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My last Vancouver workshop participants requested a “where to” find/buy some of the ingredients that we used. Here is short list that will help you stock a wholesome pantry!

Many of these things you can now get in the “organic/healthfood or asian/ethnic food section your neighbourhood grocery store- like Safeway, IGA, and Save On.

A sure bet though is the following shops I call Healthfood stores (HFS) but they are often a mix of conventional and “healthfood”

Here are some potions/condiments/spice mistress elixirs of life that I use all the time and where you can find them.

• Coconut Oil- Love this for high temp cooking especially, or when you don’t want “Olive oil background” -ie Asian and Indian do not fare well with Olives! (HFS)
• Omega Nutrition makes a great tasting oil.
• Olive Oil
• Tamari (regular stores) or Braggs Aminos (HFS)
• Rice Wine Vinegar (regular stores or asian)
• Apple Cider Vinegar (Braggs is great—or any kind that has the “mother”)
• Miso (asian or HFS)
• Agave or Maple Syrup- (HFS)
• Hemp Seeds -I sprinkle on salads, hot cereal—adds protein (HFS)

Naturally Splendid is a great Vancouver co.

• Sesame Seeds (in bulk/bags) in HFS- sprinkle on greens after ume!
• Ume Plum Vinegar- (asian or HFS) - for sprinkling a little on greens after cooking (increases absorption of vitamins, minerals and is nice and salty!) and also is the best “flavour enhancer I know, next to kombu- really kicks up a soup/stew/sauce if it is “missing something”.

Health Food Stores (HFS)

• Choices / Wholefoods, (many locations)
• Greens 1978 West Broadway : on commercial drive:
• Sweet Cheribum 1105 Commercial Drive, Drive
• Organics 1045 Commercial Drive,
• Dollar Grocers (used to be Patels) 2210 Commercial Drive,
• Donald Market 2279 Commercial Drive, (one on 2342 E Hastings as well)

I found the best prices for most of these on the drive—

• Sweet Cheribum is the best for Gluten-free tamari, ume plum vinegar etc. 
• Drive Organics & Donald Market also has a lot of weekly specials—I always stock up when I see stuff on sale, like almond butter, coconut oil etc. often goes on sale.
• Sunrise Market in Chinatown (300 Powell and Gore St) has a lot of different healthfoody items as well as every asian food item you can dream of.

The following are not essential but really fun additions:

• Pomegranate Molasses - the pomegranate molasses is very nice in salad dressings and meat marinades (esp lamb, beef) , barbeque sauces.
• Dulse – this is the seaweed that is great for sautéing in a little coconut oil and munching on, but it is also wonderful sprinkled on salads – in place of bacon (as if anything can replace bacon…) and on top of soups as a funky crispy healthy garnish.
• Gourmet Warehouse: 1340 East Hastings Street - This is where I get the wild candied smoked salmon (freezer section lots of good stuff- esp for meat eaters—and great prices) and other fun goodies/salts/oils/crackers etc. They have tons of dishes/kitchen implements/baking/ decorating extravaganza—fun shop to browse!