428 replies to this topic

[Marlene]

Now who would have thought to look in the condiments section? I'll take a look at the Superstore when I go there next week.

Thanks for the tip!

[rgruby]

I've always found lime leaves available in the Spadina Dundas Chinatown.
Specifically in the basement grocery store west side of Spadina between
Dundas and St. Andrew. Unfortunately I don't know the name (a result
of going there for many years).

That's Tai Kong. It's actually the one I frequent most, and mentioned upthread re: weird fish and black chickens. I do see lime leaves there, but not all the time. I bought some galangal there last week, but I don't recall seeing lime leaves. But then again, I wasn't specifically looking for them.

Cheers,
Geoff Ruby

[Dianne]

[quote name='jayt90' date='Nov 11 2005, 09:17 PM']
Dianne, last week Food Basics was selling pork shoulders (maple Leaf) in cryovac, with skin , for $1./lb.
Thanks jayt90. I bought a 10 pounder this morning. Can hardly wait to cook it!!!

Someone was asking about spices and this morning's Toronto Star has a thing on The Spice Trader,805 Queen St.W. This might be what you are looking for.

[middydd]

Is there a specific spice you cannot locate?

Vietnamese cinnamon.

Oooh, that's a good one. Not a spice I've ever used, what is the difference between it and "regular" cinnamon?

I'll ask one of the girls I speak to next week when I go for Vietnamese food, perhaps she can help.

Apparently, it has a fuller, richer flavour. I can't say yet if it does because I've never come across it. The Spice Trader featured in today's Star sounds like a great place to check.

[CaliPoutine]

Geoff, I don't find lime leaves that often, but I've seen them a lot recently at the veg stand at SLM in the extreme north east corner.  I have also found them in Kensington.

I bought some this summer at SLM. If I remember correctly, I got them downstairs.

[jayt90]

Does anyone know where one can find fresh curry leaves downtown?

If you are really ambitious, you can get curry plant seeds from Richter's in Goodwood, or online, and grow the plant in a window.

[Jake]

For fresh herb plants and/or seeds I strongly second Jay's rec for Richter's. It is definitely worth the drive. 17 varieties of basil, 14 of thyme, a bunch of rosemary etc. etc. It's a great little side trip in the spring.

Cheese Boutique has black truffles right now....

[Marlene]

I ordered a bunch of herbs on line from Richters this year and they were outstanding. And I didn't even have to drive out to get them!

[Jake]

I ordered a bunch of herbs on line from Richters this year and they were outstanding.  And I didn't even have to drive out to get them!

Yeah, but I got gooey, decadent butter tarts at the Goodwood bakery/sandwich shop.

[Marlene]

And I make my own gooey decadent butter tarts.

[Jake]

And I make my own gooey decadent butter tarts.

Well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Okay Marlene, how about this -- I will kindly and unselfishly offer to taste test a dozen or so of your butter tarts for comparison purposes.

To get back on topic, I've never found a really good butter tart I like at any of the places I've tried in Toronto. Nothing ever measures up to Grandmas. I have her recipe, but they're just not quite the same. The best butter tart I've had in the last year or so was in Bracebridge this summer. Decadence and then some!

[KMPickard]

Fresh curry leaves were available downstairs at the St. Lawrence Market when I was there last week.

Kathy

[KevV]

Does anyone know where one can find fresh curry leaves downtown?

If you are really ambitious, you can get curry plant seeds from Richter's in Goodwood, or online, and grow the plant in a window.

I used to live in Sri Lanka and had a curry leaf tree in my backyard. Great for cooking, yes. They seem like hearty plants and certainly give off plenty of scent, but were also notorious for attracting different types of bugs. I'd be curious how well they'd grow indoors here.

But fresh leaves are not hard to come by. I live near Parkdale and there is a Tamil shop and an Indian shop I've been to around Queen&Lansdowne, south side. Both sell bunches of curry leaves for 99 cents, the Tamil Sri Lankan shop being the better of the two from what I remember because they freeze theirs; the Indian shop just keeps them out and the leaves dry up. (Sri Lankans after all, especially the Singalese, are the ones that seem to cook most with curry leaves.)

99 cents (+ 15 cents GST ) will probably get you far more than you need unless you are cooking for 30. Just freeze unused ones. (Don't know if they're sprayed, but also probably good idea to wash first.)

I'm sure if you have a Tamil shop in your neighbourhood they'd have some. No need to go to SLM where I imagine they cost more.

Edited by KevV, 15 November 2005 - 06:21 AM.

[Jake]

KevV, perhaps you can tell us where to find the best Sri Lankan food in Toronto? It's not a cuisine I'm very familiar with, but would love to know more. Feel free to start a separate thread if you've a mind to.

Thanks,

[jayt90]

KevV, perhaps you can tell us where to find the best Sri Lankan food in Toronto?  It's not a cuisine I'm very familiar with, but would love to know more.  Feel free to start a separate thread if you've a mind to.

Thanks,

This is interesting. Not only where are the the places to try, but where are the good Sri Lankan cooks and chefs working? They are a potent force in Toronto restaurants, and a thread would be a good idea.

[sadistick]

Back when I worked at Jov the second man down under Owen was this awesome guy from Sri Lanka named 'Arool' (excuse me if i butchered the spelling) - - he would always joke and ask if we wanted "Soopara" for staff meal, apparently it meant something completely different in sri lankan

Edited by sadistick, 15 November 2005 - 08:53 PM.

[Marlene]

I think a new thread on Sri Lankan food and restaurants would be awesome.

[Gul_Dekar]

Just wanted to know where to get quinces here in TO?

[Jake]

Just wanted to know where to get quinces here in TO?

I've been looking for awhile, haven't seen any either...

[rgruby]

Just wanted to know where to get quinces here in TO?

I've been looking for awhile, haven't seen any either...

I've seen them recently. Not sure if it was in Kensington, SLM, or both. Pretty sure the place on the corner of Augusta and Baldwin had them though. Would've been within the last week. Might've been the place on the north corner of ST. Andrews and Kensington. Ok, I'm obviously not entirely sure. Might go tomorrow. Will try and remember to look for quinces.

Cheers,
Geoff Ruby

[cherimoya]

I bought some quinces recently at the Valumart in the Manulife centre (Bay and Bloor)

[Jake]

I bought some quinces recently at the Valumart in the Manulife centre (Bay and Bloor)

Valuemart ?!? You're kidding. Great, thanks.

And thanks for that Geoff, I was in Kensington at the weekend, but it was a quick trip.

[rgruby]

Anywhere downtown for pickled walnuts? I know the Cheese Boutique has them.

Cheers,
Geoff Ruby

[jayt90]

Is there a specific spice you cannot locate?

Vietnamese cinnamon.

Oooh, that's a good one. Not a spice I've ever used, what is the difference between it and "regular" cinnamon?

I'll ask one of the girls I speak to next week when I go for Vietnamese food, perhaps she can help.

I saw a brand new supply of Saigon Cinnamon at Costco (Ajax) yesterday. I know they didn't have it last week. It is packed by Club House (McComicks, London Ont.), and the label says it is hotter and spicier than other cinnamon, and comes from 15 year old barks.
They claim it is the world's best, immodestly!) It is $4.49 for a fairly large 200g jar, and it is ground.

Now all we need is a source for VietNamese cinnamon in bark form; the seach never ends...

[GordonCooks]

Just wanted to know where to get quinces here in TO?

I've been looking for awhile, haven't seen any either...

I've seen them recently. Not sure if it was in Kensington, SLM, or both. Pretty sure the place on the corner of Augusta and Baldwin had them though. Would've been within the last week. Might've been the place on the north corner of ST. Andrews and Kensington. Ok, I'm obviously not entirely sure. Might go tomorrow. Will try and remember to look for quinces.

Cheers,
Geoff Ruby

They had them at the fruit stand next to the bahn mi place on Spadina.

[Gul_Dekar]

Just wanted to know where to get quinces here in TO?

I've been looking for awhile, haven't seen any either...

I've seen them recently. Not sure if it was in Kensington, SLM, or both. Pretty sure the place on the corner of Augusta and Baldwin had them though. Would've been within the last week. Might've been the place on the north corner of ST. Andrews and Kensington. Ok, I'm obviously not entirely sure. Might go tomorrow. Will try and remember to look for quinces.

Cheers,
Geoff Ruby

They had them at the fruit stand next to the bahn mi place on Spadina.

I picked up a few from the corner store at Kensington Market. Some of them weren't in too good shape though. Thanks guys!

[Jake]

FYI, for anyone making an authentic southern pecan pie in the near future, you can purchase Steen's Cane Syrup at Cajun Corner on Queen St E just east of Logan.

You can also pick up Karo syrup, frozen crawfish, file powder, grits and a bunch of other great stuff!

[middydd]

I saw a brand new supply of Saigon Cinnamon  at Costco (Ajax) yesterday. I know they didn't have it last week.  It is packed by Club House (McComicks, London Ont.), and the label says it is hotter and spicier than other cinnamon, and comes from 15 year old barks.
They claim it is the world's best, immodestly!)  It is $4.49 for a fairly large 200g jar, and it is ground.

Now all we need is a source for VietNamese cinnamon in bark form; the seach never ends...

Thanks for the lead. I'll check my local Costco.

Anybody happen to know where to get real coconut extract, instead of the artificial?

[rgruby]

Anybody seen yuzu here?

Cheers,
Geoff Ruby

[Marlene]

Ok, here's another one. Shrimp cocktail dishes. The kind you use for serving this as an appetizer and one I guess that holds crushed ice and has a place in the middle for the cocktail sauce.

Now where can I find these in Toronto, GTA area?