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Real wasabi has always been a litmus test for me for Japanese restaurants. Like other litmus tests including these three, in decreasing order of reliability

- real maple syrup at breakfast places not in the northern maple-producing regions

- Reggiano in Italian restaurants

- a Marzocco (or Slayer) espresso machine and hand pour service in coffee shops

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Real wasabi has always been a litmus test for me for Japanese restaurants. Like other litmus tests including these three, in decreasing order of reliability

- real maple syrup at breakfast places not in the northern maple-producing regions

- Reggiano in Italian restaurants

- a Marzocco (or Slayer) espresso machine and hand pour service in coffee shops

My Starbucks is doing hand pours now! (The same shopping center as Peter Chang Cafe.)

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You can, however, get real wasabi in powdered form. Not cheap, but within reason. They have a 1.5-oz jar for under 10 bucks here.

I saw this option was available on a different website. It just seems to be contrary to the entire idea of fresh real wasabi.

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We need to get one of the site's better gardeners on this case.  DIY is clearly the answer!

LPerry maybe? Porcupine?

Tweaked figured out how to grow pineapples indoors.

Here's the supplier. I called and they say we're a bit north to pull this off but a pot could be brought inside for winter or raised indoors.  They also have experts on call to advise. This would be a cool project. I'm actually surprised there aren't greenhouse operators in this region doing this. Maybe there are?

I'd bet any amount that Tweaked, LPerry or others here could pull this off.

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We need to get one of the site's better gardeners on this case.  DIY is clearly the answer!

LPerry maybe? Porcupine?

I have no experience with growing wasabi, and I hate the stuff, so no interest in trying.  But five minutes spent googling makes me doubt it can be grown here.  Our summers are too hot.  The other specialized growing conditions could be created by a devoted gardener, but it is really hard to control ambient heat.  Hopefully someone is up for the challenge and will prove me wrong. :-)

Details here.

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We need to get one of the site's better gardeners on this case.  DIY is clearly the answer!

LPerry maybe? Porcupine?

Tweaked figured out how to grow pineapples indoors.

Here's the supplier. I called and they say we're a bit north to pull this off but a pot could be brought inside for winter or raised indoors.  They also have experts on call to advise. This would be a cool project. I'm actually surprised there aren't greenhouse operators in this region doing this. Maybe there are?

I'd bet any amount that Tweaked, LPerry or others here could pull this off.

hmm, I wouldn't say I figured out how to grow pineapples, I just stuck the thing in some dirt and it did the rest!

If someone wants to buy me a rhizome, I'd be happy to stick it in some dirt and see what happens!

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For what it is worth, Mitsuwa market in Edgewater, NJ, has rhizomes for sale in the produce department.  I am trying to remember if there are ever leaves at the top, but I am failing.  That's the closest to here I've ever seen them.  We hit Mitsuwa up about every third time we go to NY to visit the relatives; their carry-out onigiri and sushi rolls are often our meal on the way home. 

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Found in DC. Tried to inquire about the provenance of these but could only glean they get from a "New York wholesaler." Not cheap but the real deal.

http://www.donrockwell.com/index.php?/topic/10335-hana-market/?p=292243

Nice find. Tried some 51% wasabi powder from Mom's last week and found it lacking compared to the real deal. From the photograph you took at Hana Market, $9 a pop isn't that bad and worthy of trying in a few recipes.

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