Introducing: Stasis Local Foods, the new Roncesvalles emporium for all things pickled and jarred (and preferably local)
Up at the northern tip of Roncesvalles, just south of Dundas, sits the neighbourhood’s newest gourmet food shop, Stasis Local Foods. The store carries a tightly curated selection of local and seasonal gems, but the focus is on the made-in-house jams and preserves prepared by the shop’s young owner, Julian Katz. Katz has cooked his way across the Toronto dining landscape (C5, The Drake, Lucien, Ruby Watchco), but when not preparing $30 mains, he would pickle in-season produce and whip up scrumptious jams. One day, he had a revelation: “I looked around and saw that I had 30 or 40 cases of jam in my house, and I was like, ‘This is ridiculous! I can only give away jam as Christmas gifts for so long!’ ” Katz left his gig with Lynn Crawford in January to brave the city’s farmers’ markets, and then founded his company, Stasis Preserves. After a year of pestering his chef friends for access to their kitchens, Katz decided it was time to get his own.
With winter upon us, Katz is offering tart organic cranberry sauce, onion chutney, sugarless apple butter, sweet pepper relish and blackcurrant jam, all of which are made from Ontario produce ($7–$8). And while Katz has not yet fully worked out the store’s concept, one thing he knows for sure is that he’s not interested in selling 20 different kinds of maple syrup or honey—he’s only interested in selling the best (he swears the extra-light maple syrup he gets from Bill Haggart’s Maitland sugar bush is the most delicious he’s ever tasted). There’s also a limited selection of produce, like Ontario garlic ($2 a head) and Ontario hazelnuts and heartnuts ($5 per pound), with more to come in the future. In the fridge, Katz has a small selection of meats and cheeses, such as bacon from Sausage Partners and operetta goat cheese from Fifth Town. There are even Ontario-produced oils (like grape seed and soya) and vinegars, like a lavender-infused apple cider vinegar ($16).
Katz is also toying with the idea of offering coffee, soups, sandwiches and oven-ready meals for families on the go, but he’s waiting to hear from the neighbourhood. Even still, farmers’ market fanatics need not fear—Katz is still planning to peddle his wares at the Brickworks on Saturdays.
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- Introducing: Stasis Local Foods
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- Cheeses are sourced from Fifth Town.
- Introducing: Stasis Local Foods
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- Meat and cheese fridge
- Introducing: Stasis Local Foods
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- Gourmet herb blends
- Introducing: Stasis Local Foods
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- Assorted Stasis jams ($7–$8)
- Introducing: Stasis Local Foods
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- Heartnuts
- Introducing: Stasis Local Foods
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- Hazelnuts and heartnuts ($5 per pound)
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- Ontario garlic ($2 per head)
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- Introducing: Stasis Local Foods
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- Assorted products
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- Flavoured vinegars made from Ontario grapes (Pristine’s <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/features/eat-drink-and-be-daring/?pageno=7">cold-pressed canola</a> was one of our 100 Tastes to Try Before You Die in 2007)
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- Lavender-infused apple cider vinegar from Prince Edward County
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- A selection of vinegars from Niagara and Prince Edward County
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- Julian Katz
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- A chalkboard details exactly where in Ontario each of Katz’s products comes from.
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- Inside the bright new shop
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- Julian Katz’s new storefront is on Roncesvalles, just south of Dundas.
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Stasis Local Foods, 476 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-533-1079, stasispreserves.com
&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stasis-inside-624x416.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_106669" align="aligncenter" width="656" caption="Inside Stasis Local Foods, looking out onto Roncesvalles (Image: Caroline Aksich)"][/caption]
Up at the northern tip of Roncesvalles, just south of Dundas, sits the neighbourhood’s newest gourmet food shop, Stasis Local Foods. The store carries a tightly curated selection of local and seasonal gems, but the focus is on the made-in-house jams and preserves prepared by the shop’s young owner, Julian Katz. Katz has cooked his way across the Toronto dining landscape (C5, The Drake, Lucien, Ruby Watchco), but when not preparing $30 mains, he would pickle in-season produce and whip up scrumptious jams. One day, he had a revelation: “I looked around and saw that I had 30 or 40 cases of jam in my house, and I was like, ‘This is ridiculous! I can only give away jam as Christmas gifts for so long!’ ” Katz left his gig with Lynn Crawford in January to brave the city’s farmers’ markets, and then founded his company, Stasis Preserves. After a year of pestering his chef friends for access to their kitchens, Katz decided it was time to get his own.
With winter upon us, Katz is offering tart organic cranberry sauce, onion chutney, sugarless apple butter, sweet pepper relish and blackcurrant jam, all of which are made from Ontario produce ($7–$8). And while Katz has not yet fully worked out the store’s concept, one thing he knows for sure is that he’s not interested in selling 20 different kinds of maple syrup or honey—he’s only interested in selling the best (he swears the extra-light maple syrup he gets from Bill Haggart’s Maitland sugar bush is the most delicious he’s ever tasted). There’s also a limited selection of produce, like Ontario garlic ($2 a head) and Ontario hazelnuts and heartnuts ($5 per pound), with more to come in the future. In the fridge, Katz has a small selection of meats and cheeses, such as bacon from Sausage Partners and operetta goat cheese from Fifth Town. There are even Ontario-produced oils (like grape seed and soya) and vinegars, like a lavender-infused apple cider vinegar ($16).
Katz is also toying with the idea of offering coffee, soups, sandwiches and oven-ready meals for families on the go, but he’s waiting to hear from the neighbourhood. Even still, farmers’ market fanatics need not fear—Katz is still planning to peddle his wares at the Brickworks on Saturdays.
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Stasis Local Foods, 476 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-533-1079, stasispreserves.com){kind=link}
Thats dope, I worked with Julian and I had some of these preserves. Dope products and close to home so I will have to make a little trek over.
I have had the pleasure of indulging in Mr. Katz’s preserves and pickled good. I must say they are delightful and satiating. I’m happy to hear he has a permanent residence to showcase his talent. I hope Toronto will embrace his talent and enjoy what he has to offer!
Jules is a genius!
Julius,
We’re customers and frineds of your Ron. Thanks for these delicoius jams and we’ll certainly make it a point to come out to visit you and p up some more bottles soon.
Congrtas and all our wishes fro your continued success.
Alex& Veronica Fraga