Call us at (905) 862-3359 or Visit in person

 

These are the kinds of things we’ll ask you:

 

Is this a main part of the meal or an appetizer?

How much do you want to spend?

How many people are you serving?

Does anyone have allergies? (gluten, nuts, etc.)

Are there things you like or specifically don’t like? (blue, creamy, spicy)

Do you want to include cured meat?

When would you like to pick it up?

 

You choose what you want or we are happy to make the choices for you. Prices are based on the weight of the products chosen and we can work within whatever your budget is. Are you looking for crowd pleasing favourites for 12 or a higher end curated board for a small gathering with foodie friends? Either way we will make it look fabulous with the addition of dried fruit, nuts, seeds, olives, chutney and garnish. All you need to do is remove the lid and it is ready to roll! Let the nibbling begin!

 

In our ongoing quest to source alcohol free alternatives, we bring you the Highball line of alcohol free cocktails – a delicious, healthy, zero percent alternative to some of the world’s greatest cocktails. Using natural ingredients sourced from around the world, Highball cocktails are hand-crafted in small batches in the UK.

 

With a focus on authenticity and flavour, the cocktails contain less than half the calories of standard cocktails and are free from artificial ingredients, sweeteners and preservatives. They are also gluten free and suitable for vegan diets.

 

We are embarrassed to say they are almost all gone but in light of the runaway success we will definitely be re-ordering. Both the Gin & Tonic and Mojito have had rave reviews so far. The 250ml bottles are sold individually. Great straight out of the bottle but even better in a fabulous glass with ice and a little somethin’ somethin’ (mint, lime, etc.)

 

Hello Guilt-Free Cocktail Hour!

The beginning of the year always starts slow but seems to pick up speed as each month ticks by…like a slow winter thaw that suddenly rushes into Spring. That’s what April seems like to me. We start with Easter and Passover – each occasions that call for lovely food celebrations and treats and sweets. (I don’t know about you but any occasion that involves many items covered in chocolate works for me!) See below for all the chocolate places we can take you!

 

It’s been quiet in the store but as always the kitchen and our back freezer is always hopping!

Check it out for the latest seasonal offerings. Our chefs are always hard at work to ensure you have lots of choices to get you through without having to cook from scratch yourself.

 

For Easter our freezer will be fully stocked and there will be lots of baked goods in our pastry case. If you’re ordering a cheese or charcuterie board, please let us know as soon as you know the details!

 

 

April 22nd is Earth Day! Although we are always happy to provide bags – on Earth Day and every day – we encourage you to bring your own reusable bags or re-use the ones you get from here!

 

Our biggest news of all is that CLASSES ARE FINALLY BACK!! Our first round will be offered to those of you were previously registered in classes that were cancelled because of Covid. See below for details. After that classes will be open to all.

 

 

We have slowly expanded our store hours to pre-pandemic times. We will NOW OPEN MONDAYS and each weekday we will stay open until 6pm. Store Hours are now:

 

 

 

Whether or not you celebrate Easter or just spring time, it’s a time of year when a little chocolate just fits the bill!

 

We have Pralibel mixed Belgian Chocolates in their signature orange boxes in two sizes. Both the Prestige No. 17 Mix and Prestige No. 7 Mix include an assortment of dark, milk and praline selections. Makes a lovely gift from this storied Belgian chocolatier.

 

Our Easter treats include pastel hued Cocoba Mini Chocolate Eggs, Giant filled Eggs and Dark and Milk Chocolate Solid Bunnies. The Holdsworth handmade Milk Chocolate Mini Eggs with Salted Caramel Centres are beautifully boxed with an Easter motif and yellow ribbon.

 

Using their signature 72% chocolate, Desbarres has delivered some Bunny Drops (in Caramel Crunch) and Two-Bite Bunnies (with Trail or Maple Butter fillings).

 

If a custom selection of chocolates is more to your liking, you can never go wrong with our Daniel’s Chocolates which can be packaged in a lovely box in any quantity you choose.

It will be a slow roll-out with the first round of classes being offered to those of you who were previously registered in classes that were cancelled because of Covid and who chose not to get a refund. For those of you that fall into that category, hopefully by this time you will have received an email from us with the details. (Please call us if that if not the case.) We are hoping most participants will be able to make the new dates and therefore expect that this first round will be sold out. However, if there is some availability, those class dates will be offered to the general public. Information and updates will be available in-store and on our social media sites.

 

Once that first round is out of the way, we will offer ALL NEW classes that we are currently working on and excited to share. Registration will be open to everyone as before on a first come first served basis. STAY TUNED and thanks again for your patience!

We’ve just received a new batch of charcuterie boards from talented local artisan Rick Collins. Pop in to check out these one of a kind beauties and find the perfect size and shape for your taste. Long and skinny, live edge, rectangular (parallelogram and trapezoids too) and some with uniquely turned handles, these pieces are usable art for your food spaces.

 

We call them charcuterie boards but of course they are so much more.

We have a few interesting new wines in house from Italy, France and Canada.

 

North 42 Degrees Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé – Canada

Macerated on the skins to extract a gorgeous persimmon colour. This dry rosé showcases freshly crushed strawberries, a playful wisp of cotton candy and a squeeze of lemon. These flavours dance across the palate, creating a playful mouthfeel, refreshing acidity, and a lasting finish. A terrific, versatile food pairing wine or to enjoy on its own. This is a wine you drink all day… well by that we mean any TIME of day…. not suggesting you drink all day…

 

Obiz Venezia Giulia Ribolla Gialla – Italy  

This Ribolla Gialla is from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region of Northern Italy. It has a beautiful straw colour with greenish highlights. Wonderfully balanced with an elegant floral and citrus bouquet. Drink alone as an aperitif or pair with seafood, pureed or creamed soups.

 

Benjamin Bridge Brut, Méthod Classique – Canada

This exceptional sparkling wine is a blend made from several vintages of different estate-grown grapes – this one includes Chardonnay and Canadian hybrid, L’Acadie. It is pale golden in colour and has aromas of lemon rind, golden apple and freshly baked bread. Pairs well with Bloomy rind cheeses, Oysters, Caviar, White Truffles.

 

Domain Juliette Avril Cairanne – Grenache/Syrah/Mourvédre – France

Beautifully balanced with great acidity and soft, well ripened tannins. Flavours of leather, lightly smoked meat, with a fabulous mid-palate.

 

O Joie Fleurie Beaujolais – France

This interesting new addition is wine in a small can! Wait… stay with me now!! Sold individually in 250ml cans these are better quality wines that are meant to be enjoyed young. O Joie Fleurie Beaujolais by Chateau des Moriers is hand harvested in a family run vineyard in France. Just in time for warmer w

Sharing a drink with others or enjoying your beverage of choice in a nice vessel is one of life’s small pleasures.

We got you. We are re-stocked with Red & White Spiegelau Wine Glasses along with our Glencairn Whiskey Glasses now sold in a set of two. A Martini Glass is perfect for its classic namesake but also lovely for a Cosmopolitan or other cocktail elevated with a simple garnish (or not). If you’re watching the Masters maybe you’ll get a hankering for a Mint Julep which we have on the way along with Etched Tumblers in a lovely set of four. Our Bella Champagne flutes are perfect for your sparkling wine selections but with almost no effort (think a berry or two and a little fruit puree like our Bellini Mix), you have an elegant drink for any spring celebration!

We recently came across an extremely comprehensive review of Shun knives by Andrew Palermo that we have excerpted below. Whether you’re in the market for a new knife or are curious about this brand, we think it’s a worthwhile read.

 

Shun is widely recognized as one of the top kitchen knife brands in the world.

But what makes them so special? Are they worth the high price?

In this in-depth review, I break down the pros and cons of Shun kitchen knives.

 

Shun’s parent company, KAI Group, was founded in 1908 in Seki City, Japan.

Located in the Gifu Prefecture, Seki City has been Japan’s home of forged blades for over 800 years. In 2002, the KAI Group founded Shun Cutlery to bring Japanese-style knives to western markets. Before Shun, home cooks in western markets were almost exclusively using heavy European-style knives. Shun became a pioneer in bringing Japanese-style blades to the rest of the world.

 

The thinner and sharper blades offering exceptional precision gave Shun an advantage in the marketplace, accelerating the brand’s popularity. Although Shun knives are expensive, they’re widely regarded as one of the top brands on the market, thanks to the gorgeous and functional designs, ultra-sharp edges, and superior edge retention.

 

Shun knives are manufactured by hand. So when you hold a Shun knife, you can be sure that an artisan held it in theirs as they carefully crafted it. All Shun blades are forged using traditional Japanese methods, but the process varies across collections.

The Classic and Premier collections feature Damascus-clad blades.

 

Damascus cladding is when metal alloys are layered and folded while hot before being shaped into the blade and ground from the spine to the edge. The number of layers varies, but most Shun knives have 34 layers per side, 68 total. In addition to grinding, Shun artisans bead blast or acid etch each blade, creating a texture that prevents food from sticking. The acid etching process makes the carbon layers of the blade darker, while the other metals remain light. The result is a beautiful wave pattern down the sides of the knife. This style of blade making is called Kasumi, meaning “mist.” It’s called that because the rippling on the blade resembles mist. Knives made by this process are beautiful, strong, and stain-resistant.

 

Some of Shun’s knives, like the Premier collection, are also made using a process called tsuchime (Tsoo-CHEE-may). Tsuchime means “hammered” because these knives have divots along the top of the blade. The hammered finish gives the knives a beautiful finish that resembles ancient Japanese knives. Besides looking good, the divots reduce drag, so the knives will seamlessly cut through all meats or vegetables without the food sticking.

 

Shun makes its blades with high-quality steels, including VG-MAX. This proprietary steel is used to make blades in the Premier, Classic, and Seki Magoroku collections. It’s a step up in quality from VG-10 and includes carbon, chromium, tungsten, Molybdenum, and Vanadium. Each element contributes to the blade’s strength, durability, and cutting performance.

 

Most Shun handles are made of PakkaWood, a durable composite of hardwood and resin. Although the wood is impregnated with resin, it has the appearance of natural hardwood, and no two handles are the same. With PakkaWood, you get the elegant graining and natural beauty of wood and the moisture-resistance and durability of a synthetic material.

 

As an example, let’s take a look at the Shun Classic 8-inch Chef’s knife, the brand’s most popular knife. When you look at this knife, the first thing you notice is the wavy pattern of the Damascus steel. One of the most unique features of Shun knives is the D-shaped handles featured in the Classic collection. If you’re looking down at the knife, the right side of the handle is curved while the left side is flatter. That prevents the knife from rotating in your hand. The curved side bends perfectly with your knuckles if you’re right-handed but can make the grip a bit awkward for lefties (although Shun claims its D-shaped handles are ambidextrous). Overall, the result of this design is an excellent combination of style and practicality. It’s lightweight, easy to maneuver, and aesthetically pleasing — the type of knife you won’t want to hide away in a drawer when guests come over. The Premier collection has walnut PakkaWood handles similar to the Classic collection but a bit shorter and fatter. However, what sets this collection apart is the blades. Premier blades feature a hammered pattern on the top half and a swirly Damascus pattern closer to the edge. It’s a truly striking look.

 

Overall, Shun cutlery delivers everything you could want in a kitchen knife. These knives are sharp, sturdy, and well-balanced. Shun knives are on the lighter side, especially when compared to popular German-style knives. For example, the Shun Classic 8-inch Chef’s knife weighs 6.6 ounces, while the Wusthof Classic 8-inch Chef’s knife weighs 8.5 ounces. There are pros and cons to having lighter knives. Lightweight knives are easier to maneuver, lowering the risk of wrist fatigue or injury after long periods of chopping. However, they don’t feel as solid in your hand as heavier knives. They also won’t guide their way through whatever you are cutting as steadily as heavier knives. One aspect of Shun knives everyone can get behind is the ultra-sharp blades. One of the reasons Shun knives hold an edge so well is because they are very hard. Steel hardness is rated on the Rockwell Scale. It is generally accepted that good kitchen knives will fall between 55 and 62 on the Rockwell scale. Shun knives rate at 61, which is on the harder side. The hardness of Shun blades means that they will hold an edge and stay razor-sharp much longer than softer knives. The downside to hard steel is that the edge is more prone to chipping, which is the most common complaint people have about Shun knives. While they are not fragile knives, they aren’t workhorses either. You need to be careful around bones, seeds, and other hard ingredients.

 

Bottom line — if you’re looking for premium Japanese-style kitchen knives, Shun should be at the top of your list. They’re expensive but absolutely worth the price because you get gorgeous handcrafted knives that perform as well as they look.

 

2 cups (500 ml) Mint Leaves; roughly chopped

1 teaspoon (5 ml) Sea Salt Flakes

1 tablespoon (15 ml) Olive Oil

21⁄2 ounces (75 g) Unsalted Butter; chopped

1 Onion; finely chopped

2 cloves Garlic; crushed

1⁄3 cup (80 ml) Dry White Wine

2 cups (500 ml) Carnaroli Rice

61⁄3 cups (1.5 l) hot Chicken Stock

1⁄2 cup (125 ml) Parmigiano-Reggiano; finely grated

2 cups (500 ml) Peas (fresh or frozen, thawed)

7 ounces (200 g) Sugar Snap Peas; trimmed, blanched and halved

Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Crème Fraîche and Pea Shoots, to serve

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

With a mortar and pestle, pound the mint and salt into a rough paste. Add the oil, stir to combine and set aside.

Melt 25 g butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes or until softened.

Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the stock, 1 cup at a time, adding more once absorbed, and cook, stirring, for 20 to 25 minutes or until the rice is al dente.

Remove from the heat and stir through the remaining ingredients. Top with crème fraîche and pea shoots to serve

 

 

Serves 4