Specialty Ingredients



In Vancouver:

Downtown
East Side
West Side

Regional:

North Shore
Greater Vancouver

DOWNTOWN

THE GARNISH GIRLS SHOWROOM AND WAREHOUSE
Everything you’ll need to be on the cutting-edge of cocktail culture is here. This stylish and sleek space showcases a new line of unusual and exotic drink garnishes; sugar cane, curaçao infused cherries, edible hibiscus flowers, jalapeño or blue cheese stuffed olives and authentic old-style Marischino cherries. Take a cocktail-making class or just belly up to the juice bar for a wet one. 1007 E. Cordova St., 604-253-5463.

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EAST SIDE

FAMOUS FOODS
This east-side institution has been pre-packaging bulk foods for more than 45 years and passing the savings along to the customer. They’re bagging literally everything from soup to nuts, as well as organic produce, and specialty meats such as buffalo and organic pork and chicken. Many hard-to-source condiments and spices line the shelves. 1595 Kingsway, 604-872-3019.

GOURMET WAREHOUSE
In a big, bright and beautiful new space, Caren McSherry’s Gourmet Warehouse now has more of everything. Find beautiful dishes and accent pieces, along with shelves of gourmet ingredients, all affordable. New items include a full line of Nielsen Massey vanillas, Just off Melrose croutons, Barefoot Contessa baking mixes, and Valrhona organic chocolate, to name a few. 1340 E. Hastings St., 604-253-3022.

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WEST SIDE

OMNITSKY KOSHER LTD.
This eat-in deli stocks gluten-free wieners, gluten-free chicken wieners, Montréal smoked meat, pastrami, turkey salami and all-beef salami. Owner Eppy Rappaport smokes and cures all meats in-house, but if you can’t make it to the deli, pick up Eppy’s Kosher Weiners at Choices Markets and select Save-on and Superstores. 5866 Cambie St., 604-321-1818.

SAMBAL & GINGER
Specializes in non-perishable Asian foods and tableware. Proprietor Lynn Santiago is a great resource for culinary information: her explanatory labels on every shelf help customers navigate products such as purple yam starch or the many sambals. Check out the fun snacks opposite the mortar and pestle and Indian Karahi (deep-dish-style wok) section. 731 W. 16th Ave., 604-630-8680.

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NORTH SHORE

BRITISH BUTCHER SHOPPE
Ex-pats flock here for the sausages in 36 different styles and flavours from moderately spicy Algerian Merguez with lamb and herbs to Jamaican pork and Caribbean spices as well as standard British bangers. Also popular are the 13 varieties of bacon, black pudding, white pudding, and specialty English cheeses, teas and crisps. 703 Queensbury Ave., North Van, 604-985-2444.

CILANTRO & JALAPENO GOURMET MEXICAN FOODS
Rotating menus feature upscale versions of simple Mexican fare: smoked salmon tamales with cilantro jalapeño aioli, fish tacos with cilantro & lime and rum raisin tamales. Great mamasita-style totillas to go and plenty of other take home goodies here, too. Lonsdale Quay Market, 123 Carrie Cates Ct., North Van, 604-986-6344.

PARS
International Food Alongside hookas and magazines in Farsi, this is where to come to try one of six different kinds of feta, a variety of olives, yummy Persian pastries and the sweetest baklava this side of Iran. 1801 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-988-3515.

SERGENGETI TRADING
Homesick Johannesbergians know this storefront is the place to get your fix of all thing South African. Look for Woolworths braai mix, Cartwright’s curry powder, Bokomo aniseed rusks and rooibos teas. 114-275 Fell Ave., North Van, 604-987-1140.

YAAS BAZAAR INTERNATIONAL FOODS
Ready-made Persian specialties like fresh house-made lavash bread, melt-in-your-mouth tender kababs and stews, and fragrant saffron-tinted basmati rice, to eat in or take out along with rosewater ice cream and pomegranate syrup. 1860 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-990-9006.

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GREATER VANCOUVER

GALLOWAY'S SPECIALTY FOODS
Richmond’s go-to place for herbs and spices, condiments and a vast array of dried and crystallized fruits. 7860 Alderbridge Way, Richmond, 604-270-6363.

VISTA D'ORO FARMS
Take a drive in the country and pick up superb jams from the farm shop. Try Vista D’Oro’s signature green tomato with garam masala, an Indian spice that complements scallops or goat cheese. The black cherry with pinot noir is not to be missed. 20856 4th Ave., Langley, 604-514-3539.

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