Toronto Retail and Restaurants Thread

[allurban]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

multi-cultural hot dogs? I'm not sure I like the sound of them, actually...

they should have left it as "fusion" since it's effectively a fusion of the hot dog with the wrap. Calling it "multi-cultural" actually sounds a bit confusing & scary.

The flatbread (wrap/pita/paratha/roti/naan/pancake/crepe/galette/blini) is probably the most diverse and common of our cooked foods. I'd say hot dogs (sausage in various forms) are probably coming up as the third most common, with variations on porridge & stew coming in at #2.

Now the combination of #1, the wrap, and #3, the sausage ... well, it's easy to eat, gives lots of opportunities for variety, and Torontonians are used to "street meat" (this would be a special variety)

To top it all off, the combination has its own special* appeal. I can imagine some customers will want a cigarette afterwards.

Cheers, m

*some Seinfeld fans might remember the episode where George Costanza decided to combine his two great loves (food & sex) to see what would happen. I wonder what Freud would say about a sausage warmly encased in flatbread & covered in sauce. m

[Taller, Better]

"*some Seinfeld fans might remember the episode where George Costanza decided to combine his two great loves (food & sex) to see what would happen. I wonder what Freud would say about a sausage warmly encased in flatbread & covered in sauce. m "

hehe! Good one!

But when it comes to George Constanza and his two favourite things food and sex.... let's just say he gets too much of one, and not enough of the other!

[allurban]

This seems interesting. Are shipping containers better than food trucks?

Street food revolution housed in shipping containers (The Star)



The Live Local Marketplace has taken refurbished shipping containers and turned them into microbusinesses outside the Scadding Court Community Centre at Dundas and Bathurst. Image courtesy of The Star

I wonder what is it like being inside a shipping container in summer ... with an oven going.

Cheers, m

[Taller, Better]

Originally Posted by allurban

I wonder what is it like being inside a shipping container in summer ... with an oven going.

Hot and smelly? hehe...

[Travis007]

I actually accidentally walked into this today. Pretty neat concept, and they had some tasty looking Korean BBQ items on the menu.

[CrazySerb]

I'm wondering, whats the opinion on that recently (re)opened downtown Marche restaurant?
Every time I go there, I can't help but feel a little bit, hm, cheated...one time, I bought a 7,99$ crepe that ended up costing ~15$ (okay, so I added a few toppings) and just last night, I grabbed a glass "freshly squeezed orange juice" to accompany my 14$ pizza (which was great btw) ... cost of 350ml of orange juice? Five bucks.

I'm aware that if you go there, what you're really paying for is the overall atmosphere of the place...cosy themed rooms, good music playing in the background, etc - yet still, prices seem unusually inflated though the good thing is, tips are included in the bill so one doesn't have to think about that too.

All in all, what I find most annoying - even though I always say i'll never go back there again, I somehow find myself back the very next day.

[Taller, Better]

I had a bad experience when it first opened many years ago, and got "roughed up" by this "Ilsa She-Wolf of the SS" who seemed to be the guard dog of the operation, simply because I had not been given a ticket when I sauntered in and had a look around. To say she was lacking in "people skills" was an understatement.. Somehow it all seems a bit kitschy and ersatz to me; we have lots of more authentic markets and restaurants in town that I am not tempted to go back.

[Travis007]

Yeah, I've always found Marche to be overrated and overpriced. But your right though, it's more of a place to enjoy the ambiance. The food is alright but you can find it pretty much anywhere else. Whenever I'm in that area, I always prefer to hang out at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

[Travis007]

http://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2011...lthy_food_hub/

Queen Street Market to be reborn as healthy food hub

Posted by Derek Flack / AUGUST 13, 2011

Queen West is getting a new food court — one that specializes in healthy fare. As first reported in the Grid, the site of this new venture is actually quite old. The former Queen Street Market, a mostly vacant take-out hub across from the MuchMusic building that dates back to 1912, will receive an identity makeover with an eye toward populating the space with new vendors.

The new food emporium, as its owners refer to it, will be called the Grove and feature rules regarding the type of food served under its roof. Vendors will have to adhere to a policy that forbids the use of "artificial flavours, colouring and hormones." Current tenants that wish to stay will also be subject to the new rules.

There are also long term plans in place to run a farmer's market behind the building and to allow vendors to sell unprepared food in addition to take-out meals....

[vancouverite/to'er]

Have any of you guys been to Canoe in the TD center? My mom went for a drug company dinner a long time ago and thought it was fabulous!

Is it still worth visiting for an annual get together with friends?

[Innsertnamehere]

My parents have also gone there meeting one of my fathers billionaire clients, and they had nothing but good things to say about it, except the $100+ fee for 1 person.

[Travis007]

http://www.thestar.com/living/food/a...-makeover?bn=1

The Eaton Centre’s $48-million food court makeover

Published On Wed Aug 24 2011
By Tony Wong
Business Reporter

On September 1, the Toronto Eaton Centre unveils its new $48 million Urban Eatery — perhaps the most significant evolution of the Canadian food court yet, from humble taco stand to sophisticated foodie paradise.

The Star got an exclusive look at Cadillac Fairview’s development in the basement of the city’s top tourist attraction. It is the first volley in the food wars to come as developers in Canada and throughout North America marry high end design with more upscale food offerings.

This is definitely not the same old. Using a palate of stainless steel, slate, marble and natural woods, Eaton Centre developers have turned the former food court into a sleek, futuristic vision.

Danish designer Vernor Panton’s iconic red plastic chairs dot the 45,000-square-foot space. And diners will notice a few changes as they come down the escalator into the basement space.

Not to be outdone, the Hudson’s Bay Company flagship store on Queen St. W. had Compass Group Canada and Oliver & Bonacini redevelop its restaurants, including a 5,000-square-foot foodcourt that resembles an “old world” market and opened Aug. 16.

Meanwhile Oxford Properties, which owns Yorkdale Shopping Centre, has embarked on a $220 million expansion to be completed next year, which includes a new food court, that features an extensive patio and skylights. Like the Eaton Centre, it will also feature reusable tableware, reducing waste by 85 per cent.

Cadillac Fairview is already reworking the food courts at several of their malls, including Markville and Sherway Gardens in the Greater Toronto Area, Barwise says. But the Eaton Centre will be the most prominent. The fact they are spending about 40 per cent of the centre’s $120 million revitalization budget underscores the importance of food in attracting consumers.

[crooked soul]

don't mean to be a pessimist.. but..

$ 48 million... that is quite excessive..non?
it better blow my mind..

is that plastic orange 70's style dated furniture?.. hmm..

hope I am proven wrong with end results..

[Taller, Better]

Wonder if they still have that weird "Bourbon Street" place purporting to be New Orleans food, but selling mostly what seemed to me to be more like regular Chinese food.

Has anyone been in the Bay downtown of late? WOW! It is looking mighty fine with all of the new boutique shops opening on the main floor and of course the ultra beautiful "The Room".

[Filip]

Apparently word of mouth has it that yours' truly local mall (Sherway Gardens) will be undergoing a massive expansion, adding a full second storey and revamping nearly everything.

For one of the most successful malls in this country, this couldn't come soon enough!

[ACT7]

Sherway is going to start giving Yorkdale a real run for its money with a new expansion. I would go so far as to say the Sherway already has to a large extent.

[Travis007]

Great to hear about Sherway's upcoming expansion, one of my favourite malls in Toronto.

@Act7, they're both quality malls but Yorkdale will always have an advantage because of its location. It's in a fairly centralized spot in the city, with its own subway station and beside the 401. Sherway Gardens is on the fringe of Etobicoke and is a pretty darn hassle to reach by transit.

[Skybean]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Wonder if they still have that weird "Bourbon Street" place purporting to be New Orleans food, but selling mostly what seemed to me to be more like regular Chinese food.

Haha, yeah. There is also Carribean Queen which serves "Carribean food".

[ACT7]

Originally Posted by Travis007

Great to hear about Sherway's upcoming expansion, one of my favourite malls in Toronto.

@Act7, they're both quality malls but Yorkdale will always have an advantage because of its location. It's in a fairly centralized spot in the city, with its own subway station and beside the 401. Sherway Gardens is on the fringe of Etobicoke and is a pretty darn hassle to reach by transit.

I agree, I think Yorkdale will always be more of a premier mall, but Sherway has attracted some 'first to market' brands that keep the competition healthy.

[Filip]

Originally Posted by ACT7

Sherway is going to start giving Yorkdale a real run for its money with a new expansion. I would go so far as to say the Sherway already has to a large extent.

Sherway is a pleasure to walk through and it bar none has the best food court in the city.

While it's location may not be as 'central' as Yorkdale's, its advantage stems from the crowd it attracts. Mostly wealthy residents from Oakville and Burlington.