Finding ingredients

[Manuela]

What do you do when you can't find a certain ingredient at the supermarket or the neighbourhood food shops? When you set your mind on cooking a dish that needs a rare ingredient, how long do you search for that ingredient? How determined are you to find it? Do you go across the city or order it from the internet? ... or do you give up easily and decide to replace it with some other ingredient, hoping the recipe will not be affected?

[Ralphy]

I don't face this situation to often, but from my 'experience' i just .. replace it or cook the meal without it.
I search for the ingredient, but only at local stores or nearby.. i wouldn't go across town for only one thing :D

[karenlyn]

Over time, I think you develop a good idea of what types of ingredients are easily available-- and which are not. I stock up on the hard-to-find ingredients I know I'll want to use often when I visit a place I know sells them. Then I plan around what I DO have.

[mcnerd]

I haven't come across too many recipes that I had to make that required some rare seasoning. I think Cardamom and White Pepper were the only two that weren't on the shelves of most stores and needed for future recipes. I just bought them on the Internet. There are several sellers on eBay that sell spices from small to large sizes.

[Lory]

I find all the ingredients i need at the supermarket. They have everything there. From salt to exotic spices. They are not even that expensive, i buy them in small bags, because i don't use them that often, but they are good to have in the kitchen.

[fahriye]

Lets talk COOKING NOT BEJING!!!!!

[Marigene]

I have been know to order off the internet if I can't find something locally.