237689 Sun Mar 31 13:30:59 -0800 2002 11 19 Outer Boroughs 0 1260215 Dear Brooklyn/Queens Chowhounds, although this is not about a restaurant I am posting this message on our board--I am having problems locating CREAM OF TARTAR in the supermarkets in my area (Elmhurst, Maspeth, Ridgewood). A friend asked me to search it out for her, as she is having problems finding it in the stores in her neighborhood (Cypress Hills, East New York, Brooklyn). She uses cream of tartar in her batter for scones. I can remember years ago that cream of tartar was used by my mother to clean discolored aluminum pots--but have not ever searched it out for myself. Am I looking in the wrong place? Should I go to a pharmacy? Or perhaps an ethnic import place, Anglo-Irish? I read up on cream of tartar, and found out that certain types of single-acting baking powder are tartrate-based, either cream of tartar or a blend of cream of tartar and tartaric acid. Does anyone know of a supermarket/store that sells cream of tartar in Queens or Booklyn? Thanks! Sun Mar 31 13:30:59 -0800 2002 0 DOREEN 1 1260223 I've always seen it in the supermarket spice aisle. Sun Mar 31 17:08:24 -0800 2002 1260215 0 Lorna 1 1260233 Ditto Lorna's reply....the spice aisle. It comes in a square tin like lder spice containers or in thr usual, round plasic, same size as a "jar" of dried spices. I think I have an old tin of McCormack, so try their real estate on the shevles. Sun Mar 31 21:19:08 -0800 2002 1260215 0 Lori 1 1260237 Ditto for the spice aisle in my local supermarkets. Spice catalogs like Penzeys carry it too. Sun Mar 31 23:57:34 -0800 2002 1260215 0 Wendy Leonard 1 1260274 Try the spice section of a well-stocked Manhattan supermarket. Tue Apr 02 14:25:37 -0800 2002 1260215 0 jellyapple 1 1260277 To all of you, thanks a lot--I knew at the outset that the most logical place to look was the spice aisles, especially in the McCormick area, but the first four supermarkets I tried did not carry it. Since it had been years (and years) since I had purchased it, I thought it had since lost its "at your corner store" status. Finally found it at that cramped Key Food store in Kew Gardens on Queens Blvd near Union Turnpike(some of you may be familiar with this store). It was partially hidden behind the celery seed. Thanks again to all you chowhounds. Tue Apr 02 16:07:41 -0800 2002 1260215 0 DOREEN 1 1260291 It's easy to find cream of tartar, but where can one find tartaric acid? I have a mascarpone recipe that calls for it. Wed Apr 03 00:58:28 -0800 2002 1260215 0 saucyknave 2 1260301 I don't know why I remember this (or why I even learned it in the first place), but I seem to recall from an organic chemistry class a long time ago that Cream of Tartar is the salt form of tartaric acid. I don't think the other forms are really used for cooking, so I bet your recipe is referring to cream of tartar. (But please confirm this with someone who REALLY knows....) Wed Apr 03 11:32:25 -0800 2002 1260291 0 Denise R. 3 1260303 These people have all the supplies you could imagine for cheesemaking. You will find tartaric acid under "other ingredients". Link: http://www.cheesemaking.com/ Wed Apr 03 12:19:33 -0800 2002 1260301 0 ironmom 4 1260315 Thanks Denise & Ironmom. Wed Apr 03 17:51:17 -0800 2002 1260303 0 saucyknave 5 1261795 Are crean of tartar and tartaric the same thing? Mon May 13 20:56:47 -0700 2002 1260315 0 E. Giovanoli 6 1261796 No, not the same. Cream of tartar is a by-product of tartaric acid. So says my "Food Lover's Companion". Pat Mon May 13 21:06:48 -0700 2002 1261795 0 Pat Hammond