Hello Guys

Landed in Toronto area last Thursday - nice weather to start!

I have been shopping a couple of times to get the cupboards stocked up with the basics as it where but I am struggling to find things that in the UK would be commonplace. I know I am not going to find everything that was in the UK and I do not expect to however if anyone knows where I can get some of these items it would be most appreciated:

Ryvita
Mango Chutney
Branston Pickle
Cranberry Sauce
Plum sauce
Caramelised Onion Chutney
Mint Sauce
Redcurrant Jelly
Parsnips

Also is it me or is lamb really difficult to find and expensive when you do find it? Any thoughts on lamb would also be useful.

Cheers Guys

Graham

Hello there and welcome to Canada!

You'll find most of these goodies....you might have to seek them out in different locations though. In the UK they were all under one roof.

We shop in Longos and Fortinos and I know I've seen most of the items you mention in there. The mint sauce and recurrant jelly I'm not sure about though. I saw Branston Pickle this week in Longos but it's in a smaller, slimmer jar with a different label so I'm not sure whether it's the same taste as the UK variety. However, good old Walmart do supply it and plenty of other British goodies. They are found in the 'International Foods' section.

Pretty certain plum sauce and mango chutney (Sharwoods) are easy to come by too. Caramelised onion chutney I haven't seen but then I haven't looked either

We got here last July and found the shopping experience quite daunting and slow going at first but we narrowed down where we like to go and stick with them.

For basics we use Cheap Thrills (more commonly known as No Frills). For most other shopping we use the above mentioned shops. You just have to shop around. Don't forget to use flyers and coupons though. They really help to reduce the bills.

Lastly, yes....lamb is really expensive so we view it as a treat for some time special. Chicken can be expensive too but I stock up and freeze when it's on offer. No Frills offered six big chicken breasts for $6 last week, they are usually $22 so really worth bulk buying. Beef is cheap though.

You'll get used to it, I promise.....

Hi Graham. As you are not a new BE member I have moved your thread over to the Maple Leaf forum.

Bulk Barn usually have a shelf of English things. Definitley worth checking out.

Also, if you're in the States any time soon, Price Chopper sell huge jars of Branston Pickle for about $4 - 5. They are in the kosher section for some reason

Most of the list is readily available at my cheapo supermarket? See above, as is Lamb, although its frozen and stupidly expensive as a rule

Any idea where I can get some horse lasagne?

The items you didn't highlight are available from the weird sauces shop under the St. Lawrence Market. Lamb isn't that expensive, less than $10/lb, if you buy the whole lamb. There's a farm gate place in Laurel ON.

You can get horse meat from most any deli. Blending it with the right amount of bits of cow and bits of unknown is the challenge.

The only two things I haven't seen and probably because I haven't looked is the caramalised onions and the red currant jelly, everything else available in Walmart - if it's there it will be in your local Presidents Choice store too - you just have think of the most bizarre place in the store to find these things and you'll find it.

I really do have to get the vegetarian thing going again!

Loblaws offers "meat" lasagne. I'd rather not know what's in that.

I have seen caramelised onions, but not spotted red currant jelly, but I haven't looked. I was surprised to see parsnips on the list, as I see them everywhere.

superstore or Loblaws should have all of those things

Cheers guys for all that. Since posting I have found Mango chutney, plum sauce and parsnips but thanks for all the great suggestions.

Hope that makes sense! It's more a case of knowing where to look in the store rather than what store sells them.