There's actually an interesting/scary history of mob-related nonsense at Commisso Bros, including murder and bombings... all googlable for the curious. I never went back after one super-unfriendly sandwich transaction.

A little further west, but for banh mi, I like the Nguyen Huong store just past Jane on the south side of Wilson.

We got pastrami and smoked meat sandwiches yesterday, and found the smoked meat quite good but a bit different as you mentioned. We had slightly worse luck with the pastrami, which seemed more gristly than it ought to be.

For the quantity of meat provided at this price point (about $10/sandwich), it's not exactly Schwartz's-level of value. I guess the Kosher tax/premium takes its toll. On the other hand, it's a short walk away instead of a train ride; I'm certain we'll be back frequently as the place matures. The space is certainly a lot more inviting than Pancer's!

Whenever I've bought them at an Indian-owned store, I've been given the opportunity to swap out the fruit I don't care for. If that doesn't seem to be in the offing, just ask - it seems to be normal protocol. I aim to get 1/3 in the box that are ready to eat now, 1/3 that aren't terribly ripe at all, and 1/3 of intermediate status, avoiding obvious bruising and black spots if possible. Ripeness seems to correlate best with how much squish or give there is in the fruit, I'm not sure if the black spots are relevant or not.

They have been for sale for the last week or two at Om India Food Center (Dufferin/Center). They weren't looking good two weeks ago, but the case I bought today is totally up to snuff. Still $25 per case.

For delivery sushi, we've found Sushi One (4924 Yonge St) to be much higher quality than anything closer by in the neighbourhood (although I can't speak for the kosher sushi options on Bathurst). Sushi One's delivery zone only covers Avenue/Lawrence for dinner time.

To satisfy non-fancy Chinese delivery cravings, we've found Blossom (Wilson/Dufferin) to be a better option than anything on Avenue or C'est Bon, for the dishes we like at least.

Yakamoz (Wilson West of Bathurst) for takeout shwarma is the business, but probably best not to go too late in the day as the chicken on the spit sometimes gets a bit too crusty by dinner time.

Karbouzi (Avenue/Dunblaine) for take-out Greek has served us well, more so than Greek Gourmet.

Take out falafel from Tov-li (or even What A Bagel if the Tov-li lineup is too psychicly damaging) (Bathurst/Old Orchard) is quite credible.

also, check out the older thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/699318

I've purchased smoked sturgeon at Yummy Market, a great Russian/Eastern European grocery on Dufferin just south of Finch (same plaza as Canadian Tire). Lots of fish options there, but I can't get out of the place without a load of sausage and some pickled items too. There baked goods are also worth checking out.

A small cautionary note, however - you might consider asking for a sample first, as one time when I bought sturgeon there it tasted a little more bottom-feedery than good product should. Not rotten or off, just not prime stuff. Always had good luck with the other smoked fish items there though.

There's a do-it-yourself kit available at Galleria.

I buy them at Metro from time to time for the kids.

Do you have any opinion on Amazing Donuts at Bathurst/Wilson? I don't typically seek out the kosher offerings in the 'chood, but we got fresh boston creams there once on a whim and they were quite good.

I was down there with my 3yr old this morning - those photos don't really do justice to the epic scale of the conflagration. Sad day in the bagel district, but a great day for local juvenile "rescue action" enthusiasts, alas.

We've enjoyed the cinq a sept specials at Left Bank Bistro (Avenue Rd & Dunblaine, south of Wilson). See
http://www.leftbankbistro.ca/SET-MENU...

And if you happen to wrap up dinner before 7pm, there's 15% off the bill.

Fortinos at Lawrence/Allen Expressway.

A sign for Congee 168 is up at the old Thai Plate site on Bathurst. I hope it's good, but I'll really miss having Thai Plate in the neighbourhood.

I've avoided the Bistro on Avenue Rd (chicken wing place) for a long time, due primarily to their relatively in-your-face pro-right wing and pro-cop signage (including a Ford for Mayor sign in the window more recently), but also due to the less than appetizing smell from the restaurant that permeates that strip of Avenue Rd. The few times I have eaten there with friends, the wings in no way lived up to the hype that seems to surround the place.

I'm pretty sure I saw citrons at T&T a long time ago, but certainly not recently.

This probably isn't helpful for this year's baking, but perhaps next year you could stock up around the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Citrons have a ceremonial use - just look for the signs advertising "etrog" as you drive North on Bathurst. They aren't cheap, being destined for holiday usage, but perhaps you could find a blemished one.

See this thread also:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/367428

It's been open for a while... Hopefully it has improved a bit since I tried it out shortly after opening! (see small writeup here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/699318)

I had the "island hot" wings there last week - I can see how most people might be put off by the heat level, but it was fine for my admittedly heat-jaded tongue. Or was there a non-heat related issue with your wings? Mine were meaty and cooked just fine. I think the restaurant may have an issue in terms of calibrating their heat levels to customer expectations - usually when I order "hot" I can barely detect heat, so I was pleasantly surprised to be getting an instant scalp sweat on without having elevated my order to "suicide" or whatever.

Apart from that, I was served the wrong pint of beer (didn't make a fuss as the alternate was tasty too), and my wife's nachos were not up to snuff whatsoever. We decided to stick with the wings should we find ourselves there again.

So Walima Cafe is open now, and we stopped by for dinner on a whim. The old Herschey's space looks a lot better, and the upstairs is closed off now. The merguez app was tasty, the moroccan salad was ok but not worth the money. We tried two lamb tagine dishes, which were very tender shanks, nicely flavoured. I'm no expert on this cuisine, but the tagines we've had in the past were much more stewish, with a relatively thick consistency. The Walima dishes were nearly brothlike - although tasty, something seemed off about the consistency. Perhaps it's something to do with whatever it is they have to do to get a dish like this out of the kitchen in 15 minutes? At any rate, dinner was under $50 for two people, with no drinks/desserts ordered.

There's a help wanted sign in the window, and boy do they need it - several groups came in, waited to be served, then left, while the entire staff were occupied in the back. One time the server was even prepping mint tea in the front, and couldn't be bothered to greet or even apologize to an entire family that had come in to take a chance on the place. The family left after waiting several minutes for an acknowledgement. Walima's chances of success would be heightened by a smile, a "hello just a minute please", and a little bell on the front door to let the staff know someone has entered!

I too shop infrequently at Ararat, and have never had a service issue there.

Cheese Emporium at Avenue/Melrose, just South of Ararat, is also on my list of decent local shops.

Had the salad there last fall after receiving a flyer (not sure which ownership regime that would put it under), and it was disappointing, much as you described. Karbouzi's salads have been superior, and consistent.

I remember telling Hellenik Grill management at the time that the most obvious URL for their business was being squatted - doesn't look like they've taken any steps to fix that situation up yet.

Saw some in the freezer today at T&T (Promenade) - $2.99, but looked like there might be more than 4 in there.

Bombay Hut appears to be toast now, to be replaced by "asian fusion"...

They are similar, but Alphonsos are a little bit more resinous in flavour than Kesars; I find the Kesars have more floral scent, and I'm coming around to liking them a little bit better these days.

Note: although sunny market (leslie/finch) has Kesar mangos at $2.99/lb unboxed, they are not very good at all. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they were some other cultivar entirely, based on the last batch I got their.

Just a note that Kesar mangos are now in (at least at Om Food Center) - a little bit cheaper at $24/case, but more importantly I'm finding better quality in terms of lack of bruising and hidden internal rot compared to the Alphonsos I was getting there. Taste-wise they're similar to Alphonso, but with some of the vigorous terpenoid flavour dialed back in favour of increased floral flavour.

$25/case at Om India Food Center in Thornhill (plaza at Dufferin/Center). I think that's a dollar or two more than I paid there last year. Make sure you pick and choose to get rid of any over-ripe specimens.

A few years ago my local no-frills had mini-cases of 6 for a really good price - every year I ask if they're going to get them again, and they think I'm mispronouncing Ataulfo.

I have beers there on the patio from time to time, as it's convenient, usually has Stiegl on tap and has a slightly nicer atmosphere than the chain pub up the street. In that context, nothing wrong with the lamb burger or the odd salad - but I'd agree with the Milestones-is-better comment. Larger groups seem to enjoy the billiards upstairs.

I've bought them at both T&T and Bestwin.

henryfields.ca sells the saplings. I've been sorely tempted, but a pawpaw thicket just wouldn't look that great in my limited garden space.

I gave up looking locally and got one online, probably from henry fields (can't remember now). It doesn't particularly like being inside over the winter near a north facing window, but it more than makes up for that lack of progress over the summer on the patio. It tends to drop leaves with temperature fluctuations, but it does bloom profusely in winter with just the tiniest hint of fertilizer. I haven't let mine set fruit yet.