Stock In Trade - Toronto, Ontario

We tried out the supper club for a group of 10. Jason and the team created an excellent feast for us. It was a great evening. We were stuffed and tipsy by the end of the night.

As a butcher, Stock in Trade seems pretty good - their meats are tasty, the cuts seem good quality, and the prices, while a bit high, aren't unreasonably so. As a sandwich-maker though, SiT is excellent. We stopped by for lunch and got: - Steak and Ricotta sandwhich: Steak was shredded, and ... had almost a menudo type taste (think it was an aioli and salsa verde mix). Would have liked a bit less drenching of the meat, but loved how there was so much of it for just $10. Homemade bread was a winner - puffed up, properly chewy, tasty enough to have by itself - Prosciutto, Pear and Ricotta sandwich: Again, loads of prosciutto for $10. Would have liked a bit stronger sweet-and-salty flavour, but good nonetheless. Also, the winner homemade bread again. Inside seating area is small, though they have a great patio. People running the shop are friendly, and service is quick. SiT is on a side street just off Danforth, so very convenient. Stop by if you want a great sandwich! Read more

Stock n’ Trade or The Pieman Cometh Simple Simon met his Pieman sometime in the 15th century. It took Mother Goose another 250 years to immortalize that encounter on the printed page but as she had no smart phone available, the time lag is understandable. That she bothered to do so ... at all gives testimony to the importance of the meat pie in a society historically fascinated with obtaining creature-comfort and convenience. Plagues and freezing temperatures do not diminish our interest. They do, however, turn our pie-search into something almost heroic. When that happens, the source becomes almost as important as the pie itself. Galahad didn’t find his Grail at No Frills; ergo, I don’t want to find my pie there. That brings me to Stock N’ Trade, 307 Danforth Ave (at the corner of Bowden St.) It’s only one of several fine butchers in this part of town so the outstanding quality of its meats – locally, organically and humanely sourced – is not enough to make it an “escape”. That status comes from a variety of other factors. The shop has a pleasantly rustic character, with its wooden floors and furnishings, its chalkboard menus and its comfortable lighting. You relax upon entry. That’s all good, but it’s the young staff that make it a refuge. They produce virtually everything they sell. The butchery and the baking are all done in-house. They are knowledgeable, professional, pleasant and, above all, passionately committed to the quality of their wares and the happiness of their customers. That dedication to excellence is wonderfully evident in three ever-changing items: their lunchtime sandwiches, their rice bowls and, of course, their pies. All are creatively composed, substantial in size, very fairly priced and guaranteed to make your taste buds forgive you all previous crimes. That’s why the store has a local following that’s almost cultish. It’s also why their tortieres have become my standard Whiskey Tasting Night’s main course. Galahad took the Grail to Heaven. As the TTC doesn’t go there, I just took my pie home. There my friends and I agreed that it was close enough to heaven for the time being. Try them. You’ll agree. Cheers! Read more

Amazing sandwiches! Tasty, well priced and friendly staff - located behind 7Numbers off Danforth - they took over the back dining area. Had the Cubano $13 and Crispy Maple Pork (Japanese inspired Katsu style) $11 sandwiches. I remember going to their Danforth east location and their sandwiches and potato salad ... were delicious. Please try them out and support this great little shop. Read more

Aside from some the staff having phenomenal knowledge and taste in hip-hop the food is also great. BBQ pulled chicken rice bowl is a value deal. But when I say value I don't mean "oh yeah that was fuel and hit the spot but ya know the flavour wasn't really ... there" type of value. No I mean the quality and price are in harmony. Serving size is proper and the extras, well damn they put nuff pickled things in it to make me a happy man. Also Kanye is whack and Nas shouldn't have done that last album, what was he thinking. Read more