Where the Gourmands Go

A do-it-yourself gastronomy school opens it’s secret black book.

The Institute of Domestic Technology is known for standout classes and workshops on everything from cheesemaking to cocktail-crafting to coffee bean-roasting. Here, founder and director Joseph Shuldiner reveals his favorite resources. So roll up your sleeves! Now there’s no excuse …

 

1. Home Wine, Beer & Cheesemaking Shop

Having a cheesemaking emergency? When you need supplies immediately, this is really the only brick-and-mortar shop to purchase them locally.

22836 Ventura Blvd., Unit 2,

Woodland Hills

homebeerwinecheese.com

818-884-8586

 

2. Follow Your Heart Market

A true “health food” grocery store in the original sense. Find ethically sourced ingredients for any food-crafting project.

21825 Sherman Way,
Canoga Park

followyourheart.com

818-348-3240

 

3. Galleria Korean Market

Korean grocery store chock-full of ingredients for kimchi-making or Asian pickling. Pick up hard-to-find Asian greens, Korean red pepper, sea salt and plenty of packaged items.

10201 Reseda Blvd. #100,

Northridge

galleriamarket.com

818-772-5755

 

4. Studio City Farmers Market

A great Sunday market with a strong focus on farmers with integrity. Source ingredients for jam-making, pickling or milk for cheesemaking. Standouts include: Etheridge Farms organic stone fruit and citrus, Fat Uncle Farms almonds and almond products, Givens Farms organic vegetables and berries, Organic Pastures raw milk. Open Sundays, 8 a.m.
to 2 p.m.

12052 Ventura Pl., Studio City

studiocityfarmersmarket.com

818-655-7744

 

5. Anawalt Lumber & Materials

I always try to source from non-big-box stores, but Anawalt is one of the few holdouts. Find canning jars and supplies, racks, pots and funnels for all your jam and pickling needs.

11000 Burbank Blvd., 

North Hollywood

ww3.truevalue.com/anawaltlumber/Home.aspx

818-769-4421

 

6. Vendome Wines & Spirits  

A great local chain liquor store. Find infusing spirits (100 proof vodka) here for making our Limoncello recipe, Nocino walnut liqueur, Kahlua-Domestica and DIY cocktail bitters.

10600 Riverside Dr.,

North Hollywood

vendometolucalake.com

818-766-9593

 

7. Spice Station

It is like walking into an “apothecary cabinet of curiosities.” Definitely worth a look-see when in the Silver Lake Junction area. You’ll find every spice needed to replicate just about any recipe and discover spices you’ve never heard of. Be sure to check out their beautiful bulk tea selection.

3819 W. Sunset Blvd.,

Los Angeles

spicestationsilverlake.com

323-660-2565

 

8. General Bottle Supply

“Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”—but for bottles. Choose from a wall of jars, tins, droppers and bottles for your homemade hard cider, liqueurs, mustard and more.

1845 Daly St., Los Angeles

bottlesetc.com

323-581-2001

 

9. El Mercado de Los Angeles

This authentic, two-story Mexican market sells chiles, beans, spices, etc., in bulk. We buy nixtamal for our tortilla-making class, along with tortilla presses and rolling pins.

3425 E. 1st St., Los Angeles

323-268-3451

 

10. Grist & Toll

An urban flour mill—the first to open in more than 100 years. Miller Nan Kohler commissions southern California small farmers to grow heirloom-variety grains for her to mill fresh on her 2,500-pound grain mill from Austria.

990 S. Arroyo Pkwy., Pasadena

626-441-7400

 

11. Vartan Family Grocery

We purchase much of our bulk spices and herbs from this gem of a neighborhood store: whole mustard seed, pickling spices, whole cloves, cinnamon, allspice, coriander, black peppercorns, fennel seed … the list goes on. Prices are great!

1511 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena

626-791-1086

For a list of upcoming classes offered by The Institute of Domestic Technology,
check out instituteofdomestic
technology.com.