soba noodles and 'israeli' couscous

[pistachio peas]

where is the best deal for good soba noodles? all the supermarkets have very small packets for high prices?

also - where i can find the larger or 'israeli' style couscous?

thanks

[chunkeymonkey]

I agree with chocabot the best deals on soba noodles are in any chinese grocery store.

[jayt90]

The cheaper ones use less buckwheat, more wheat flour, and some actually substitute sweet potato flour for buckwheat. Check the labels, and good luck!

[tarteaucitron]

Yeah, in my experience the cheaper soba are usually more like brown-coloured, buckwheat-flavoured wheat noodles, not unlike the green pasta that claims to be spinach-flavoured. The texture and taste would be quite different from the real thing. You need to use your discretion and label-reading skills to locate the better ones. Needless to say, typically those made in Japan are more authentic than the ones made in China.

Also, one variety I like a lot that I find here and there in the GTA mentions on the label that the proportion of buckwheat to wheat is 8:2, which seems to do wonders to the texture.

And about the "potato flour" thing. I don't know if it's the same, but some of the authentic soba does contain a bit of "yam flour", the Japanese kind that supposedly lends to a chewy/bouncy texture, I believe.

[jayt90]

Reheated stir fry? Wok on!

[cuterscooter]

I am pretty sure I have purchased Israeli style couscous at John Vince Foods on Steeprock (nw of Sheppard/Allen). It also makes a great breakfast cereal - add whatever you would normally add to oatmeal.

[dory]

I've bought an Israeli pasta that is probably what you're referring to at the grocery/takeout store attached to the Sababa restaurant in a plaza west of Yonge on the north side of Steeles. They're open pretty late, if that helps.

[Kagemusha]

Quality Japanese-made soba are neither cheap nor sold in larger packages than you're seeing around the GTA. Unlike semolina pasta, they don't have a particularly long shelf life. Israeli couscous are sold in Bulk Barns.

[pistachio peas]

WOW! you guys are amazing! thanks!

[neville nosher]

Rube's at the St. Lawrence mkt carries bulk Israeli cous cous. It is not in his main location with the rice but in his secondary spot a few steps away.

[Finnegan]

Bulk barn on Kingston Rod in Scarborough carries ir as does the bulk Barn at the Scarborough Town Ctre. I would guess all GTA bulk barns therefore carry it.

[chocabot]

Any of the chinese grocers in chinatown will have soba.

I've bought israeil couscous (it's actually a toasted pasta from italy) from Viva Tastings on College west of Bathurst or in their stall in the North Market at St Lawrence Market on Sat. I think it's a bag of about 4-6 servings for $5

[shana]

pape IGA has the israeli couscous in their pasta/rice etc. aisle. I think it is less than $2 a package I get it there all the time.

[s0rce]

Sanko on queen west has some really nice japanese soba noodles but they arn't cheap. You can find cheaper ones at the chinatown grocery stores.

[cakesncookies]

If you buy soba noodles from the grocers in chinatown, make sure it is good. Sometimes their imitiation noodles (ie. odon) is really bad. I usually buy all my korean or japanese noodles from H-mart or galleria.

[chocabot]

You can buy soba made of buckwheat and "product on Japan" in chinatown. Like everything else, you have to read the labels because they stock it next to somen and rice noodles and everything else...

[eskay]

Not sure about the soba noodles; like detritus said sometimes you can find israeli couscous at the grocery store. I've also seen it at Domino's at St Lawrence Market

[sweetie]

For soba noodles....the dried ones anyways. I find Korean grocery stores have a great selection. Places like H mart, Galleria, if you are downtown you could try P.A.T but I have never been so I don't know what they have

[jayt90]

P.A.T. has 5 locations and a good selection of soba noodles. The addresses are in this thread http://www.chowhound.com/topics/486883

[detritus]

Some Loblaws', especially those with larger Jewish/Kosher food sections carry Israeli couscous. I think it's usually in that section, rather than with the regular couscous. I'm pretty sure I bought it last at the big Loblaws on St Clair.

-Josh