinators, registered brides, and customers who are planning an event. Networking together our community can keep these customers coming to our local shops and family-owned businesses.
www.robbennion.com

Guest Blogger Zina Bennion visits Heindselman's Knit & Gift

photo from stitchdiva.com

Resolutions Really Do Come True

On January first, 2005 I did a very typical thing. I made a resolution. Singular. Just one. I exercised restraint. After a lifetime of overzealous New Year’s resolution making, I’d determined that just one per year would likely ensure 100% completion. And so, for the year of 2005, I decided that learning to knit was my one precious goal- the wishbone pulled from the previous year that just might break in my favor. I had long dreamt of being able to sit in a cozy chair each evening and with almost imperceptible movements of my hands and the gentle click of wooden needles create some lovely and useful shroud. I had had several failed attempts at learning- once on a dizzying bus ride through Italy (I was too distracted by olive groves and Carnival on the beach), once via the clumsy instructions of a library book (with which I quickly lost patience), and once under the tutelage of my art school friend who knitted chunky hot pink yarn with large sticks of rebar for needles (too abstract). Nevertheless, I set out one cold January morning to the local yarn store, the shadow of my failed knitting dreams tangling round my ankles.

I had passed Heindselman’s Yarn and Needlework shop many times, peering in, wishing I had some legitimate skill that would grant me access to its cheery interior and untold wealth of lovely yarns. Clinging to my singular resolution I walked in, and shyly approached one of the several kindly employees and asked if perchance she knew where I could learn to knit. I expected a class sign up- where I would likely pay, go, and maybe master just a basic stitch after several weeks of feeling continually behind. But she smiled brightly and told me that if I purchased some needles and yarn she would teach me right then and there. I was shocked and delighted, the resolution gods were smiling down on me. And so for the cost of a simple pair of wooden needles and a skein of cheap cotton yarn, I was treated with a two-hour private tutorial with the kindest, most patient teacher ever. She gave me an easy dishcloth pattern that emphasized knitting and purling, taught me how to do both, and gave me lots of useful insights and tips as my awkward fingers fumbled around the chartreuse yarn that slowly gained form and shape. I went home armed with the beginning of a knitting love affair, and overwhelmed by the highest quality customer service I’d ever encountered. Since then I’ve taken numerous questions, tangled messes, and un-started projects to the skilled staff and have always received expert help and have found lovely, high quality and unique yarns that aren’t available anywhere else in the county, and perhaps state.

Add to the irresistible charm of the staff and stock the fact that Heindselman’s is THE oldest yarn shop in America!!! It was founded in 1904 by current proprietor Ted Schofield’s grandparents; George and Dee Heindselman. George, originally from Illinois, had studied optometry and watch making and opened the shop as an optical, watch making/repair, and jewelry store. Soon thereafter Dee added yarn and needlework, and then musical instruments and sheet music became a part of the inventory as well. The store had several different downtown locations over the years, and by the time it reached it’s current location (176 W & Center) the merchandise had settled on supplies for knitting, and various needlework projects, as well as a handful of toys and knick knacks, which according to Ted, are there mainly to be given away- a tradition his grandfather started and he keeps.

Maybe it’s that giving attitude that makes Heindselman’s such a happy place. Once when buying some wool for a scarf, Ted told me I should wash and block dry it when I finished. He then proceeded to give me the gentle detergent I would need, free of charge. Or maybe it’s that the word Heindselman in German is the name for the very same magical forest elves that helped the poor cobbler finish all his shoes when he had gone to bed (if you look closely there are more than a few of these elves hidden around the shop). Or maybe it’s that you can tell Ted and his dedicated staff wouldn’t trade their jobs for the world and do them because they love them. Ted’s coming to the store illustrates this point better than any.

Ted had Master’s in bio-medical engineering and was at the start of a successful career in San Francisco where he helped design the first artificial heart valves. But he realized that he didn’t want to raise his family in such an urban environment, and that he didn’t want to have his career in a field that was so motivated and steered by money. So, in 1979, he and his wife (who is one of 31 nationally certified knitting instructors), came back to Provo and Ted bought into the family business that he had worked in since his childhood.

Ted has continued to run this wonderful business with heart and integrity. Offering the finest service, excellent classes (they have courses in all kinds of knitting, spinning, crocheting, tatting, rug making, lace making, etc.), generosity, and the best merchandise around. Where else can you come and buy silk yarn made by women in India out of Sari scraps as part of the 10,000 villages project? Soon Ted tells me they’ll be getting beads and other materials sent by his daughter who just began working in the Peace Corps in Malawi, Africa.

I love this store and will continue to choose it any day over online shopping or box stores that I have to drive to (I can walk or ride my bike easily to Heindselman’s) and where I know I won’t get the same care and attention. So if you knit, crochet, tat, spin, embroider, or have ever wanted to do any of those things, or if you really like Beanie Babies, or if you just really like nice people, visit Heidselman’s and you will not be disappointed. Resolutions do come true.

Zina Bennion and Ted Schofield at the knitting demo table.