House-made prosciutto ($3.69 per 100 g) from Masellis is sweet, buttery-soft, tender and rich, with a hint of porky barnyard—and much more affordable than the ones at boutique grocers in Yorkville and Summerhill. Homemade hot capicollo ($2.69 per 100 g) is equally economical: salty and beautifully marbled, with a spicy heat that creeps up on you. 906 Danforth Ave., 416-465-7901.
At Brandt Meat Products’ factory outlet, thuringer blood sausage (99 cents per 100 g) is a mildly spiced steal, studded with white cubes of bacon fat.
Kuhne extra-hot mustard ($2.69 for a 250 mL jar) from Germany cuts through the sweet fattiness of the pork; it’ll warm you up from the inside.
Smother the mustard and stack the meat on pretzel buns (89 cents each). 1878 Mattawa Ave., Mississauga, 905-279-4460.
Harbin-style smoked pork sausage ($4.13 for a 300 g pack) from T&T has a snappy casing, with a light smoke and garlic flavour.
Lap-xuong—bite-sized Chinese cocktail weenies—are luscious, porky-sweet and remind us of bacon, with a hint of star anise and maple ($4.63 for a pack of 11). 222 Cherry St., 416-463-8113.
Visit Rami’s Market for spicy, lemony olive salad and wrinkly, black, sweet Moroccan olives (both 99 cents per 100 g) from the 20‑item, self-serve olive and pickle bar. 2000 Lawrence Ave. E., 416-757-1111.
At Arz Fine Foods and Bakery, tangy, minty, Mediterranean meat- or veg-stuffed vine leaves ($2 per 100 g) are just as tasty as their Greek cousins, dolmades.
Walnut delight ($3 per 100 g) suspended in sweet jelly is delicious with prosciutto. 1909 Lawrence Ave. E., 416-755‑5084.
Loconte Meats and Deli’s Cacio di Fossa ($9 per 100 g), literally “cheese of the pit,” is made from sheep’s milk and aged in underground caves. The ultra-chic delicacy tastes like a sharper, richer parmigiano-reggiano and is a draw here; one downtown boutique charges $11.50 per 100 grams. While you’re there, pick up some Boschetto di Tartufo ($8.90 per 100 g), which is out-of-this-world delicious, with substantial specks of black Italian truffle.
Roasted figs stuffed with walnuts or almonds and glazed are $13 per one-pound package. Perfectly sweet, made for cheese and champagne, and just the thing to round out your board. 736 Wilson Ave., 416-636-8988.
(Image: Christopher Stevenson)
Good Stuff Cheap 2011 articles:
- 100 items under $10
- Four standout dinner dates for penny pinchers
- Three great wines for recession hangovers
- How to make your own soda water
- A massive mirror for a modest cost
- Nine of the city’s best foods for under $6
- How to glam up a parlour on a not-so-huge budget
- Hit the fashion zeitgeist with this fuzzy, furry trio
- The best deals for kids’ favourites
- Toronto’s five best vintage stores (no rummaging required)
- Ladies and gentlemen, here’s how to put together a party outfit for under $200
- Three genuine refuges where guys can get their groom on—cheaply
- Six designer sample sales that make lining up seem entirely sane
- Want an iPhone? Here’s how to make one (sort of)
- Three cameras that hit the mark for under $500
- Five genius ways to save on everyday technology
- Three unbeatable go-to spots for home improvement
I know some of these stores are great. In order to leave a smaller foot print, try going to St. Lawrence Market you may pay a little more, it will be worth the trip just for the savings in time and gas money.
January 13, 2011 at 3:27 pm | by Husky