Vancouver/Western Canada Ingredient Sources Topic

[shelora]

I bought some recently in Victoria. The brand is AGOSTINO RECCA from Italy. (www.agostinorecca.com) A 239 gr. jar little boquerones in vegetable oil, vineger and salt.

I'm sure you should be able to get them through one of your Italian food purveyors.

I saw them recently on a restaurant menu in Olympia, Washington, served on wonderful bread with good olive oil and coarse salt. Oh, so good.

Shelora

[Sam Salmon]

I can report seeing the 'Chovies in question on sale @ Famous Foods on Kingsway so given the other reports there must be an Importer in town who handles them.

Too bad it's so hard to track down one product without endless phoning-Good Luck!

[Irishgirl]

I always get mine at La Grotta on Commercial (Between 1st and 2nd). They are tasty, and the owner (Fortunato) is a great guy. I like to support local small businesses.

[Chef Metcalf]

AzRaeL

They were available in Whole Foods today at Park Royal.

100 grams $2.99

In the exotic fruit department next to the pink dragon fruits.

cm

[HKDave]

Does anyone know a place in Van. that sells grits - regular corn and/or hominy?

Attempted edit to correct spelling 'ingredient' but it seems once it's in the title, it's there forever....

Edited February 6, 2005 by HKDave (log)

[appreciator]

Yes..... you can buy "Grits" at both Choices and Capers. I do believe the brand I bought was Bob's Mills. Hang on let me check.....

Okay the package says: Bob's Red Mill Organic Corn Grits also known as Polenta.

Perhaps this is not what you are looking for.

What do you want to do with them if I may ask?

edited to say..... I haven't seen hominy available but I would hazzard a guess that perhaps you could buy it at Que Pasa in Richmond.

Edited February 6, 2005 by appreciator (log)

[forever_young_ca]

I bought some of Bob's Red Mill organic corn grits today at Whole Foods in West Van. $5.95 (I think) for 680 g. Probably not the cheapest place to buy them, but it was the handiest for me at the time.

[HKDave]

Thanks for the suggestions. Hmmm, if corn grits are indeed the same as polenta (which makes sense, now that I think about it), then corn grits will be easier than I thought.

What am I going to make with them? Cheese grits for a homesick Southern friend is the first thing that springs to mind. But they're pretty good on their own as breakfast mush.

Hominy grits might be more difficult. I checked Que Pasa's website and they don't list hominy grits, and besides, Richmond might as well be Mars to a non-driver like me. I have received two other suggestions: Los Dos Amigos Market 1371 E 41st, and Los Gierreros Mex. Foods 3317 Kingsway. Anyone know anything about either?

[Richard Kilgore]

Have you considered mail-ordering grits, serious grits?

[HKDave]

Have you considered mail-ordering grits, serious grits?

←

I have, but ordering food across the border is often problematic (unless you know a Canadian mail order source?). Plus many US companies won't export, because of the previous problem.

[appreciator]

I just looked at one of the links in the previous note and it does list Bob's Red Mill as a source of Grits so I think they would work for your purposes. Let us know how things turn out

Oops.... I've made a boo boo.... so you won't see my previous post. However, upon googling grits and polenta and the difference as such, I came up with an answer that you can probably find on your own by doing the same thing.

Edited February 6, 2005 by appreciator (log)

[Richard Kilgore]

Afraid I don't know a Canadian supplier. I was going to recommend the heirloom grits from Anson Mills, since I have cooked them several times recently and they are far and away the best I have ever eaten. Ever. You would have to email them to find out if they could ship to you. Here's a thread that may interest you on Anson Mills grits, spun off a New York Times article on Glenn Roberts and his heirloom grits, polenta and other corn meal products.

[CompassRose]

The Bob's grits are not real grits. I know, cos I went through just this exact search in Ontario! I finally found grits -- real, white-corn hominy grits -- in a South American groceteria in Kensington Market in Toronto. And I came across more in a random supermarket that clearly caters to a lot of different ethnic niche markets (they also had a wide array of, for instance, cool Caribbean hot sauces and canned goods).

Not that that helps you any in a concrete way -- but they may be (must be, surely!) somewhere in Vancouver if you dig deep.

[nwyles]

Have you tried the Latin Supermarket at 14th and Commercial ?

[HKDave]

Neil, I didn't know about that place on Commercial. Did you make a positive sighting there? I'm trying to avoid a wild bus chase....

[chocklateer]

I've had my curiousity button tweeked...and now need to experience it for myself...MOCHI. Where might I find it in Vancouver? A restaurant? A grocer? Also, does any one know where I might purchase PANDAN? I've checked several grocers in China town to no avail.

Thanks in advance,

D.

[chocklateer]

This is probably too late too..but here it goes anyway... I bought Meyer Lemons last week at the SouthSeas shop in the Public Market on Granville island. I paid 2$ for each one(...a little hefty....but there's a meyer lemon/vanilla bean marmalade in last month's Bon Apetit that I've been dying to try) Then yesterday, I saw them in Urban Fare at a considerably lower price. I don't remember how much per pound they were except they weren't $12 or I wouldn't have bothered. I bought one just to see....and it was a mere 60 cents....perhaps this lemon has been hanging around longer than the ones I bought from South Seas. I don't know. Anyway, there you have it ....in case you're in the mood for more granita!!!

[Chocoholic]

If it is pandan leaves you are refering to, they regularly sell them at the South Seas Trading Company in Granville Island. I use them for Indonesian style rice and curry dishes. They also make a great garnish since you can tie them in neat bows and things like that.

For mochi, try the Japanse place on Venables and Clark. I have never bought it myself but if any place has it, this would be the one.

[Sam Salmon]

If the haul over to Clark Drive for Mochi doesn't appeal try

Uminari Japanese Foods

3780 W 10th

604 -222 - 1767

[bimbojones]

It's called Fujiya on Clark @ Venebles. Now when I think mochi I think the glutinous rice ball that's typically filled with sweet red bean paste...is that right? I LOVE it! Sometimes I've seen it frozen, too.

[Ling]

You can get mochi at T&T (in the cooler).

Edited February 11, 2005 by Ling (log)

[Kayaksoup]

This is probably too late too..but here it goes anyway... I bought Meyer Lemons last week at the SouthSeas shop in the Public Market on Granville island. I paid 2$ for each one(...a little hefty....but there's a meyer lemon/vanilla bean marmalade in last month's Bon Apetit that I've been dying to try) Then yesterday, I saw them in Urban Fare at a considerably lower price. I don't remember how much per pound they were except they weren't $12 or I wouldn't have bothered. I bought one just to see....and it was a mere 60 cents....perhaps this lemon has been hanging around longer than the ones I bought from South Seas. I don't know. Anyway, there you have it ....in case you're in the mood for more granita!!!

←

I suspect everything at South China Seas can be found for much cheaper somewhere in the city. I only shop there because its easy, but i quinge everytime I get to the cash register.

edited because I have typing issues

Edited February 11, 2005 by Kayaksoup (log)

[*Deborah*]

Success!!

I ended up at boring old Safeway, as Trader Joe's, while having many lovely items did not (in the Capitol Hill location) have any corn meal of any description (which I found really weird!).

So I ended up with three small boxes (3 and 3/4 lb--I don't know why that much, particularly, I wasn't sure how much you wanted!) of Albers' "Enriched Hominy Quick Grits" which from the picture look about as they should. I was unsure about the "quick" part, but they're not "instant" which was the only other type available, so if they don't suit your bill, I'll eat 'em!

The box has recipes for grits, fried grits, Cheese Grits Casserole and a Grits and Sausage Bake...

Tonight I have a date so can you wait for them till tomorrow? I'll be bouncing around, running some errands, and I can meet you somewhere maybe?

[Ling]

Oh, I totally forgot that you can get mochi from Chinese bakeries too. However, I don't know if they are "authentic"...they are very soft, and covered in shredded coconut. Yum...I had some for breakfast. The Japanese ones at T&T are much firmer, and chewier.

[Uranus1]

Does anybody know where I can get rose and lavender water?

I want to make roser water ice cream, but I don't know where to get it.

Thanks