Recipefiesta

The food and travel writer on tunes that help her recall Bangladesh boat trips and vodou-rock nights in Haiti

In 2013 I travelled overland from London to Tbilisi, Georgia, by train with my husband. Or at least we attempted to. There were rail replacement buses galore, but I have happy memories of Munich beer gardens and hanging out on the perfect-for-people-watching terrace of the Hotel Moskva in Belgrade, and, most of all, of finally getting to Tbilisi. We rented a room in a sprawling house run by Manana, an elderly, gregarious and generous Georgian who would ring the old rotary telephone in our bedroom and bellow, “Sturgeon shashlik, 10 minutes!” This polyphonic song, typical of the Georgian tradition, suggests long road trips through the Caucasus, even if we never did get to Guria in the end.

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Toronto brunch spot Sisters & Co. is choosing to find the humour amid the chaos of the restaurant business by placing a want ad for customers.

The restaurant placed a sign outside saying "Wanted: customers."

"No previous experience needed as full training will be provided on site, please apply within," it reads, with the restaurant's phone number below.

The restaurant is known for takes on brunch that include chicken katsu clubs, bulgogi beef fries and Thai iced tea as well as pancakes and waffles. They first started placing the sign outside in June 2020.

While the sign is sort of begging for much needed customers, it's all part of a strategy Sisters & Co. has been employing to keep people coming back, engaging with them in distanced ways even though they can't joke around in person.

"We've been focusing a lot more on customer service through notes and virtual messages to connect with our customers," says Hilary Lee, who owns the restaurant with Michelle Ha and Vivian Mac.

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They've been including handwritten notes with orders with messages like "Thank you so much for supporting small businesses like us" written in their signature flowing script.

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"The sign is a little joke that we want people passing by to read, just to give them a good chuckle on their daily walks," says Lee.

However, it has actually attracted enough attention to improve business, which is always a bonus during these times when everyone can use as much revenue as they can get. The sign has even become its own sort of mini-viral marketing campaign.

"We've attracted people just walking by and they'll snap photos of their own. Then they'll come or tag us on an Instagram post to let us know that they've enjoyed our little message."

There's about to be a Dollarama on every block: Canada's largest dollar store chain has announced plans to open hundreds more locations country-wide.

As of January 31, Dollarama reported operating just over 1,300 stores in Canada. The brand says it plans to expand that number to 2,000 by 2031. 

Lockdown and the onset of the pandemic have proven beneficial for the brand. Dollarama's fiscal report shows that that sales grew by 6.3 per cent, increasing by just over $4,026,ooo million in the last year. 

Though the company reported having to spend $84 million on measures related to COVID-19, it still managed to open 65 new stores. 

Dollarama has its origins in a Montreal all-dollar store, founded in 1910 by Salim Rassy, a Lebanese immigrant who later changed his name to Rossy. 

Over the decades the Rossy family has expanded the discount retailer, taking over many former locations of yet-to-be revived BiWay, and growing its price point from $1 to eventually including $4 items in 2016. It launched its long-awaited online store in 2019.

Toronto has well over 100 Dollarama stores, located in malls or as standalone stores, which have seen some of the bigger lineups during the pandemic. 

A massive sinkhole has opened up along a stretch of College Street in downtown Toronto, putting a crimp in the plans of anyone who regularly travels along this route.

According to Transportation Services, the sinkhole is located at the Beverley Street/St. George Street intersection on College, and it was caused by the collapse of a sewer that's over 1o0 years-old.

As a result, College Street from McCaul to Huron will be fully closed for up to eight weeks as crews work on emergency repairs. 

#TrafficAlertTO - College St, from McCaul St to Huron St, will be fully closed up to 8 weeks as crews continue emergency repairs for a large sinkhole. Detour signs in place. If making essential travel, please plan an alternate route. @cityoftoronto @TTCnotices @311Toronto

— TO Transportation (@TO_Transport) March 31, 2021

Detour signs are in place, and anyone who typically travels along this section will have to find an alternative route — including the 506 Carlton streetcar. 

That sinkhole on college/carleton (don't know which street, and I should've checked and got it on video!) must be massive enough to swallow the tracks! #ttc #college #506 #sinkhole

— GNU/Linux-using Rootbrian's updates and thoughts (@Rootbrian_) March 26, 2021

"Repair work is complex," wrote Transportation Services on Twitter Wednesday morning. "Crews are working round the clock to have the road reinstated as soon as possible."

Residents of Toronto's wealthiest neighbourhood are clutching their pearls extra-tightly this morning after an altercation outside the opulent mansion of their neighbour, the rapper Drake.

Toronto Police have confirmed that one woman was taken into custody following "an incident" at Drake's Bridle Path mansion on Tuesday evening.

The reason for the woman's arrest has not yet been made public, but police did say that nobody was injured in the fray, and that Drizzy's home was not breached. 

Someone tried to sneak into Drake’s house like that big ass Batman gate ain’t in front of it https://t.co/oSp0YWnyoV

— Psycho Mantis (@MarkSparks718_) March 31, 2021

According to the Toronto Sun, seven police cars and at least one EMS vehicle arrived to the property around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

It is not yet clear if the superstar was home at the time, nor exactly what went down outside his house to prompt such a large police response (aside from the fact that Drake and his neighbours are very, very rich.)

I just read about the arrest at Drake's house and remembered the time when I got lost in the Bridle Path while driving a rickety old 3-door Jeep Eagle and security rolled up behind me and promptly escorted me out of the neighbourhood. It was clear I did not belong 😭

— vivrant thing (@beequammie) March 31, 2021

Citing unnamed police sources, The Sun's Joe Warmington reports that "a female intruder" armed with a knife had tried to gain entry to Drake's sprawling estate, which the artist himself refers to as "The Embassy."

The woman is said to have "struck a private security officer with a metal pipe" before she was arrested, according to The Sun, which also reports that "a knife and a metal pipe were among the items removed in evidence bags" from the scene.

Police haven't confirmed these latter details, but did tell CP24 that the woman had been taken to 33 Division following her arrest, and that the investigation is ongoing.

Sources say a metal pipe and a knife among the evidence at @Drake house. A security officer was allegedly physically attacked but the female did not make it inside the mansion or even into the property. Seven @TPSOperations Cars responded and one paramedic vehicle

— Joe Warmington (@joe_warmington) March 30, 2021

As for why a woman had been trying to access the mogul's insanely awesome 50,000-square-foot mansion, fans have some theories:

"Should have texted her back," joked one.

"Crazy fan stalker?" ventured another. As one fan pointed out, the rapper has certainly attracted "enough women who want to take his heart."

The best fish and chips in Toronto combine crispy battered fish and fries onto one packed, artery-clogging plate. There are few unions more beloved across the Commonwealth than this British dish, which marries two delicious ingredients with bubbling oil, served with lemon wedges on the side.

Here are the best fish and chips in Toronto.

4 - Sea Witch Fish and Chips

<p>Open seven days a week, this St. Clair West favourite is one of the newer spots on the list, having been open for just seven years. It offers a pretty wide selection of fish including haddock, pickerel, cod, halibut and trout. Plates come with one generously sized fish, a pile of fries, tartar sauce and creamy slaw.</p>
5 - Duckworth's Fish & Chips Kingston Rd.

<p>This Scarborough outpost of Duckworth’s is a lot newer than the original on Danforth East, which has been around since 1930. Run by multiple generations of Duckworths since Jack and his wife Edith opened the first one, the fish combos at this Kingston Road version are just as popular.</p>
6 - Kingsway Fish and Chips

<p>Anchoring Etobicoke’s Kingsway neighbourhood is this landmark that’s sat near Royal York subway station for nearly half a century. It’s a bustling destination for fish, filleted in the shop, fried in flavourful beef tallow.</p>
7 - John's Fish & Chips Etobicoke

<p>You can get plates of battered haddock, halibut, and less commonly battered branzino at this decades-old restaurant at Kipling and Islington. Get your fish with fries and add extra for sides of coleslaw or Greek salad. You also have an option to fry up a catch of the day.</p>
8 - Reliable Fish 'N Chips

<p>If you’re looking for a no-frills spot for plates of fried haddock, look no further than this tiny Leslieville restaurant. As its name suggests, this little business is a dependable pit stop for takeout containers of fish and chips on checkered paper. The dine-in experience includes malt vinegar in a handy spray bottle.</p>
9 - St. Andrews Fish and Chips

<p>Traditional Scottish-style eats like meat pies, haggis, Irn-Bru, and of course, fish and chips, are killer at this simple Scarborough joint, named after Scotland’s most famous golf course. Mild-flavoured haddock with a plate of homemade chips will make you feel like you’re about to tee off.</p>
3 - Olde Yorke

<p>This British pub in Leaside uses an old family recipe that’s been passed down for three generations. Sisters Rachael and Olivia have been running the business for over 20 years, using the same fried fish techniques their family restaurant used in England in the 1950s.</p>
11 - New Toronto Fish and Chips

<p>There’s nothing shiny about this beautifully retro restaurant on Fifth Street, which the Young family opened in 1973. Takeout orders of halibut, haddock, or cod with fresh-cut fries and coleslaw are served in newspaper for that extra old-timey feel.</p>
10 - McCowan Fish and Chips

<p>Sitting in a strip plaza on its eponymous road, this takeout spot serves affordable plates of cod, halibut and haddock with sides of chips. You can also get fried scallops or shrimp instead of the usual fish, if molluscs or crustaceans are more your thing.</p>

A sudden fire at a cell phone tower in Toronto has led to massive road closures impacting the morning commutes of those in the city who are still considered essential workers amid lockdown, which is the majority of us.

FIRE #Hwy401 EB east of Kennedy Road - Cell Phone tower on fire all EB lanes blocked temporarily, cars getting by on the left shoulder in the collectors. pic.twitter.com/wBIXyhnRJ0

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) March 31, 2021

Emergency crews worked for hours to fight the flames, which erupted around 5:30 a.m. right on the edge of the 401, near Midland Ave. in Scarborough.

Multiple lanes of the major freeway – the main route between downtown and points east – were closed as a result, along with a portion of Midland and the Kennedy Road off- and on-ramps.

The eastbound 401 was cut down to just one lane during morning rush hour, and is just now being reopened as authorities deal with the aftermath of the incident.

Electricity to the tower was cut as the fire raged at its peak and firefighters feared that it could fall over and into the roadway.

Debris around it on the ground was also set ablaze under the still-dark skies.

Cell phone tower fire: #Hwy401 EB collectors at Midland - All lanes being reopened https://t.co/mJZhP4LoBq

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) March 31, 2021

Based on social media posts from the Ontario Provincial Police, it appears that things are now under control, though fire trucks and other authorities are still on the scene, lights flashing.

A sourdough starter that was born more than 170 years is now up for grabs in Toronto. Hailing from California, the person selling it as Kensington Sourdough says this starter dates back to California Gold Rush times.

Not only that, he claims it just plain makes great bread, as well as English muffins, bagels, pretzels or cinnamon buns. Although it dates back to the mid-19th century, the starter is supposed to be active, strong and versatile, as well as pretty foolproof.

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Ben, who asked for his last name to be withheld, had been sharing and selling the starter locally to great acclaim, but only made it into a business in April 2020 when the pandemic first hit.

"At that time a few friends basically bullied me into making a website for customers," he tells blogTO. That became the site through which you can purchase the starter today, and orders started coming in from all over Canada.

According to the site, $7.99 gets you one packet of dried, active sourdough starter and written instructions for activating and maintaining the starter, "as well as some practical advice and recipe links that can put even a first time baker on a path towards making great bread."

The site also notes that the starter had been kept in a cool dark place for three years before it was revived and "roared back to life." It's been in relatively continuous use since 1850.

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"I got the starter from a San Fran bakery now closed via someone from California," says Ben. 

"I am deliberately a bit vague on the origin story because I want people to use their imaginations a bit. But the bakery closed in the late 2000s and this was their starter."

It actually comes from legendary bakery Parisian in San Francisco (whose claim to fame was originating San Francisco sourdough) and survived the 1906 California earthquake. California sourdough has an excellent reputation and a history that dates back to gold miners in the California hills carrying crocks of starter from place to place.

Eighty reviews on the starter product page average out to five stars, with people saying it's a "beast," "vigorous and alive" and "crazy active," and that the bread it produces is "crunchy and crispy on the outside and chewy soft on the inside" and "beautiful, flavorful."

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People also send Ben photos of their baking projects, and exchange tips and recipes on his social media (the Kensington Sourdough Instagram is entirely made up of submissions). But the question remains: Will this replicate the flavour of bread baked back in the Gold Rush?

"Of course the science suggests that over time and in a different location the starter changes," says Ben. "It seems there is still an imprint of the history, but it would evolve over time."