Restaurants
La Palette
I've never eaten horse although regrettably fed it to my dog when I was a kid. Like the common terrier, horse falls into a category for me of foods that for cultural and perhaps ethical reasons I'm just not inclined to eat. Last Saturday at La Palette I discovered that some of my friends don't have the same issues.
La Palette is a cozy french bistro at the northern tip of Kensington Market (on Augusta between Oxford and College) . It's the kind of place that epitomizes the market's joie de vivre. Small, unpretentious, good atmosphere, great service and an eye toward fresh, local ingredients.
The menu is decidely french. Deep fried camembert, escargot, frog legs, foie gras, steak frites and, yes, horse.
One of my friend's parents were born in France. She grew up on horse sandwiches and for her, La Palette, is one of the few places in the city she can rely on getting a perfect, medium-rare slab of meat that brings back memories of her youth.
Another friend seldom buys meat nor cooks it at home. When he does he ensures it's local or grass fed and gets it from somewhere like the Healthy Butcher. Yet he too makes special trips to La Palette for the Cheval - horse tenderloin served with roast potatoes, market vegetables and a rosemary veal jus. He claims it's the best tasting meat money can buy.
Needless to say my efforts to talk them out of their entrees for that evening weren't making any headway. So I sucked it up, sampled some French microbrews and soaked in an enjoyable evening of good food with friends that is La Palette.
The menu includes a decent range of appetizers ($6-$10), mains($20-$30) and specials of the day with a few vegetarian options. A limited prix fix menu including dessert can be had for $30.
Among the winning dishes that night included the aformentioned horse (not shown), salmon (above) and steak (top photo). The poulet bonne maman (juicy french cut chicken breast with vegetables) received a somewhat less favourable review; and the scallops (at only three per serving) were the only real disappointment.
I opted for the bouillabaisse (above - $24), described as a mediterranean fish stew with mussels, shrimp and a selection of fish. Since I cleaned my plate it must have been pretty good but I would have preferred something a bit more hearty and stewy. What I got was more delicate and brothy.
Desserts were pretty standard and predictable (but not in a bad way) such as cheese, sorbet and creme brulee three ways (below).
Overall it was a fun night with tasty food and service about as friendly that you'd find in Toronto. The staff appeared to be having almost as good a time as we were and didn't seem to mind that it wasn't until 1am that we settled our bill and stumbled home.
La Palette, 256 Augusta Ave (Kensington Market), 416-929-4900
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Tim's a vegetarian so he's allowed.
(FYI: this is coming from a guy that sampled wild dog in Vietnam, ate Chicken sashimi in Japan, and likes Canadian Ostrich)
Might as well mention now that <a href="http://www.blogto.com/city/2007/02/neighbourhood_watch_kensington_market_2_of_2/";>Part 2 of 2 of the Neighbourhood Watch on Kensington</a> was updated a little while back -- please pardon both the delay and the technical difficulties with that two-parter in general.
La Palette also serves as the general HQ for <a href="http://StreetsAreForPeople.org";Streets Are For People</a> -- LP ringmaster Shamez and Co. are busiest of course during <a href="http://pskensington.ca";>Pedestrian Sunday</a>.
People have all kinda of hangups, usually based (whether they realize it or not) on the cuteness/beauty of the animal.
If an animal is 'cute' (horse, deer, bunny rabbit, etc): "Omg! How could you eat that!" If it's run-of-the-mill plain or ugly (cow, chicken, pig) the off with it's head.
If it's a fish, well, even some vegetarians will eat them.
;)
When I was a vegetarian I ate none of the above. Now that I've been made to eat meat again, I don't discriminate... as long as it's fresh...but, that said, i grew up on fine horse meat.
you ever meet the owner?
Of course, some other cultures are different. I grew up in an Asian family where whole chickens (with heads, beaks) and entire fish (with skin, eyeballs, bones) were displayed proudly on the table. I cannot imagine eating dog or cat, but the idea of horse or rabbit intrigues me. I think this is because I've "befriended" dogs and cats, but I never really had a relationship with a horse or rabbit...
That's hardly practical for urban dwellers. We don't live in a society where you have to create everything you use and you wouldn't want to either.
If people don't want to kill their food, they shouldn't have to. They SHOULD be aware of where it comes from and make informed, intelligent choices.
Her point might also relate in a way to many people's squeamishness about eating other parts of an animal ... ears, feet, eyes, and even the blood of even the common farmyard animals like cows and pigs. Perhaps all these things remind people too much that what they eat was once a living, functional animal, instead of always having existed as a delicious, seared steak.
I have no pets, so I have no qualms about eating dog or cat; I would understand if a pet owner did have hesitations, but I honestly don't understand any other omnivore's hangups. I'd chow down on horse any day, and I find horses very beautiful.
The only meat I might refuse to eat are rodents and insects -- related mostly to an idea of cleanliness.
But it's that hang up on the fact that they're pets, and attractive. I know people who can't eat rabbit or lamb for the same reason.
Having said that, I don't think I could eat horse, because I have all the same indoctrination...
My favourite meat is lamb. I just wish it wasn't so expensive!
so there is no way I ever want to know what I would taste like.
d
Also, La Palette owner is the scum of the earth for serving them. I think I just threw up in my mouth...
As for eating horse meat, I simply cannot do it. I ride horses and could never sit down to knowingly eat even a morsel. I consider the horse, like the cat and the dog, one of my friends. That is my culture, but it's also borne out of personal experience. Hang out with a horse and you will quickly understand why I write this. They are intensely sympathetic and empathetic (not to mention hard-working) creatures.
If you want to find out more about the slaughter of them check out some of the websites that seek to protect them from ending up as your dinner.
Oh yeah, Coca on Queen Street is a great restaurant as well, but it serves horse and I ain't eatin' there anytime soon either.
http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/info.php?id=31
i find it sort of hypocritical when people gasp over eating cute animals, but not pigs or cows. cows can be just as loyal to a loving owner as any other pet, and horses aren't even overly intelligent animals, as opposed to the very smart pigs that people eat all the time.
i dunno, i just don't see it as a reason to avoid a restaurant which represents a cultural cuisine that may be different from our own.
oh, and for the pussies... i'm glad you won't eat cute animals, i don't want to wait in line at all my favourite restaurants. so, thanks!
Here's why you shouldn't eat horse flesh: cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2010/05/17/f-horse-slaughter.html
Why would review a restaurant where you refuse to eat one of its most celebrated dishes? You should have had one of your friends write this.