The Foodie Thread

Real butcher shops are everywhere here in Toronto. And they all buy their meat locally.

As an added bonus, there are farm store markets where you can buy directly from the producers. Here's one of mine and HC's favourites, about an hour from the city. There are three or four we go to on our road trips

http://www.thatcher-farms.com/

Lovely farm, great people, wonderful lamb and pork.

 

For those interested in the red beans and rice recipe (on p. 2 or 3), my aunt finally came through and got it to me.

It's a PDF, so if you're interested, please PM me with an email address, or check the blog listed in my profile. I posted it today, 11/6 (or maybe 11/5 where you are).

Happy eating.

They're fabulous. My aunt just had a huge party and made 700 of them, I think she said. I'd be willing to bet there are none left.

 

Michelin's 2012 Chicago guide -- it's second ever for Chicago -- comes out tomorrow:

 

Last night's menu w/ pictures.

http://twitter.com/#!/KevinCGallagher/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FTTkYidgP

Same place I went a few months ago, but with a better date.

 

Ten food trends of 2011

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/trends/trends-features/the-10-ideas-that-changed-food-in-2011/article2284431/singlepage/#articlecontent

A Canadian food writer's take

 

Chicago restaurant reviewer/blogger hockey & eating weekend in Toronto:

Part 1: http://stevedolinsky.com/?p=6372#more-6372

Part 2: http://stevedolinsky.com/?p=6385#more-6385

Curious to hear how JR thinks he did.

 

It was interesting to hear his take on Porter . They are carving out a bit of a niche but have never turned a profit (private company so they don't publish their financials). There was a bit of controversy when they started up as a bunch of tree hugger types were/are trying to get the island airport closed. Porter's owner, Bob Deluce controls the airport and the terminal.

I have eaten at Jaimie Kennedy's wine bar and it was delicious, small tapas style plates of tremendous food. 4 of us did lunch and wine there and it came in at about $200, worth every penny.

 

My experience with Porter was identicle.

Trip to Toronto was quick and painless.

Getting to your hotel in minutes, for free? Where else can you do that? Would fly them again in a heartbeat.

 

His food choices are pretty good. Barques is next to our neighbourhood. Have not been there yet, but like movies, the list is long and we never seem to make it.

Have never flown Porter but my sons used it to fly back to university in Nova Scotia and my niece used it to fly from Ottawa when she was coming home from school.

 

I fly Porter into Toronto every couple of months. It rules, except when there is a delay, because there is no food other than some trail mix and no bar. So, when I was stuck for 4 hours there last month, it was a long 4 hours.

 

But free cappuccinos and cookies!

 

They only had the almonds left (not trail mix). And I had had so much coffee that day (4:30 alarm, followed by a long, painful and unproductive meeting) that I might have killed someone had I had any more. Interesting that twice I've been on very delayed flights with Porter (once from Newark and once from Toronto) and both times they have taken off less than full, even though we took off after the next flight was scheduled to depart.