56°F
weather icon Partly Cloudy

Specialty Asian food store opens in Beverly Plaza

A Las Vegas-based couple has opened a new ethnic foods market in hopes of capturing the market created by Pahrump’s growing Asian and Pacific island population.

According to co-owner Mike Starr, the under-served community previously had to travel to the Las Vegas metro area to obtain culinary specialty items that are now carried by Asian Star Market at the Beverly Plaza off Route 160.

Starr and his wife, Rosemarie, held the grand opening of their new retail market on Dec. 20. Though this is the first specialty food item store for the couple, Starr, a soon-to-be retired member of the U.S. Air Force, has been operating an online store for some time.

Similar to the offerings of the online store, Starr will sell original designed laser-etched military challenge collectibles and graphic T-shirts in the brick and mortar location. The choice to sell the collectibles was a no-brainer, Starr said, given his 20-year military career and the huge number of military veterans who live in Pahrump.

Asian Star Market offers a large selection of specialty sauces, seasonings and food products which include many staples of a typical Asian diet such as flash-frozen Pompano and milk fish, a variety of rice and egg noodles, soups, porridges and preserves. Among the offerings are stewed-in-syrup garbanzo beans, sugar palm and purple yam jam - ingredients for a popular Filipino dish called “Halo Halo.”

Among the most sought after products, Starr said, is boba tea, a slushy flavored tea that includes tapioca balls. The store also offers unusual flavors of ice cream including avocado, coconut and purple yam jam, jack fruit and corn-cheese.

Starr explained that many of the dietary staples of the southern Asian diet are Latin-based, which accounts for the Mais Queso, or corn-cheese, flavored ice cream.

Future plans include Asian barbecue and “street food,” or finger-foods that can be grabbed on the go, Starr said.

The store, he said, will include a “bit” of everything. If they don’t carry an item that a customer wants, Starr said, they will find it. And, he said, they will make certain their prices remain competitive with those in Las Vegas.

There are nearly 520 people claiming pure Asian heritage living in southern Nye County, according to the U.S. Census in 2010. That number does not include Pacific Islanders, or people reporting two or more races to the Census Bureau. However, the popularity of Asian food is growing locally, as shown by the opening of a new, larger China Wok Buffet &Grill at 580 S. Highway 160 late last year.

Asian Star Market is located at 1330 S. Highway 160 in Pahrump and is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information visit www.asianstarmarket.com or call 775-410-3691.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Beatty Clinic gets tons of help with new a/c

BEATTY — The Beatty Foundation, an affiliate of AngloGold-Ashanti (AGA), did tons of good at the Beatty Clinic on March 22. Nine tons, exactly.

11th Annual Chili Cook-Off brings tempting tastings and festival fun

The 11th Annual International Chili Society and Silver State Chili Cook-Off took over Petrack Park this past weekend for three days filled with savory tastings, fun and activities and of course, some intense culinary competition.

Pahrump homeschoolers dance the night away

Pahrump Valley’s homeschool youth were whisked away into the Enchanted Forest this month, with local Moose Lodge #808 hosting a night of dancing and revelry in honor of an age-old adolescent right-of-passage, prom.

Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.