Pantagruelia's Profile
Looking for Jif!!
I heard from Smucker's today and here's what they said:
"Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding where you may purchase Jif Creamy Peanut Butter in your area. Unfortunately, due to slow sales movement, this product has been discontinued. Thank you for contacting us. We are pleased you have enjoyed Smucker's products in the past and hope you will continue to be one of our many loyal customers in the years to come."
Looks like I'll be stocking up the next time I'm down south!
Looking for Jif!!
I found your post when I went searching for Jif for myself today. Sadly, I've learned that the brand has been discontinued in Canada due to poor sales. How horrible. I've sent in my own inquiry and I'll let you know what I find.
Here's a facebook group you might like to join.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26490021136
Great Taste Dim Sum
I was visiting Boston just this weekend and happened by this place late on sunday night. Having spent a good hour or so on a delayed train we were exhausted, starving and looking for something... ANYTHING to eat and followed our noses to Chinatown. Blind with hunger, we ordered the first thing we saw: a generic plate of stir-fried tofu and veggies with rice. While it was good, we were envious of the gorgeous looking pile of traditional chinese lobster with ginger and scallion that every other table seemed to be enjoying. It looked and smelled so wonderful, we went back just before our flight the next day to have some. The lobster was sweet and cooked and seasoned perfectly... and it was only $15.95!
On our way out we stopped into the bakery to grab a few snacks for the ride home and were BLOWN AWAY by the steamed pork buns (not b.b.q. pork but a delicious mix of pork, sausage, veggies and salted duck egg), red bean buns, custard buns and perfectly made custard tarts.
The next time I'm in Boston again, I am definitely going back.
West Indian groceries near St. Clair / burnt sugar
Burnt sugar is sold as "Browning" and can be found in the condiment and spice section of any West Indian market. There are a few stores in the neighborhood but I frequent the store on the north side of St. Clair, between Arlington and Rushton. If you can't find it, ask the sweet folks in Gerry's West Indian or Albert's Real Jamaican. They'll direct you to the nearest West Indian grocery store.
If you're driving, head up to Eglinton and Oakwood. There's a large store at the top of the street.
swollen throat - what to eat?
Congee, is always my first choice. Nourishing, easy to digest, not acidic and super tasty.
Get well soon!
El Palenque or El Sol
There were 2 El Palenques. The place at Christie that has since closed down was excellent but I can't recommend El Palenque 2(Casa Mariachi) which is further west on St. Clair. After waiting 45+ minutes for our meals (mine came in 30 and my date's plate arrived 15 minutes later), we were told to get our side dishes from the back where they had set up a buffet that I swear had been there since lunch, if not the day before. The beans had grown a thick hard crust around the edges, the rice was rubbery and dry and the entire cart was barely warm. When I inquired about it, they told me that was all they had. It wasn't the end of the night (we arrived at 7:00) but regardless, they should have offered a replenishment or some other option. I was terribly unimpressed and have never gone back.
Haven't been to El Sol but Rincon is pretty good. A little on the slow side but still very tasty.
West Indian restaurant- dining in instead of take-out
Royal Carribean on St. Clair west just east of Dufferin has table service. One word of caution: watch for bones in the chicken roti. There was no option for boneless on the menu when we were there last and my poor unsuspecting boyfriend found it a little upsetting. The curry goat (w/rice & peas) I had was pretty darn delicious.
yummiest pho
Ditto on Rua Vang. I've only been there twice but both times it was better than Mimi's, Pho Hung or Pho 88. By far the best I've had of all time was Dat Than on St. Clair West which has since closed down and was replaced by a Pho St. Clair... a far cry from it's previous incarnation and had rancid oil in thier deep fryer when I was there last. Ewww.
Luncheon good-eat in the St. Clair/Avenue Rd area
Amen on the Sprout and Boccone recommendations. There's also the Mediterranean Garden on Yonge just south of St. Clair on the west side (just before the construction site walking south). They use organic whenever they can, their falafel is excellent, soup is to die for, salads are always tasty and their hot sauce is made fresh without a ton of vinegar ... and the folks that run it are absolutely lovely.
Best Jamaican Patties - GTA
I used to be an Allan's gal until I got my hands on a Randy's patty! While Allan's are the commercial patty of my childhood, I have to say that Randy's are much closer to the patties my grandma used to make back in JA. The crust is much more delicate and the filling has recognizable bits of beef and onion and it's heavier on the spices (i.e. allspice, black pepper...etc). This may be a bit out of date but my grandma told me that Randy's only produces patties out of their little shop on Eglinton west and they don't deliver to the far reaches of the city like Allan's do. Some patty sellers do make the treck out there to pick up their supply of Randy's so if you can find them grab one, but if not, Allan's will definitely do in a pinch!
Randy's sellers across the city will usually post a red patty bag on thier "patty pans" with white outlined text that reads, "Randy's" in a diagonal pattern. They do cost more, so you may have to ask for it.
