Found Treasure: Malinka European Mini Market

January 5, 2023 – We’re 2 minutes into an exploratory odyssey at Malinka European Mini Market when opportunity strikes. 

OK…maybe 5 minutes in, or 10. In here, a curious being could lose track of time. 

The moment arrives as the lone staffer on duty passes by the typically overloaded row I’m on and I blurt, “How do you find all these things?!”

I’m talking about the whole cold smoked mackerel, vacuum packed; the lightly salted Norwegian style herring, in jars; the jumbo squid with garlic flavor, in sauce. 

The Serbian cevapi, Polish pork pate and Portuguese pickled mussels. The cocoa hazelnut cream from Belgium and semi-sweet red wine from Georgia the country, not the state. 

Given the language terrain between us—which lends the market additional authenticity—the staffer may have thought I was asking, “How do you find what you’re looking for amid all these things?!”

Her reply works for either question.

“Take your time.”

Malinka—which means “raspberry” in Russian, Polish and Croatian—enjoys minimal square footage and maximum stimulation.

It’s like a Meow Wolf for Eastern Bloc-nostalgic tastebuds, a choose-your-own-adventure-on-shelves for foodies and foreign language students alike, complete with its own curated gift section, tinned fish section, preserves section, candy section, herbal tincture section, deli-style prepped goods section, wine section, beer section, ice cream section and bread section.

A glance in any given direction is guaranteed to land on something interesting.

Though I’ve always been annoyed by any reporting that iterates a version of  “You have to see it yourself!,” those vibes are real here, and—yes—merit taking your time.

On top of all that, I get intestinal joy seeing things that I haven’t since I lived in Belgrade (cevapi), or Lisbon (Sumol orange soda), so I get why so many local transplants pined for this place.

Another way to think about it: Inventory lists don’t typically make for the most interesting food stories, but they might in this case. 

Who else stocks baby pine cone-cedar nut jam from Siberia, where it’s a delicacy? 

My spiritual advisor and I figured one way to play our purchases without getting overwhelmed—or overspending—would be to buy picnic-friendly items (and, since it was pre-Christmas, a gift or two) and then head to the shore. After all, a dozen welcoming beaches and parks await within a mile.

Which is precisely what we did, with the help of a Treasure box provided by the clerk at the counter. 

Two minutes later we were overlooking San Carlos Beach from a stone bench surrounded by Russian buckwheat crispbreads, Sicilian eggplant salad, Bavarian sweet and spicy mustard, Polish pickles, spreadable French cheese, and olives and orange pop from Portugal. 

Plus some fascinating apricot walnut chocolates from Poland and gloriously named “honey nugget” cake bonbons created from an Armenian recipe by a Czech company. 

Overseas treats best enjoyed by the sea, as it were.

Malinka opened in April 2022 in response to a demonstrated appetite. 

Russian-born Natalia Molostova moved here to open it with her Mexican-born husband Manuel Ramos. The couple met while she was studying Spanish in Moscow under tutelage from Ramos’ dad, a professor. 

Molostova imports experience from working at similar stores in San Jose—where she heard Monterey Bay area customers who trekked there were aching for a place closer to (adopted) home.

“My strategy is: bring what nobody has,” she says. “We have connections with Russia, Bulgaria, Germany and many more. We just bring this stuff and everybody [is] happy.” 

For treasure-hunters, she recommends doing dumplings—“Easy, fast to prepare, feel good after,” she says—and a European marshmallow-type treat called zefir.

“This is my favorite treat,” she says. “I think everyone should try it.”

IMHO, same goes for this small wonder of a store.

Malinka European Mini Market is open 10am-7pm Tuesday-Saturday; 10am-6pm Sunday, closed Monday at 484 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite 100, in Monterey. More at 831.241.9051 or Malinka’s Facebook page.