Calling all Canadians Part 3....

[JJ40]

I often get frustrated with Canada's ingredient selection, as I know have other Canadians on this BB.

I thought it would be great to have a post where we could share tips on good Canadian products...

For example, I've found a great fat-free sour cream! Normally I buy Beatrice and I find it is very runny. Well, I recently bought No-Name fat-free sour cream that was much more like full-fat sour cream--very thick. It comes in a yellow container, and I got it in a store that sells President's Choice products.

I would love any other recommendations from my fellow Canadians!

Julie http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[Luiza]

Hi Julie!

It's true that some ingredients are not available in Canada. I don't really recall being frustrated by the lack of something (well, maybe that vanilla pudding mix for the tiramisu), maybe because I keep them in mind and I sometimes even find them. Here is a rundown of my finds for a fellow Montrealer:

1) Canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce -- found them at the Metro on Cote des Neiges and Queen Mary.
2) Muir Glen pasta sauces -- found them at Fruiterie du Parc (La Cite Shopping Mall, on Parc). Haven't tried them yet, but maybe I will.
3) Grits -- I just use a coarser grade of cornmeal, found at middle eastern stores.

That's all I can think of right now. Fruiterie du Parc is also the place where I get stuff for asian cooking, from frozen won ton skins to seaweed to Thai chili paste. One of the advantages of living in Montreal is that you can find any ethnic ingredients you can think of, and some that you don't want to (like authentic Argentinian blood sausages, yuck!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Anyway, these are not exactly tips on Canadian products, but maybe they are useful. Thanks for the tip for fat-free sour cream, now I'll give another try cooking with it.

Luiza

[alice*]

I've found that although, yes, there are many things that you can't get in Canada, we do have a number of superior products. For example, graham crackers are much better in Canada and we have becel light margarine which is the best light margarine I have tried. We also have better light peanut butter (reduced calories not just reduced fat). Any others out there? I know that there are no lack of things you can't find here as well, I am always amazeed when I go to grocery stores in the states...

[julia]

Luckily living near Toronto allows me to buy almost any ethnic food I need. When I moved to Oakville, we had a difficult time finding a store where we could buy Mexican/S. American products. I have since found one in Mississauga so that's great. Their prices are a bit higher than in Toronto, but at least it is close.

[jd]

julia, have you found enchalada sauce in your Mexican searches? I'm in Etobicoke, but get all over the GTA periodically. My SIL brought me some from the US but I'd like to know that I can get some here. TIA

[julia]

Re the enchilada sauce, no, but only because when I make enchiladas, I just make my own salsa -either red or green (green with tomatillos). I have been able to find great molé sauce though, which I love.

[JJ40]

Luiza, thanks for the tips! Believe it or not, I live only a few minutes from Fruiterie du Parc and have bought a lot of ingredients there.

One thing I've had a hard time finding is turkey sausage. I looked all over for it to make Dracula's revenge (from Oct., I believe) and couldn't find it. I ended up substituting a pork sausage but it tasted kind of funny. Have you had any luck with this?

Julie

[Sarah]

Turkey sausage is usually available in Zehrs here, or another store that sells President's Choice products. I want to say that's it's Maple Lane that makes them, but I'm not positive.

Sarah

[This message has been edited by Sarah (edited 02-01-2001).]

[Luiza]

Julie, I wonder if we ran into each other at Fruiterie du Parc! I don't go there very often, but it's still possible...

I didn't look for turkey sausage, so I don't know how easy it is to find. I buy sausages from the sausage place in Fabourg -- they have some chicken sausages but I don't recall any turkey ones. However, Sarah's tip is worth pursuing (thanks, Sarah!). I don't recall seeing them at Provigo, but a trip to Loblaws might unearth some.

Regarding Dracula's Revenge, as far as I remember CL substituted turkey sausage for the original pork sausage, so I would say that it was probably because the sausage wasn't very good that the food tasted funny, not because it was pork. The italian (pork) sausage at Fabourg is pretty tasty, but the store is closed down for renovations. I miss my mexican sausage http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

Luiza

[JJ40]

Luiza,

Have you had any luck finding low-fat sharp cheddar in Montreal?

(By the way, feel free to email me at: grossjul@hotmail.com)

Julie http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif