Looking for some items....

[itryalot]

1. French crepe pan (maybe those steel ones)?

2. "00" flour (like used in Italian pasta making) and semolina flour for pasta

3. Best olive bar for take out - selection of French and Italian olives, mediterranean treats

4. French tapered rolling pin

5. Ramps (is it the season yet?)

6. Fennel pollen (better than seeds; usually expensive)

7. Herb plants for an edible herb garden (italan basil and rosemary)

8. Take out mediterranean treats like dolmades (not mass produced jar ones) and turkish meat or snacks, spanikopita, etc. to bring for a foodie as a gift for staying overnight.

9. Best portuguese custard tarts in the city.

Thanks for the help.

[wickalicious]

grande cheese's outlet store on orfus just west of dufferin has 2 different kinds of 00 flour.

[Mila]

2. I too have been looking for 00 flour FOREVER. I hope someone knows where it is.

4. Also got my rolling pin at SLM, not bad prices.

7. Garden / Grocery store beside Maselli's on Danforth had really good basil plants last spring with small intense tasting leaves.

9. Custard tarts we got this weekend at Nova Era bakery. Yum!

[EarlyDrive]

00 flour: Fiesta Farms on Christie, between Dupont and Bloor.

[JamieK]

and you can also buy herb plants at Fiesta Farms once their garden centre is set up.

French tapered rolling pin is also available at Bonnie Stern's store -
http://www.bonniestern.com/store/inde...

and she also has other items suitable as foodie gifts, such as spice rubs, herbs, oils, vinegars, etc.

-----
Bonnie Stern
6 Erskine Ave, Toronto, ON M4P, CA

Fiesta Farms
200 Christie St, Toronto, ON M6G, CA

[Mila]

: )
Thx
And I've heard so many other good things about this store.

[wickalicious]

I think I remember seeing 00 flour last weekend at Lady York Foods on Dufferin (just north of Glencairn).

[Scary Bill]

Allegedly Thuet gets his flour here. Mrs Scary picked up a bunh of stuff there-they have a lot of product- on a trip to London and is very pleased. They ship anywhere.

http://arvaflourmills.com/index.htm

Humber Nurseries for the best selection of garden plants, herbs, etc.

http://www.humbernurseries.com/

[jayt90]

I heard that Thuet could not get flour good enough for French loaves, consistently, until he found Arva.
And yet there are lots of home cooks who go to trouble of getting King Arthur here, when there is a similar product made in Ontario. Go figure...

[HaveSpoonWillCook]

Just saw french tapered rolling pins at the kitchen equipment place in St Lawrence market yesterday. Its located by the cheese-olive stall/organic fruit stall.
Saw herb plants at St Lawrence too.

Fennel pollen? You mean fennel bee pollen? Wow.

[jayt90]

Fennel pollen is collected from dried flowers in Italy and California, producing an intense aroma that used to be a chef's secret.
http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/equivale...

There are many online sources, ranging from $7 to$16 per oz.
Like saffron, a little goes a long way!

[grilledcheese]

I'll answer those I know, or suggest you try.

1. French crepe pan (maybe those steel ones)?
Pepper Mill in Hazelton Lanes across from Whole Foods.

2. "00" flour (like used in Italian pasta making) and semolina flour for pasta
Try Festival foods at College & Grace.

4. French tapered rolling pin
Pepper Mill in Hazelton Lanes across from Whole Foods.

5. Ramps (is it the season yet?)
Maybe Dufferin Grove farmers market, once they come into season.

6. Fennel pollen (better than seeds; usually expensive)
Ditto.

8. Take out mediterranean treats like dolmades (not mass produced jar ones) and turkish meat or snacks, spanikopita, etc. to bring for a foodie as a gift for staying overnight.
Ghazale: beside Bloor Cinema, or on College just west of Grace.

9. Best portuguese custard tarts in the city.
I dunno if they are the best, but I like the ones at the bakery on the north side of College, between Ossington and Roxton.

[itryalot]

Super - thank you!

[morrigan]

Rube's Rice in the basement of the St. Lawrence Markethas a whole selection of flours, including semolina. Upstairs, there are two or three places with decent olive bars...one of which has dolmades (which might come in a barrel, I don't know), grilled veggies and garlic, etc., and there is a kitchen equiptment place in the middle of the floor upstairs. In season, the north market has ramps...and a table with herb plants:).

[jayt90]

Ramps are at least a month away. The first wild greens will be water cress, as soon as the small streams are safe. Don't forget morels in late April.

I think fennel pollen has to come from northern Italy, where it has cult status.

Semolina at the Bulk Barn, or Arva Flour Mill, which will have gluten flour or high protein flour: http://arvaflourmills.com/ProductList.htm

There are several Portuguese bakeries on Dundas, between Ossington and Brock.

Golda's Kitchen will have French kitchen items, check online or visit them in Miss.
http://www.goldaskitchen.com/merchant...

[itryalot]

Great info; thanks.

[DockPotato]

No ramps yet - another month maybe? Maple syrup is now beginning but not quite available - next wee bit.

[Snarf]

Olives - Alex Farm Products, many locations, or Nasr foods on Lawrence near Pharmacy
Herbs - Richter's herbs in Goodwood. Better bet might be ordering online. They have everything imaginable, and ship both seeds and sprouts. The Jamaican tyme is mind-blowing!
Mediterranean treats - Ararat on Avenue north of Lawrence.

[itryalot]

Thanks; a good start.