Is there a recommended website to buy ingredients in bulk?

Not sure of where you're located...however, you can start at Sam's or Costco ....if you have a tax id # you can see if there is a Restaurant Depot in your area. Most places will only deliver to a business..and some have Will Call (still have to have a tax id)

As long as you are a real business - with an EIN, resale number, etc. you can set up wholesale accounts with local suppliers.

I buy my butter from Sam's. MUCH cheaper than the grocery store. They sell eggs there, too...in 90 count containers. I buy mine from a farm and pay a lot of moola for that, though.

Yeah Leah that's why I said I didn't know where she was located...cause I heard that all you need is an EIN...but here in we have to have a Tax Id #...I'm on the state line for MO & KS & in both states they are too picky imo especially since they are neighboring states (Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, MO) you would think they would work together..but they compete

of course with the exception of Sam's & Costco

An EIN is a tax ID number.

No Jason....I'm referring the sales tax id # For the city or State that your business is set up in. You can't just have a EIN here...they won't accept that [and here they don't say sales tax ... they just say tax id]

Yes. You are going to have to do some local research though, because obviously my local dairy supplier does you no good wherever you are.

Here's what I did - I went to a restaurant one night, they served bread and butter to the table. I sweetly asked my server, "Excuse me, this is the best tasting butter! Where do you get it?" She came back with the package that was stamped with the name of the dairy. I went home, googled it, called them and asked if I could set up a wholesale restaurant account. Done. I get all my dairy thru them wholesale.

As for other stuff like extracts, I did a similar thing, I went to the website of the manufacturer, most have either a link to buy wholesale or a contact page to ask them where you can buy wholesale. I did this with Nielson Massey, they directed me to a local wholesale distributor, I called them and set up an account. Done, I get all my dry goods (flour, sugar, fondant etc ) and extracts from them.

I went to my local cake store. I asked when they get their shipments of new supplies. She said Wednesday morning at about 10. I came back Wednesday morning at 10 and looked at the name of the companies stamped on the sides of the boxes being delivered. Went home, googled it, contacted the companies direct and asked to set up a wholesale account. Done. I now never go to the cake store and get everything I use (dusts, colorings, tools) wholesale.

Moral of my story? Snoop.

I buy my 25 lb bag of flour, 5 lb tub of sourcream, 1 lb block of butter, 1/2 gallon container of vanilla and 4500 square feet of plastic wrap (best plastic wrap ever!) at Sam's club. You don't need a business or tax number to be a member there.

I buy my 5 dozen container of eggs and 25 lb bag of sugar at Walmart. Sam's club sells sugar too, but the brand I Walmart offers is cheaper than the brand at Sam's Club.

I get my vanilla from Mexico. We have family there and they bring me several liters each time they come visit. I get a few liters every time I go there as well. A liter is about $6. This is the REAL stuff and the taste is unsurpassed.

Actually, that's not real vanilla. It's 100% imitation vanilla made with unknown ingredients and coumarin, which "is toxic and can cause liver damage. It is a known carcinogen. Coumarin is used extensively in synthetic vanillas manufactured in Mexico".

http://www.vanilla.com/index.php/TROPICAL-FOODS/VANILLA/vanilla-from-mexico-central-american-and-the-caribbean.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4431997_buy-mexican-vanilla.html

There are countless other links I could have posted. Sorry to dispute you, but what you are using is potentially dangerous and I'd stop using it right away, especially if you sell cake containing it.

No real vanilla costs $6.

Here's another link:

http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/vanilla.asp

http://www.sbcounty.gov/dehs/content/recalls/20081030_mexican_vanilla_with_courmarin_no_bargain.pdf

Yeah, you are using a vanilla with an ingredient that is banned in the US and used as rat poison!!! Please stop using it!

I am sorry, ladies, I didn't mean to decieve. I can get my vanilla in the US, for a higher price. My family gets it wholesale there. It is not made in Mexico. My point was that with the American economy as it is, sometimes it is financially wise to import. But as you guys say, make you to know about things that FDA have banned here that may be sold elsewhere.

I am an avid cruiser and learned of the coumarin addative several years ago. I try to warn fellow cruisers who love the strong flavor of the mexican made vanilla, but they swear by it. What are you going to do?