Kooper's Profile
New PC Insider's Report
I bought the plants for the Bumble Berry Pie (2x Blackberry plants, 1 Raspeberry bush, 3x blue berry plants). They all seem to have taken well and are growing nicely. I will report on the results in August.
ISO Berard Olivewood Ladle
The parent Company of Berard is located in Toronto. Give them a call to see where you can buy one in the GTA. You likely won't be able to buy one from Browne directly because they are a distributor.
http://www.browneco.com/retail.html
Buying Food Machines from China
I used to work for a major canadian retailer developing and buying kitchen appliances. I can tell you that the appliance/cookware/gadgets is only as reliable as the NORTH AMERICAN/EUROPEAN company that is buying it. There are loads of poor quality things coming out of China but it is the brand (Kitchen Aid, Cuisinart) or retailer (Macy's, William Sonoma) that decides what they buy and how rigoursly they are going to test it.
Whether it is the brand or the retailer buying it they set the testing standards and ensure the product meets THEIR quality. The minimum level should be the required Canadian/American/European standards. National standards usually only test for safety and minimum performance and don't go into detail for how long the coffee machine or slow cooker will last. Certain companies likely have higher standards which will get you a coffee maker that brews hotter, or a slow cooker that holds a more even temperature or an espresso machine that gets to a higher pressure.
If you are really concerned call the customer service line and ask what their testing standards are and what their policy is for recalls. They likely won't tell you the exact standards but you can get an idea.
It is great to blame China but in the end it is up to the brands and retailers to make the smart decisions about the quality of product they are buying.
ISO Watermelon Seedlings
Hey,
I am planting my garden this weekend and I am looking for watermelon seedlings. Ideally plants that will grow smaller water melons. Does anyone know of a garden center in east Toronto that has them? Home Depot, Loblaws and the Big Carrot have so far been a bust.
Thanks for your help.
"Sauce" on the Danforth
I walked by the store front today. It is going to be at 1376 Danforth the former location of Classy Nails. They are working on the restaurant now but no hints of anything beyond a LCBO license application and a poster of bartender in the window.
"Sauce" on the Danforth
Where is "Steps from Greenwood subway station"? That is a bit relative.
Since Taps and Tales left we are without a good local. Morgans is nice but too expensive for a regular hang out.
Morgans on Danforth
It is too bad because Taps and Tales was full all the time. We have been a couple of times and it was never as full as it used to be. I agree with some of the other comments. It is just a bit too expensive to be a regular place to go.
Is My Cookware Toxic?
The magnet test doesn't always tell the whole story anymore. 'Stainless Steel' used to be 18/10 which won't stick to a magnet. Now 18/10 is used mostly on higher priced cookware. It may be given that this is a cheaper pot that it is 18/0 which is weakly magnetic.
Morgans on Danforth
My wife and I used to be regulars at the bar that existed before Taps and Tales. We have been to Morgans a couple of times and yes the food is good but it is too expensive to be a regular hang out. The beer selection is good and the food is pretty good and varied. I have tried the wild boar pasta and it was really good. I cal also vouch for the burger, good and tasty. What is missing from the menu is anything healthy. There are few salads or anything without red meat. If you are a local it is worth a visit for dinner.
2011 Food and Resto CLOSINGS
Some of the staff we got to know really well over the year's won't be back and fear of the unknown. Taps is at the top of my price range to be "The Local". If dinner items go up much more then it will be a "now and then restaurant" rather than a frequent night out or quick dinner when we don't want to cook.
2011 Food and Resto CLOSINGS
Taps and Tales on the Danforth is closing because the owner is selling the business. It is being bought by the owners of Hot House and according to the staff at Taps it will either be much the same as the current bar or it will be more upscale. That stretch of the Danforth from Greenwood to Woodbine could do with a couple of nicer restaurants but I am going to miss my local!
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Hot House
35 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1T3, CA
How do you store/archive your recipes?
I used to bookmark them and cook using my laptop. I hated the fact that I had to touch the computer while cooking. If you are making chicken, or your hands are covered in cake batter the last thing I want to do is touch a laptop. In the end I copied them all from my laptop and printed out a binder with all my best recipes.
President's Choice Black Label
Some stores have a special black label display. My store on Redway off Laird has the displayer by the fresh baked goods next to the deli.
Current thoughts on Prince Edward County?
I have read all the recommendations on the various threads and all the recommended places have entrees in the mid to high 20s. I was hoping for something in the $15-20 range. We are going to go to one nice fancy dinner but need to be economical for the second. As for style of food we are adventurous and don't have much in the way dislikes.
Current thoughts on Prince Edward County?
Does anyone have any suggestions for an affordable place to eat. We have a 5 month old and we would like somewhere that will let us bring our little one. She is a good sleeper so don't worry.
midnight wifi cafe near Greenwood, dinner near Avenue Rd x Lawrence and Cherry St, lunch near Finch x McCowan
If you are looking for a coffee shop near greenwood and Danforth the other place to try is Taps and Tales. Yes it is a pub but they have free wifi. It is my local the staffis great.
South African visiting Toronto on Friday - need authentic Canadian food experience
Good for on the way home after a long night. Smoke Poutinerie or Poutini's are your best choices for a late night snack. There are few iconically Canadian foods but Poutine is one of them.
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Poutini
1112 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J, CA
ISO Juniper berries?
Either in the sun on a baking sheet in the sun, in a food dehydrator or in the oven.
If you are drying things in the oven be patient. It should be set to 90F and could take 4-8 hours depending on what you are drying. If your oven doesn't go that low set your oven to the lowest setting and prop it open with a wood or metal spoon. Be careful. It check on it frequently.
This time of year it seems crazy to use the oven when the AC is going as well. I am going to use the sun or pick up a dehydrator so I am not using my oven to heat my whole house, while running the AC to cool the house. It seems like a waste of energy and money to dry 3$ in spice.
ISO Juniper berries?
Spice Trader at 877 Queen Street West (Just west of Strachan) has them and you can buy them online if you don't want to travel downtown. You should though, the store is worth a visit.
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Spice Trader
805 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J, CA
New on The Danforth
Have you tried Taps and Tales just West of Jerry's? A great local pub.
Toronto To Pembroke Suggestions
Hello,
I am heading up to a cottage near Pembroke on Thursday and I am looking for suggestions of places to stop for food. Poutine, Ice Cream, baking, produce, meat, what ever. We are going east on the 401 then turning north at Belleville, up to highway 7 then north on 41. Is there a good picnic place or provincial park to stop for a break and have a swim?
I am hoping for something look forward to on the 6 hour drive up.
Thanks a lot,
Kooper
BBQ Sausage
You went to Salt Lick. so jealous.
What was in the Hill Country Sausage? Game?
Is there a reason salt is added with dry ingredients in baking?
Are you using a fine grind salt and mixing the dry ingredients first? I have used coarser salt and found that but using a find grind salt or grinding it first hasn't caused me any problems.
Smoking Brisket Question
I have yet to smoke a beef brisket (on my list this summer) but one thing I find really useful when cooking is a digital meat thermometer. Stick it in the thickest part of the meat, run the cord out side of the BBQ and plug it into the digital base. Then watch the temperature click higher and higher. You will always know how hot the meat is and know when to pull it off the grill.
What is key for smoking is that you don't have to open the lid to check the temperature. Unlike with an instant read or a dial thermometer where you have to open the lid constantly the digital display will tell you exactly how the meat is doing.
Also unlike an instant read you are not constantly poking holes in the meat causing the juice to run out. The single hole usually sears around the metal probe so you don't lose any juice.
They can be purchased cheaply at your local housewares, BBQ or home reno stores from 10$ up to 80. I have a fancy one that tells me the temperature of the BBQ as well as the meat and calculates the time remaining so I know when to start my sides.
Chipolte Peppers
Does anyone have a technique for making Chipolte peppers? I have a garden of jalapenos and I am looking forward to smoking them. I am also hoping to make Chipoltes in Adobo Sauce.
ISO Sauce Bottles
Hello,
My garden is starting to get full of hot peppers, tomatoes and berries and I want to make my own chipotle and BBQ sauces then preserve them over the winter and until next BBQ season. (Strawberry Habanero BBQ Sauce.) Does anyone know where in Toronto I can buy sauce bottles that I can use for canning? I would prefer to use sauce bottles over the small canning jars which are easier to find.
Thanks,
Which LCBO has the best beer selection?
I heard from a beer rep for a micro brewery that the managers of each store have some discretion as to which beers they want to bring in. I was trying to find his particular micro and suggested asking the manager of my local store because if they get enough requests they are often willing to give the beer a try.
This strategy is much better for micro brews than working with the beer store that has apparently very expensive listing costs to sell the beers.
Help growing ancho poblanos
I water the peppers when the ground dries out. Should I give them a day to dry out before watering them?
HELP with Pit
If it isn't too late if you haven't done this before I'd go for boring and make burgers and sausages. Nothing terribly challenging but you won't have disspointed and hungry campers. You can wow your guests with sides and condiments.
Or prove me wrong. The easiest to do is pulled pork and will take about 4-6 hours. There are tons of recipes out there.
