The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Question for Soutwestern Ontario Loafers

carluke's picture
carluke

Question for Soutwestern Ontario Loafers

Hi,
I am new to the Fresh Loaf, and wondering if anyone has suggestions for ingredients (specifically flour) in southwestern Ontario. I have been using Robin Hood 'Best for Bread' , and Oak Manor Organic Hard White flours so far.
Thanks in advance for any other suggestions.

swiggin's picture
swiggin

It depends on where you live. The best way to find mills is search for ones in your area (one suggestion is Arva Flour Mill near London). At the moment I use Meunerie Milanaise flour, and find it to be a fairly reliable/good quality flour (you may be able to find it in a local health food/organic store).

Seth

qahtan's picture
qahtan

I am in St Catharines and I get my flour from Costco, 10 k bag,,, some times it's Bakers flour some times Robin Hood AP. some times if I am lucky Duncan Hinds AP....

The only thing I get Oak Manor is whipping cream,,, yummy/ I buy organic hard wheat berries to mill for whole wheat , get it health food.   qahtan

dwcoleman's picture
dwcoleman

is about 5 minutes drive away from me.  I think that their flour is overrated, they don't sieve it enough and it has a lot of husk/particles in it.

I've used about 260kg of Bakers Hood/Dover flour purchased from Costco.  It costs about $11.99 per 20kg and is very good value.  Arva is about $22 per 20kg.

swiggin's picture
swiggin

Perhaps the flour is overrated (at Arva), or rather over priced for the quality. I have never used it other than in a restaurant, but it was of fair quality the times I had. I suggest to try as many types of flour as possible, then decide for yourself- based on quality vs. price.

Seth

jackie9999's picture
jackie9999

"Robin Hood Best For Bread Homestyle White Flour" is what I use and I'm happy with the results. I normally pay $9.99 for 5K and before Christmas I found it for $6.99 (at my local Longos) so I stocked up. I see now it's gone up a few $$ in 2010 so if anyone knows of a better price please pass it on :)

Jackie.

jackie9999's picture
jackie9999

I had assumed the Robin hood best for bread flour was unbleached. Now I've done some more reading I see that isn't the case.

Is there a source for (bulk, or at least 10lb bags) unbleached bread flour in SouthWestern Ontario?

dwcoleman's picture
dwcoleman

There are several sources that you can try.  Bedells will sell bulk to the public, although their 40kg bags of unb flour were expensive.

Arva sells 22.5kg bags of flour for about $22 now.

I've heard that Dover mills in Cambridge may sell direct as well.

I'll be speaking to a rep from Dawn Foods today in hopes of securing a bulk order of KA flour.

jackie9999's picture
jackie9999

Thank you for the response. I have looked up these sites you've mentioned and see I'm about 2~3 hours away. I was hoping for something a little closer..I suppose my best bet is to buy the unbleached bread flour at my local bulk barn..it's expensive but until another source comes along it will have to do.

swiggin's picture
swiggin

Depending on where you live exactly, but another option is Oak Manor Farms (near Tavistock). If you live near Toronto there are a couple places with Meunerie Milanaise products (good quality, I find) - I buy them in various weights/types from The Sweet Potato. As mentioned before, if you know someone in the cooking/baking business, ask whether you can get them to order product for you.

Seth

jackie9999's picture
jackie9999

I am an hour north of Toronto...the "Meunerie Milanaise" looks very interesting and I've sent them an email asking if they have a distributor in my area.

Thank you!