CeeQueue's Profile
Chia seeds in Central Toronto?
I wonder the same thing. My naturopath insists that I buy Weber ChiaNutra (Costco), which is a pretty decent price. She says the stuff at bulk stores is not as fresh or not handled properly, and therefore loses some of its nutritional impact. If you're just using it for its fibre content, I imagine any brand will do.
A massive fire has claimed Fratelli's in Highland Creek
(I copied this from the "Scarborough, Looking Back" Facebook page - I can't find any mention in the news. They have a photo on that site, but I think it's likely copyrighted.)
"Fratelli's Fire... A massive fire at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, May 13th, gutted the popular Pizza Restaurant in the Village. Damage is extensive and the fire marshal is investigating. Cause yet unknown. The owner says he will rebuild as soon as possible."
Looking for duck confit
I buy duck leg confit at Longo's in the frozen section. Tasty.
Swiss Chalet, Bellamy & Eglinton - Location Closed?
I read somewhere that this location is reopening on November 7th. I'm not sure if that's official, but it wouldn't surprise me. I drove by last night and it looks finished and ready to open. Probably just doing some last-minute decorating stuff and then training the staff. I hope it's still one of the 'good' Swiss Chalets.
Boneless Beef Finger Meat?
Well, this reply is a tad late, but since I just bought some of these last week, I'll add my 2 cents. I did them low and slow in a 250 F oven with a homemade dry rub (whatever you like; I used smoked paprika, ground caraway and dry mustard because I'm allergic to most of the best spices). I think they cooked for about 3 hours altogether, and I had to drain off the fat a couple of times. They were tender as could be and very tasty. I wouldn't buy them regularly due to the fat content, but they sure were a nice treat.
Best Thing You Ever Ate - Toronto
Buster Rhino's brisket sandwich. Caplansky's fries.
Where to find tomato powder in the GTA?
I found a recipe: http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/diaryofafoodie/2008/03/tomatopowder
I think I'm going to try it. I'd still like to buy it if anyone spots it somewhere.
Thanks.
Where to find tomato powder in the GTA?
Can you tell me the brand name on your tomato powder?
Where to find tomato powder in the GTA?
I want to use it as a seasoning, perhaps part of dry rub mixtures for ribs and other meats.
Where to find tomato powder in the GTA?
Has anyone seen this being sold anywhere around the Toronto area (up to Newmarket, out to Whitby)? Thanks!
Where to find Ponti vinegars in the GTA
Dang...I was hoping someone might have spotted this brand somewhere in the GTA. My e-mail to the only distributor I could find online went unanswered. :(
sourcing goat and sheep yogurt in Toronto
Not sure where the Highland Farms stores would be out your way, but if you have one it will surely carry both goat and sheep yogurt. I quite like the Liberté brand goat yogurt; it has a wonderful sweet taste to it, and at 2.7% MF is a nice compromise between high and low fat.
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Highland Farms
850 Ellesmere Rd, Toronto, ON M1P, CA
Where to find Ponti vinegars in the GTA
I'm looking specifically for Ponti Chianti vinegar, which I used to be able to find at my local Sobey's. If anyone has spotted it, I'd love to know where. It makes a great salad dressing. It seems every store I go to now has 28 versions of Balsamic and little else. Trying to avoid the sugar content.
Thanks!
Canned Chili. Where and what brand.
The Wal-Mart "Great Value" chili turned out to be my favourite, surprisingly. I had to stop eating chili about a year ago, though, so I can't tell you from memory what I liked about it. But I did prefer it to Stagg and PC.
According to Wikipedia, Great Value products are made by major corporations, such as ConAgra, Sara Lee, etc., so perhaps this is where the missing Puritan chili is hiding. It's worth a try.
Swiss Chalet, Bellamy & Eglinton - Location Closed?
Thanks for the detective work, Paul. I see they have already torn up the parking lot and erected a big blue construction fence around the perimeter.
I have to agree with you about the Lawrence/Kingston Rd store. I've had problems there nearly every time I've visited in the last few years. I was there on Sunday and though my food was fine, the service was sloppy. Our server was friendly and pleasant, but neglected us for long periods of time, and took so long to bring my mother's dessert that I completely forgot she'd even ordered it. No excuse really, as they weren't even busy by then.
I hope the new facilities don't ruin the experience the way the Scarborough Town Centre location does. That place gets SO loud, and feels so cafeteria-like. I suppose the acoustics are a holdover from its days as a Krispy Kreme, so hopefully that won't be repeated anywhere else.
The Milner/Morningside location is nice, though (and fairly new), and as I mentioned above my favourite waiter ended up there, which is a bonus.
Sham Buffet
Another missed opportunity, since if the buffet had been amazing, a review could have borne the headline: "Sham Wow!"
Okay, even I'll admit that's a bit of a groaner.
Swiss Chalet, Bellamy & Eglinton - Location Closed?
I know what you mean about "loading you up on fries." Some of the other locations seem so stingy by comparison.
Definitely too many condos going up in that area along Eglinton and Kingston Roads.
Swiss Chalet, Bellamy & Eglinton - Location Closed?
They definitely changed the seating around, putting in more booths in the middle section where it used to be open tables, and they replaced the upholstery and put in some of those semi-circular tables a la The Mary Tyler Moore show (so good for having everyone facing the camera, lol). They also added a bunch of curio cabinet-type things filled with odd bits of "art" and kitsch. The take-out counter area was redone as well, and the lobby/waiting area. The kitchen is different from when I worked there. I don't know what you mean by reno, but I think those all qualify. Certainly the outside of the building was pretty old-school, and they still had the wooden beams inside. Perhaps they're doing some major remodeling this time, but I have a feeling it's gone for good.
Ficoïde Glaciale in toronto?
Does anyone know where to buy Ficoïde Glaciale in toronto? I'm dying to try it.
"The thick, fleshy leaves have a distinctive lemony bite. The stems are studded with minute bubbles that look like hoarfrost, inspiring its other name, ice lettuce or ice plant." (from www.nytimes.com)
Swiss Chalet, Bellamy & Eglinton - Location Closed?
Wow, they only renovated that location a few years ago. Jimmy, the waiter I mentioned above, just said it was "closed" (no mention of renovations). I'll have to ask him next time I'm there.
Swiss Chalet, Bellamy & Eglinton - Location Closed?
Well that didn't take long. I found Jimmy working at the Milner & Morningside location. He told us they had a standing offer to hire him there, but he had better hours at Bellamy (no weekends). Milner is one of my regular locations, so I will definitely get to enjoy his great service again.
Swiss Chalet, Bellamy & Eglinton - Location Closed?
There was a really terrific waiter there named Jim. Does anyone know if he'll be working at a different location? He's a bit of an oddball, but a great waiter who anticipates your every need without being intrusive (unless you chat him up).
Swiss Chalet, Bellamy & Eglinton - Location Closed?
I drive past this location on my way home from work and the parking lot has been empty all week. I noticed right away, because it's usually packed at that time of the evening. Does anyone know what's going on? I've been ordering from and dining at this location for 40 years, and even worked there for a few months back in the late '80s. They just renovated a couple of years ago...it's seems weird that they would shut it down now.
My next closest location is at Lawrence and Kingston Rd, and I've had problems nearly every time I've gone there. Damn.
Healthy/simple eats between Aurora and 401 (404 corridor)?
I'm working in Aurora, live in Scarborough, and get off early every Friday. I'm looking for places I can get a healthy lunch, where they can make adjustments to the food to accommodate allergies (e.g. no marinades on the meat, sauces added to potatoes or veggies, etc.). I did pretty well at Mr Greek XPress on Wellington near the 404, but hard to avoid garlic there (one of my allergies that won't kill me, but I'd rather avoid the itching it causes).
I'm also interested in places that have cooked food and salads, where you order from a counter (like the Chapman's that used to be at Bayview and York Mills).
I can drive down Yonge or get off the 404 anywhere between Aurora and Scarborough, but I'm looking mostly for places up this way, since I'm usually starving by the time I get out of here at 1:30 pm.
Thanks!
Foodies or Foodiots?
http://www.thestar.com/living/food/article/823245--from-foodie-to-foodiot
See the above article in today's Toronto Star. I found it quite interesting. (brief snippet below)
Is calling someone a foodie an insult, or a compliment? “Some people thought it meant that they were a gourmet snob, so they’d reject the term for that reason,” says Josée Johnston, one researcher behind Foodies: Democracy and Distinction in the Gourmet Foodscape, published December 2009. “But other people said, no, I’m a foodie because I’m not a gourmet snob.”
Cottage cheese
Watch out for the 500 gr tubs of Dairyland 2% cottage cheese. The ingredient list has changed and I find it now has the same goopy texture as the regular brands. For some reason, though, the 750 gr tubs are still of the higher quality I buy this brand for. Saputo sent me some replacement vouchers and said there is a texture problem they're aware of, so hopefully this will be rectified. But for now I'm not willing to take the chance, so only buying the larger tubs.
Where can I buy 0% fat Greek Yoghurt in Toronto?
Don't knock it till you've tried it. I previously would not touch anything below 2% when I bought yogurt (and usually higher). Now I'll drive way out of my way for the Liberté 0% Greek yogurt, which is as thick as Western's 30% sour cream, but still has the tanginess of yogurt. I'm hooked. I've never been able to try Fage (Summerhill Market was back ordered when I made the trek there to buy it), but the price of Liberté is better and I can get it many places now (Highland Farms, Sobey's, Metro). Just found it today at Qi Natural Foods on Eglinton W, east of the Allen, and for 20¢ cheaper than the other places. I'm never without 2 tubs in my fridge.
Cottage cheese
I've only recently discovered Dairlyland cottage cheese, and now I can't stand the slimy, goopy stuff put out by the main brands like Nordica and Sealtest. I've only seen it at Wal-Mart so far, and not living near to one, I am very hopeful that Shopper's still carries it (seeing this is a 3-year-old thread). It really is superior in taste and texture, in my opinion. They have recently had texture issues with the 500 gr tubs, so I stick to the 750 gr containers instead.
Where can I buy 0% fat Greek Yoghurt in Toronto?
0% Greek-style yogurt by Liberté is now showing up all over the place. I buy it at Highland Farms (both Scarborough locations), and now find it at Sobey's and Metro. The label has been changed to emphasize that it's 0%, which may reflect the fact that this stuff is catching on like wildfire. I've heard it mentioned on at least three different television shows recently (Dr Oz, The Doctors and, I think, Rachael Ray). I think it may start to show up everywhere. I hope No Frills carries it at a lower price.
It seems to be the same price in each store: $4.99 for a 500 gr container. Metro had it for $4.97, which is the lowest price I've seen. I can't remember what I paid for it at Summerhill Market...perhaps closer to $5.99. They were backordered on Fage, so I still have yet to try that, but I'm happy enough with the Liberté and that I can buy it several places now. I just LOVE this stuff.
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Highland Farms
850 Ellesmere Rd, Toronto, ON M1P, CA

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