Where to buy high quality baking chocolate [Cooking]
2008 Dec 15
I'm not sure if a trip to Montreal is feasible bur a friend of mine who bakes tells me that Ares has the best chocolate: www.arescuisine.com
2008 Dec 15
Just got back from Farm Boy, Merrivale Road and they have Callebaut chocolate which is one of the best available in Ottawa. They sell it in smaller pieces so you can buy as much as you need.
As an aside has anyone noticed that Farm Boy has reduced the size of its displays of fruit and veggies, also not as large a selection. Might have something to do with the original owners retiring and the boys taking over. They used to have a large section of artisan breads from Montreal but it is almost a 1/5 of its size in selection etc.
As an aside has anyone noticed that Farm Boy has reduced the size of its displays of fruit and veggies, also not as large a selection. Might have something to do with the original owners retiring and the boys taking over. They used to have a large section of artisan breads from Montreal but it is almost a 1/5 of its size in selection etc.
2008 Dec 15
CakeLady: Could also be recognition of the fact that it's winter, and the economy is declining (therefore less people are choosing to buy red peppers at 4.99$ a pound)? Grocery chains change suppliers all the time, though I hear you on the change in bread.
Callebaut is definitely wonderful stuff!
Callebaut is definitely wonderful stuff!
2008 Dec 17
RE: Farm Boy
I agree with LWB & Nanook this is an annual trend with Farm Boy, I've seen it in previous years... they tend to not carry as much produce during the Winter, although in my mind there is enough of a selection, it's just not piled high like it is in the summertime when they can source locally. I also think that it has to do with their standards, which tend to be a bit higher than Loblaw's who is comfortable with crates of unripe tomatoes.
Economically it makes sense too, less wastage for the store particularly when people aren't wanting to spend more for produce... infact I know a lot of people who forego a lot of fresh produce in the wintertime instead opting for frozen, canned (ick) or traditional "winter veggies". They literally give up salad or fresh greens. So someone not buying red peppers is a perfect example.
As for the Bread issue, I believe I read somewhere (might even have been here on OF) that Farm Boy is in the process of changing suppliers... believe they are going to stop using the one from Montreal and go local. Again the amount on display, as said previously, probably has a lot to do with the curret economic situation, customers are probably not buying the "artsy" high-end stuff and are instead just going with the basics.
I agree with LWB & Nanook this is an annual trend with Farm Boy, I've seen it in previous years... they tend to not carry as much produce during the Winter, although in my mind there is enough of a selection, it's just not piled high like it is in the summertime when they can source locally. I also think that it has to do with their standards, which tend to be a bit higher than Loblaw's who is comfortable with crates of unripe tomatoes.
Economically it makes sense too, less wastage for the store particularly when people aren't wanting to spend more for produce... infact I know a lot of people who forego a lot of fresh produce in the wintertime instead opting for frozen, canned (ick) or traditional "winter veggies". They literally give up salad or fresh greens. So someone not buying red peppers is a perfect example.
As for the Bread issue, I believe I read somewhere (might even have been here on OF) that Farm Boy is in the process of changing suppliers... believe they are going to stop using the one from Montreal and go local. Again the amount on display, as said previously, probably has a lot to do with the curret economic situation, customers are probably not buying the "artsy" high-end stuff and are instead just going with the basics.
2008 Dec 23
I thought I'd seen couverture chocolate at the Bulk Barn.
I checked when I was there yesterday buying brown sugar and no dice. They don't have it. So I'll be buying more Callebaut at Farm Boy. My mum just gave me a chocolate temperer for my birthday. Wheee!
As for Farm Boy, they sure are changing suppliers. They used to carry these yummy chocolate croissants from Premier Moisson and they have stopped carrying them. Now they're only carrying the croissants that taste like cardboard boxes. It's a shame as I used to buy the PM croissants frozen to have fresh in the morning. I don't know anywhere else to buy good quality frozen chocolate croissants.
I checked when I was there yesterday buying brown sugar and no dice. They don't have it. So I'll be buying more Callebaut at Farm Boy. My mum just gave me a chocolate temperer for my birthday. Wheee!
As for Farm Boy, they sure are changing suppliers. They used to carry these yummy chocolate croissants from Premier Moisson and they have stopped carrying them. Now they're only carrying the croissants that taste like cardboard boxes. It's a shame as I used to buy the PM croissants frozen to have fresh in the morning. I don't know anywhere else to buy good quality frozen chocolate croissants.
2014 Dec 7
Bumping this thread to ask if anyone knows whether Farm Boy still carries the big blocks of Callebaut for baking. I usually buy it at Bagelshop but they're currently out of the kind I need, so I need to find another source. I know there's the Callebaut store on Dalhousie, but I've only seen the packaged baking bars there, not the bulk-type chunks.
2014 Dec 8
strawberrygirl, the Callebaut store on Dalhousie is not the Callebaut you're thinking of. It's confusing as hell, but there are two Callebauts:
* Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut - based in Calgary, AB (this is the one on Dalhousie) - www.bernardcallebaut.com/
* Barry Callebaut - based in Zurich, Switzerland. Created when the Belgian "Callebaut" company merged with the French "Cacao Barry" in 1996 - www.barry-callebaut.com/
The blocks at Farm Boy were/are from the second of these. Note that the Calgarian Bernard Callebaut brand has roots in Belgium and if I remember correctly, the founder is related to the original Callebaut.
* Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut - based in Calgary, AB (this is the one on Dalhousie) - www.bernardcallebaut.com/
* Barry Callebaut - based in Zurich, Switzerland. Created when the Belgian "Callebaut" company merged with the French "Cacao Barry" in 1996 - www.barry-callebaut.com/
The blocks at Farm Boy were/are from the second of these. Note that the Calgarian Bernard Callebaut brand has roots in Belgium and if I remember correctly, the founder is related to the original Callebaut.
2014 Dec 8
FF, I found a little more historical info on the Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut.
The Canadian Callebaut connection is kinda interesting.
www.theglobeandmail.com
The Canadian Callebaut connection is kinda interesting.
www.theglobeandmail.com
medicinejar
I know that we have a tag as to where to buy chocolate. But I am wondering where people would recommend buying some very high quality bakers chocolate instead of the run of the mill stuff. In this particular case, I am looking for bittersweet.
All help would be very much appreciated.