Steen's Syrup

Ok, thanks you guys. After reading a thread about great food books, I've read Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin, I'm reading On Rue Tatin by Susan Herrmann Loomis, and Jancis Robinson's memoir is in the mail to me. Heat, A Culinary Traveller in Tuscany, and Very New Orleans are on my wish list. (Thank God for half.com!)

So in Home Cooking, Colwin writes about gingerbread, and now I'm obsessing on making some for Thanksgiving. But I need Steen's Pure Ribbon Cane Syrup. Anyone know of a source locally? It can be ordered online in lots of 4 cans, but I don't know if I would use that much.

Thanks!

you can find lyle's golden syrup in chicago, that'll work, or simply make your own syrup by boiling 1-1/4 cup sugar with 1/3 cup water till syrupy.

i adore laurie colwin, i'm so glad you've discovered her. try her fiction sometime when you get the chance,too, she was a delightful writer. justjoan

tcdup wrote: Anyone know of a source locally? It can be ordered online in lots of 4 cans, but I don't know if I would use that much...

I have a feeling that maybe I've seen a can or possibly something that reminded me of Steen's at the Chopping Block. You may want to give them a buzz and see if they have any on hand they could sell you (312.644.6360)...

If not, here is a site that sells Steen's by the can...

http://www.cajunsupermarket.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=steen&imageField.x=0&imageField.y=0


~GS

I've seen Steen's at the Chopping Block.

I'm sure you could use any dark cane syrup, although Steens is the best. You can call them directly to find out where they sell in Chicago: http://www.steensyrup.com/

Worse comes to worst, you can probably substitute molasses.

Since we're on the subject...Steen's in a pecan pie (instead of light/dark corn syrup...blech) is delicious. It's got an almost smokey-sweet flavor.

Treasure Island in Wilmette carries Lyle's. They have several stores in the city proper, so give 'em a call.

I called Steen's and asked them where I could find their syrup in the Chicago area. Without missing a beat or looking anything up, she said: Chopping Block. So last Sunday I schlepped down to the Chopping Block and got some. It cost $4.10 for a 16-oz bottle. The syrup is a deep amber color, and has a distinctive odor and flavor. It doesn't just smell sweet -- there's something sort of earthy about it. And it does have an edge to the taste, again, not just sweet like karo syrup, for example.

I then made the gingerbread that's been obsessing me. It was quite lovely. A nice textured cake full of old-fashioned flavors. It came out a little lighter in color than the gingerbread made from the mix that I grew up on. I didn't put quite as much ginger in it as Colwin suggested (I followed the recipe, but didn't add the extra that she mentions), and next time I will up the ginger.

And here's the NYTimes take on the various "heritage" sweeteners in the US, including Steen's. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/13/dinin ... ref=slogin

There is a syrup cake that is located on the packaging that is awfully good.

The NY Times article is very informative about the different kinds of sugar proliferating in stores these days, highly recommended. Thanks for pointing to it.

Not surprisingly - Harvest Time's got it - for how long, who knows? But, they've got it.

Sorry. False alarm. Not Steen's at Harvest Time.

Instead, it's "Alaga" - still, I bought a bottle.

Has anyone seen Steen's pure cane syrup recently in Chicago? I stopped by the Chopping Block on Lincoln but they only carry Steen's Southern Made, which is blended with corn syrup. I suppose I can order it, but I'm hoping to find it locally. Thanks for the help.

BR wrote:Has anyone seen Steen's pure cane syrup recently in Chicago? I stopped by the Chopping Block on Lincoln but they only carry Steen's Southern Made, which is blended with corn syrup. I suppose I can order it, but I'm hoping to find it locally. Thanks for the help.

Woodman's in Carpentersville is probably your best bet BUT call first before making the drive.

Personally, I would order it direct from Abbeville, LA. I have been at there mill on several occasions and find them to be excellent people with a great product.

jlawrence01 wrote:

BR wrote:Has anyone seen Steen's pure cane syrup recently in Chicago? I stopped by the Chopping Block on Lincoln but they only carry Steen's Southern Made, which is blended with corn syrup. I suppose I can order it, but I'm hoping to find it locally. Thanks for the help.

Woodman's in Carpentersville is probably your best bet BUT call first before making the drive.

Personally, I would order it direct from Abbeville, LA. I have been at there mill on several occasions and find them to be excellent people with a great product.

Thanks for the help . . . after striking out everywhere in the city (Chopping Block, Fox & Obel, Williams-Sonoma, Sur La Table, Trader Joe's), I decided to just order online from the company.

Picked up a bottle of Steen's cane syrup at Publican Quality Meats