On a recent Saturday morning, we decided to re-explore Kensington Market and try places we hadn’t been to previously. We have had longstanding favourites: Jumbo Empanadas (have been going since she just had a cart near the egg store), Wanda’s (still remember the cranberry, pear, ginger pie that she never makes anymore), Blackbird, Seven Lives, El Trompo, Egg Bae, and Perola’s. We skipped all of these to have room for new experiences.
We started at Fika, which we had heard about for awhile and never had the chance to try.
smoked trout whole wheat bagel with arugula, horseradish jelly and pommery mustard. Though there was little smoke flavour in the trout, the overall combo was a nice mix: fish, bitter, sweet, sour. The bagel was good, though the better one was the rosemary sea salt, which we got for free as we declined the salad that came with the sandwich (too hard to eat while walking).
Second Fresco and the Egg shop. I also would like to add Lekker for Liege waffles as probably one if few if not the only spot that has waffles of that style. Blue Banana also has a good selection whimsical items.
Takoyaki Six looks good though I have yet to try.
I bought marinated pork souvlaki (to cook at home), some salads and Better than Yia Yia’s tzatziki, lemony hummus and tirokefteri from Sanagan’s. The tirokefteri was too spicy for me. Better than Yia Yia’s makes a better skordalia and tarama but they aren’t stocked at Sanagan’s afaik. Serano on Pape sometimes sells it.
The salads I bought were a mustardy potato salad with egg ( I have an aversion to mustard - I only like it on hot dogs and cheeseburgers), lentil-pear salad with almonds and tarragon, beet-orange salad with feta, and a carrot remoulade.
Seeded bread including nigella from Blackbird, and 2 slices of strawberry shortcake and a slice of Basque cheesecake from Little Pebbles.
OK I tried Little Pebbles via UberEats and once via Yelp event. Hmm didn’t enjoy both tries. First time was the Square Croissant which more of an Instagram gimmick IMO and the side of desserts being very small portions as well not to mention mainstream grocery store level!
Haven’t tried Fresco’s, though thought about it watching people go in and out while we dined at Grey Gardens last summer. Also haven’t tried Little Pebbles. Latin Taste was on our to-try list, but we got full. Takoyaki Six was also a consideration.
Noticed that the Suya Spot has opened a location on Baldwin - we liked their food from the Scarborough location. Pow Wow Cafe is closed until mid-fall as they are out on the road. Also haven’t tried Dirty Bird and Rasta Pasta.
I had some of the strawberry shortcake this morning, and it wasn’t as good as chiffon cakes I purchased in 2018 and 2019. I wouldn’t say it was bad, but it wasn’t worth a detour. The sponge was a heavier denser sponge- which is more similar to some American shortcakes, which can be dense.
Maybe Neo is the better place for Japanese bakery- coffee shops with strawberry cream cakes right now.
Tokyo omelette - comes in 8 pieces (mushroom, sun dried tomato, onion) with two red bean onigiri and a miso soup. The omelet was underflavoured. Also tried the smoked marshmallow mocha latte - OK but not actually smoky and too sweet.
Then we entered the Latin American food court at 214 Augusta:
Pico de Gallo - suadero taco (no pic) - wonderful moist and flavourful beef with lime and raw onion.
Birria Catrina - had the birria bowl: tasty stewed beef with broth, cilantro, onion, lime, and a feisty hot sauce. It came with some nice corn tortillas.
took home a jerk chicken lasagna and heated it up the next day - very good standard lasagna with also very good jerk chicken nestled inside. The aroma was particularly interesting, part red sauce and part jerk spices.
Stopped by Kensington Market today for an iced cardamom latte and Kannelbullar (for later) from Fika, Lev & Parallel’s chocolate sesame babka. https://www.levbakery.com/products
(Available at Sanagan’s)
Sanagan’s. My Farm Boy stopped selling the boneless lamb sirloin I liked, so I’m now buying my lamb at Sanagans. I also bought some terrines. CO2 was good despite being busy.
Awww, thanks!! Always happy to meet people and show them around my favourite places if they’re visiting Toronto on a weekend! I’ve met up with quite a few former Chowhounds and current Hungry Onion posters for food crawls and meals over the years. A couple even get vegetables from my garden
Today:
Lamb shoulder and an Easter terrine from Sanagan’s.
Iced coffee from Café Pamenar, which has a nice back patio and doesn’t let people set laptops up to loiter. I may try their kuku sabzi sandwich some time.
- I only like it on hot dogs and cheeseburgers), lentil-pear salad with almonds and tarragon, beet-orange salad with feta, and a carrot remoulade.
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