DCL
Kelly Rossiter is offering ideas about cooking basics; see introduction here.
I have a rule of thumb about choosing ingredients for a recipe. If it grows in Ontario I only buy local produce and only in season. If it is something which doesn't grow here such as bananas or mangoes, then I will buy it but only occasionally.
When I choose canned goods or condiments, I look for products that have been grown and processed locally. Unfortunately, that isn't so easy when you are trying to stock your kitchen with items for Chinese cooking. There are some local items but you will probably have to search a little further than your grocery store. The Asian markets in Toronto carry ingredients which come mostly from China, but that may not be the case where you live. You can try health food stores, as well. [i]Chinese grocery store 1940. Photo credit: Andreas Feininger/Eastman Collection
