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Tamis in Manhattan

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Hey guys,

I'm trying to buy a tamis, but so far it's been an epic failure. I tried Sur la Table, Williams-Sonoma, Bowery Kitchen and Master Kitchen. Nothing. Most don't even know what it is.

Do you know where can I get one in the city?


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  1. J.B. Prince has the best selection of such things in my experience.
    Et voilà: http://www.jbprince.com/pc_combined_r...

    JB Prince
    36 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016

    6 Replies
    1. re: buttertart

      Awesome. Thank you. I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

      1. re: buttertart

        Close, but no cigar. I need one for tomorrow; they're closed on Saturdays. *sigh*

        You'd think it'd be easier to get something as simple as a tamis in NYC.

        1. re: w8nderlust

          Shoot. Zabar's? Dean & Deluca? Sur la Table? A kitchenware shop on the Bowery? Bet you've already thought of those. Good luck.

          2245 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

          Sur La Table
          75 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

          1. re: w8nderlust

            Depending on what you need one for, the Indian version called a chalni might work. The ones I've seen are smaller and flimsier, and also much less expensive, than well-made French tamis, but might serve your purpose, at least temporarily. They usually have several interchangeable sieves, a couple of which are quite fine.

            There are a couple of Indian shops around the near the corner of Lexington and 28th Sts, or you could be more sure of finding one out in Jackson Heights (Queens). For reference, this is the utensil I'm talking about: http://www.spicesofindia.co.uk/acatal... .

              1. re: buttertart

                Definitely the thing if you can't justify the cost of, or storage space for, a larger tamis!

        2. Both Sur la Table on Spring St. and Bowery Kitchen (the one in Chelsea Market) carry them, but I had the same experience as you. When I asked for a tamis, they had no idea what I was talking about, but when I explained that they're also referred to as drum sieves or flat sifters, they rang a bell. At Bowery Kitchen, they were hanging overhead by the cash register, and at Sur la Table they were towards the back on one of the racks against the left wall. The BK ones had metal sides, while the SLT ones had bamboo sides. From what I recall, the holes of the BK ones were much finer than the SLT tamis. Each store only had one mesh grade, but BK had various diameters to choose from.

          Sur La Table
          75 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

          Bowery Kitchen Supply
          75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

          1 Reply
          1. re: BklynBlaise

            Thanks, BrklynBlaise. You were absolutely right. Got one at Bowery Kitchen. The BK one is indeed very fine. Making that coulis ended up being quite an exercise.