Quoting Michael Loo to Jim Weller <=-

I wonder what the worldwide cardamom shortage is
doing for the mental health of the Swedes.

Not to mention the Danes. I only use it in a few things but I would
certainly miss it if I didn't have any at all.

I see that the wholesale price at auction in India just shot up from
$36 to $57/kg last month as a result of last summer's floods
following by drought there.

I'd better go buy a bag of last year's crop before the retail prices
go up here. I just checked Loblaws online and right now Suraj brand
ground cardamom, a 50g bag is just $3.49 (so $69.80/kg) whereas a
49g bottle of McCormicks is $10.99 which works out to $224.30/kg.

Suraj is an Australian based importer there of Indian atta flour, spices, pulses and chutneys which now markets Indian foodstuffs in Canada as
well.

I buy their stuff all the time as their products are as good as the
more recognized brand names but much cheaper.

(I also patronise AGT Foods which is the retail arm of Regina based
Alliance Grain Traders Inc. which bought out Quebec based CLIC
International Inc., a Canadian food packager, canner and retail and
distributor of ethnic foods including rice and pulses. They are the
only canner I know who process and sell lupini.

New Orleans [...] offered in
restaurants for most or all of December. A lot of
the places offer set menus for $50 or more that are
represented as good value but aren't really

So another industry rip-off just like New Year's Eve, Valentine's
Day and Mother's Day promotions.

Our grandkids embrace [...] second Christmas and New Years

Yay for Kwanzaa, Hanukkah

Given the ethnic make-up of both Yellowknife and Fort McMurray they
are not familiar with those holidays but do celebrate Tet. All the
girls have Ao Dai dresses for the occasion.

Cheers

Jim

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Fido Since 1991 | QWK by Web | BBS.FIDOSYSOP.ORG (1:123/140)

Quoting Michael Loo to Jim Weller <=-

Suraj is an Australian based importer [...] which now markets
Indian foodstuffs in Canada as well.

Which store carries this brand locally?
For you that is.

I don't know how many Loblaws stores carries it but Trevor's "Your
Independent Grocer" does. The TIG guys are all franchisees who can access Loblaw's supply chain and brands but are also free to stock what
they want from elsewhere. The smaller Glen's YIG downtown does not
carry Suraj goods but he has his own unique items including a deli
that makes pretty good takeout fried chicken, and fresh durians in
season for his Asian customers.

I also patronise AGT Foods

Did you show that to me? I'm not recalling that.

They are a Canadian grain and pulse purchaser, processor and
distributor using the brand name CLIC at the retail level not a
physical store.

only canner I know who process and sell lupini.

Here, Pastene sells salted lupini in jars.
They're almost inedible from the brine.

The CLIC canned lupin beans are canned, not pickled in brine, and not
not salty at all. I use them as I would canned lima or cannelini
beans which are sort of similar tasting. The beans are imported from
Lebanon as lupins don't seem to be grown in Canada except for their
flowers. And they are a sweet variety that don't have to be soaked
numerous times in several changes of water to become edible.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

Title: Italian Tossed Salad
Categories: Italian, Salads, Chilies, Beans
Yield: 8 Servings

2 qt Torn bite-size Escarole
1 qt dandelion leaves,
-tough stems removed
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 c Canned lupini beans
1/2 c Thinly sliced prepared
Peeled roasted red peppers
1/2 c Canned pepperoncini chilies,
Stemmed, seeded, and sliced
1/2 c Canned red cherry peppers,
Stemmed, seeded, and sliced
1/3 c Minced fresh basil leaves
1/3 c Minced parsley
2 Cloves garlic, minced
1 tb Extra-virgin olive oil
1 tb Balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper
1/2 c Large ripe green olives,
Drained
1/4 c Salt-cured black olives

In a large shallow salad bowl, combine escarole, dandelion leaves,
onion, lupini beans, roasted red peppers, pepperoncini chilies,
red cherry peppers, basil, parsley, and garlic.

Mix gently with just enough oil to coat greens; add vinegar, salt,
and pepper to taste. Garnish with green and black olives.

C'Ann Fragione, San Francisco, California, Sunset Magazine

MMMMM

Cheers

Jim


... Ever tell an angry woman to calm down or try to baptise a cat?

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Fido Since 1991 | QWK by Web | BBS.FIDOSYSOP.ORG (1:123/140)