Good Stuff Cheap: 11 selections for a kick-ass and low-cost charcuterie plate
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
 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
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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.