Introducing: the big new location of Sanagan’s Meat Locker, down the street from the old one
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
When Kensington Market’s European Quality Meats and Sausages decided to leave the space it had occupied for five decades, many were worried that the beloved boho quarter was going the way of Yorkville. Independent Market entrepreneurs aimed to keep the building in the family, so to speak; European Meats owner Larry Leider sold the space to the owners of Essence of Life, who looked around for a viable tenant. They approached Peter Sanagan, who had been making do with his tiny space on the corner of Augusta and Baldwin for years. Sanagan embraced the opportunity to upgrade from 400 to 5,000 square feet, and made the big move 11 storefronts down the road.
The layout of the new Sanagan’s Meat Locker hasn’t varied too much from European Meats: two parallel counters stretch the length of the store, prime cuts on the left (ranging from wild boar to quail) and hot food on the right, with a third, charcuterie-focused counter at the back. The once sterile space has been given a facelift, with barn board replacing stainless steel at the checkout counter and an adorable three-table eating nook at the front. Sanagan explains that he’s hoping his newly expanded venture will help dispel the myth that Kensington is dirty and cheap. “What [Kensington Market] has to offer easily rivals St. Lawrence Market,” he told us. ”I just hope that people can start to see the Market in a new light.”
While Sanagan is still offering the same high-quality meats from Ontario producers such as King Capon and West Grey, he has expanded his inventory to include cured and smoked meats (also sourced from small Ontario producers), as well as house-made pâtés, terrines, rillettes and other cold goodies. Like European Meats, Sanagan offers hot comestibles for those who can’t wait to get home before they chow down. The menu currently offers rotisserie chicken (a whole chicken goes for a reasonable $13.45, half for $7.35, a breast for $4.99 and a leg for $3.99), sides (daily salad, soup or fries, from $3), and sandwiches like the bo ssammy (Korean-style pulled pork with kimchi slaw and green onion mayo on a white Cobs roll) and the classic roast chicken (also served on a white Cobs roll, with crispy chicken skin that has been flattened and rendered for the ultimate added crunch). The use of Cobs bread here is no coincidence—Sanagan sources as much as he can from his neighbours, putting his money where his mouth is: “It’s time we celebrated the Market!”
160091 Bread from Blackbird Baking: Small focaccia ($4.25), ciabatta ($4), red fife and Rye sourdough ($6) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans29-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans29.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans29.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans29/ aug12sanagans29 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160090 Baked crispy chicken skin from the classic roast chicken sandwich (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans28-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans28.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans28.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans28/ aug12sanagans28 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160089 Bo ssammy ($7): Korean-style pulled pork with kimchi slaw and green onion mayo on a white Cobs roll (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans27-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans27.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans27.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans27/ aug12sanagans27 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160088 Daily soup ($3.50) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans26-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans26.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans26.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans26/ aug12sanagans26 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160087 Salad ($3.50): chickpea, arugula and radicchio in a<br />
dried-cranberry and red wine dressing, with a couple of oven-dried cherry tomatoes seasoned with garlic and thyme (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans25-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans25.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans25.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans25/ aug12sanagans25 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160084 French fries with chives ($3) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans22.jpg 417 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans22/ aug12sanagans22 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160076 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans14.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans14/ aug12sanagans14 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160075 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans13.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans13/ aug12sanagans13 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160074 Rotisserie chicken (whole chicken, $13.45; half, $7.35; breast, $4.99; leg, $3.99) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans12.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans12/ aug12sanagans12 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160073 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans11.jpg 417 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans11/ aug12sanagans11 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160071 This butcher block made the trip from the old store, and is now a piece of decor (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans9.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans9/ aug12sanagans9 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160068 New, rough-hewn tables for eating in (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans6.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans6/ aug12sanagans6 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160066 Adding more prepared foods wasn’t a stretch for the butcher, who worked as a chef de cuisine for many years at Mistura. He also taught cooking courses at his alma mater, George Brown College (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans4.jpg 417 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans4/ aug12sanagans4 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160065 Peter Sanagan himself (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans3.jpg 417 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans3/ aug12sanagans3 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
160063 The old location, just a few doors west, which will soon become a second location of Hooked (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker Introducing: Sanagan’s Meat Locker https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12sanagans1.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-sanagans-meat-locker/slide/aug12sanagans1/ aug12sanagans1 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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(Image: Caroline Aksich)
Sanagan’s Meat Locker, 176 Baldwin St., 416-593-9747, sanagansmeatlocker.com, @sanagans
I’m disappointed to hear Sanagan’s is using Australian franchise ‘Cobs Bread’ rather than his long established Kensington independent neighbour, ‘My Market Bakery’, a few doors to the west. Sanagan’s is kinda talking the “independent” talk on that one.
Having just reread my post re. Cobs, it’s not my purpose to diminish the wonder or near perfection of Sanagan’s Meat Locker. It’s absolutely amazing and I would encourage everyone to shop there. You will not be disappointed.
Really good news! The main reason I continued to go down to Kensington Market was for European Meats and then everything else. It will give Kensington that big pull and the other shops will benefit as a result.
@JoeHill – It might have something to do with My Market Bakery not having proper buns/rolls? I shop there multiple times a week but have to go elsewhere for acceptable burger/sandwich bun options.
Go early, it was packed at 5:30 pm
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