Food sleuth is my name; sleuthing is my game.
In keeping with the above, I am reporting on some excellent finds – two in the Stratford region where I still spend weekends at my “country home”, the other in Toronto where I am on weekdays.
Simple Fish and Chips, 118 Downie St., just steps from City Hall in downtown Stratford is that rarity: a really good fish and chip shop. Ross and I had heard about the new eatery owned and operated by a fellow from nearby St. Mary’s (he recently closed the fish and chippery there and spends part of his time selling sausages from a barrow) but had not tried its wares until the other night.
Wow, the chips are top-notch: fresh-cut and freshly made, slightly sweet as good chips should be and only a tad soggy yet crispy – exactly the way I like them. They and the fish – fried in a crisp light batter without being greasy – are first-rate. I had perch (locally caught and terrific if maybe a bit heavy on the batter) and he had halibut – both excellent.
This is an enlightened eatery. Note the menu’s Tofu Fish and Chips, Tuscan Crusted Tilapia and Lobster Sliders. At about $15 a person, the price is right too.
A country drive away in nearby Sebringville, the de Martines family raise heritage pork. Proof of the porcine flesh is in the eating and two large Berkshire pork loin chops (only about $4 a pop) were quickly unfrozen to yield a delicious dinner.
Only problem here is that most of the de Martines meat goes to Toronto butchers and restaurants who crave naturally raised meat so right now the pickin’s are slim.
In Toronto, I made a second visit the other day to the east end of town (Gerrard and Pape) when the craving hit for Turkish pizza.
These long, boat-shaped pies are delectable at about $10 a pop and plenty for two people. The thin, crisp pastry is a cross between usual pizza dough and pie pastry with a choice of fillings that include feta cheese, spinach, spicy sausage, ground beef, chopped chicken, eggs, mozzarella or combos of the above. Delish!