Indian spices in Montreal
I've recently been delving into Indian cuisine, and while I have the basic spices, I'm looking for some that are a bit harder to come by - asafoetida (hing), nigella, that kind of thing.
Does anyone have any Indian/Pakistani store recommendations?
Somewhere accessible by metro would be preferable.
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I usually go to either the Marché Thurga (on Jean-Talon, one street west of Parc on the south side of the street) or one of the other ones in the neighborhood. I go there once a week, more or less, and get most of my Indian ingredients there. They also have a nice selection of exotic vegetables. If you don't find something, just ask, they are very helpful and will also give recommendations for things like the best rice or atta. There is a grumpy looking guy behind the counter, but he warmed up after around the third visit.
I don't know if you are cooking more north Indian or more south Indian, but they have the distinction of being the only place in town that constantly stocks "fresh frozen" coconut, AND every single whole coconut I have bought there has been good (my best for any other store is 50%). They also carry fresh curry leaves. If you need curry leaves and they are out, there is a place another block or two west, on the north side of the street, which is called "Les frères something or another" and they always have nice, cheap curry leaves as well.
I hope you enjoy your forays into Indian cuisine, it is my favourite!
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I've always had good luck at Marche Akhavan on Sherbrooke and at Medina on Ontario just east of St Laurent. Olives et Epices looks fun but the prices are eye watering and I cannot believe any bona fide Indian restaurants would buy from there. But hey, there's lots of chi-chi stores selling overpriced stuff to the fashionistas (and this is certainly not aimed at you at all). I've been cooking Indian food since the mid 1980s when I lived in Rusholme, (an area of Manchester with lots of Indian stores and restaurants). Since then, I've always tried to shop at the stores frequented by people who cook this kind of cuisine all the time.
Paul.
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carswell
Feb 3, 2009 10:32 AM
The best spices, bar none, can be had at Olives et Épices at the Jean Talon Market. And a few doors south, the sister store La Dépense has a number of non-spice Indian ingredients. Be prepared for a severe case of sticker shock, however.
Far more affordable spices and other subcontinental ingredients will be found near the Côte Ste-Catherine metro, specifically Marché Victoria Oriental (6324 Victoria) and Épicerie Shavit (6334 Victoria). There are also several Indo-Pakistani stores on Jean Talon between Parc and L'Acadie. A word to the wise: unless you like dealing with meal moth infestations, stick any spices and grains purchased at these stores in your freezer for three or four days before putting them in your pantry.
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re: carswell
cherylmtl
Feb 3, 2009 06:50 PM
IMHO, the quality of the spices at Olives et Epices far outweighs the difference in cost over the ones from Indian and Pakistani stores. I don't even look anywhere else for mine. And they are now stocked at a few other places in town (such as Fromagerie Atwater, although they don't carry everything, but they have a pretty decent selection of Olives et Epices spices).
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re: carswell
divya
Dec 9, 2009 06:27 AM
on the dot carswell. re 'infested spices'
this freezer tip will serve well with the spices, that come to me from India , directly.
so i am assuming that i am eating extra protein, when i cook with these, as the moths freeze to death , in the freezer . :-)
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