I only needed 4 anchovies for a easy Jamie Oliver white sauce - anchovies, cream and creme fraiche. I tried Stoopid Store and when I asked about creme fraiche the lady looked at me as if I had grown two heads. Then I went to Safeway, not quite as hectic as stoopidstore and there were one or two staff members around, still couldn't find creme fraiche and now I also could find porcini either.

So sorry Mr Oliver, I used extra portobello mushrooms and bought a ready made white sauce. The recipe did turnn out yummy though!

Biiink, I know I have seen anchovies - I shall look by the fresh fish

I've yet to come across a recipe calling for creme fraiche that doesn't work just as well with sour cream. Don't be tempted by the low-fat sour cream, though - sour cream is naturally lower in fat than creme fraiche and the low-fat varieties tend to curdle easily when heated.

Canned anchovies (or at least in jars) hereabouts are available in the same aisle as tuna etc (at least in Superstore) - along with sardines, mackerel, salmon, a bunch of assorted shellfish (oysters, mussels, clams), crabmeat, etc. Apart from a mind-boggling selection of different varieties and types of tuna, the selection is not too dissimilar from UK stores.

No I don't think they are uniquely English, I did try two supermarkets and couldn't find them. The sales associates were, how can I put this? Confused

(remember I am not in a metropolis)

Just looked again today, tinned anchovies here (Zehrs - Loblaw/Superstore family of supermarkets) are definitely in the chiller (!) next to the fresh fish, I was right. They're beside pickled herring, etc. 3 brands, all of them Spanish I think. Also had 2 kinds of anchovy paste which I've only ever heard of in Enid Blyton stories

don't ask me why but in our local Sobey's the anchovies are on the top shelf between the butter and the eggs But then this is NS

Thank you Biiink and Val50. Anchovies are obviuosley something I should pick up when I spot them or make sure I have lots of time to search ALL the shelves

Here is my tip for today...maybe don't do recipes that include anchovies Just a silly thought

That's a very good thought! I shall bear it in mind, mind you someone is bringing me packets of white sauce mix - that HAS to be easier than making a white sauce with hard to find creme fraiche and anchovies

Took me ages to find them and here in Calgary they are in the same place - nowhere near the canned tuna but in the chiller by the eggs....weird.

anchovies on pizza.......yum

not found Gentlemen's Relish yet though.....

There is another name for creme freche - SOUR CREME!

I can honestly not taste the difference between the two.

I don't believe there is much difference in taste, it's the fact that it behaves differently when cooking - doesn't curdle.