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This is good to know. The crowds there seem to support your view as well. I was there to get something from Best Buy, but couldn't wait as I was with a cranky 3 year old and the lineups were almost out the door. Will definitely give it a try... Thanks, d. ← Went to South Street today with the same 3 year old who was very well behaved after a nap. Burgers are nothing to write home about. Not bad but not great. Toppings were good though. If you go, definitely get the cheese with it. Seriously though, I thought the fries were better than the burger. d.

This is good to know. The crowds there seem to support your view as well. I was there to get something from Best Buy, but couldn't wait as I was with a cranky 3 year old and the lineups were almost out the door. Will definitely give it a try... Thanks, d.

Like the Burger Shack at Oriole Parkway and Eglinton. In my hood, so I go there a lot. Will 2nd Rebel House, my favourite pub. Near the office is Betty's which is good. Buddy of mine turned me onto..with asiago cheese. Spinach salad on the side.

Yes, that's Cafe Doria. Quite decent and Italian. For French and good croissants, try Patachou at the north end of the block. Also quite good is Black Camel, this is a little hole in the wall right across from Rosedale subway station on the east side of Yonge. Good espresso, but even better sandwiches! I've had the breakfast sandwich one morning, and will usually take a bbq brisket sandwich on the plane with me when I have to fly.

It is mediocre. I don't hate it, but it isn't great either. If there is someone making the sushi, buying the stuff that is newly made is OK. The stuff that has been sitting in the display cases for a while (the rice gets very hard), I find difficult to purchase even if I'm starving and have a craving for sushi. Overall? 6/10. Not bad for a snack that isn't too bad for you. I wouldn't go out of my way to get it though...

FOUND IT! Went to St. Lawrence Market at lunch today. Lively Life had the frozen banana leaves that I needed. Finding the salt was a bit more difficult. Most places gave me a blank stare. Lots of other salts from France, Wales...basically all other places with salt water besides Hawaii. Then, I hit the jackpot. At Scheffler's Deli (on the top floor on east side) there were 2...yes TWO types of Alaea Salt. I bought the stuff by Hawaii Kai. $9.99 for a 227g bag. The other stuff was about 5 bucks more and didn't look as red. Thanks again all!

FOUND IT! Went to St. Lawrence Market at lunch today. Lively Life had the frozen banana leaves that I needed. Finding the salt was a bit more difficult. Most places gave me a blank stare. Lots of other salts from France, Wales...basically all other places with salt water besides Hawaii. Then, I hit the jackpot. At Scheffler's Deli (on the top floor on east side) there were 2...yes TWO types of Alaea Salt. I bought the stuff by Hawaii Kai. $9.99 for a 227g bag. The other stuff was about 5 bucks more and didn't look as red. Thanks again all!

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll try the market, and if I don't find it there will head up to Pusateri. I'm making a hawaiian pulled pork so this is a critical ingredient... Will let you know how it goes!

Anyone know where to find Hawaiian Red 'Alea' Sea Salt in the Toronto area? I've some poking around and have come up empty. Thanks, Daniel

While surfing, I found this...a recipe for Vanilla Nutella Ice Cream. Looks great!

Knotty Pine was a good place. The student hangouts in London that I liked was Campus HiFi on Richmond just south of Oxford. LOVED that spot and practially lived there in the late 80's early 90's. Also there was another further west on Oxford...for some reason I think it was called the Oxford. Wonder if these places are still around...the downtown has changed and there are chain restaurants there now. I had a few meetings there a couple of years ago and had lunch at the Prince Albert diner...had a fancy burger with chipotle and nippy cheese and a shake. It was memorable...

Good salads at The Senator too. Everything except for Salad Nicoise which involves a full can of iffy tuna turned upside down on the lettuce. Breakfast stuff like pancakes, eggs esp. heuvos rancheros is good. Coffee isn't bad either for a diner.

I think you are thinking of Victoria Diner. Victoria/Queen. Everything is decent. Fast friendly service with the same waitresses that get to know your name. My faviourite is the fish and chips special every 2nd Friday. Otherwise burgers, breakfast stuff, sandwiches...all good.

Hahahaha...this was hillarious. Thanks for the piece. Your account basically tells a tale of something that would happen to me. I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in my food follies. Maybe you should get some green beans and roast your own? It wouldn't take any effort to create something that is at least drinkable! What the heck is the old man roasting anyway? I'm thinking that it can't be THAT bad, but then again you are a food writer packing a Pavoni and grinder. Hmmm...enquiring minds want to know. Now for your neighbours not noticing, it is entirely possible. It wasn't that many years ago that for the life of me, I couldn't get a good cup of coffee in London. Blech.

I've never heard of these guys, but they have been doing construction for a LONG time. I know this because they are located right next to my office. Before this, the place was empty after serving as a divey Coffee Time for years. I used to tuck in there for a coffee after checking out Henry's Cameras when I was a teenager and it was a bit rough/scary. So, a sous-vide place sounds good to me. I don't really understand the concept though or why it is there. The sign says that they are opening simutaneously in a bunch of countries in 2007.

Here's a trick that I found on the EdgePro site. To keep from making a mess, park the EdgePro system inside a glass baking dish...and put a dishcloth under the baking dish to keep it from sliding around. That way, the water and slurry stays inside the dish and you can wash the whole thing out once you are done. I just tried it for the first time today after having the Apex system for about 5 years now. Works great!

JCK is a great place to buy from. The proprietor is very pleasant and helpful to the extreme. I'm not a big Global fan. They look great but are a bit slippery to hold when wet and oily. Another place that I found is Paul's Finest http://www.paulsfinest.com Paul is in Lachine, QC and is a great guy to deal with. He carries a few Japanese lines including the Furi line which is all metal like the Globals. My favourites though are the Misono in the UX-10 series. Japanese style knives are great though. Harder steel that holds an edge better/longer. Slimmer blades for more efficient cutting especially of veggies. Not having a bolster that extends down the the edge of the blade makes the entire lenght of the blade easier to sharpen. Plus, they are sharper as the edge is sharpened to around a 15 degree bevel vs 20 degress plus on western chef's knives. Best of all, the damascus steel ones are puuurty!

Yes, I thought this too. I thought I must have missed something and didn't check the release notes again when I got home. It does make for a more exciting visit though that is more akin to an easter egg hunt! It's been very wierd lately, there have been a number of items that have quietly appeared on the shelves. I walked into Summerhill about a week ago and there was a bunch of different 2001 Barolo that was never announced. ←

jayt90, for coffee I usually roast my own. However, when I don't the places that I frequent are Whole Foods, Everyday Gourmet in the basement of the SLM, Coffee Tree in Bloor West Village, or Moonbeam in Kensington Market. For a Rancillio Rocky burr grinder, try The Green Beanery, 225 Brunswick Avenue (in the Annex). I've never been there but they have a website that I remember seeing the Rocky/Silvia combo that coffee geeks loved a few years back. As an alternative, I use a Gaggia MDF that has served me well for over 10 years. Purchased from Gaggia on Davenport. Or check out what's available at Faema at Dupont and Christie.

I was looking for a pork shoulder a while ago and NOTHING in the south market. HOWEVER, if you go on Saturday to the Farmer's Market in the North Building, right near the entrance there is a butcher that does all sorts of different cuts of pork.

I agree that Bulldog is quite excellent. The barrista won the Canadian National Barrista Competition, so can arguably be called THE BEST espresso in Canada. I've been playing with latte art at home, but come nowhere close to the proficiency of the proprietor of Bulldog. The shop is immaculately clean and kitchy/cozy...a nice respite from corporate java joints. Nice La San Marco machine too! b Espresso Bar on Queen just east of Church is decent...uses Illy. It is almost next to my office, so I go there quite often. Decent coffee but it depends a bit on whether they are in a rush and who is tending the espresso machine. Also espressos are not bad at Bar Italia in Little Italy. Mercatto (on Toronto St.) is decent if they aren't in a rush...that said, I had the comment that I'm the only person picky enough to ever turn back coffee besides the owner's father!

LOVE Nutella. Introduced a friend from Boulder to it while we were in Italy. Now, HE'S addicted too! Nutella filled crepes with a bit of whipped cream Strawberries dipped Nutella warmed up a bit Nutella filled cornettes Nutella gelato Nutella topping home made eclaires Nutella filled crispy buttery croissants...my choice everytime over pain au chocolat OK, OK...sometimes I just mainline it...

Thanks for this posting, Ivy. I live in Toronto and didn't know this about the mission. St. Stephen's was in my old neighbourhood and it is a shame that an anchor of the community is being razed to build yet another condo! However, it is heartwarming to hear about the good works of the companies that give generously to this worthwhile cause...