Best of Toronto
The Best New Specialty Stores in Toronto, 2008
I couldn't really figure out why so many cheese stores have opened in Toronto in the past couple of years, but after a quick Google search for "Cheese Consumption Canada" I think I found my answer. According to Statistics Canada, Canadians wolfed down a record amount of cheese in 2007, specifically, 10.1 kg per person.
Now, I'm not sure if demand led to more cheese stores, or the proliferation of cheese stores has resulted in increased consumption, but either way we have three cheese destinations on our list of the best new specialty stores to have opened in 2008.
They're joined by at least three health food stores (four if you count The Beet) which I guess means that in order to get away with the increased fat intake from a wedge of brie we're all eating more amaranth cereal, soy milk and organic produce.
Here's a look at the complete list:
The Sweet Potato
The Sweet Potato is like a smaller, cheaper, less refined version of The Big Carrot. On the shelves are all the prerequisite natural, organic and health food must-haves like rice pasta, tofu and organic produce; but the real star here is the small cafe that whips up fresh juices, sandwiches and yummy baked treats. More »
Pantry
Part cafe, part gourmet food store, Pantry pairs beans from Balzac's with freshly prepared meals (to eat in or to go) created in the kitchen in the back. Some of the most popular items include sliced organic Ancho chili pork, wheatberry salad and Texas Caviar, a guacamole with black-eyed peas, black beans, roasted corn, tomatoes and lots of garlic. More »
The Beet
The Beet has a bit of a confusing entrance (it's partly obscured by a TD Canada Trust) but once inside it's a Dundas West oasis. Like Pantry and The Sweet Potato, this place is a hybrid between a store and a cafe. Juices, smoothies and coffee/tea options are made fresh to order. There's also a limited selection of freshly baked goods, organic produce and grocery items. More »
Homebake Pizza Co.
This concept store on Roncesvalles is trying to prove there's an untapped market between the heat and serve pizzas bought at Sobeys and the fresh stuff delivered from the local pizza joint. Like the name suggests, Homebake lets you customize a pizza to your liking and then take the raw crust and toppings home where you bake it yourself. More »
Blackstone Organic Meats
Move over Healthy Butcher and Cumbrae's, there a new meat shop in town. Found on the Danforth, Blackstone Organic Meats specializes in organically raised, local meat and produce and aims to source almost everything in the store from within a 100 mile radius. Aside from fresh t-bones and pork back ribs, there's also a number of grocery items like pasta, eggs and frozen beef chili. More »
David's Tea
Formerly an online retailer and supplier of teas to many Toronto restaurants, David's Tea has now opened a retail location on Queen West where Fresh used to be before it moved to Spadina. Inside, there are more than 115 different varieties of tea which can be bought to take home, or sampled and enjoyed in the store/cafe itself. More »
Xococava
Xococava is an offshoot of Chris McDonald's Cava restaurant near Yonge & St. Clair. But instead of fine dining, Xococava tempts Delisle Court passerbys with artisanal ice cream, churros, chocolate bars, cakes, pastries, espresso and handmade truffles. More »
About Cheese
About Cheese brings local, Canadian made cheeses to Church St. While most cheese shops in the city import cheese from Europe by the crate, the owners of About Cheese have taken a different approach and mostly stock Quebec, Ontario and BC crafted product. There are only a limited number of international cheeses in store. More »
A Taste of Quebec
A Taste of Quebec shows its love for La Belle Province by stocking artisan cheeses, terrines, pates and other products from our neighbour to the right. Inside there's lots to choose from including a raw milk cheese wrapped in spruce bark, but poutine lovers need to make a pilgrimage here expressly for the curds. More »
Culinarium
This gourmet food store on Mount Pleasant Culinarium specializes in local, Ontario-sourced products. Depending on the season there might be fresh produce from Perth or the Niagara Region or meats, artisan cheese, preserves, pop corn, nuts and grains from various local farmers and suppliers. More »
Nancy's Cheese
Once just a counter inside Harbord Bakery, Nancy's Cheese has blossomed into a full size cheese shop on Dupont. Aside from the selection here, the big draw is all the information owner Nancy Peppler provides about the cheese including what to drink with each of them. More »
Multiple Organics
Found in Brockton Village, Multiple Organics brings to the neighbourhood its first health food store where shelves are stocked with local produce (where possible), canned goods, pasta and sauces, baby food, eco-friendly products, frozen foods, milk and cheese. More »
The Nutritionista
This small store on Dundas West near Dovercourt sells organic and health food products that can't be found at the local Price Chopper and are much more competitively priced than the outrageous Organic Boutique on Queen West. Inside there's fresh bread, kitchen cupboard staples including rice, pasta, cereal and soup, cold stuff such as milk and butter and snacks and sweets like chocolate, honey and cookies. More »
Discussion
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One spot you missed is Petite Thuet on Yonge just across the street from the Summerhill LCBO. All homemade french pastires, bread, jams & Charcoutrie.
why does organic food always cost so much more? do only rich people deserve to eat healthy food?
How do we vote on these things?
It's funny, The Sweet Potato just did a bit of "renovation" and minimized the cafe portion to maximize the grocery part. It's definitely more grocery store and The Beet is more cafe.
You can vote on the latest poll here:
http://blogto.com/announcements/2009/01/voting_now_open_best_of_toronto/
@Jack: Yes, that's exactly why. Nothing to do with smaller farms or higher production costs.
@jack: don't worry, there's no evidence that organic food is actually healthier than the conventional stuff. It might taste better, and might be better for the environment, but the nutritional profile is pretty much the same.
wrong. perhaps you should do something reading. Paul
All stores are pretty much a specialty store in something. I think you mean specialty GROCERY stores.
Pehaps you shouldn't believe everything you read, or check who's behind what propaganda you're reading. Joe.
I agree...there's been research done on POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) and show that soils are inundated with pesticides - despite the fact that some pesticides have been banned over 20 years (e.g. DDT)
I also remember discussing with a farmer friend of mine regarding wheat and grains. He had a neighbour who was certified organic...this neighbour would be caught spraying pesticides in the middle of the night...
$2.50 ea for an onion? I'm better off just growing it myself.