Panko and buffalo mozz

[itryalot]

Planning my shopping trip to TO this weekend. Can get the buffalo mozz at home here in a prewrapped baggie (not from Italy though) for $6 for a small ball. Can't get panko.
Where can I get these items?

[karendianne]

The best place to buy panko is at an asian market. They carry large bags for a quarter of the cost of the small bags you will now sometimes find at a regular grocery chain.

[bluedog]

Italian Buffalo Mozzarella is also available at Masellis Brothers on the Danforth, who are currently in the process of transforming themselves into quite the beautiful gourmet shop. I've doubled my shopping here since the spring.

[Mila]

Yes ! I've been so impressed with them lately. The house cured meats are amazing and reasonably priced.

[Mila]

A few more options:
Panko at House of Spice in Kensington, Domino's at SLM.
I got beautiful fior di latte (cow's milk) at Grande Cheese $4.80 for a big ball. Not sure if they have buffalo though.

My 2 cents: For Italian I like to toast my own bread crumbs though panko is amazing for many other applications.

[flying101]

you can get panko from any (most) chain grocery store.
just look in the asian food aisle (i have also seen it next to the pre-made sushi carts)

[downtown]

Yes, I have bought it at Loblaws on St. Clair east of Bathurst and also at the location on Yonge St. north of Sheppard. You should have no problem at any decent sized grocery store.

[katiew]

you can also get buffalo mozzarella (imported from Italy) at La Fromagerie on College, just west of Ossington. about $8 for a small ball.

[chocabot]

also Little Tokyo in Kensington...

[itryalot]

Wow! So many answers, so little time. When I have leftover artisan bread, I will make some. Thanks for the recipe pikawicca, never thought it was so easy.

St. Lawrence market it will be since we will be there shopping and the males in the group have to have sandwiches downstairs at mustacchio.

[tartiflette]

You should have no trouble finding panko in most higher-end grocery stores. I've seen it at Pusateri's, Sun Valley, even some of the larger Loblaws locations - the trick is to check in the bakery area next to the regular breadcrumbs, and also in the ethnic foods aisle near all the sushi-making supplies, since each store puts the panko in a different place.

If all else fails, Sanko on Queen St W will definitely carry several varieties. They're worth a visit just for the hell of it, since they carry all sorts of strange and wonderful Japanese products you can't find elsewhere.

[AmandaEd]

Seafront Fish Market in the south St. Lawrence Market sells panko - a big plastic container full for $2 - best deal on it that I can find.

[professor plum]

You can get Panko in almost any chinese grocery store. It is also available at Sanko on Queen West and in J-Town.

[burlgurl]

any chain grocery store that sells sushi has panko in in the sushi booth area along with wasabi, miso soup, etc..

[Gary]

The Market Square Dominion (Chuch & Front) carries panko. It's in a display located between the fish counter and the bulk bins, along with a few other Japanese things.

I believe they also sell panko at the St. Lawrence market, in the dry goods store just SE of Rube's Rice on the lower level.

[czthemmnt]

After my trip to Italy, I can't eat anything but buffalo mozzerella, LOL.

I pick up mine at All the Best Fine Foods (1099 Yonge St, north of Rosedale subway station, by the LCBO Summerhill store) for $16.95 or Alex Farms at Manulife Centre (Bay & Bloor) for $12.95. Both imported from Italy and both delicious and creamy.

I've also seen Panko at Noah's health food store on Yonge Street, at Charles Street.

[pikawicca]

Make your own panko. Get a loaf of good artisinal bread (day old is best) and remove the crust. Grate it on the large-hole grater of a food processor (do not push down on the tamper). Spread on a cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees until dry but not brown, about 20 minutes.

[jamesm]

Unless I'm mistaken isn't panko distinctive from other breading because it's made with a centrifuge and induction cooking that can't really be duplicated at home? And that's what gives it a unique light, crispy texture?

As for it's availability, I'm seeing it in all the chain grocery stores now as well as smaller specialty shops.

[itryalot]

Jamesm - I thought that it was too good to be true. When I told my cousin who is going to be shopping with me about the recipe, she was doubtful too. Anyone else want to chime in?

[jamesm]

I'm pretty sure the reccomended recipe is just coarse bread crumbs. It may approximate panko, but I think Panko is the result of a uniqoe process.

[pikawicca]

I don't know where the panko centrifuge myth came from, but it's wrong. Go to Wikipedia and type in "panko," then click on the Science Channel video. The 15-minute video will show you everything you ever wanted to know about the panko-making process, and you can see their very scarey-looking giant grater at work. Homemade panko has the same wonderful crunch as store-bought, and you can use great bread that doesn't have that nasty partially-hydrogenated fat in it.

[itryalot]

We definitely do not want hydrogentaed fat in anything if we can help it.

[vorpal]

I may be viciously wrong, but doesn't Panko also involve bread that is high in honey, which gives it its distinctive taste?

[pikawicca]

I checked the labels of the two different brands of panko in my pantry -- no sweeteners in either.