Where To Get Hard-To-Find Food Wiki List!

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

A list to add to :-) The "where can I find that stuff?". With the horrid gas prices ordering online is often cheaper these days – and fast too!

So I start with these companies that I have used often:

Minimus.biz – for nearly all condiment packets and single servings. First aid items as well. Free shipping if you spend $20.

harmonyhousefoods.com – they carry a vast variety of dehydrated veggies, freeze dried veggies, freeze dried fruit, cooked and dried beans, flavored TVP, etc. Order a $100 and shipping is free.

justtomatoes.com – they sell both regular and organic freeze dried vegetables along with freeze dried fruit. Dehydrated veggies as well.

packitgourmet.com – a new company that sells hard to find items such as soy sauce powder, maple syrup powder, freeze dried meats, veggies, fruit,packets, etc. Very good service and fast. Fair shipping rates.

backcountryfood.com – home of Mary Jane's organic meals. Lots of great stuff!

edenfoods.com – source for freeze dried tofu (organic as well) and wasabi powder that isn't full of fake stuff.

worldspice.com – they are located in Pike Place in Seattle but sell online as well. Awesome store, high quality herbs!

importfood.com – I worked for them for a couple years, they are one of the best sources for hard to find Asian food. More importantly, their food is fresh. Something that doesn't happen always in store! Good source of curry pastes and rice noodles.

I'll add more later – and please add on if you have a source of cool stuff!

[Dicentra OPW]

truelemon.com – they make True Lemon, Lime and Orange. Also available at minimus.biz

kingarthurflour.com – really a site for bakers, but they have some cool ingredients, like powdered eggs, cheese and butter powders

http://www.penzeys.com – herbs, spices and seasonings

myspicer.com – dried mushrooms and other vegetables, spices, cheese powder, citrus powder, create your own spice blends

beprepared.com – aka Emergency Essentials, freeze dried foods

alpineairefoods.com – dried beef, cheese powder, gravy powder (ignore the ready-made-meals)

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

wildernessdining.com – another good source.

Just in case anyone wonders – it appears for now that adventurefoods.com is closed.

[Laurie Ann March]

These are companies that I have dealt with directly and who have really impressed me with their customer service…

Walton Feed http://www.waltonfeed.com (powdered egg mix, powdered sour cream, etc)

Gibbs Wild Rice http://www.gibbswildrice.com (instant wild rice and a totally wonderful wild rice breakfast cereal)

Mumm's Organic Sprouting Seeds http://www.sprouting.com (seeds for sprouting lentils, daikon radish, broccoli, etc)

The Spice House http://www.thespicehouse.com (some of the best cheese powders ever and a great selection of spices)

The Huny Hunks http://www.hunyhunks.com (organic powdered honey)

This is a link to the store locator for Equinox Organic Maple Flakes http://www.decacer.com/sale-points.aspx

[Christopher Holden]

I know some of the hard to find items can be found in the local grocery, but knowing where to look is the trick. I thought True Lemon/Orange/Lime would have been with drink mixes, not in the baking section. Butter flakes? Sour cream powder? I thought mentioning these was a joke. Who knew I could find butter and s'cream that would keep outside the fridge?
Thanks for posting these resources. It's a good place to start looking online when the local grocery doesn't carry or just stocks their items in places one might not think to look.

[Dicentra OPW]

Chris,

I'm always happy to answer an email about where to find a specific ingredient too. :)

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

Packit Gourmet has real butter powder. The stuff is soooo good!

[Lynn Tramper]

I wouldn't mind having a category in this wiki to identify companies that are willing to ship overseas. I have lots of yummy sounding recipes but they all seem specific to American ingredients. I can't even get "Bisquik" here, nor have I found any of the basics often mentioned such as 'tomato powder' and a whole host of other stuff.

Of course I make do with what I have available, but sometimes it's the little extras that make a big difference!

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

Ya know..on Bisquick? It is easy to make at home :-) It is basically flour, leavening and shortening. Recipezarr.com has tons and tons of recipes for shortcuts!
Tomato powder? Easy to make – dried tomato paste. Once dried, freeze it, then whirl in a blender.

The cool thing is that substitutes can often work well and many times even be better :-) Some of my favorite items I use are imported from Ireland. Boy do I pout when I cannot get them!

[Laurie Ann March]

Allison,

I am in Canada and any of the American links on my sites or in my posts are for companies that will ship outside of the US and will do so cost effectively.

Hope that helps.

[Lynn Tramper]

Thanks Sarah and Laurie. That's just the sort of stuff it's good to know. I have some tomato paste drying right now as I type ;)

[Norman Bradley]

Had trouble getting harmony house – just explorer issues.

[Michael Skwarczek]

http://www.alltravelsizes.com/

Similar to Sarah's recommendation of minimus.biz but I found La Spagnola Ex Vir Olive Oil 5oz for $.22. Same shipping offer of free after $20

http://www.alltravelsizes.com/1444.html

Thanks so very much for all this great info!!!

-Michael

[Norman Bradley]

I just found another site for spices and an answer to a posting I made earlier: The Spice Barn
http://www.spicebarn.com/

[Ken Helwig]

Michael are you going to join us N. Cali's next summer on some fun hikes????

[Ken Helwig]

and on a serious note, thanks Sarah for taking the time to post the information. Awesome!!

[Jay Wilkerson]

Hey Ken, What is the name of the sewing shop in Berkley.
Come on Mr H.C.- do you know?? Dr. Know

[David Bengoechea]

I'm trying to find an on-line site that sells Individual / 1 oz Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese packs. I think I saw a link on the forum eons ago, but have done a search and can't find it. Can anyone help me out?
Thanks.

[Bob Bankhead]

http://www.minimus.biz/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=mayo

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

Costco has had them, same with Sams Club. Also…restaurant supply stores that sell cold items.

[Patrick Caulder]

Do the cream cheese packets have to stay cold?

[Ken Helwig]

Depends on how long you are hikking Patrick. 3-4 days buried in your pack is ok. Cream cheese is quite nice with some crackers after a long days hike.

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

For years Rondele cheese made shelf stable packets of cream cheese. The rumor is they quit making them :-( They were sold in bakeries next to bagels in grocery stores.

But…on full fat cream cheese in single serving? It is fine for a couple days in cool weather, I try to use it in 24 hours in heat. Keep sealed till using. And! You can freeze them before leaving to extend the life!

[Patrick Caulder]

Thanks for the info about the cream cheese. I saw this on amazon and was wondering if anyone had tried it.

Amazon

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

Patrick, that is some of the best stuff around. Coconut cream powder not only tastes good it is freaky high in fat. Add a Tbsp or two to oatmeal….to rice dishes, to couscous. It isn't a strong coconut flavor, rather mellow.

I got hooked on it when I worked for a Thai importer for a couple years (who by the way sells on Amazon as well – search for Import Food). I carry the small packets that are 1.75 to 2-ounces on my website as well – since for many they don't have a handy mega-mart Asian grocery store down the road ;-)

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