Vancouver/Western Canada Ingredient Sources Topic

[peppyre]

Make sure your Scottish style Black Pudding is my made directly by the butcher you purchased it from (if it's truly authentic the recipe will be someone's grandmother's that's been in the family for a few hundred years). Most of them are buying it from Freybe's now, which means it's a German style and not very good. As for Boudin Noir, have you tried the french deli on Granville Island. I can't remember their name at the moment. (Any help guys)

[RooStew]

  As for Boudin Noir, have you tried the french deli on Granville Island.  I can't remember their name at the moment.  (Any help guys)

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I think the one your talking of is called Oyama Sausage Co. There products are great. I love the toulouse. There terrines and pates also rock. Haven't tried there black pudd yet.

http://www.oyamasausage.com/index.htm

[shelora]

Thanks, folks. I talked to Oyama this morning. Boudin Noir not available until two weeks time.

Must practise patience until then.

s

[AzRaeL]

someone told me that her favourite fruit was this thing that looked like a large grape (pinkish white or orange) covered in leaves.

from her description, i've narrowed it down to the Physalis. Specifically the Cape Gooseberry or the Ground Cherry.

Now, where in the GVRD would I be able to find that for her? I'm thinking of giving her a large basket of it for Christmas. She says that she loves that fruit very much but has only eaten it once and wishes she knew what it was and could have more of it.

[shelora]

The first place to try is the Urban Fare, talk to the person who orders the produce, they may be able to track some down and special order them

s.

[Ling]

I would go with shelora's suggestion and ask around at Urban Fare. I am quite sure I saw them there a few weeks ago, but I didn't notice any when I was there yesterday.

[AzRaeL]

Many thanks! i shall head down to Urban Fare and take a look. I live in Abbotsford, we have lots of cattle. hahah.

Now my only decision is whether to give it to her for Christmas, a great big basket of her favourite fruit, or give it to her early cuz I just couldn't bear to wait that long to give it to her.

[Mooshmouse]

Google.ca is a good thing!

Found you these links for South Alder Farms in Aldergrove and Driediger Farms in Langley. Both are fairly close to Abbotsford and will hopefully have what you're looking for. I also tracked down a couple of farms on Vancouver Island, but why make the trek over if you can find gooseberries close to home.

Edited December 9, 2004 by Mooshmouse (log)

[Daddy-A]

someone told me that her favourite fruit was this thing that looked like a large grape (pinkish white or orange) covered in leaves.

I gotta think you're looking for Ground Cherries. I grew some (okay, J grew them!) last summer on the patio, so saddly I don't have any for your gift.

Anything you're going to find now will be from warmer climates, so I'd go with Urba Fare (sorry Moosh).

A.

[Tete Carre]

It's truffle season all over the world and yet all that I can find are those awfull sweaty, spungy looking ones in jars (no doubt this is where the 'spungeform' part of BSD comes from). Is there any place in Vancouver that sells fresh truffles?

Seattle is a possibility but just try and explain what a truffle is to the border guard.

Any ideas?

[Coop]

Urban Fare has decent if a bit dry black truffles. They need to be cooked. Don't expect much information on thier provenence, the counter people don't really know (care). BTW they are at the cheese counter. I made a rissotto with mine, peel them and infuse the boiling stock with the peels. I jullienned the rest and folded it in with about 5 minutes left in the cooking. Truth is you need some good truffle oil to boost the flavour just before serving. Get the oil at the Gourmet Warehouse, not at the fancy Save On (Urban Fare).

[phoodphan]

...nobody knows the truffles I've seen -- here's a local "fun guy" seller who has truffles

[2roost]

A friend is visiting from Sacramento and wants to make his "famous" Meyer lemon granita for us - anyone know where we can find them ?

[Chef Metcalf]

A friend is visiting from Sacramento and wants to make his "famous" Meyer lemon granita for us - anyone know where we can find them ?

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Whole foods at Park Royal carries them on a regular basis.

A little pricier than the regular but not as acidic.

Chef M

Edited January 9, 2005 by Chef Metcalf (log)

[eatrustic]

Capers has them as well. I think that Whole Food's is a bit cheaper if it's worth the drive.

(They also make a killer salsa for Panko crusted oysters!)

[chocklateer]

Meinhardt's also carries them from time to time...at a hefty price. It may well be worth the travel time over the bridge!!

[Ling]

Urban Fare had them for 89 cents each a few weeks ago.

[eatrustic]

I was at Urban Fare Sunday and they are something like $12.00/lb!!! They might just as well use a mask and gun at the till. (While they are collecting for those stale loaves of Poilane bread at the same time.)

[appreciator]

This may be too late for you 2roost but I did see Myer lemons available at Choices Market on 16th Avenue the other day.

[saveur2]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here. Actually, I've been following this forum since I moved here last year. I have opened up a small business here, called cafelucia, which was written up by the Georgia Strait newspaper a while ago.

So, anyway, as the title implies, where can I find a commercial source for these Spanish White Anchovies? I've tried several specialty vendors in the area such as Tosi's, but they just look at me funny. For those people who don't know what these anchovies are: They're pretty big, with filets the size of your middle finger. They're usually packed in white wine vinegar (or plain vinegar), herbs, and sometimes with a little olive oil. They're not very salty, nor briney. I am having a very hard time finding them. Coincidentally, several of my vendors have mentioned that there is an anchovy "shortage", globally.

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

[eatrustic]

I'd try Bosa or Continental. If they don't have them they should know where to get them if they're available.

White anchovies are super tasty!

[Ducky]

I have bought these at the Parthenon on West Broadway some time ago - when they had them in bulk. I have also bought them packaged in a sealed plastic pouch at Urban Fare.

[canucklehead]

I've seen Whole Foods in West Van have a large variety of different anchovies - not sure if they are the type you are looking for - but they may be of some help if you give them a call.

[eatrustic]

Another place that used to sell small and commercial quantities of the white anchovies is La Grotto de Formagio on Commercial.

[pedro]

Just for the record, the white anchovies are called in Spain boquerones en vinagre, literally anchovies in vinegar. The white color is the effect of marinating them in vinegar. The origin of this preparation probably has arabic roots, being a variation over the escabeche (pickling) techniques introduced by the moors to Spain centuries ago.

It's a dish that's not hard to cook and is done at home a fair number of times.

Boquerones is the name of anchovies in Southern Spain, commonly used to refer to the fresh fish, that is, when it's not preserved in oil and salt like the other anchovies. In the latter case, we use the name anchoas, which is the Northern Spain term for the fish.