Rube’s Rice

CONFESSION: I love lentils!
I will out-​lentil anyone, any day. I’ve been to known to eat nothing but lentils for weeks on end, and I will sporadically throw a cup of lentils into any stovetop concoction that approximates soup or stew. Sometimes if I’m feeling sassy I’ll boil up a cauldron of nothing but short grain brown rice, green lentils and an umeboshi plum, and devour it (with a smile).
This is where I buy some of my lesser known lentils and rice in bulk. Rube of Rube’s Rice is one of the oldest vendors in all of St. Lawrence Market — he’s 86 — and he’s always kicking around.
Don’t forget that in addition to the floating kiosk in the middle of St. Lawrence Market’s basement there is an accompanying store closer to the entrance of Domino Foods. That’s where you’ll find even MORE rice and legume varieties.
Rube’s stocks all your usual suspects in terms of rice (brown, basmati, sticky, jasmine, wild, arborio, red, short grain/​long grain, etc.) as well as some rare types, like a green, short grain bamboo rice that was infused with green tea flavour. They also have every type of legume imaginable — lentils like French, beluga, red and green, chickpeas, split yellow and green peas, adzuki beans, kidney beans, etc.
Now go buy yourself a pressure cooker and get cracking on those overnight soaks!

Rube’s rice is the shiznit for those in the hunt for specialty rice and legumes.
Down in the lower level of the south market, you’ll find an open end stall with bins of rice, beans and lentils. I’ve been trying to eat healthy over the past year and Rube’s has been a regular stop on my travels through St. Lwarence market. I can grab some organic basmati here, stock up on kidney beans and lentils or if I’m feeling very adventurous treat myself to one of the über fancy rices such as the exotic black forbidden rice. A side extension of the store also features gluten free pasta, flours and coffee beans.
Rube himself is a wondeful, knowledgeble fellow and if you take the time to chat with him, you might a learn a thing or two about the market-he’s been working there for years.