Restaurants

Mission failed.

I sent my son out to do some undercover investigative reporting. It was like Veronica Mars, but without the beaches, beautiful people, or Backup.

Sam’s job was to dig into the smoothie story. Armed only with his point and shoot camera, he was to find out who is behind the Weston Smoothie Café and what their plans are. Global expansion? World domination? Grilled sandwiches?

I should have known better. Instead of a full report, I got a single usable photo and a bill. Worse, I had to do the interrogating—of my own boy.

His report was curt, as you might expect of a hard boiled 11-year old.

I leaned over, placing my hands on the table. He could feel my breath on his face. “How was it? Tell me, son, and this will go better for you.”

He slurped the bottom of the cup and the slurples turned my stomach. “Tastes like real mango” he said when he was done sucking.

I stood and looked at the mirror, straightening my neck. “Not good enough, pal. Tell me everything. You know how this goes. I need the details.”

“Very good. Would recommend. Worth the price.” He put the cup on the table, leaving his sticky prints all over it. I’d have to pick it up later.

“We’re getting there. But I know you didn’t make the smoothie alone. You’re not good enough. Tell me who was in on it.”

A smile brightened his chubby little face. “The service was very good.There were three people there, the dude who takes your order and two other people who make it. They were nice.”

I knew then what had happened. For the price of a mango smoothie, he’d been bought. He wasn’t working for me; he was working for them now.

My son had been mixed up and turned by the smoothie man.

Town Wings: Good!

I know I’m late to this party, but I had to wait until my all-organic wife was looking the other way.

Last night, the kids and I ordered from Town Wings, the new place on Gary Drive. They have more than 100 flavours, from delicious (mesquite, dry jerk) to daring (dill pickle). The kids and I kept it simple: mild and hot (which, oddly, aren’t on the menu).

My son, who knows a thing or two about grease and salt, said only they were “good”. Judging from the number he ate, I’d say that’s a dry understatement.

My daughter, who is matters of food is somewhat more knowing, said that “the mild is better than the hot”. When pressed for tasting notes on the terroir and body, she demurred with a smile hinting that she had some secret knowledge she was unwilling to share.

Me, I liked them. They were great. There were lots. Too many. Never again. Tomorrow.

The fries were terrific, just like I like them: cooked to the point of being almost hollow. Super. I ate the salad, and that was… well, a mistake. Nobody goes there for salad.

The prices are very good, I think: $40 for enough wings and fries to kill three by hypernatremia (and a salad as atonement). A bonus: everything, including the fries, travelled really well, which was a bit surprising. It all arrived home crispy.

Another food outlet for Weston

The site of the new Church’s Texas Chicken in 2018. (file)

Atlanta based Church’s Texas Chicken (formerly known as Church’s Chicken) will soon have a franchisee occupying the old Bank of Montreal building (the bank where time stood still™) on Weston at John Street. It will be a stone’s throw from the Popeye’s Chicken just up the street and directly across from P&M Restaurant. Close by are Pizza Pizza and Zeal Burgers to name but a few. Yet another food outlet in a small area seems to be a gamble on the part of the chain but at least it’s one less prominently empty building in Weston.

Church’s will begin renovations after July 1st when they take over the building.

It will be interesting to see what happens to the exterior of the old 1906 building constructed for the Bank of British North America. It was in continuous use as a bank for over a century, gaining the Bank of Montreal name in 1918 when the two banks merged.

Let’s hope the exterior renovation won’t be too garish. Perhaps the Weston Historical Society knows when and why the second storey was removed. The brick building further along John Street looks to be where Peter the Barber’s is today. Could it be the same building?

The bank building during construction in 1906. Adapted from the Toronto Public Library image. (Click to enlarge)

Black Cat Espresso bar wants to serve more than espresso

Like many other businesses in Weston, Black Cat Espresso bar will be reopening this week. And Justin has a plan: first, he has new a patio and extended summer hours. But he’d like to get a liquor license.

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Weston: meet your new neighbourhood patio. We are working on reopening.
A post shared by Black Cat Espresso Bar (@blackcatespressobar) on May 15, 2020 at 7:42am PDT

I think that’s a damned fine idea. I know we have a few bars in Weston, but I’ll be honest: I’ve never felt like I would really fit in at the Weston Station or the Red Room. I’m pretty sure I’ll be welcome at Black Cat.

When Black Cat reopens, they’ll be asking for support for the application. Justin says “It’s a long shot so we will be setting up a donation page for the application fund. It’s a risk to lose the application fee so will be asking for anyone that would love for it to be to make a donation.”

In other local business news, P&M’s is offering their signature burgers, as well as steaks, bacon, ribs and more for takeaway. A damned fine idea.

New Restaurant: Town Wings

A new restaurant, Town Wings, has opened at the little plaza on Gary Drive, beside Brioni’s. It’s in the former Chicken Place/Estrella Churrasquiera restaurant.

I haven’t yet been, though I’ve perambulated past on my twice-monthly ~~running~~ ~~jogging~~ gasping travels. The Weston Neighbours are giving it great reviews, and it’s the only place I’ve seen where you can order 25,200 calories delivered—though I suggest you call the restaurant, and the ambulance, in advance.

Comal Y Canela fundraiser

You can help Comal Y Canela, the country’s best Mexican restaurant, raise money for its informal food bank, which hands out groceries no questions asked. If you have any money to spare, I know it will go a long way.

Every week, Yasmen De Leon helps 125 families with bags of dried goods, fruits and vegetables, and eggs, all handed out on a table outside her tiny restaurant.

Charmaine Baan, the organizer, has raised $1471 of $4000 so far.

BlogTO made a video about her food bank, and TVO has a wonderful article about Yasmen De Leon:

De Leon and her family left Mexico when she was five. They lived in the United States for four years before moving to Canada, where they spent six years waiting for refugee status.
“We went to a food bank,” she says. “And they couldn’t help us, because we didn’t have Canadian ID.”
The family went back to Mexico, then headed to Guatemala, where her father was murdered. Her mother packed her five children into the car and drove to Canada.
“My mother was a single mom of five kids,” De Leon says. “Many times, we had to go to the food bank. And, yet, she never denied anyone a plate of food. All my friends ate at our house. I remember, one time, we made peanut butter, pita, and Cheerio sandwiches. Because that’s all we had. If we see our neighbours like our children, then we would be much better as a society and a community.”

Comal Y Canela starts a food bank

As if there was any doubt that that Comal Y Canela is the finest restaurant in Canada, they’ve gone and outdone themselves.

Last week, even when business likely wasn’t smashing, Comal Y Canela organized a free food pantry for those “most in need in our community. To those who through no fault of their own are now unemployed and unable to obtain support from traditional support systems”.

Comal Y Canela will have another food pantry tomorrow, April 1.