I've experienced a difficulty spike in the Adra Dragon and part of my strategy that worked was to pre-buff with food.  Killed the Adra and now gunning for the Alpine.

But my question is if there are particularly good places to buy ingredients for food items?  I know I suppose towns and defiance bay etc but anyone know particularly good place?

i know once the lighthouse is finished and  The Wailing Banshee is there you can buy dragon dishes from the inn.

Ok I found that Inns have already cooked food and Narmer in Copperlane market has produce to make your own food.  But shopping at every Inn yielded plenty of food.