Vancouver: Where to stock up for Rockies camping?

[mumofkids]

hello
I'm visiting Canada in June, and will use Vancouver as a base while we visit Vancouver Island and the Rockies. Since we're mostly self-catering/camping in Jasper, Banff, etc, and I want to stock up on dry ingredients and a few gourmet yummies in Vancouver before heading to the Rockies

I would greatly appreciate advice on:
1) best "one stop shop" for this purpose.
2) any items specific to Vancouver (e.g. a speciality shop) that we MUST try?

thanks!

[hetook]

Keep it simple,never stock up food items in tourist destinations. They will charge U $$$. Buy some nice food at any local foodmarket where u arrive. In Vancouver , pick up a box of Purdy's Chocolates.

[cleopatra999]

Do Not worry about camping and having a cooler in your trunk, we have camped in high density bear populations this way without a problem, especially in well populated areas. I agree with all of the suggestions for Jasper, I would add in checking out Valbella in Canmore (near Banff) for some of their sausages, also if you see them grab some Spolumbo's sausages. You may find them in the resort towns in Alberta, potentially frozen. Sausages are always a favorite for me when camping.

Enjoy!!

[mumofkids]

Awesome, thank you!

[cleopatra999]

you also might want to consider posting on the Alberta board, they might be able to help you with some more specifics for Jasper and Banff.

[hetook]

Hob nobs are easy to find in Alberta..hv a good time.

[mumofkids]

Thank you, everybody. I suppose I should clarify that we are travelling by train to Jasper, then picking up a car and driving around. Self-catering means a combination of camping and accomodations with kitchens. I didn't know what the state of Jasper markets or supermarkets are (since we're starting there), and we are bringing no dry goods/shelf stable items like olive oil with us since we're travelling long haul. In my experience, good olive oil and sea salt, nice tea and excellent coffee can really turn a good camping trip into a great one.

[paulj]

Are you taking the train from Vancouver, or will you be driving to Vancouver (and Vancouver Island) after Jasper/Banff?

[mumofkids]

Vancouver to Jasper by train. Driving around and ending up in Calgary, from which we catch our long haul home.

[islandgirl]

The Robinson's grocery store in Jasper is very well stocked (and don't miss the Bear's Paw Bakery nearby). And Banff has a full-service Safeway.

http://www.robinsonfoods.com/

I would definately plan to stock up in one of these two towns. Lake Louise's "grocery store" is not very well stocked although would do in a pinch.

Also, since you mentioned tea specifically, the Banff Tea Company is great.

[paulj]

For shopping in Vancouver before the train, how about Granville Island? It would be fun even if you didn't buy much. And easy to reach by bus.

[mumofkids]

Thank you for the assessment of Jasper/Banff supermarkets. It's hard to get a feel of what gets stocked. I have been caught out too many times by sparsely stocked groceries, while my little ones hanker for a proper meal. Now, when we go camping, I always try to bring herbes de provence, sea salt, good olives and olive oil. With those four ingredients, you can transform anything! If I can bring along a tub of miso, even better!
I have read about GRanville Island and am intrigued. Any top tips to bring along (should be shelf stable as we don't have refrigeration during the train trip)
THANKS.

[Georgia Strait]

i don't know your personal tastes, but in general - there's no shortage of decent groceries -- i live in Vancouver proper and yet while visiting, shop in jasper often ...yes, the supermarkets are smaller but it's all there ... that said, if you are keen on going to Gran Island - then maybe that's a good place to get your special tea, your fav dried herb mix and bring it along with the fancy olives and olive oil in your carry-on luggage

At least you don't go thru security to get on the train ; )

If you like wine or beers or spirits, there are several good shops in Jasper

The Jasper Deli on Patricia (near the Rexall Rx place and across the street from the ever-important laundromat) has good sandwiches and if you go at the right time on the right day, the deli has the rotisserie chicken which some of us are known to use as a handy stand-by for lunch / din and dress it up (he makes a good chicken curry salad sandwich).

But if you are camping,why cook? Remember, how do you securely store the food at the correct temps - it is very clearly signed in all the park areas that one is not to leave food or things that smell like food (incl dirty dishes, garbage and even your clothing after you have cooked) around due to wildlife which makes perfect sense - they where there first. And don't think that a simple cooler or the trunk (boot?) of your car is 100 percent safe.

again, for Jasper, note the Bear Paw (i like the location down by the Robinsons market - tho the "other paw" is bigger - it is just west of train stn) and the Jasper Deli.

for general shopping in Jasper, the produce (fruit and vegetable) and meats and dairy - it is pretty decent at either of the two supermarkets.

and if it's chilly or damp - there is a good little museum as well as a community recreation (public) indoor pool that's very popular then ... go to LouLou's pizza on Patricia (near the Bear Paw) - i think they'd even deliver out to some of the campgrounds like Whistlers just a bit down hwy 93.

Of course, the ultimate is lunch on the patio at the famous Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge overlooking Lac Beauvert and the mountains. Best view with a meal in Jasper. If you look around the lobby you'll see photos of Marilyn Monroe, Bing, Dinah Shore etc. The kids can run around on the lawn and you can have lunch or tea or other refreshments.

one of our favourite camping treats as kids in jasper was toasted marshmallows (over the campfire) on Digestive biscuits - but the type coated in MILK choc (other people like graham crackers with choc bar on it - our mom was very practical and had the digestives with choc already attached --- all avail in Jasper - i think Robinsons even has the roasting forks - if not, the Home Hardware in the industrial park will likely have them for sale)

have a great trip - bring clothing for heat and chill. Good old polartec fleece is perfect for jasper. There are plenty of places to buy that in Vancouver when you get here.

[paulj]

While the Canadian Nat Parks have a strict policy about keeping a clean campsite (no food or food preparation items left out when not in camp), they don't warn about keeping food in the vehicle. Some camp areas do have bear proof boxes, mainly for bicycle campers. In some parks like Yosemite bears have learned to break into cars; if that is the case in other parks, local signs should make that clear. So fear of bears should not limit you cooking choices, especially when car camping.

At Lake Louise, the tent camping area is enclosed in an electric fence, to ensure separation between bears and people. In other campgrounds, the animal you are most likely to see is elk.

[mumofkids]

THis is all super useful.
Thank you SO much.
YEs, am aware of bears and will have to be cautious. We haven't camped in the Canadian Rockies before but have camped in Yosemite where bears were not a problem as long as we followed the guides laid out by the Parks.
And yes, we're probably camping in Whistlers, so the advice about LouLous is a fantastic standby! And I LOVE the digestive and marshmallow idea. So practical!

[paulj]

Hobnobs would be even better than digestives :)

[mumofkids]

Are these available in the Jasper supermarkets? Dark Choc Hobnobs are a favourite in our household!

[paulj]

I don't recall looking for that kind of thing.

Here's their web site - not the most imformative, but still gives a sense of its size
http://www.robinsonfoods.com/

My trip journal doesn't record much, just that I got smoked salmon and pate there. I also recall asking if they had persian cucumbers, but their produce guy didn't know what they were. :) For some reason we also had trouble finding block ice in that town. But this was well into the 2 week trip, and we were just seeking a few odds and ends, not basic supplies.

[Georgia Strait]

HOB NOBS --- i can't recall exactly seeing them recently cuz i have not had them on my list - but in Vanc / Victoria - just go to a london drugs big box store in any of the locations here in BC ("BUT they are not in JASP - ... it's a common chain store with everything incl computers! out west here .. .google for the locations - i think they have hobnobs tho when i was in the other day to get some for my usa rellies, i did not see them on the shelf. i think we get both the plain and choc variety at LD. my young cuz is from london uk and she likes the "JASPER SANDWICHES" and as far as the bears go - i would rather err on the side of not tempting one with goodies in your car. just look at any photos. believe me, i'm a local. besides, as the saying goes, "a fed bear is a d e a d bear - and that is not what an important national park is about.

i would have my seafood where it is meant to be had - at the coast and then alberta is know for its range cattle / bison --- so ask around for a place that specializes in this.

as far as block ice goes - well, i'd go to one of the the gas stations - avalanche esso is easy in/out at the west end of town where 93A meets Connaught Drive .... plus (ironically) they sell decent selection of wine, beer, etc --- and "crisps" etc.

i hope you're going on VIA Rail -
if you are - you will need a supper on the day you board in Vanc.
ask here on chowhound for recommendations around "pacific central station" or downtown. there was an italian place i have not been to in a while - it was portugese that began with an A - -and then got all metro-urban-loft and i have only been a few times since but can't remember what it is now. it was handy right on main and Terminal streets.

go and check your luggage first at the stn (nb - only if you are going on VIA) and then tell the bag handlers that you are going for dinner - it's usual for pax to do that. the bag handlers will tell you if you need to see the service mgr to check-in to your seats or hopefully sleeper accom. it's very easy and it's really genuine cdn as you have opportunity to speak either of our offical langues to them - they are mostly all bilingual. A real treat and don't be shy about it. And then in the summer, if you are going VIA, there is usually a nice man (i think he is usually a music teacher) playing jazzy lounge type piano out in the covered sort-of heated wait area. so make time for that, tho i don't know that he'd be there in 2012 (he was before)

[grayelf]

I think GStrait means Campagnolo (order the crispy ceci), which would indeed be your best but not only bet within walking distance for a nice sitdown supper before the train.

If you want something more casual (and cheaper), there is Farina almost directly across the street from Campag, serving reliable and tasty pizza pies in a quasi-Neapolitan style. Both are less than two blocks from the station, though they are slightly skuzzy blocks.

[waver]

If you're going to Granville Island there are a lot of fun camping things:
*We usually bring dried sausages from Oyama on our camping trips : ) They have several varieties.
*The bulk food place has a few different kinds of trail mix: might be fun for the train. They also have all sorts of dry soup mixes, cereals, dry fruit, wasabi peas and other camping essentials...
*South China Seas: curry paste and powdered coconut milk as well as other ingredients to improve camping.

[mumofkids]

Fantastic! Thank you!

[islandgirl]

Second the recommendation for some selections from Oyama at Granville Island. There is also a well stocked tea store there and I would check out Edible BC for some "local" specialty items (fancy salts, sauces, vinegars, etc). It's not actually in the Market but is right across the street.

[mumofkids]

Cool! I did not know that Hob Nobs were available in Canada. Lived in the US years ago and not a digestive or hob nob in sight.....

[paulj]

I've car camped a lot in those parts of BC and Alberta. Since I start from Seattle, I'm already well stocked with dry goods by the time I get to Vancouver. For many things that I need, groceries in modest size towns are usually as good as the cities (e.g. Nanaimo, Campbell River, Nelson, Kamloops, Canmor, Fernie, Lake Cowichan). These items include vegetables like cucumbers and bell peppers, boxed juices, deli meats, bakery items, eggs. Overwaitea and Saveonfoods stores tend to be similar across the province.

Jasper is smaller, but Robinsons is ok. Pickings were slimmer in Valemont (two shops across the street from each other). Lake Louise has a nice coffee shop/bakery but grocery offerings were slim. Jasper and Canmore have good bakeries. Traffic in Banff was too heavy to stop.

[Puffin3]

I was going to suggest you take along some smoked Spring salmon from Campbell River but on second thought....

[Georgia Strait]

re: Rockies - it's a long drive between Vanc and Jasper or Banff. Therefore, i would shop in jasper or banff. in jasper there is Robinsons market and a Super A - plus several good small shops including Bear Paw bakery, Jasper Deli (great sandwiches, gourmet meats (frozen) and cheeses) ... and also Nutters - a bulk food store that's been there for years -- i don't think i would bother to haul camping food all the way from Vanc.

in banff there is a safeway though i have not been in it for a couple of years.

[Georgia Strait]

ps - since you used the term "self-catering" it sounds like you might not be from here ... so i meant to be more specific than saying that it is a "long drive" --- it is about 800 KM (500 MILES) from Van to Jasper and driving safely with maybe a stop for gas and coffee is about 10 hours in perfect weather (ie not the winter). The one major stop is Kamloops - and it has all the usual grocery and fast-food chains ... and i am sure someone more familiar with kamloops can suggest a coffee/bakery/bistro type shop. But once you leave Kamloops it is very isolated and not many gas/food stops. Valemont has a little supermarket - i think it is an IGA brand. So, shopping in Jasper is likely a good option for you (i know the locals go to Hinton to stock up but you're just visiting - AND the local shops in jasper are kind of cute)