Catalina Island strategy...can take nothing on plane

[jennyfur]

SO, flying into LA...then, direct to Catalina Island by helicopter, SO...cannot bring any goodies (wine, olive oil, jars of ANYTHING liquid...ya know...) on transport. We will be renting a condo with kitchen. Where can I get any decent goodies to cook with while there. Yes, I know...it'll be more expen$ive on an island. I have read Chowhound rec's for pizza, dining, etc...but what about anything local and fresh to prepare myself?

Bless you already!
-jennyfur

[Jerome]

Here's another idea as well
go to
http://www.lapublichealth.org/rating
and put in the word
avalon
under city.
you'll get 67 results which is the list of every place in Avalon that sells food, from the Inn at Mount Ada and the Descanso Beach Club to cookie and ice cream and pizza places to markets. The only two places on the island I know of which aren't in this list are the USC Marine Center - I'm not sure if it's open to the public, and the Tuna Club (which is a private club - no public admittance but check out their website, http://www.tunaclub.com/ it's fun at least).
Check out some of the places online before you go and see if anything interests you - the descanso beach club for example is a public institution -
http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/Dining.php
click on the revue for descanso beach club.

also nearby and will ship is La espanola Market in harbor city right near San Pedro. It shouldn't take more than a day and many of the sausages and salamis are locally made -
http://www.laespanolameats.com/
http://www.laespanolameats.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?
and Bubalus Bubalis in Gardena will ship you fresh mozzarella and the following fantastic (water)buffalo milk products: scamorza, buffalo milk ricotta, and if you're lucky, their burrata. Call them, try to talk to one of the guys who work there explain your situation (no time to pick up), that you'd like to try local production and that you've heard their buffalo milk ricotta and burrata are amazing. They don't do much direct retail stuff but they're nice and flexible esp. with a story like yours.
http://www.realmozzarella.com/contact.htm
it seems now that they've expanded their herd to northern california as well and have two production centers. if you want the burrata you have to call them and chat because they don't sell it online - but the other stuff you can order and have sent fresh and easy (probably get there same day - but call them rather than order online).

And if you like indian food, a few miles from long beach is the surati farsan mart - order online and check it out. if you drive back or take a cab stop by and have the cab wait.
https://www.suratifarsan.com/default.asp
check out online shopping and just for fun, dine- in menu.

Have a good stay. One of the fun things chowwise I remember from a trip was waiting for a swordfish steak and being told that they were just unloading the fish off the fishing boat and that the fish would be ready in about 1/2 hour if we'd wait, and we did and it was great.

[jennyfur]

Hokey-Smokes! Thanks!
-jennyfur

[jennyfur]

Wow! What great ideas...and pre-ordering and Fed-exing are pure genius for ANY trip. Thank you,
-jennyfur

[chez cherie]

having just spent a week at a beach rental (not on catalina, but with similarly limited shopping options), if i were in your shoes and i still had time, i would fed-ex (or whatever)myself a care package, with a knife, essential spices, oils and vinegars, etc. doesn't need to be a lot of stuff, but i think it would be so worth it to have your "comfort items" available to make your vacation enjoyable.
have a great vacation.

[ChinoWayne]

Why don't you call ahead to the Vons in Avalon, [phone], and ask if you can pre-order supplies, what ever they stock they bring in by boat, so maybe if you order in advance, they can have it there for you.

[chuck]

There is a small Vons market just off the main street on the west side of town. Not as large as a suburban one but I am sure that it has the essentials.

[Jonah]

That's a tough one. There are only small outlets of chain supermarkets on the island. It's not like other island destinations where you might find local fruits or fish markets since nothing is grown there and not a whole lot of commercial fishing goes down there.

There is a small shop that is closest to the docks where the main drag turns into a walk street. It is on the non-ocean side of the street and they have a nice wine selection. I can't remember the name though. It's not all food, there are some fun gifty (non-crappy) items in there. The people who run that store might be able to give you some tips too.

Actually, here it is, I found it:

http://www.ccgallagher.com/