Sources for the good stuff: Goes here

This yr. I randomly picked a solid looking Calif. supplier for raw walnuts which have proved to be the best I've ever had.

Banking on the terrific quality of their walnuts which are secondary to their primary crop, apricots, I ordered some "slip pit whole apricots". These little marvels are rare and this is where the good ones come from.

Go nuts. The walnuts are good but the slip pit Apricots will make you cry.

ApricotKing :: Dried California Blenheim Apricots, Organic Certified

What are you keeping under wraps? Speak up.

Kona Coffee Company at Kona Lea Plantation

These folks have sold green coffee beans in the past - reasonable prices, friendly folks. This is the spot where the esteemed Tom Kellogg has gotten the Kona from, you campers know the score -I sure don't.

This will be the best $150 you ever spent. Bone in, cured ham from Virginia.

Buy Serrano Ham, Organic Ham, Organic Pork, All Natural Hams, Berkshire Pork

http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum...ham-18845.html

When I was a work-a-day chef, this was my go-to supplier of the hard-to-get, offshore, special stuff. They mail order.

Sid Wainer & Son Specialty Foods, Artisanal Cheese, Gourmet Gift Baskets, and Specialty Produce

D'Artagnan is another specialty supplier, game and French products.

Gourmet Meat, Foie Gras, Organic Poultry, Pate, Truffles, Gourmet Food Gifts and Meat Recipes

If you are in Rhode Island...I work with, and sometimes part-time for this group. I teach at-risk kids culinary skills, and life-skills.

Farm Fresh RI - RI Harvest Kitchen Project

Hans

Here's a couple of my favorites:

Nueskes for all the wonderful apple smoked pork you can handle.

Authentic Spanish Food from Spain at LaTienda.com when nothing but Paella and other Spanish fixings will do.

OK, I've got a couple:

Wilderness Poets: nut butters, nut mixes, bulk nuts. They use excellent original sources and quality is top notch. Check out the cocoa spread for a real treat. Tell 'em I sent you and don't be surprised to find a bonus or two in your order.
Home Page

Marie Sharps Fiery Hot Sauce - none better that I've found. Been using it since the mid-90s but my supply direct from Belize got cut off, so I went to a distributor with good prices on gallons: Marie Sharp's Fiery Hot Sauce 10 oz

finally, I'll offer this, because I don't know if it is well known throughout the whole country or not, but these folks make damned good blue cheese of all types. Try the Smokey Blue for an amazing flavor explosion and a great value: Hand made gourmet cheese, Award winning Blue Cheese from the Rogue Creamery!

Enjoy,
Harth
Wabi Woolens - Quality Wool Cycling Jerseys

Le Sanctuaire - my west coast source for bulk spices and hard to find stuff, unique pots/pans (check out the mauviel selection), and molecular stuff. Cool shop.

Hey, this may be offensive to you north easterner's, but this is really good stuff. Tapped and cooked down in Two Harbors, MN this is some really good syrup and is available in a few different grades depending on the year. Not sure if there is anything online, but stop at Buddy's Mercantile on Hwy. 61 in downtown Two Harbors to get your supply. Definitely worth it.

I'm not sure if the good stuff includes tools, but I found a great source for de Buyer pots and pans recently: Eurodib USA Professional Cookware

The site is a bit sucky but the prices are great. The model numbers on the site correspond with model numbers on the de Buyer site, ex. 511028 is a 28cm Carbone Plus series pan.

I second the reco for La Tienda.
Their Padron peppers are available only in the summer and are delicious- charred/roasted with just a tiny bit of EVOO and rough salt.
I actually had something similar last night at Girl and the Goat though they were smaller and tri color rather than green, called shisito peppers. Need to find them.

I just ordered 6 lbs. of cheese for the festivities next weekend. Found these guys while touring around the S.W. corner of Wisconsin a few years ago and they have some really good stuff.

Carr Valley Cheese Co. - Wisconsin Cheddar, American Originals, Artisanal and Award Winning Cheeses

The know your local butcher and prime rib threads led me to devulging my secret stash.
now that my family is completely out of the gorcery business (50+ yrs) this is the only place i'll let touch my meat (freebie)

Welcome to McGonigle's Market

they will ship nationwide.