ottawa foodies

where I can buy Asafoetida? I have just moved over to Ottawa from the UK and have not yet located all the 'special' places to buy specialist ingrediants.

I have seen it at the Natural Food Pantry in the past, although it's been years since I looked for it there.

Yes, you can buy it at the Samosa Hut on Wellington/Richmond, near the 24 hours Loeb. Otherwise, you may be able to find it at the NASA food center on Somerset.

How's this list of places to buy the Devils Dung (asafoetida)?

India Bazaar - 613-726-7767
2953 Carling Avenue , Ottawa , ON K2B 8K6

Vaishali's Super Store Ltd - 613-721-0318
62 Wylie Avenue , Ottawa , ON K2B 6M4

Sree Fresh Market - 613-828-2221
3063 Carling av , Ottawa , ON K2B 7K4

Asia Market - 613-230-2329
801 Somerset Street West , Ottawa , ON K1R 6R4

Madina Food Marts - 613-567-1086
809 Somerset Street West , Ottawa , ON K1R 6R4

India Grocery Store - 613-565-7970
675 Somerset Street West , Ottawa , ON K1R 6P3

Taj Mahal Groceries - 613-824-6329
3022 St Joseph Boulevard , Orleans , ON K1E 1E2

Asian Grocers - 613-841-3088
3095 St Joseph Boulevard , Orleans , ON K1E 3W6

You know what ?

When I first smelled this stuff, I said to myself, "Who in their right mind would cook with this stinky-rank stuff?". But now, I don't think I would like any Indian Pickle without it !

I bought some asafoetida today (at Vaishali's) and used it in a lentil dahl that turned out very nicely indeed. Anyway, in that shopping trip I also happened to pick up a tray of kippers from Farm Boy. The combined smell of fishy herring and asafoetida in my car was something else! Eeep! :)

Heeng/asafoetida is one of those magical spices that smells like the devil's armpit, but imparts a fantastic taste. It's like the durian of the spice world.

How long can asafoetida be kept? My DH is hanging on to a tin that looks like it belonged to Adam and Eve.

I betcha it lasts as long as salt because mine is 5-6 years old and it still smells like it did from day one .... just like a skunks crotch !!

Gotcha beat - ours has to be 25 years old. It smells like tomcat piss.