Trying to find chocolate chips and flour tortillas in London

August 2, 2007 4:28 AM

Where can I purchase chocolate chips and flour tortillas in London?

No -- I'm not making some candy burritos. But I find myself in London, forgot to pack my bag o' chocolate chips (the future father-in-law lurves my freshly-baked cookies), and I'd also like to make fajitas, but I couldn't find flour tortillas at the big Sainsbury's in Islington.

I've seen smaller bags of milk chocolate chips for sale, but I'd prefer to get the bigger semi-sweet bags -- either Nestle, Guittard, Hershey or Ghiradelli (a long shot, but hey).

Am I SOL? Thanks for any help (or reccos of Mexican restaurants in London, if I can't scare up some tortillas)!

posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord to food & drink (30 comments total)

Selfridges Food Hall has plenty of both. Most large supermarkets sell flour tortillas in both the international and bread sections, and corn tortillas from Old El Paso in the international sections.
posted by methylsalicylate at 4:36 AM on August 2, 2007

Unless you are talking about something completely different to what we call them, you weren't looking hard enough in Sainsburys. Flour tortillas can usually be found in the 'mexican' food section of the pasta/rice/sauces aisle. Usually made by Old El Paso (I can't for the life of me find any offical type web page for them), in a bright yellow packet. Alternately, fresh(er) versions can usually be found in the bakery section, somewhere near the pitta breads.

For a slightly less supermarkety type, some sort of flat bread/tortilla/chapati can usually be found in the local shops, usually reflecting the local community, so in Dalston we have Turkish ones. They won't be mexican though.

We don't have massive bags of chocolate chips in supermarkets, you'll need to go to more specialist catering or confectionary shops for these I think. Usually, I just use Sainsbury's own brand dark chocolate chips.
posted by Helga-woo at 4:43 AM on August 2, 2007

Oh, and although I've not yet been to the big Sainsbury's in Islington, I am an experienced Sainsbury's shopper, and they really don't change that much.
posted by Helga-woo at 4:44 AM on August 2, 2007

I'm surprised you couldn't find them in Islington. If you fancy a trip up the Northern Line I know the Sainsburys in Golders Green has them (and stock wise that place is a nightmare). But as methylsalicylate says - any supermarket should have both.
posted by oh pollo! at 4:45 AM on August 2, 2007

I don't know the big Sainsbury's in Islington, but every supermarket I've been too in the last few years — even the larger "metro" ones, which are pretty small — sell flour tortillas. You really should have no trouble finding those! Often there's a collection of "Mexican" (i.e. British interpretation of Tex Mex) stuff from Discovery and El Paso on the pasta/pasta sauce/curry sauce/Chinese sauce aisle, which is where I find them. You may also find cheaper own brand ones in amongst the speciality breads that weren't baked in store (look for the crumpets, naans, hot dog rolls, etc.).

As for chocoloate chips, my American housemate seems to make do with baking chocolate, which melts at a low enough temperature (apparently Cadbury's, the big brand here, does not). You can probably find proper chocalte chips in the baking section (look for bags of flour, sugar, eggs, glacé cherries, icing etc.)
posted by caek at 4:48 AM on August 2, 2007

Worth mentioning, you won't find salsa of any quality here, though Sainsbury's own brand hot is not as terrible as the rest. Most so-called Mexican restaurants are usually Spanish-and-Mexican, and run by Italians. Once even... ugh... Cuban-and-Mexican, wrong wrong wrong. The Santa Fe restaurant in Islington takes all the worst of Coyote Cafe and marks it up by about 800%. I too would be happy to know if anyone else knows different.
posted by methylsalicylate at 4:56 AM on August 2, 2007

Oh, and the chocolate chips for cooking (and the baking chocolate) will be in the home baking aisle. Which might be hard to find (seems people don't do much of that these days), look for the flour and sugar and so on and you won't be far away. And get the dark chocolate, milk chocolate for baking is horrible.

When you said big Sainsbury's in Islington, you do mean the one on Liverpool Road? Not a Saisnbury's Local (they don't tend to have much of anything in my experience - especially the one halfway up Essex Road). If you really can't find the stuff there, the Tesco Metro near Islington Green should have the tortillas and possibly also chocolate chips.
posted by Helga-woo at 5:02 AM on August 2, 2007

Helga-woo -- the Sainsbury's across the street from the Vue shopping center (don't know what it's really called).

Replies to other responses:

I'd forgotten about Selfridge's -- I'll have to give that a try if get out that way. I'll have another gander at Sainsbury's -- the local shops here (along Blackstock Road) don't have tortillas.

And I agree about the dearth of salsa -- all I've seen are tiny bottles of Old El Paso -- bleeagh. I'm better of making it fresh if I can rustle all I need together.

As for Mexican restaurants, some friends recommend La Perla, but I didn't fancy it so much (spoiled Californian, here).

Dark Chocolate Chips -- mmmmmm.
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 5:44 AM on August 2, 2007

(Sorry for the typos -- dealing with a dodgy keyboard)
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 5:45 AM on August 2, 2007

This is one of the reasons I love AskMe. It would never in a million years have occurred to me that something like chocolate chips - or baking supplies in general - weren't a universal in the entire western world.
posted by dmd at 6:30 AM on August 2, 2007

Tortillas are reasonably easy.
Sainsburys has them. they're old el-paso, but better than nothing.

Chocolate chips I'm still working on. The choco chunks that most of the big stores sell are an hideous. Nobody I've visited have anything better.

I'm going to order from These Guys. since they have a 1 kilo thing of chips for a decent price.

They also carry vahlrona bars which is useful. Most of the baking chocolate i've found has been relatively sour. Sainsburys, Waitrose, you name it. All pretty sour.

Hell, the green and black is too sour. Hence the desire for Vahlrona.


Tangentially, I just ordered 6 kilos of flour from Shipton..

Specifically because it's impossible to find a softer, cake flour from anywhere.

For other mexican food supplies, Cool Chile Company (At Burrough, some groceries) has some decent peppers, chipotles and more.

For other stuff (Haven't ordered from them yet) - Mexgrocer .

Finally, salsa is a dead end. I'd recommend finding recipes. :(
posted by Lord_Pall at 6:34 AM on August 2, 2007

An option for tortillas, if you have the time and patience is to make your own. You can probably get a press at an Indian housewares store, and various recipes online.

If you can settle for various misshapen pieces of flat dough after multiple time-consuming attempts, then you never need to buy them again! Unless you want round ones.
posted by Chuckles McLaughy du Haha, the depressed clown at 6:48 AM on August 2, 2007

Granted this was 3 years ago now, but I used to live in Islington, and I've definitely bought tortillas at that very Sainsbury's. Somewhere towards the back and in the middle, near the rice I think.
posted by heh3d at 6:52 AM on August 2, 2007

I've found that homemade tortillas are much better than store bought, even when I buy ones made that day. You don't need a tortilla press, the rounds can be patted out with your hands (tricky) or you can roll the dough out between two sheets of aluminum foil (peel apart gently and cook with the foil attached until the tortilla falls off). If you are looking at doing a special trip to get tortillas, it's probably faster to make your own.
posted by yohko at 7:00 AM on August 2, 2007

Cybercandy carry Hershey's chocolate chips, although their website says they are sold out at the moment.
posted by sagwalla at 7:47 AM on August 2, 2007

You can search for Sainsbury's products at their website.
They do carry two brands of flour tortillas: Old El Paso and Discovery. They also carry chocolate chips in white or plain (milk?) chocolate. These are available in ~100/200gram bags. No large bags - you'll need a specialist supplier of baking things for that.

Ask one of the staff to point them out if you can't find them. They seem to like moving stuff around the stores, thus forcing you to go up and down every aisle looking for things. Annoying!
posted by jonesor at 8:00 AM on August 2, 2007

Sainsbury's also has tortillas in its "Be Good to Yourself" line of products. Like everyone else has said, they're most likely to be found near the pittas in the bread section.
posted by lumiere at 8:36 AM on August 2, 2007

Arrgh -- I'm really regretting not packing the chips I bought specifically for my cookie-baking here.

Making my own tortillas does sound tempting...

As for Mexican restaurants, we're going to try here tonight -- I'll report back.
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 8:42 AM on August 2, 2007

Wow potsmokinghippieoverlord Exquisite sure has good reviews. I have never ever eaten a good Mexican meal anywhere in the UK except for Crazy Homies.
Old El Paso tortillas are stale and generally repulsive. I'd recommend making your own, perhaps using Robert Rodriguez's recipe.
posted by roofus at 8:58 AM on August 2, 2007

Honestly, try Selfridges. Last time I was there they had Ghirardelli chips in the US-sized bags. Harrod's, Fenwicks and other supermarket food halls are worth a try as well.
posted by methylsalicylate at 9:08 AM on August 2, 2007

Don't forget M&S: their tortillas are pretty good, and probably a lot fresher than Old El Paso (which sometimes feel and taste a bit plastic-y).
posted by macdara at 10:34 AM on August 2, 2007

Chocolate chips: Sainsbury's at Islington definitely has them in the bakery section. The brand is "Supercook" (small silver and red bags). I've used them for years, and they're good.

If you're looking for Hershey's "chipits" brand, the 'Canada Shop' at Covent Garden carries larger bags like you'd find in North America (though they likely don't carry all varieties, so suggest you give them a call first).

Sainsbury's will be your least expensive option compared to the Canada Shop and Selfridge's.
posted by trevor at 11:18 AM on August 2, 2007

When I need to get American food (Saltines and canned black beans for me!) I order them online from Skyco, which has chocolate chips plus tons of other American stuff. I would also second Selfridges, though they don't have as good of a selection. You can definitely buy tortillas (both white and whole wheat) at grocery stores. I get mine from either Tesco or Morrisons. They are in the Tex-Mex aisle but as someone mentioned, they are also found in the bread section by the crumpets and naans.

You may also want to try a Costco if they have one near you. They carry some American stuff like Oreos and whatnot. I know you didn't ask about it but if you are ever looking for American peanut butter (Skippy or Jif), I have found that, for some reason, every Chinese supermarket carries the big jars for pretty cheap. I do love the UK, but I must admit I hate the peanut butter here.

As far as Mexican food, you are going to have a difficult time finding things that live up to your standards, being from California. Many Americans who live in the UK enjoy Cafe Pacifico in Covent Garden. I've eaten there several times and it's pretty good. A bonus is that right around the corner is a Cybercandy (mentioned upthread) shop where you can find candy, Twinkies and Mountain Dew. It's only 1.5 blocks away from Cafe Pacifico.

You might also want to try the Texas Embassy in Trafalger Square. If you are ever in Manchester, you might want to try Barburrito the UK's first and only burrito bar! It's a lot like Chipotle and quite good.

Hope this helps! Feel free to email me if any other q's.
posted by triggerfinger at 12:13 PM on August 2, 2007

FWIW, I much prefer the Discovery tortillas to either the Old El Pasos or Sainsbury's own brand. I was thoroughly addicted to the garlic & coriander version for years. I vaguely remember OEP's fajita sauce being ok but what they're passing off as enchilada sauce these days in the UK is foul stuff.
posted by Martin E. at 12:37 PM on August 2, 2007

Also, if you are ever in Liverpool, I should mention The Tavern, which I would consider to be more Tex-Mex. I didn't really like the enchiladas but the chicken nachos are BRILLIANT and the burritos look good too though I haven't tried one yet.

I feel your pain though when it comes to finding good Mexican food. A few years ago I went to a place that billed itself as Mexican and the salsa that they served us was ketchup with chili powder mixed in! Ack! But it seems that with each year that goes by, more places seem to open so I think things are looking up!
posted by triggerfinger at 12:58 PM on August 2, 2007

I love Exquisite. Their mushroom chimichangas are to die for.
posted by goo at 2:02 PM on August 2, 2007

You can get flour tortillas at the gargantuan Sainsbury's at the O2 Centre on Finchley Road. I recall that for a long time they carried chocolate chips too--Lindt, I think.
posted by yellowcandy at 9:41 PM on August 2, 2007

There's another ginormous Sainsburys at Harringay, in Green Lanes. It's a 15-20 min walk from Blackstock Road (via Brownswood or Seven Sisters Road).
posted by goo at 12:21 PM on August 3, 2007

Oops, on Green Lanes.
posted by goo at 12:22 PM on August 3, 2007

OK -- I'm back in the States (in case anyone comes across this thread in future) -- my findings:

No soap on American-style chocolate chips at Sainsburys, Selfridges, or other places. Couldn't find "Supercook." Bah. Didn't try Fortnum & Masons.

Found tortillas -- ra! But I still want to try my own.

Exquisite -- food was pretty good. Not sure if it's worth a special trip to Islington, though.
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 7:07 PM on August 17, 2007