Camilla Eastern European Market - It Only Gets Better

Camilla is a magnet- people come to check it out, and just keep coming back! It’s as educational as it is a source, a gateway, to tasty treasures. It’s not too hard to find. On the south arm of the U shaped Liberty Bank Plaza, across 41 from Outback, it’s the second store in off of US 41. It’s unique in offering all sorts of Eastern European foods. The regulars tell me they return because Camilla, named for the owner’s 6 year old daughter, stocks the best quality items, made fresh, or imported, at very good prices. In the hour I visited, the clientele was a friendly mix of appreciative Midwesterners, people clearly from the former Soviet Union, and a smattering of people like me, that just seek good food, wherever it’s found.

Co-owner Aziz Obidov, alternatively speaking fluently in English, Russian and Uzbekistan dialects with 8 customers around the deli case, is a culinary encyclopaedia. He loves what he does, and his enthusiasm is contagious. He described the $4.50 Somsa’s ingredients so well-it’s a pastry wrapped lamb, beef, onions and spice mix in a rather pregnant sized knish or pasty-I bought and tried one on the spot! Heated, it’s luscious, lunch sized, and succulent juices happily drip down your cheeks, as you smile then go for another bite. As is, or with mustard, my enjoyment of it drew approving smiles from a Russian couple. Some days you may meet Azia’s wife, Madina Khilalova and Camilla- this truly is a high quality Eastern European Mom and Pop store.

Get the grand tour with Aziz, in between other customer’s visits, learn about the former soviet Union’s region’s history and cuisines in depth, shelf by shelf, delicacy by delicacy. There were 15 shoppers in little over an hour, making beelines for familiar products, like sampling 99 bins, each housing different wrapped varieties of Russian candies for ~$4.99 a pound. The peanuts coated with sesame seeds are a favorite, and there’s two types of dried apricots, the “regular”, and another that’s “bone dry.” Have a small cheese cake, frozen, with a long cookie on the top. It’s a perfectly sized dessert, ready to eat, right from the freezer. There's a very good borscht, just add water and heat.

Authentic veal raviolis.

There are over a dozen frozen Eastern European specialty breads. One woman said, “I’ve not tasted this bread in over 30 years, since my grandmother made it. It’s as heavy and rich as she made it, too!” There’s even Russian butter, and Russian soft drinks like Kvas, their “Coca Cola”, and various fruit and herb flavored drinks.

Quite a few of the items are Kosher, with a “u” in a circle, this particular mark adheres to a higher quality in processing, supervised from start to finish. Other items are Halal. (Jewish Kosher is similar to, yet not the same as Muslim Halal. Both religious Jews and Muslims avoid any pork products. Both have similar rituals for humanely preparing meat. Few wines are Kosher. Religious Muslims avoid alcohol. Both religions do not eat birds of prey or blood, and forbid eating animals that have been found dead.)

In another freezer is a half sturgeon, rack of lamb, basa- a Vietnamese catfish, and other items, already marked with purchaser’s names-people call in their orders, and pick up the goodies!
Try the deli meat counter, and then the cheese area. I like the $1.99 Tulski, a gingerbread with jam in the center. Crunchy, gingery, and a touch of sweetness-others put some in their bags.

Have some tea!I bought a whole smoked mackerel for $5, and it is fork ready. I used to see these as a kid in old delis, and here they are again. Try fish soup, chicken pate, Want to liven up rice, add some dried, tart and tangy barberries, and the taste is unique, and they are high in nutrients. The eggplant is freshly made. Very traditional is halodetz., a freshly made cold jellied beef , or aspic delight with beef, carrots, wine,pepper and spices, eaten cold, served as an appetizer,often at holidays, with spicy mustard, sliced raw onion, and vodka or beer. Very tasty. I likd the cooked eggplant. “Privet" or “Za vas” (cheers!)

As I was walking out, I noticed up to the minute editions of Izvestia-the once Official Russian newspaper founded in 1917, and Russian editions of Esquire, Forbes, and Playboy. Yes, there’s differences between the English, and the Russian editorial and pictorial slants. The New York Times now has articles in Izvestia-times have sure changed!
Camilla, 4947 North Tamiami Trail, #102, Across from Pelagos, and East of Flaco’s, across 41 from Outback Steakhouse 653-9484