Toronto Life articles from October 2003

Toronto Life archives from October 2003

Fortune teller.(Profile)(Dr. Sherry S. Cooper, executive vice-president and chief economist of BMO Nesbitt Burns)
October 1, 2003... It's been the crystal ball business for Sherry Cooper ever since she was a kid. Back in Baltimore, where she was born and raised, little Sherry saw a lot of busy suburban moms, thought ahead to just what might make their day--and by the age of...

Blowout.(Telling Tales)(SARS relief concert attended by politicians)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Incongruous combos were the order of the day at the SARS relief concert. The bill bizarrely mixed international rock royalty (the Rolling Stones) with local second-raters (Sass Jordan), and hard rockers (AC/DC) with boy-band refugees (Justin...

Killer cereal.(Telling Tales)(Toronto chef wins Kellogg's cook-off using All-Bran as ingredient)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... One of the city's international culinary ambassadors, Susur Lee, recently cooked at an all-star James Beard dinner in Arizona, with the likes of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and patissier Francois Payard. One critic described Lee's contribution:...

Members only.(The Spoke Club.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Clubs for international bright young things are suddenly hot in New York and London, and so, as night follows day, Torontonians must have their own. Seeking to emulate the Soho House (at whose London branch Jude Law's toddler famously nibbled...

Movin' on up.(Telling Tales)(actor, Ving Rhames house hunting in Toronto)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... In town filming a remake of the '70s zombie thriller Dawn of the Dead, Harlem-bred star Ving Rhames took a decided interest in another sort of 'hood altogether: the action movie hunk went mansion hunting with superagent David Rose, the realtor...

Interpretive dance.(Brief Article)(Interview)
October 1, 2003... Sharing a cozy table at the Dundas West resto Ban Vanipha were two unlikely dinner companions, writer Michael Ondaatje and dancer Veronica Tennant. The former prima ballerina wore one of her usual flowing, Frida Kahlo-inspired outfits and heavy...

Below the belt.(Telling Tales)(Miramax Film Corp. relocates from Toronto to Winnipeg due to SARS)(Jennifer Lopez's target training)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... In the wake of the SARS outbreak, Miramax moved the filming of Shall We Dance from here to Winnipeg. A Toronto-based gun trainer to the stars followed the movie's female lead, Jennifer Lopez, there to help her prepare for a future role as a...

Urban decoder.(various questions answered)
October 1, 2003... Dear Urban Decoder: Among the many war monuments along University Avenue, the biggest is for Canadian casualties of the South African War. Why so grand, given that it wasn't a major war-at least not for Canada? --Trinity Rupert,...

You've come a long way, baby.(City State)(Ontario baby population increase)(trends and services for babies, 1963, 1983, 2003)
October 1, 2003... With sidewalks full of luxury strollers and coffee shops a-burble with coos, the nation's diapered class is on the rise. Canada's birth rate, on a steady decline since 1990. Is now climbing the charts. Ontario leads the boomlet, with a recent...

Wooster boosters.(Camera; P. G. Wodehouse Society's 12th international convention)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... White sun hats glowed under Wedgwood-blue skies, and cricket players--jovial and ruby-cheeked from the summer heat--stood happily scattered around the Trinity College Field like candles on a birthday cake. They gathered here for the P. G....

This issue.(Editorial)
October 1, 2003... OF THE 12 ASSOCIATE EDITORS ON OUR MASTHEAD, SEVEN started as interns. Not that it's a prerequisite for getting a job at Toronto Life, but when entry-level openings come up it's to our young alumnae that we naturally turn. They're with us for...

The big picture.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... Oh, dear. This August's summer fiction cover was atrocious. I first started reading Toronto Life after being taken by the dreamy summer fiction cover of 2001, a blurry image of a woman riding an old cruiser while reading a book. I never...

Northern light.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... As an avid fan of Canadian music, I was surprised to find an article on Treble Charger's Greig Nori ["Almost Famous," August] in Toronto Life. I dived into it, hoping that I was not going to find the same old mantra about the perils of Canadian...

Dress rehearsal.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... In my 17 years of teaching at the International Academy of Design, I encountered no fashion student more worthy of success than Thien Le ["Hot Couture," August]. His superbly tailored suits and draped gowns were the highlight of school fashion...

You're so vain.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... I flipped to "Six Days With Leah" [July], looking forward to finding out more about Leah McLaren, witty young columnist. Instead I got to read all about Trevor Cole's obsession with the supposed faults of a woman who had failed to live up to...

Theatre.(This Month)(Toronto openings and continuing theater for October 2003)(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... OPENINGS Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God. Playwright Djanet Sears serves up Negro Creek, a 200-year-old Ontario village settled by blacks. Adventures departs from the Upper Canadian Gothic tradition, eschewing a cramped,...

Working-class hero.(This Month)(Pete Postlethwaite in Scaramouche Jones)(Toronto, Ontario theater)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... "Early on, my agent wanted me to change my name," says Pete Postlethwaite. "I change him instead." The 57-year-old actor, the son of a barrel maker from Cheshire, goes by "Pete" (never "Peter"), which nods proudly to his humble origins....

Classical music.(This Month)(symphony, chamber music, choral music and opera in Toronto, October, 2003)(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... ORCHESTRAL Tafelmusik joined forces with conductor Bruno Weil for last year's glorious presentation of Haydn's The Seasons. Now the tandem is taking on Beethoven, providing Toronto's first period performances of the Fifth and Sixth...

Lost and found.(photographer Ian MacEachern exhibition )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... In December 1966, on assignment for a Chatelaine article advocating mental health cure reform, photographer Ian MacEachern ventured Into the Queen Street Mental Health Centre. Mindful of residents' privacy, he took the requisite photos of...

Dance.(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... Batsheva Dance Company. This Israeli troupe has been a fixture on the world dance scene since its founding in 1964. the choreography of artistic director Ohad Naharin is sleek, deep and provocative, embracing an internationalist point of view....

Sheer bliss.(The Polyphonic Spree.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Polyphonic Spree la the musical equivalent of a Christo art stunt: you suspect you're being had, but the effect is still one of breathtaking beauty. The brainchild of magpie genius Tim DeLaughter, the former frontman of college radio...

Art.(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... Degas Sculptures. As lovely as these 73 sculptures of ballet dancers, racehorses and bathers are, don't expect towering statuary. Most of the works in this Edgar Degas exhibit travelling from Copenhagen--bronze casts of small wax and clay...

Nightlife.(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... CONCERTS Mercedes Sosa has been singing for "mi gente, mi pueblo" ("my people, my nation") since the early '60s. But over the past four' decades, her people have ranged far beyond Argentina's borders; Sosa's powerful vales and politics...

Jazz and standards.(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... From Both Ends of the Earth. This quintet includes several members of the Flyang Bulgar Klezmer Band, but here the emphasis is on merging traditional Yiddish music with jazz and a variety of world music. Along with the creative work of pianist...

Sibling rival.(This Month)(English authors Margaret Drabble and Antonia Susan Drabble Byatt )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... What is it about the story soil of Yorkshire that produced the two greatest sister acts in English fiction? The 19th century had the Brontes: Charlotte, Emily and Anne. Our day claims the Drabbles: Margaret and her older sister, Antonia Susan...

Kids' events.(This Month)(special events for children, Toronto, October 2003)(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... Casa Loma. Sir Henry Pellatt's house on the hill is under siege on Sundays this fall. Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a group dedicated to researching and recreating the customs, crafts, combat and chivalry of the Middle Ages,...

Diversions.(This Month)(festivals, literary and special events in Toronto, October, 2003)(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... Arab Canadian Heritage Day Festival. Since 1986, Arab Canadians with roots in 21 different nations have joined to celebrate their common heritage. The festival promotes Middle Eastern and north African culture and civilization through...

The IT spot.(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... Lobby, 192 Bloor St. W., 416-929-7169, www.eatdrinkplay.ca Where: Blazing spears of ginger flowers In monumental urns illuminate the entrance of this lounge, which glistens like a rare pearl In the shell of a former fast-food joint on...

The matchmaker: a stylish on-line dating service for hip, urban singles? No one had even considered it. Then Bruce Croxon created Lavalife and made the Internet a cool place to find someone to click with.(Interview)
October 1, 2003... REMEMBER PERSONAL ads? Those abbreviation-happy expressions of hope, loneliness, desperation or unapologetic sexual hunger? Even if you were single, you had to be either pretty aggressive or pretty despondent to dip your toe into those waters....

Detecting disease before it's too late.(EBT-Heart & Body Imaging uses Electron Beam Tomography)
October 1, 2003... "We have many patients who are alive today because they had a scan at our center," says Marc Kahn, M.D, and medical director of EBT-Heart & Body Imaging. "They took responsibility for their own health and wanted something beyond the scope...

Public defender: Don Sellar, the Toronto Star ombudsman, does the job better than any of his predecessors. Adept as he is at analyzing editorial mistakes, however, he can seldom explain why they happened.
October 1, 2003... DON SELLAR HAS AN OPEN MANNER, AND an easy smile on his round pink face. Even so, he doesn't necessarily lift anyone's spirits when he bounces across the newsroom of the Toronto Star and arrives at the desk of a reporter or editor. He often...

Taking a healthy interest in your appearance is nothing to frown at.(alternatives to cosmetic surgery)(BOTOX Cosmetic[TM], BOTOX[R], Restylane[R] and Hylaform[R])(chart - top North American cosmetic treatments)
October 1, 2003... Canadians are well known for wanting to project a positive image of themselves to the world. A recent poll in fact shows that an overwhelming majority of Canadians consider good looks to be relatively important in today's society. This doesn't...

Drama queen: soon after the momentous day when Oprah picked Fall on Your Knees for her book club, Ann-Marie MacDonald sold her second saga-length novel for a reported million dollars. Now, with the release of The Way the Crow Flies, the pressure is on for another big hit. So why does MacDonald seem so relaxed?(Biography)
October 1, 2003... Ann-Marie MacDonald remembers sitting in the dark, age three, staring mesmerized at a glowing slide projector screen. She would hear a whirring sound, and up would pop a full-colour image of herself in a stroller, being pushed by her mother,...

My cup runneth over.(Column)
October 1, 2003... I was 11 years old when I experienced the thrilling if slightly traumatic purchase of my first bra. The lights in the downtown Orillia Zellers were way too bright and had me wishing I hadn't campaigned so hard for that most feminine rite of...

Clandestine contemporary: when it comes to architecture, the city is forever looking over its shoulder. But hidden among the sea of Victorian and Georgian knock-offs, among the gabled roofs and ionic columns, is a clutch of modern masterpieces. You just have to know where to look.
October 1, 2003... For most of us, home in this millennium will look much like home in the last. Contemporary design, though we might embrace it at work--think of Mies van der Rohe's black towers at King and Bay, T. M. Pei's Commerce Court across the street--has...

Soul survivor.(Knox College.)
October 1, 2003... When it was built at 1 Spadina Crescent, just north of College, in 1874-75, Knox College--the Gothic Revival monument to the Presbyterian reformer John Knox--was occupying its fifth location in 30 years. Austere Victorians, gowned and...

Contagion: it started with a grandmother's fall, a broken hip, a surgery at North York General. It ended with three deaths. A woman's account of her family's agonizing battle with SARS.
October 1, 2003... IN EARLY MAY, just as people were recovering from the first outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome and venturing back into their favourite coffee shops and restaurants, Berta Weinstein, a 90-year-old Russian immigrant, fell in her...

Tea cozy.(Sole sister and pot luck)(teapots and dishes of ceramic artist, Hugo Quattrocchi)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Artist Hugo Quattrocchi's graceful ceramics are like mini-monuments to his colourful past. Originally from Buenos Aires, Quattrocchi was a ballet dancer before becoming a film actor in Rome and Paris and eventually a student at a Florentine art...

Golden oldie.(Pens.)
October 1, 2003... The fountain pen, belonging to a pre-Bic era of iambic pentameter and inkwells, invites sleepless nights of feverish sonnet writing. This stylish stylo hails from the Florentine company Visconti and is as much a piece of art as a doodle...

Cat calls.(Sole sister and pot luck)(Toronto's Puma sells vintage athletic items)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... With art deco mouldings, stark white walls, polished cement floors and flat-screen TVs, Puma's new two-storey emporium--formerly a 1931 Consumers Gas office--is a rubber-and-racing-stripe cathedral for the athletic aesthete. Puma was kicked off...

Strength in numbers.(Tic Tac.)(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... Tic Tac's potent ancestor, Cachou Lajaunie, was the post-Gauloise-and-cafe bonbon of la belle epoque. Pharmacist Leon Lajaunie invented these high-voltage black licorice pellets in Toulouse in 1880, and they've been shaking like castanets...

Cover girl.(Sole sister and pot luck)(children's knitwear from Romeo & Juliette, Montreal)(available at Kingdom for Kids, Toronto)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The vibrant knits from the Montreal-based clothing company Romeo & Juliette evoke images of pink-cheeked Plateau kiddies hop-scotching happily through la vieille ville. Coy and swingy, this coat for a gamine-in-training is a chic respite from...

Building blocks: U of T's new daycare, the Early Learning Centre, incorporates all the latest research in education. But with myriad play pits, ramps and secret nooks, its greatest achievement may be that it lets kids be kids.(Design)(University of Toronto campus child care center)(design by George Teeple, of Teeple Architects, Inc.)
October 1, 2003... GEORGE HANNAM PLAYS HIS CARDS PRETTY close to the chest. So when his mother, Rosemary, escorts him to his first day at the University of Toronto's brand new Early Learning Centre, at first he maintains his usual poker face. On Glen Morris...

Camera ready: thanks to Canadian culinary programs, such chefs as Mark McEwan (Bymark, North 44[degrees]) and Guy Rubino (Rain, Zoom) are a red-hot TV commodity.
October 1, 2003... ON A SATURDAY MORNING LAST SUMMER, as I inched along with the crowds in the St. Lawrence Market, fingers ribbed red and white with the weight of shopping bags, I turned a corner by the fish stalls and ran into Michael and Guy Rubino, complete...

Calendar.(Advertising & promotions: events & opportunities)(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... Get the inside scoop on this month's hottest events and promotions from the following advertisers: FOS Visit Fos during its spectacular Sofa Sales Throughout the month of October, in celebration of Fos's brand new location in the...

Tasting notes.(Drink)(Australian wines available at Liquor Control Board of Ontario)(pick of the month)
October 1, 2003... What's up down under? Such original Aussie rockers as Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Jacob's Creeks are alive and kicking--like AC/DC. But the rapidly expanding universe of Australian wine is pushing many new, very good wines onto our shores. ...

A la mode.(Restaurants)(Lemon Meringue)(Rain)(Terrace at the Fifth)(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... Lemon Meringue *** When lunch winds up, waiters spread bleached cotton tablecloths and lower the lights, transforming the afternoon food shop--eatery into evening restaurant. The accomplished efforts of chef Derek Strachan are visible to...

Tidbits.(Restaurants. Scott Saunderson at Arlequin.)(Interview)
October 1, 2003... The mystery of Arlequin on Avenue Road has been solved. Scott Saunderson, formerly chef al Goldfish, is now chef-patron. He spent the summer installing a new kitchen, replacing the old food retail counter with a bar and telling loyal customers...

Shopping with chefs.
October 1, 2003... J.P. Challet of Bouchon, 38 Wellington St. E., 416-862-2675 Born in Lyons, the cradle of gastronomie, J. P. Challet translated a passion for cooking into his chosen profession "because I love it, and I love eating." The market culture of his...

American.(Restaurants)(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... Jump ** 1/2 No-nonsense decor--blond wood and leather banquettes--indicates there's business a foot, and indeed most diners seem to be members of the suit-and-tic brigade. The menu is heavy on grills, but whoever wields the tongs has a...

Bistro.(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... Mildred Pierce *** 1/2 Painted canvases hung on soaring walls, gathered green organza curtains and ecclesiastical light fixtures create a hip, cinematic style that lifts the spirits. The restaurant's fame and longevity ensure a busy...

Meat loaf.(Restaurants)(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... This proletarian weeknight standby seems to have become an endangered species in home kitchens, let alone family-style restos. Worse luck, meat loaf is usually offered as a special of perhaps just seasonally. But some pretty homey examples of...

Chinese.(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... [NEW] Grand's Seafood House ** With behemoth lobsters and crabs at Bill s and flapping fish every which way at the busy, jangling Fu Yao Supermarket, Chinatown East at Gerrard and Broadview should be doing something grand witb seafood....

Indian.(North of Bombay)(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... [NEW] North of Bombay ** 1/2 Generous front windows allow plenty of natural light int. this recent addition to the Junction, helping to bring out the warmth in the ochre walls and dark wood accents. Welcomed sincerely, one is completely at...

Italian.(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... La Madonnina ** This Woodbridge stalwart is equally hospitable to couples (young and old) and large families whose kids are free to be as rambunctious as they please. Framed on two sides by picture windows offering a close-up view of a...

Japanese.(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... Hiro Sushi *** 1/2 His legions of fans acknowledge no other master, entrusting their appetites to Hiro Yoshida for lunch or dinner omakase style at the sushi bar. It begins with a highly inventive, beautifully posed plate of amuses--maybe...

Latin.(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... [NEW] 97 Bistro & Tapas Bar ** An eclectically decorated space--trompe l'oeil frescoes and European tiles, plus Christmas lights wound around a pillar--makes for a funky atmosphere. A spirited flamenco floor show packs them in on Thursday...

Steak.(Topiary'.s)(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... [NEW] Topiary's ** Everything is a throwback to the '60s, especially the dimly lit split level room done up in acres of dark wood, gaudy broadloom and wallpaper, heavy white linens, thickly upholstered armchairs and ornate chandeliers....

Out of town.(Eigensinn Farm.)(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... Eigensinn Farm **** 1/2 Opening in November after a four-month summer hiatus, the unique establishment remains an international destination. Fans book months in advance, bring their own wines and drive for hours for the experience. Serving...

$25 gourmet.(Sasving Grace.)(Restaurant Review)
October 1, 2003... [NEW] Saving Grace A bright storefront on an oft overlooked stretch of Dundas West, it eases moony eyed coup]e ladies who brunch and literary types into the weekends. The main room is no-frills--lino floors surrounded by wooden...

Mira Linder spa in the city: 1973-2003.(Interview)
October 1, 2003... Some years ago, I interviewed Mira Linder, the spa's godmother; in the parlour of her daughter Lily Alexander's York ville borne. Iced coffee arrived in long flutes, served with dollops of ice cream and silver parfait spoons alongside--jus the...

Good enough to eat: where to shop for fresh, healthy food.(Brief Article)(Directory)
October 1, 2003... All the clouds that lowered upon our town this year have had their impact on the food industry. Some promising new businesses from last year's guide are no longer around; a handful of well-established stores have also closed their doors or else...

Ace Bakery.(evaluation of Toronto bakery)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Marking Ace's 10th anniversary, tireless co-owner Linda Haynes has written a fine cookbook full of her favourite recipes, many of which would taste even better with a loaf of Ace bread on the table. The ovens are never cold in the recently...

Alchemy Baking Co.(evaluation of Toronto bakery)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... "Are you new?" asked the bloke in the hat. "I live around the corner, and I've never seen this store before." Brian Kirk smiles ruefully. His one-man bakery has been in business four years, and still the Annex hasn't discovered it. Now he'll...

Bonjour Brioche.(evaluation of Toronto bakery)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Queues still form for weekend brunch and the exemplary baguettes that owner Henri Feasson bakes twice daily, three times on Saturday; famous croissants sell out as quickly as ever. On a quiet stretch of Queen East, this is one of the city's...

Grainfields.(evaluation of bakery)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... No yeast, no wheat, no sugar, no fat--many of Grainfields' breads (not to mention some scones and muffins) match the description, making the most of kamut and spelt, barley and rye, and offering plenty of flavour and substance. Henry Chen...

Kettleman's Bagels.(evaluation of Toronto bakery)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... I asked a shop assistant what makes these bagels so special and he took the time to explain the whole process--rolling, cutting, boiling in honey water, baking in the oven. Then he convinced me to buy and to try some of the sidelines: biscotti,...

La Villa Fine Foods and Bakery.(evaluation of Mississauga bakery)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... I had to look twice at the prices on John Bozzo's great breads and wholesome baked goods: $1.59 for a Calabrese loaf! A family-sized lemon meringue pie for just $6.99! Amazing. The bustling kitchen sends out huge, tender Viennese loaves heavy...

Le Comptoir de Celestin.(evaluation of Toronto bakery)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Alongside the increasingly renowned restaurant starring his brother, Pascal, as chef, Martial Ribreau fills a charmingly tiled space with very good breads and pastries, It's rare to find the two arts so joined, but locals revel in Ribreau's...

Mary Macleod's Shortbread.(evaluation of Toronto bakery)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Like a good deed in a naughty world, a shortbread cookie from Mary Macleod reaches beyond the momentary glory of flavour and richness and texture, illuminating memories of a more straightforward past. Prousts-to-come will dunk and bite and...

Piegus European Bakery.(evaluation of Toronto bakery)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... How many kinds of rye bread does one small Polish bakery need? People who flock to Piegus (especially on Saturdays) have their favourites: dark of light, with caraway or poppy seed or dried onion, or (my lave) old Polish with its crunchy crust...

Bloor Meat Market.(evaluation of Toronto butcher shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Never mind the fact that it's been part of the Bloor West scene for 74 years. This store has all the hallmarks of a modern butcher, meaning meets are ready to cook, seasoned with one of eight marinades, perhaps, of stuffed like the pork loin...

The Butcher Block & Cafe.(evaluation of Toronto butcher shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Ken MacDonald has done it again: thinking up a new scheme to keep his customers happy. For years, his honest-to-goodness stocks, entrees, pies and soups (all frozen as soon as they're made and therefore free of preservatives) have crowded the...

The Butchers.(evaluation of Toronto butcher shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... All the meat at butcher Marion Pather's lovely store is now organically raised, with Beretta providing AAA Ontario beef and pork and Cloversweet supplying Ontario lamb. La Ferme is the source for buffalo meat that gets turned into lean,...

Charlies Meat and Seafood Ltd.(evaluation of Toronto butcher shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Charlie's son and daughter run the major part of the business: wholesaling meat from a huge Scarborough operation. Charlie himself is in charge of the retail store in the Broadview-Gerrard Chinatown, something he does as a hobby, a labour of...

The Chopping Block.(evalution of Toronto meat shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Jay McNish acknowledges that customers asked where his AAA beef came from last summer. The answer: Ontario's own Rowe Farm, also the source for his lamb and pork--meaning livestock naturally raised on vegetarian feed. Moulard duck breasts and...

Cumbrae's Naturally Raised Fine Meats.(evaluation of Toronto butcher shop)
October 1, 2003... I love the way Stephen Alexander is so enthusiastic about the meat he sells, and so creative with the ideas he has for his store. The meat first. Beef is all naturally raised black Angus from Cumbrae's Lake Erie farm. "We like smaller, stocky...

Grace Meat Market.(evaluation of Toronto butcher shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... For almost 50 years, four generations of the Bielak family have kept shop at this corner of College, the up-front deli masking a serious butchery business that serves many restaurants and hotels. Dry-aged Canadian prime and AAA beef is central,...

Happy Meat Market.(evaluation of Toronto butcher shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The front window displays the usual array of bronzed fowl and russet ribs one expects from Cantonese barbecue. Inside the tiny emporium, bunched Asian sausages dangle from strategically placed hooks. But look up at the back wall, close to the...

Hartman's Glatt Kosher Meats.(evaluation of Toronto butcher shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Joe Hartman trained as a butcher in his native Israel, worked in Europe, then came to Canada in 1981. After 17 years on the other side of the mall, he moved into these sparkling, spacious premises last year; and I'm so glad I found him. You...

Just an Old Fashioned Butchery.(evaluation of butcher shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Bill Rechter's habit of barbecuing sausages out on the sidewalk during the summer months has won him a bunch of fans in Oakville. The superb quality of his meat has won him many more. Well-marbled USDA prime Angus beef or leaner Canadian is...

Meat on the Beach.(evaluation of Toronto butcher shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Ernesto Monte finally found the palatial premises his heart desired. In March, he bought this vintage building a little way west of his old digs and installed his butchery where Marketta Artuso once stood. Now there's space for the vast line of...

Nicola's Choice Meats.(evaluation of Toronto butcher shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Banners affirm that prizewinning steers from the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair end up here, year after year--one reason why Nicola's customers are so loyal. And see how staff bone and stuff a Cornish hen for the oven or slice slender veal...

Nortown.(evaluation of Toronto butcher shop)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... I barely recognized the York Mills store, with its shiny new counters and tidier looks. No ovens in sight (at the time of my visit)for spit-roasting chickens, but the chickens themselves are still there, along with all the prepared dishes,...