Introducing: Marky and Sparky’s Smokehouse, a new spot for southern barbecue in the Junction
Introducing: Marky and Sparky’s Smokehouse, a new spot for southern barbecue in the Junction
By Caroline Aksich | May 14, 2013
By Caroline Aksich | 05/14/2013
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
Name: Marky and Sparky’s Smokehouse
Neighbourhood: The Junction
Contact Info: 520 Annette St., 647-748-4227, Facebook
Owners: Frank “Sparky” DiGenova (Butcher by Nature) and Marcus “Marky” De Simone
The Food: Slow-cooked southern barbecue made from meat from Butcher by Nature. The menu includes all the BBQ classics: wet or dry baby back ribs, chicken wings, brisket and pulled pork. All meats can be ordered on a sandwich, and there’s also a butcher platter, which includes every protein on the menu.
The Place: Marky and Sparky’s is in Butcher by Nature’s former digs, which burned to the ground two years ago and forced DiGenova to open a new shop across the street (he also accidentally started the fire; hence the nickname “Sparky”). The Food Network’s Restaurant Take Over redesigned the space.
The Numbers:
• 225-250°F the temperature range at which the meat is smoked
• 140 pounds of meat sold on the first day of business
• 9 dine-in seats
• 3 hours to smoke the ribs with apple and hickory
213502 520 Annette St. (Image: Caroline Aksich) Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-01.jpg 1248 832 [] https://torontolife.com/food/marky-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-01/ introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-01 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
213503 After a fire, Food Network’s <em>Restaurant Take Over</em> redesigned the space (Image: Caroline Aksich) Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-02.jpg 1248 832 [] https://torontolife.com/food/marky-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-02/ introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-02 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
213506 Mmm ribs (Image: Caroline Aksich) Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-05.jpg 1248 832 [] https://torontolife.com/food/marky-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-05/ introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-05 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
213504 Pulled pork sandwich: half-pound of pork and choice of mild or spicy barbecue sauce ($9). Sides: baked beans ($4), dill pickle spears ($0.50), caponata ($4) and beer-battered onion rings ($4) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-03.jpg 1248 832 [] https://torontolife.com/food/marky-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-03/ introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-03 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
213505 Half-pound beef brisket sandwich with mild BBQ sauce ($10) and house salad ($5) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-04.jpg 1248 832 [] https://torontolife.com/food/marky-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-04/ introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-04 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
213507 Apple wood-smoked chicken wings come in a dry rub or two different wet rubs: Szechuan and sweet cherry chilli (10 pieces for $10, 20 pieces for $18, 30 pieces for $25) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-06.jpg 1248 832 [] https://torontolife.com/food/marky-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-06/ introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-06 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
213509 Ribs are smoked with apple and hickory for three hours at 250°F and can be ordered dry or wet ($25 for a whole rack, $18 a half rack) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/marky-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-intro/ introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-intro 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
213508 Marcus De Simone (left) and Frank Digenova (right) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse Marky & Sparky's Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-07.jpg 1248 832 [] https://torontolife.com/food/marky-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-07/ introducing-marky-and-sparkys-smokehouse-toronto-07 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
I spent $80 there for 2 AND was served plastic forks!!! No respect for customers. Just plain indefensible for such a small restaurant.THE FRIES ARE TERRIBLE AND biscuits lack flavour, very dry.