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June 24, 2010 7:50 PM Subscribe
Is it possible to get grits in Toronto?
I'm looking for somewhere in Toronto or the GTA where I can buy hominy grits. Somewhere that's accessible via TTC is preferable.
I'm looking for somewhere in Toronto or the GTA where I can buy hominy grits. Somewhere that's accessible via TTC is preferable.
I'm guessing if you take a walk around Eglington and Oakwood you'll find them.
posted by gillianr at 7:57 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by gillianr at 7:57 PM on June 24, 2010
Response by poster: I'm looking to buy them from a store so I can cook them myself. I'm prepared for the fact that I may have to cross the border just to get them, but I don't want to, and it may be impossible for me to get out of the city in that direction this weekend anyway (via the 427 and the QEW).
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 8:10 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 8:10 PM on June 24, 2010
This post on Chowhound suggests Whole Foods. Sorry, I know nothing of the Toronto transit system as I am a dumb American who lives in a land of grits-plenty and is simply shocked that you live in a place where grits isn't on a shelf in every store.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 8:19 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 8:19 PM on June 24, 2010
A friend of mine from Houston (rest his soul) opined more than once that St. Louis was as far south as you could go and not be guaranteed that grits would be on the menu. I think you may be out of luck on the local front.
posted by notsnot at 8:20 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by notsnot at 8:20 PM on June 24, 2010
Okay what about Cajun Corner? And if you're there, they make a mean catfish sandwich.
posted by gillianr at 8:24 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by gillianr at 8:24 PM on June 24, 2010
Why don't you just order them online? This Chowhound post lists a bunch of websites.
posted by desuetude at 8:37 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by desuetude at 8:37 PM on June 24, 2010
Bob's Red Mills makes them, I think, and most decent sized Loblaws / Superstore have Bob's products. They're often in with the health food section rather than the flours and oats where you might expect to find grits. (Is that where you'd expect to find grits? I dunno.)
I'd also be inclined to check your nearest Bulk Barn, but I don't know what they have them, I just think they might.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:55 PM on June 24, 2010
I'd also be inclined to check your nearest Bulk Barn, but I don't know what they have them, I just think they might.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:55 PM on June 24, 2010
Response by poster: I checked that section at Loblaws today, and didn't see any. (In the U.S., you'd normally find grits with oatmeal and Cream of Wheat and other hot breakfast cereals.) I'll try Superstore, Whole Foods, and Bulk Barn.
Why don't you just order them online?
Even Amazon doesn't ship grits (or any sort of food) to Canada. As far as I can tell, everyone has decided it's not worth the hassle of dealing with customs paperwork and agricultural inspections.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 10:51 PM on June 24, 2010
Why don't you just order them online?
Even Amazon doesn't ship grits (or any sort of food) to Canada. As far as I can tell, everyone has decided it's not worth the hassle of dealing with customs paperwork and agricultural inspections.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 10:51 PM on June 24, 2010
I'm sorry - I grew up in TO and am living there again, and I've never seen them. I bought mine in the states -- stocked up on a couple of boxes. But I will be watching this thread as well.
posted by jb at 12:29 AM on June 25, 2010
posted by jb at 12:29 AM on June 25, 2010
I'm loathe to recommend it, but Wal-Mart sells grits in New Hampshire. Maybe they will in Toronto? In the meantime, while you're searching, take a look at this page for some interesting grits facts and recipes!
posted by Quizicalcoatl at 1:55 AM on June 25, 2010
posted by Quizicalcoatl at 1:55 AM on June 25, 2010
If you cannot find Southern-style grits, a good substitute (better, in my mind) is polenta, which you can find in any high-quality store. It's a staple of Italian cuisine, and is made from precisely the same ingredient, minus the bleach.
posted by megatherium at 3:23 AM on June 25, 2010
posted by megatherium at 3:23 AM on June 25, 2010
Alton brown has a recipe for grits made with coarse ground cornmeal rather than hominy; read the comments for a variety of opinions on whether or not cornmeal really constitutes grits; it seems generally well-received, though and sounds worth a try if you can't find hominy grits. I would suggest using the coarsest ground cornmeal you can find or you will end up with something closer to polenta (which is generally made from medium ground cornmeal; the grind sizes are not standardized so there is a lot of room for variation).
posted by TedW at 6:11 AM on June 25, 2010
posted by TedW at 6:11 AM on June 25, 2010
Even Amazon doesn't ship grits (or any sort of food) to Canada. As far as I can tell, everyone has decided it's not worth the hassle of dealing with customs paperwork and agricultural inspections.
Oh, sorry. I skimmed the order page of a few of those sites and didn't see a "US Only" notice -- I forgot about agricultural inspections.
posted by desuetude at 6:17 AM on June 25, 2010
Oh, sorry. I skimmed the order page of a few of those sites and didn't see a "US Only" notice -- I forgot about agricultural inspections.
posted by desuetude at 6:17 AM on June 25, 2010
As mystified as I am that anyone would actually seek out the stuff, you might also try a bodega or any grocery catering to the Mexican/Central American population. There, rather than "hominy," it would be sold as nixtamal [neesh-ta-MAL] or pozole (poh-SOH-le) (a stew made from cooked hominy).
I'm pretty sure that the Maseca brand uses nixtamalized corn (though I'm not 100% on that), and it should be available at just about any larger grocery store—it was in Windsor, anyway; they usually keep it with the other flours. It might be a bit finer than what you're after, though.
Anyway, try that if the Bulk Barn fails you (and the Bulk Barn, I find, rarely fails one).
posted by wreckingball at 8:52 AM on June 25, 2010
I'm pretty sure that the Maseca brand uses nixtamalized corn (though I'm not 100% on that), and it should be available at just about any larger grocery store—it was in Windsor, anyway; they usually keep it with the other flours. It might be a bit finer than what you're after, though.
Anyway, try that if the Bulk Barn fails you (and the Bulk Barn, I find, rarely fails one).
posted by wreckingball at 8:52 AM on June 25, 2010
I don't know whether they ship to Canada or not but this site sells stone ground grits. There is a hierarchy of grits. Instant grits are not worth eating, quick grits are acceptable but stone ground grits cooked slowly are awesome. My wife thought grits were disgusting until I made some for her and now she has cravings for them.
posted by Tashtego at 8:53 AM on June 25, 2010
posted by Tashtego at 8:53 AM on June 25, 2010
You can get them in Buffalo. I get Quaker grips at Wegmans and Tops. They're not in the cereal aisle, tho. Try the flour section of Loblaws (we used to have Bell's here and they had grits too).
Real or not, everyone in my (southern) family grew up on 'em and they're the only grips I know.
posted by jdfan at 1:31 PM on June 25, 2010
Real or not, everyone in my (southern) family grew up on 'em and they're the only grips I know.
posted by jdfan at 1:31 PM on June 25, 2010
Response by poster: I've tried Bulk Barn, Superstore, and Wal-Mart. No luck.
Cajun Corner is now a sushi restaurant.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 3:08 PM on June 28, 2010
Cajun Corner is now a sushi restaurant.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 3:08 PM on June 28, 2010
Response by poster: I happened to see some grits today at the Williams-Sonoma in Yorkville, but they were $34.50 for a 3-pound bag. No thanks.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 3:36 PM on July 18, 2010
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 3:36 PM on July 18, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Ouisch at 7:52 PM on June 24, 2010