Zane Caplanksy returns to Dragons’ Den tonight (hopefully to say “I told you so”)
Zane Caplanksy returns to Dragons’ Den tonight (hopefully to say “I told you so”)
Caplansky appears at 2:05 and 2:12 in tonight’s promo video
Dragons’ Den fans may remember that Zane Caplansky of Caplansky’s Delicatessen didn’t get a penny to fund his food truck dreams when he appeared on the show last fall. Despite the Dragons’ dire predictions, his truck—named Thunderin’ Thelma, after his grandmother—is very much up and running, and Caplansky is returning to the show tonight for an update. Presumably, the dragons will be munching on crow this time (because they’re definitely not getting any more free smoked meat).
Pretty sure ‘The Dragons’ will have the last laugh considering Zane’s food truck operation is NOT EVEN CLOSE to running at the level he spoke about when on the show last. If anyone remembers, he pretty much made it sound like he was willing to cut quality for quantity when he was looking for cash.
Just saw the episode, Looks like Zane had the last laugh.
Gourmet Food truck industry is on fire growing exponentially south of the border. Its slowly creeping into canada.
I never said any such thing Matt. Quality is paramount and must never be sacrificed. That goes for food and service. People love the food in the truck and the Deli’s never been more delicious. So proud of my team for rising to the challenge. Thanks for watching. And btw: you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
The problem with Caplansky’s, is that people DON’T actually really like the food. Go read the reviews on Yelp.ca.
Caplansky’s has a horrendous history with DineSafe – they’ve been flagged yellow, aka as a CONDITIONAL PASS, for the past THREE INSPECTIONS.
(source: http://app.toronto.ca/food2/DineSafeMain?userRequest=view_history&ESTABLISHMENT_ID=10347210)
I’m not sure where quality comes into play;
INADEQUATE FOOD TEMPERATURE CONTROL
FAILURE TO PROTECT FOOD FROM CONTAMINATION
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE / SANITATION OF FOOD CONTACT SURFACES / UTENSILS /EQUIPMENT
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE / SANITATION OF NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES / EQUIPMENT
INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL
..and the list goes on.
Lolz @ Zane thinking quality hasn’t gone down. Can’t even run a clean establishment.
Also trying to sell his idea to investors without telling them that major US cities Food-truck laws are so far from Toronto’s laws is hilarious.
I would rather eat the delicious smoked meat from the food truck than that crap across the street from McDouchenalds. The soup is pretty good too ;)
Mrs Potato (Head),
Yes,
You are absolutely correct – people really don’t like the food at Caplansky’s.
That’s why there’s a line up for breakfast on the weekends, the smoked meat sells by the pound, and Zane doesn’t sell meat from his truck.
Shame on Zane for spending hours 6+ hours smoking his meat, offering beef bacon on the menu, and having the ambition and foresight to sell food from a truck. Just because America has a thriving food truck industry, it doesn’t mean Torontonians shouldn’t be content with dirty hot dogs from food carts.
Are you people nuts?
I will bet anyone $500 that Caplansky’s has the best smoked meat in this city. Put it to a taste test. Not to mention the best damn caesar’s.
Zane – illegitimi non caborundum
@Suhan,
Caplansky’s has been ‘put to a taste-test’ http://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2011/06/surprise_winner_in_toronto_deli_duel/
they one the first year… then lost last year because their quality HAS gone down. http://porkosity.blogspot.com/2011/07/ps-final-word-on-caplanskys-deli.html
America has a thriving food truck industry because cities there have laws that allow it to grow. Toronto doesn’t. Complaining to your counselor will do more good than Zane selling food from his truck. You are blinded by ignorance and your lemming food culture to flock to poor quality food.
If Caplansky’s is the best smoked meat this city has to offer then I pity poor Torontonians. I used to be a regular of Zane’s when he first opened at the Monarch and the smoked meat was indeed beautiful, smokey, glistening with spices, a marvellous thing. Quality slipped a bit when he first opened but I held my faith. Having been out of town for the past couple years, I returned for a bite this past week. It was horrible. Bland, no smoke, rubbery. Mile End in Brooklyn offers a more compelling version of MTL smoked meat.
But this is Toronto. I may return for his breakfasts or borscht, but my love affair with his smoked meat is over!
The best smoked meat in town is at Free Times Cafe 320 College St.-just east of Caplanskys. They serve Goldins Smoked Meat. Spiced and smoked at Free Times bt Alex and Steph Goldin. They are this year’s winner of the deli duel, and left caplanskys in the dust. Flavourful and deliscious.7 oz. Sandwiches are $ 11.95 which includes choice of many sides. You can also buy a 2-5 lb. vac-pac piece to take home and cook. Free Times 416 967-1078