At the beginning of the week, Rob Ford–related news reports were dominated by ice cream, gravy jokes and his and brother Doug Ford’s plan to drop a few pounds this year. But the levity didn’t last long. Late in the week, an army of police squad cars turned up at the Ford residence (once again), this time because the Fords’ older sister’s boyfriend allegedly threatened to kill the mayor. This latest threat has prompted Doug to call for full-time security for his brother (we think former mayor Mel Lastman may have some thoughts on the subject). Of course, death threats are serious business, and we don’t want to make light the situation. But we have to admit, we’re rather tickled by the thought of Ford flanked by beefy Secret Service types with dark shades and earpieces. Read the entire story [Globe and Mail] »
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Rob Ford and brother Doug are bringing the gravy hunt really, really close to home. Word is the Fords are committed to losing weight this year and planning to raise a few bucks for local charities in the process. Doug promises “a weigh-in every so often” at city hall, apparently on those old-timey scales grocery stores used to have (he claims those are the only ones that could handle “two heavyweights”), and Rob says he’ll have a tough time cutting back on ice cream. Exercise is also supposed to be an important part of their program—we suggest they try some light cycling on for size. Read the entire story [NewsTalk 1010] »
Introducing: The Cream Brewery, Dufferin Mall’s new liquid nitrogen ice cream dispensary (no, really)
(Video: Matt Mark Films)
Move over, Claudio Aprile—there’s a new liquid nitrogen ice cream maker in town, and it’s bringing this once inaccessible “molecular gastronomy” treat to the masses. And amazingly, it’s in Dufferin Mall.
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Recipe to Riches reviewed: Episode 6, Kulfi Karma
Six episodes deep, it seems like the producers have finally started to give host Jesse Palmer a little more rope. This week, the Bachelor star and ex–football star finally got to show a little heart after the first elimination, exclaiming, “That was a little bit intense, wasn’t it?” before noting, philosophically, “And then there were only two.” The criticism that keeps coming back about this show, in our comments and elsewhere, is that every episode is the same as the last. Perhaps this was an attempt to mix things up a bit. Still, the comments might have applied a little better to last week’s tear-stained episode than to this week’s frozen treats challenge, which was mercifully more even-keeled. After the jump, our regular recap and tasting panel.
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House of the Week: $6.3 million for a red-brick Georgian mansion in Casa Loma
ADDRESS: 60 Dunvegan Road
NEIGHBOURHOOD: Casa Loma
AGENT: Maurice Gherson, Forest Hill Real Estate Inc., Brokerage
PRICE: $6,295,000
THE PLACE: A red-brick Georgian mansion grand enough to stand out in a neighbourhood full of Georgian mansions.
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Five things we learned from The Grid’s feature on the legendary Toronto party venue The Mad Hatter
Image: Crystal
The Grid’s current cover story might be a more disturbing piece of journalism than any investigative reporting or hidden-camera exposé we’ve ever seen. The story is a history of the Toronto institution The Mad Hatter, a long-closed venue where children celebrated birthdays with food fights, used shopping carts as bumper cars and did a number of other things that probably should have resulted in a lawsuit. Below, five things we learned about The Mad Hatter (RIP).
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’Wich Craft: how the city’s ice cream sandwiches stack up
(Image: Christopher Stevenson)
Ice cream sandwiches have become the city’s chicest sugar rush, proving there’s no junk food too humble for the gourmet treatment
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The scoop on Claudio Aprile’s one-day-only nitrogen ice cream parlour at Origin
(Image: Trevor King)
Those strolling around the King and Church area on Saturday evening were surprised to see silky mist pouring from a small alcove outside Claudio Aprile’s Origin. From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m, Aprile dished out free cones of the stunning ice cream that he perfected at his more modernist digs, Colborne Lane.
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Introducing: Sadie’s Juice Bar, Kensington Market’s vegan-friendly drink spot and ice cream parlour
Inside the new Kensington Market vegan juice bar and ice cream parlour (Image: Karolyn Ellacott)
Sadie’s Juice Bar, an offshoot of Sadie’s Diner on Adelaide, has finally opened in Kensington, after months of papered-over windows and anticipatory whispers in the market. Given the other options in Toronto’s steadily growing vegan scene, owner Al Ridley elected to focus mainly on drinks and desserts, with the hope of complementing next-door neighbour Hot Beans’ menu with some sweeter offerings.
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Best of the City 2011: Six of Toronto’s tastiest treats and where to get them
(Image: Christopher Stevenson)
Whoopie pie Wings Ice cream Fries Marshmallows Cask-conditioned ale
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Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company, Parkdale’s new place for a scoop and a seat
Inside the city’s newest scoop shop (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
The Boreal Gelato Company, Parkdale’s laid-back new scoop shop and café, is a breath of cold, fresh air after the slew of recent hipster café openings along Queen West. Owner Melanie Clancy originally considered opening up shop over by Trinity Bellwoods Park, but found herself too smitten with her own hood to head further east. Not wanting to infringe on the business of her neighbourhood pals—like the crew from The Mascot across the street—and noting the absence of a family-friendly hangout spot, she decided a gelateria would be the perfect addition to the strip.
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Introducing: Mr. Cream, a new ice cream shop in Kensington Market
Mr. Cream’s Kensington Avenue storefront, complete with neon signs (Image: Gizelle Lau)
For a neighbourhood with so much pedestrian traffic, especially during Pedestrian Sundays, it was just a matter of time until someone filled the void that was left when Kensington Market Organic Ice Cream departed for Queen West. Mr. Cream, part of a wave of new parlours this summer, opened a few weeks ago, and we stopped by to see what it was all about.
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Introducing: Cool Hand Luc, King West’s new ice cream parlour
Owner Luc Essiambre mans the counter at his eponymous ice cream shop (Image: Gizelle Lau)
King Street West has seen a lot of action this month, with the revamp of Brassaii’s menu, the closing of M:brgr, the opening of WVRST and now the launch of its first ice cream shop, Cool Hand Luc, which opened on June 3 with free samples for all. Behind the counter at the new shop, cleverly named after the Paul Newman flick Cool Hand Luke, is the affable Luc Essiambre (whose nickname growing up was, of course, “Cool Hand Luc”). After spending 15 stressful years in logistics for the aviation industry, Essiambre decided that he’d had enough and began working in an ice cream shop, serving scoops and mastering the art of making it from scratch.
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Free ice cream (no, really) tonight at Cool Hand Luc on King West
We don’t know much about Cool Hand Luc, the brand new ice cream shop opening on King West today, but it is Friday, and who doesn’t like free ice cream? From 4 p.m. till close, Cool Hand Luc is providing samples for all. Those who don’t enjoy lineups should probably stay away, but everyone else should go ahead and get their dairy on.
Cool Hand Luc, 545 King St. W.
The Find: a set of ice cream cups that are 100 per cent carb-free
American Psycho’s Patrick Bateman (played by Christian Bale) once scolded his secretary, Jean, for nearly placing her spoon on his coffee table, instead of inside an empty Haägen Dazs carton. We’ve used coasters and remained cautious about drips at dinner parties ever since. But now we no longer have to worry about angering potentially homicidal clean freaks—or even the meticulously tidy people in our lives—because we found these Japanese art deco–inspired ice cream sets at the Drake General Store, with cups that perfectly fit their matching spoons, preventing unexpected spills. The cups are sold as a set of five, each with its own unique pattern, which kind of reminds us of wine-glass charms that help us ensure we’re drinking our own malbec and not someone’s inferior merlot. Only now, five people can enjoy their favourite ice cream without the extra carbs from a cone or the shame from eating out of the tub over the sink. $85 for a set of five.
Drake General Store, 1011 Yonge St., 416.966.0553, drakegeneralstore.myshopify.com.
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