Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie, Kensington Market’s new spot for prepared meats
(Image: Susan Keefe)
It’s no secret that pig is big right now. The aptly named Hogtown Charcuterie, in Kensington Market, offers a wide selection of hand-cured and smoked meats predominantly of the pork variety. Hogtown’s owner, Pawel Grezlikowski, began practising the art of charcuterie 10 years ago as a hobby. After a year of successfully selling his products at farmers’ markets in the Junction and Davisville, he decided to take the plunge and set up a standalone shop in the space that formerly held the short-lived Mr. Cream and Easton’s Charcuterie.
The Hogtown’s homey storefront stands out from its heavily graffitied neighbours. A roll of butcher paper in the store’s window announces the day’s special, and playful red gingham curtains liven up the interior’s stark clean lines. Using high-quality meats supplied by Mennonite farmers, Grezlikowski crafts an intriguing assortment of meat products, including kimchee sausages ($9.99 per pound), country-cured bacon ($9.99 per pound) and bacon jam ($10), as well as several pâté and terrine varieties, including the best-selling lamb terrine with pistachios ($8). Grezlikowski has also indulged his passion for pickling with the Fermentation Station, a pickled vegetable bar, which features kimchee ($1.20 for 100 grams), fermented carrots with coriander ($1.20 for 100 grams) and blue cheese–stuffed olives ($1.75 for 100 grams).
For the market’s lunch crowd, Grezlikowski serves pulled pork waffles ($6.50), jalapeño cheddar bacon rolls ($3) and arugula salads adorned with dates, bacon, honeyed walnuts and goat cheese ($4.25). Sandwiches, like the pickle-topped corned beef tongue slider ($4), are all served on freshly baked bread from Petite Thuet. And while there’s currently nowhere to sit on a lunch break, a bar for in-store snacking is in the works.
182302 Pulled pork waffle topped with coleslaw ($6.50) (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hogtown-charcuterie/slide/dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-07/ dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-07 0 0
(Image: Susan Keefe)
182298 Bread from Petite Thuet (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hogtown-charcuterie/slide/dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-03/ dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-03 0 0
(Image: Susan Keefe)
182296 The barbecue rub and sauce used on Hogtown’s pulled pork are available for purchase as well (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hogtown-charcuterie/slide/dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-01/ dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-01 0 0
(Image: Susan Keefe)
182303 Bacon jam and a variety of rillettes (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hogtown-charcuterie/slide/dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-08/ dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-08 0 0
(Image: Susan Keefe)
182305 Venison meatball slider ($4) (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hogtown-charcuterie/slide/dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-10/ dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-10 0 0
(Image: Susan Keefe)
182297 Corned beef tongue slider topped with a pickle ($4) (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hogtown-charcuterie/slide/dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-02/ dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-02 0 0
(Image: Susan Keefe)
182299 Hogtown’s fermentation station is complete with handmade pickled jalapeños, kimchee and pickled carrots (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hogtown-charcuterie/slide/dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-04/ dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-04 0 0
(Image: Susan Keefe)
182304 Hogtown boasts a wide selection of handmade terrines and pâtés (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hogtown-charcuterie/slide/dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-09/ dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-09 0 0
(Image: Susan Keefe)
182300 A selection of house-made sandwiches and salads, as well as house-cured deli meats (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hogtown-charcuterie/slide/dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-05/ dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-05 0 0
(Image: Susan Keefe)
182301 Owner Pawel Grezlikowski (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hogtown-charcuterie/slide/dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-06/ dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-06 0 0
(Image: Susan Keefe)
182306 Hogtown Charcuterie took over the space that was formerly home to Mr. Cream (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie Introducing: Hogtown Charcuterie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hogtown-Charcuterie-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hogtown-charcuterie/slide/dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-intro/ dec12-hogtown-charcuterie-intro 0 0
(Image: Susan Keefe)
Hogtown Charcuterie, 61 Kensington Ave., 647-330-6611, hogtowncharcuterie.com, @htchar .
Pulled pork waffles are uniquely amazing! Who knew these two things will come together so well?
Bacon jam is also interesting… Rich bacon flavour with a bit of tang! Worth a try.