
Ontario Flour, Equipment, and Bakeries
I thought I'd start a quick thread listing where to get supplies locally in southern Ontario. Please feel free to comment with your favorite places and I'll add them to this list.
Flour / Grains:
A and E Fine Foods, 19811 Woodbine Ave, Queensville, 905-478-1500
Stocks some organic flour
Arva Flour Mill, 2042 Elgin Rd, London, 519-660-0199
Mills and sells organic flour directly
Bulk Barn, Various locations listed on their website
Usually a good selection of flour and baking ingredients
Merrylynd Organics, #3010 Hwy 28 (formerly 134), Lakefield, 705-755-1081
Mills and sells organic grains/flour directly
New-Life Mills, Hanover, 1-800-265-5510
Local mill, see Liam's posting
Oak Manor Farms, 756907 Oxford County Rd #5, RR#1, Tavinstock, 519-662-2385 (website down?)
Mills and sells organic grain/flour directly
Organic Abundance, 3066 Bloor Street West, Toronto, 416-234-5258
Stocks some organic flour
Ouderkirk and Taylor, 3 Wyndam St. N, Guelph, 519-827-9378
Stocks some organic flour from La Meunerie and Ontario-grown Red Fife
Baking Supplies
Ayres Baking Supplies, 354 King St. N, Waterloo, 519-886-7001
Mostly cakes and decorating but some useful supplies.
Golda's Kitchen, 2885 Argentia Road, Unit 6, Mississauga, 1-866-465-3299
Both retail and online stores for kitchen supplies.
Harvest Corporation, 249 Watline Avenue, Mississauga, 1-888-925-6644
Baking/Restaurant supplies.
McCall's, 1290 Fewster Drive, Mississauga, 1-800-541-3415
Mostly cakes, decorating & chocolate.
S.T.O.P. Restaurant Supply, 206 Centennial Crt., Kitchener, 1-800-265-2961
Restaurant supplies with sales to the public.
Bakeries
ACE bakery, 1 Hafis Road, Toronto
Altitude Baking, 1346 Queen St. East, Toronto
Bonjour Brioche Bakery, 812 Queen St. East, Toronto
Blak's Backery, 1022 Langlois Ave, Windsor, ON
Brick Street Bakery, 55 Mill Street, Toronto
Cob's, Toronto
Epi Breads, 1526 Bayview Avenue, Toronto
Golden Hearth Baking Co., 343 King St E, Kitchener
Pan Fresco, 414 Locust Street, Burlington
Sproll's Fine German Bakery, 300 Trillium Dr, Kitchener
St. John's, 153 Broadview Ave., Toronto
Thuet, 609 King Street West, Toronto
Links
Foodlink lists farms with local produce for sale in Waterloo/Wellington. There is also a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) directory and a listing of farmer's markets in Ontario for those that are interested in buying and supporting local farmers.
Thanks for putting this list together, it's great to have a few potential equipment suppliers to check out.
Have you used Harvest before? And if so, do they do smaller orders?
I figured it was better to put this stuff here than have it in my browser's bookmarks.
Honestly, I've never had troubles making small purchases from any of the above. Harvest sells/services large equipment (mixers/folders/stretchers) and small stuff like Bannetons, peels, thermometers, etc. If I'm looking for something specific, I usually call to check their stock.
Hi all
I just had an idea. Are any of my fellow Ontarians close enough to Organic Abundance to organize the division of a 10 kg bag of organic rye flour? If there is interest this is what I propose: when we are ready, I order the bag of the type of flour we choose between us. I'd be willing to bet the owner of Organic Abundance would divide it for us and we could pick up our share at our convenience.
Any takers? We could also do this with whole wheat too.
In the mean time I will double check with the owner what size and types of rye she can get.
We might achieve a bit of savings too. I know she does not want to get stuck with a big bag of flour for which there is little demand.
Cheers
L
Do you know what Organic Abundance's price per kg is for dark rye flour, Liam?
-Elizabeth
I was just reading about flour and thought i might add some helpful info that I know as a small artisan bakery owner who uses Oak Manor and New life grains exclusively
OAK Manor carries wonderful ryes, spelts and whole grain flours. Not only are they organic but they are also locally grown. Oak Manor can be purchased thru the Ontario natural Food Co op. This means that pretty much any health food store in Ontario has access to their flours and grains. You can also drive out to their farm store and purchase directly from they at a much lower price. As for New life mills they are a great mill and their flour is very consistent and has a wonderful grind.
I can also tell you that on many occasions before we had a bakery we would wander over to the bakery section of loblaws and ask for a chunk of yeast and they always sold it to us.
happy baking
aura hertzog
golden hearth baking co
Thanks for replying Aura. I'm always keen to hear of local shops supporing local gowers! I've added a link to your bakery in the original post and I'll stop in when I'm next at the Kitchener market.
Hi Again
It's been a while and I apologize to the baker who replied to my query about the rye flour. Economic meltdown raised its ugly head here for about two months.
So, I have ordered a 10 kg bag of organic RYE FLOUR. It should cost about $20 Canadian plus or minus a few dollars because of the economy. I would like to share this out with any takers. I would be happy with 5 kg or even 2,5 kg.
I spoke to Annette, the owner of Organic Abundance and she was delighted to be listed here for you all. I am sure you will find her as pleasant as I do!
She orders flour every Monday and it arrives at Bloor and Royal York for that Friday a.m.
I have had tremendous success with everything I have purchased here and can endorse this store. They have opened a new store on Yonge, in the North End of the city (Toronto) so that should be of help to more artisanal bakers out there. They do have a website, but as of yet email is not how they take orders, you have to use the phone. If we can get up a roster, maybe we can get some more exotic flours or blends~ like seven grain type etc.
Anyway, must run for now. Thanks for your patience and support for me and for this terrific shop.
Phone number is 416-234-5258
Cheers
L
Hi
I'm in Central Etobicoke and I buy my flour from a store near Royal York and Bloor. Actually it's at Brentwood Ave and Bloor Street West( just one street west of Royal York). It's called Organic Abundance
416-234-5258
Address:
3066 Bloor Street West
Toronto
They will get hard whole wheat organic or white hard wheat unbleached, organic flour in 10 kg or 20 kg bags. I can often split a 10 kg bag of Organic Whole Wheat (hard) with the owner at the bulk price.
I paid $17 for the last 10 kg bag (22 lbs in November) and it was from A and E Fine Foods
19811 Woodbine Ave
905-478-1500
The last bag I bought at Organic Abundance was from New Life Mills in Hanover Ontario. They are about three hours northwest of Toronto. I have been to that mill with a friend and it's a fantastic resource.
Flour Division
Phone: 519-364-3260
Toll Free: 1-800-265-5510
General Manager: Derek Jamieson
Plant Manager: Bob Ahrens
http://www.newlifemills.com/ContactUs.ht
My problem has been getting smaller bags of organic rye flour, because I don't use that much. For some reason my Organic's Store will not order from Bob's Red Mill (with whom they do business and have that size) or anywhere else for a smaller quantity. That would be the most convenient way for me. So far I can't convince them to get it. *sigh*
Thanks for the references in Ontario. I really don't like ordering from the U.S. and going through all that bother to get it across the border when I know there have to be resources here in Ontario.
I hope the above information helps and I am going to try to "suss" out the rye for myself.
Cheers
L
Thanks for the links and contact info Liam. I've updated the original post with all this.
You might want to talk to the folks at Organic Abundance and see if they will carry some of the Oak Manor or Merrylynd rye. I know that Oak Manor packages in smaller bags (2kg, 5kg, 10kg, 25kg) for sale at many of the shops in K-W (including a few larger Zehrs).
Oak manor sells 25kg of unbleached hard white flour for $40 and 25kg of hard whole wheat for $45.
Just wanted to add that Merryland Flour in Lakefield website is having problems will be up and running soon the contact is Peter Leahy the mill number is 705 755 0519 they stone mill several types of flour
Thanks for putting this list together.
In my search for rye flour at a decent price, I asked at a Cob's if it might be possible to buy rye flour from them. Alas, the answer was no. (The fellow was very nice about it though.) One of our local health food stores sells organic rye flour for $1/lb (just over $2/kilo).
Another bakery to add:
ACE bakery 1 Hafis Road, Toronto, Ontario (near Keele and Lawrence)
Ace has introduced a bake your own version of their bread. I had one of their baguettes the other night at friends; it was very good. For the Ace outlet nearest you: (416) 241-3600, or 1-800-443-7929
-Elizabeth, in West Toronto
P.S. As much as I like Ace bread, I'd still rather eat bread I'd made here at home....
Thanks for suggesting ACE... I've added them to the original post. I've seen ACE bread carried at Zehrs and a few local shops but not actually been to their bakery. I have been happy with the rye from from Oak Mannors but it would be a bit of a trek from TO. Meryland lists a few retailers in York and Markham but I'm not sure if they carry their rye flour. Nevertheless, it might be worth inquiring about.
Agreed
Thanks for the link to Merrylynd; I see that rye flour is sold wholesale there. The price is tempting but I don't think we can manage to store 25kg of rye flour at a time. 5kg, yes, but 25kg? It would take us eons to get through that much rye flour. No doubt it would go off before we went through even half a bag.
-Elizabeth
Thanks for the Ontario source list! I'm currently waiting for some hard white spring wheat through Merrylynd (note spelling) since they are in my area and I wanted to find a locally grown and processed flour. The reason I'm waiting is that they told me the quality for their own wheat was poor last year with all the rain and cold and that this particular batch is still local but not from their own farm. It should be available in the next few days. Merrylynd does not sell unbleached white, but they carry something called "fine sifted" or "light" wheat flour, which has had the bran sifted out of it. I'm not sure how well it compares to AP or unbleached bread flour but I like the fact that it still has the wheat germ in it. (Is anyone out there familiar with this version of wheat flour?) Since I'll be buying a 25 kilo bag I'll be experimenting and will report back!
Bulk Barn does have a good selection of flour (not organic though) but I'd like to know where it comes from. I will try to find out.
Thanks for the spelling correction! I haven't actually bought from Merrylynd but, regarding last year's wheat crop, I've heard similar things from some CSA farmers I've talked with. I know that Oak Manor gets its organic white unbleached AP milled/sifted in London (not sure which one) and I've been meaning to write them again and ask more detailed questions. In terms of getting information, La Milanaise (Quebec) is very quick to send info if you ask for technical details. At the moment I'm collecting flour for a bake-off sourdough comparison ;)
Last time I spoke to Perry Riebling at Oak Manor, he was getting his unbleached white flour milled at Arva Flour Mills north of London. The flour itself is milled from local hard red winter wheat, it's flecked quite heavily with bran and germ (for a white flour).
Simon
Guelph, Ontario
Hello All
I thought I would post this reply from Perry about last year's and this year's organic flours. I found the texture of the flour to be less "silky" than the flours I had been getting through Organic Abundance. I have my answer plus a little useful information. I had some concerns as my loaves did not seem to have the same volume I was accustomed to. Perry wrote "
The flour has been enriched with the B-vitamins which is law, but has no other treatment. The flour is made with only hard wheat which grinds grittier that a blend of hard and soft, also the flour is ground at an old heritage mill using very old fashioned equipment. We use only Ontario grown hard wheat which is slighty lower in protein which means the bread may not have the same volume. Is this the problem you are having? For the record the Hard Wheat this year is slighty higher in protein that last season. The lot # you quoted (organic lot #90401610120 6/16) was last years crop.
We will not be stocking Red Fife and any time in the near future."
For Red Fife wheat so far I have "found" it at www.merrylynd.com,
Dufferin Grove Market, Withrow Park Farmers Market, Culinarium and
Multiple Organics (1545 Dundas Street West, a block west of Dufferin) apparently carry Red Fife Wheat.
Must run, bread to shape
Regards to all
L
Thanks for the useful post!
Can anyone recommend a source for fresh yeast in the TO area?
Hi
I often find fresh yeast in European/Polish/Ukranian etc delicatessens in Bloor West Village. I'm willing to be that any such small grocery store, deli, or bakery in your area will stock it. It's usually in the cooler with the cheeses.
just a suggestion
L
Your best bet might be to ask at a European bakery/deli. Many will sell you a reasonably sized piece for $1. A foodie friend living in downtown suggested
Karpaty Pastry & Deli, 2408 Bloor Street West, (416) 769-2159
but I've not been there myself (yet). In the tri-cities areay I've found it in natural food stores and, occasionaly, some of the larger supermarkets (check in the cooler near the rolls of cookie dough and ready-made pastry).
At the moment my bakery list needs some work... I've been really into French-style sourdoughs of late and have completely skipped the Italian, Polish, Hungarian, Portugese, (etc) bakeries in town. If anyone knows of a gem, please post!
You can get fresh yeast at the following places:
Riviera Bakery Ltd (Little Italy)
576 College St (at Manning Ave)
They sell an amount for $1 or they will sell you the entire brick for $5
Anna's Bakery
2394 Bloor St W (at Jane)
$4 per pound
Karpaty Pastry & Deli
2408 Bloor St. W (at Jane).
Sold in 100g packages for $0.99
There are several pastry and deli stores located along Bloor St (between Jane and Runnymede subway station) that also carry fresh yeast. They are packaged in 100 gram units.
I invite you to sample the breads at my bakery. Blak's Bakery 1022 Langlois Ave, Windsor, On. 519-253-4344
We have been baking at the same location since 1918 and use the orginal brick oven installed by my grandfather in 1918.
We think we have some the best rye bread you will ever taste.
Just thought to add a southern Ontario source that has not been mentioned as yet. Grain Process Enterprises, 105 Commander Blvd, Scarborough M1S 3M7; 416-291-3226, is actually a warehouse operation that sells primarily to the baking trade. However, they do have a smallish retail store, pretty basic, and carry both large bags and small of some of the flours mentioned, including Red Fife, organic bread flour, etc., plus a pretty good selection of bulk instant yeast, seeds, nuts and so on. The prices are pretty good and the turnover is high. I've been using their unbleached bread flour for years with consistently good results.
Commander Blvd. runs west off McCowan, something like three or four lights north of the 401. Grain Process is on the left hand side, just at a pronounced bend in the road and set back quite a bit. The retail operation does not have a sign, as such, just an Open sign in the door glass at the back of the parking lot. Not normally open Saturdays, except in summer.
It's also worth mentioning that there are some very good Portuguese bakeries in the west end of the city (north of Bloor). Don't have any names at the moment, but I'll try to get them and report. There's nothing quite like a corn flour roll from one of them. Tried to get the recipe; failed miserably. Interesting cakes and such, too.
CJ
Does the Grain Process Enterprises unbleached flour contain any additives?
We too adore the corn bread that we have bought from the Brazil Bakery on Dundas West (near Dufferin). This recipe for Broa - Portuguese Corn Bread is pretty close to the corn flour rolls.
Elizabeth
Hi Canuck,
Thanks for adding Grain Process to the list. Would love to see a specifications sheet for their unbleached bread flour. Any chance you could post one? Personally have not baked with this flour but would love to try sometime.
Thanks,
Simon
Baking in Guelph...
Simon,
Sorry, I don't have a spec sheet on their "Hard Unbleached White Flour," but you could probably get the info by calling them. I was told, verbally, that the proteing content runs at about 13.5% and the hard, red spring wheat grain comes from southeaster Saskatchewan. No info on ash content, though. About the most complete specs I've seen (right on the bag) comes from LaMilanese in Quebec.
CJ
Their bread flour contains government mandated vitamins and minerals: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, iron, folic acid, calcium.
CJ
Dover mills supplies most of the flour to Bulk Barn. I was in contact with Dover mill and was told they do not sell to the public but could get their flour at Bulk Barn.
I noted this in another thread: There's a place in Hamilton called Traynor's who supply the bakery biz but you can walk in and order just one or two bags.
More details in the original post here. And possibly more sources.
IMO, we have a hidden treasure here in the Ottawa area. Mountain Path Inc stone mills organic flour, and also has the best organic large flake oatmeal I've ever had (I'm a bit of an oatmeal connoisseur). My family has started getting most of our organic groceries and home supplies from them. I believe they have free or nearly free deliveries for much of the Ottawa area on orders above $300 and, if I'm not mistaken, free delivers to Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada on deliveries over $1000. I only discovered their grocery service recently (up until now, we've been buying their flour and oatmeal in small packets from the local health food store)...
http://mountainpath.com
Mountain Path Organics
10755 Pepperville Road Mountain, ON K0E 1S0
(613) 989-2973
Hi folks,
I stumbled on this site and thread when searching online for whole rye flour sources in Ontario; I'm located in Toronto.
Recently learned about K2 milling in Tottenham (West of HWY 400, a bit South of Alliston) and figured it'd make a good addition to the list. Small mill producing locally sourced, mostly organic flours.
Their sites are below;
http://www.k2milling.blogspot.com/
https://sites.google.com/site/k2millingltd/home
It's not mentioned on the site but they take cash only.
Pic currenlty on the top of the blog is of two loaves I made with 50% AP and 50% red fife adapted from the rustic bread recipe from this site.
I purchased a few different whole grain flours when I visited them last week and so far am happy with the quality and prices were reasonable, IMO.
Haven't tried their light flour yet as I've still got a few kilos of boring grocery store flour to work through.
At last I've found a source for Rogers' Flour (rogersfoods.com) in Toronto. It's not Ontario flour but it is available in Ontario. Their "no additive" all-purpose is available in 10kg bags (smaller ones too) at Highland Farms Grocery Stores (highlandfarms.ca) Also available are smaller bags of Roger's dark rye flour and 100% whole wheat.
Here's what Rogers website reports about the whole wheat flour:
We've been making bread for the last month with Rogers' flour and are really happy with it. Almost ecstatic, even. My husband had developed a sensitivity to flour with the additive Azodicarbonamide [ADA] (at least we think it was this that was making the skin on his hands peel off). ADA is defined alternately as a bleaching agent or enhancing agent. Unfortunately, both Robin Hood and Five Roses "unbleached" flour have ADA added to them. So does Loblaws No Name so-called unbleached flour. So does Weston's flour. (Note that ADA is forbidden as a flour additive in many parts of Europe - because it's unsafe. Congratulations North America for ignoring the health concerns of many just so profits can stay nice and high!!)
-Elizabeth
P.S. Next time I go to Highland Farms, I'll see if Rogers White Bread Flour is there too. It too is unbleached. And then... bagels!!!
Ontario residents
do not forget about CIPM. They produce a range of organic flours. The owner is Patricia Hastings