Valeries Carniceria

Ancho?
Thats right, I needed Ancho chile powder. Fortunately Valerie’s is here. They have a nice selection of spices and condiments for a store this size.
Is it Burrito Mercado? No. But is a nice shop run by friendly people. My Spanish is rustier than Jennifer’s, but I had no problems.
I was hoping for some fried carnitas, but didn’t see any. They had chicharrones the size of my head though.
They did have Queso Fresco and my Tamarind Jarritos though, so I left a happy man.

Since I was in the n’borhood this morning, I decided to stop in to see if they sold manioc starch (tapioca starch).
I think I was the only customer in the place when I arrived. Happy-​sounding Mexican music was playing, and a woman was standing behind the checkout counter slicing spines off cactus leaves (for nopales). I browsed around the store and shared an «hola» with a man from the butcher area.
They did not have the manioc starch I was looking for, but I found a «brick» of espresso coffee that I decided to try in my stovetop espresso pot.
The woman at checkout was friendly and gently curious about my Spanish-​speaking capability (dusty and limited). However, I was able to thank her and wish her a good afternoon in Spanish as I left.