CaliPoutine

How does that store compare to the cookbook store on Yonge?

Thanks, Im actually looking for dry goods, rice, sauces, kaffir lime leaves, etc.

Ok, well now Id like to know what you all prefer? The tahitian or the Mexican? I read that the Mexican is more of a true vanilla, but Tahitian is what Im most familar with. What do you all think?

I must make a trip to ChinaTown soon. There is such a plethora of asian supermarkets. Which one is your favorite? Who has the best selection, the best prices? Thanks

I bought that paste and Im not that thrilled with it. It just seems weirdly gummy to me( yeah, I know its a paste). I paid 13.99 for it at the spice house. They have wonderful spices too. I bought some fabulous smoked paprika and some grains of paradise.

I just ordered a 1/4lb of Tahitian vanilla beans from vanilla beans. I paid 26$, shipping included. I was amazed at how cheap they are. I did some seaching around and I found another site that sells the same amount for 75$ I'm hoping this wont be a case of caveat emptor. Any thoughts? Thanks

What are you thoughts on leaving the onion skins on? Does it contribute to a more golden stock or does it leave a bitter taste?

Can you post this recipe? It looks fantastic. Thanks

I was just about to order a case of san marzano tomatoes and some walnut oil and tuna packed in olive oil, but I thought Id check here first, I;'ll be in AA next week. Is there a good Italian market around where I can find the tomatoes, artisinal pasta and the like. Im already going to Zingermans, but I find them a tad expensive. Thanks

I love the Black Magic Cake. I decrease the sugar significantly, from the original 2 cups to 1 1/3 cups, so it has a much deeper chocolate taste. ←

I was watching Chef at Home( michael smith foodtv.ca) and he made a version with penne that was made with lobster. It looked so good. Im off to find the recipe.

I;ll second, third and forth Zingerman's. I live in Canada, and I;m about a 2 and a half hour drive from AA. My friends live in Chelsea so I spent a lot of time there. Zingermans has great sandwiches and well as really great gourmet products. I picked up some fluer de sel there and my friend recently sent me a 20yr old balsamic for xmas. Btw, the whole foods in AA is fabulous too. I'll have to check out the farmers markets this summer.

I normally dont eat salt bagels, but at this point I would kill( not really) for one. I grew up in Florida where everyone that bakes bagels is from NY. I spent 15yrs in Cali where I could find semi-decent bagels. Now, Im in hick town Ontario and I refuse to eat any bagels disguised as bread. The last decent bagel I had was a Montreal bagel last August. Very good, but very different from what I was used to.

What is your fallback dessert, when you have to bring something to someones house or you're having spur of the moment guests? For me its: Hershey's black magic cake. Its rich, chocolaty and moist. It's mixed in one bowl, uses oil and it doesnt need icing. If I want it extra special, I;ll frost it with one bowl buttercream frosting. This cake won me first prize in a county fair last year. Whats yours? (and how do I post a picture?)

I cooked my wedding dinner, as we only had 8ppl and it took place in our back yard. I made chicken, shrimp and scallop kebabs veggie kebabs orzo pilaf my MIL made her famous cole slaw. I had a platter of fruit and I made shortbread cookies a guest provided a small wedding cake( i hated it). A year later we had a huge reception. Roast beef dinners are traditional in these parts and I wanted no part of that. I hired a company that does smoked meats, etc, We had chicken, corn on the cob, potatoes with fixins We also had salad and cole slaw and rolls and homeade baked beans and the piece de resistance a 5 tiered cupcake tree. 300 cupcakes, 4 different flavors, filled and frosted by me. coconut with coconut filling and a vanilla buttercream double chocolate with choc. ganach fresh orange with orange cream cheese frosting white chocolate lemon with lemon curd filling and a white choc. cream cheese frosting

A slice of Black Magic cake. Yummy

Despite the moniker, I cant stand poutine. I love Taco Bell Grilled stuffed Chicken burritos, but not in canada, cause they dont use white meat. I'll hop on over to MI when Im in the mood. I also really like Macaroni Grill. I know its a chain, but I love their stuffed portabellas.

I grew up watching the very old food tv with the two hot tamales( loved that show and the restaurants) cooking live, and all those other great shows. Now I live in Canada and Im subjected to Canada's version of Sandra Lee..... let me introduce Sandra Richard( thats pronounced the french way). She goes into ppl's homes, gives them a meal plan, uses these stupid magnets of food and appliances and women and men to show each couple who and what they will cook each week. Her specialties include chicken tenders dipped in cornflake crumbs and leftover mashed spuds rolled in cornflake crumbs( do we see a theme here?) I cant believe she has a show. We also have a lot of the same American shows, Ina, Emeril( cant stand him, refuse to watch him), Alton, Tyler, etc. I absolutly love Jamie and Nigella. I dont think I've ever gotten sick of either of those two. If I dont like who's on, I just watch something else. I love America's test kitchen on PBS, I wish that was on more often.

Im a big fan of Alton Browns stove top version. It uses eggs and evap milk. Its good, but not too good the next day. It kinda separates. I also tried a version from cook's illustrated but I wasnt that fond of it. My SO loves Kraft dinner( she's Canadian and they dont call it Kraft Macncheese here ). I cant stand that and I refuse to cook it or eat it.

ok, the grossest meal I had was a box of stovetop, in which raw chicken breasts were thrown on top and then the whole mess was topped with a can of mushroom soup. It looked absolutly disgusting and it tasted that way too.

I think I better eat lunch soon. All this yummy food is making me so hungry. Last night I made Bucatini( imported artisan) with parmesean and bacon( cooking light) baby spinach with navel oranges, red onion, avocado and pepita's in a citrus vinegarette. Tonight. Chicken in a caper, raisin feta sauce Bulgar pilaf Both cooking light. Im on a cooking like kick these days!!

For Christmas,I made Ina Gartens Spinach Gratin and it seemed more soufle like, but it was really good. The best part to me was that it used frozen spinach.

For the most part I think buffets are vile. However, the best buffet I've ever had( and I waited in line for 3hrs) was The Buffett at the Belagio. I avoid chinese food buffets and the like at all costs. I will eat Indian food buffets though. I would NEVER eat at those " country type" buffetts. Been there, done that. I could eat 4 bites of food and Id still feel like I was pumped full of salt and preservatives. The quality of ingredients are so poor and most everything is breaded and fried. As a side note: When I was still living in California and my partner came to visit me from Canada, she wanted to eat at one of those country type places. She had a craving for fried chicken. We went, I suffered and she said " wow, this is the first place in California I' ve seen overweight people". I never noticed that before, but she was right. I used to enjoy Soup Plantation and those salad bar type places but now I avoid those places as well.

Thanks for a reminder of the daily breeze. I grew up in Santa Monica and I remember that paper well. Can you let us know when the issue is posted? Thanks again.

What about Morels? Anywhere in Ontario?