Resources

I try to cook with foods that are easily obtainable, and let you know of appropriate substitutions, but sometimes what’s easily available to me in Los Angeles isn’t easily available to everyone who is reading, so I thought I would put together a list of web sites that provide quality ingredients or other useful cooking gear.

I typically buy spices online from one of the following sources. Their spices are of impeccable quality. The Spice House tends to be a little less expensive than Penzeys, but Penzey’s sells smaller quantities.
The Spice House
Penzeys

IGourmet.com sells several specialty cheeses and condiments and delivers them in excellent condition.
Importfood.com is a great source for thai ingredients and cookware.
Mexgrocer.com is a good source for Mexican ingredients.
Nicole’s Gourmet Foods is a teeny tiny local shop that is stuffed to the brim with all sorts of wonderful discoveries — dried porcini mushrooms, food grade lavender, grand marnier extract. They list most of their products online but you’ll have to call to purchase.

I find this site invaluable and use it all the time. It’s a great introduction to ingredients, as well as a good source for substitutions.
The Cook’s Thesaurus

Many of my favorite cookbooks, food books, tools and ingredients are available in my Amazon store.