CJAD show: Buying By the Pound
Q: To get ready for summer BBQ’s and friends and family coming over, I hear you’ve found a new place for us to stock up the kitchen.
A: Finally Montreal has gotten its first Bulk Barn at Le Marche de l’Ouest.
Q: Bulk sounds like we have to buy a lot, is it like Costco?
A: Just the opposite. Those of you who like me, just like to buy the quantity of what we need and not a whole jar or bag, or whatever will love the variety of what you will be able to buy by-the-pound or by-the-pinch here. If you’re trying out a recipe for the first time, you can buy just what you need of the ingredients – no need to waste food if your family isn’t thrilled with your new concoction. The place is packed with pasta, beans, rices, spices, soup bases, flours (gluten free too, muffin and bread mixes, assorted sugars, jams, honey, nut butters, dried fruits from the four corners of the world and on to bird seed, dog biscuits and you probably won’t be able to leave without a secret scoop of your favorite candy.
Q: This is not the first one of this type of in Montreal, where are some others?
A: Papillon, Plaza Pointe Claire – Buying food by the pound is a good way to save money, because you buy exactly the amount you need for your pantry or for that one recipe. At this store you’ll find herbs de Provence, toasted corn nuts, shake ‘n bake, extra coarse sea salt, psyllium husks, jelly bellies, blackstrap molasses, spinach pasta, 12 kinds of chocolate wafers, brown basmati rice, glazed fruits and sugar-free pancake syrup. You can rent one of their 150 cake mold pans and find many cake decorating necessities, and even buy pinatas. For gluten free diets, there’s a nice selection of: bread, pizza dough, cakes, cookies, pasta, pie dough and frozen dinners.
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Epices Anatol – 6822 Boul. St-Laurent. This wholesaler also sells retail, so the prices you pay are quite good. There is a huge inventory with 60 varieties of tea and 150 herbs (some for tea infusions), and it’s only $5.99 lb. for coffee. Add to that 600 spices (cinnamon sticks, star anise), 90 kinds of nuts, whole wheat, soya and spinach pasta, buttermilk powder, sugar-free candy, wasabi peas, tonka beans and henna for your hair, too. For baking expect to find many flavour essences, bulk Callebaut chocolate, candied and dried fruits (papaya, pineapple, blueberries, peaches cherries, cranberries), and silver pieces for cake decorating. You can get even better prices by buying in larger quantities.