The eight best bets in St. Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market, with its beckoning butchers and weekend crowds, can be a trick to navigate, so we compiled a directory of our favourite market finds.
PEAMEAL SANDWICH
Carousel’s peameal sandwich is legendary for a reason. With a luscious stack of salty meat and a pillowy white bun, it’s a classic comfort. Upper level 42.
BARBECUE PORK
The Chinese Deli doesn’t look like much, but it serves up the city’s finest crunchy-crusted barbecue pork. It’s best enjoyed with plain rice to soak up the juices. Lower level B13.
DUCK FAT
Whitehouse’s duck fat is truly flavourful, adding luxury to such standards as fried potatoes and omelettes. Upper level 16.
FORBIDDEN RICE
Beautiful to behold and even better to eat, this black, short-grained heirloom rice has a nutty flavour and uncommonly high nutritional value. Rube’s Rice Shop, lower level B12/B15.
ORGANIC DISTILLED WHITE WINE VINEGAR
At double the normal acidity, this white vinegar gives salad dressings and french fries a bright pop. Kozlik’s Canadian Mustard, upper level 19A.
POTATO PANCAKE
This humble potato pancake is a study in simplicity: fresh potato and a bit of oil on a hot griddle yields homey bliss. Dnister Ukrainian Store, lower level B16.
POPPY SEED BAGEL
Plucked from the pile of oven-fresh rings, this bagel is chewy perfection. St. Urbain Bagel, upper level 11.
ROAST CHICKEN
The aroma of hundreds of roasting chickens fills the market, making it tough to leave without a half bird or at least a sandwich. Churrasco St. Lawrence, upper level 49.
What, no fish sandwich from Buster’s? Shame!
What about the Seafood place right beside bagel place? On Saturdays around 4 or so when they start putting everything in $10 plastic containers is awesome. Scallops wrapped in bacon, pieces of salmon, big pieces of fish stuffed with shrimp & friendly staff who will explain how to cook your purchase. Always one of the best places to stop- and don’t get me started on the cheese emporium just down from bagel place….
Mustachio!!!
To peer over the counter at Mike’s Fish and watch the esteemed gentleman carve up elegant slivers of smoked salmon like the artist he is, and then to buy some to take home, is one of our favorite SLM things to do.
Also, how can you forget the incredible variety of sausages at El Gaucho in the North Market? Or the Mennonite farmer with his earthy potatoes in winter and profusion of cut flowers in spring and summer? Or….
Veal and eggplant on a bun!!!!
The Peameal Bacon @ Carousel is average. It lacks great flavour and is often overcooked, sometimes rubbery and sometimes soggy. The bun is a standard fare kaiser which which is dry & difficult to swallow.I had to try it because of the hype but threw out half. Bleeech!!!
@ Steve
“often overcooked”
“sometimes rubbery”
“sometimes soggy”
I thought you only tried it once?
Go for the breakfast bun next time. Always tasty and the buns are always fresh.
Sorry, the post above was directed to jaydee, not steve.
hmmm… I feel like this list does the market a disservice. The market isn’t a food court, it’s about ingredients! Kozliks and bagels are great, but why not buy your own Mennonite chicken and all the spices you could ever want to create your own churrasco? It’s all there. Sure, fruits and veg in the south market come from the food terminal, but at least the person selling it to you remembers you from week to week. And you can try as many cheeses as you want or have someone who loves cheese passionately put together a few choices for you that never disappoint and always introduce you to something new and wonderful. You can get Niagara prosciutto that doesn’t taste like plastic, and on and on. And that’s before you hit the north market for serious treasures. I go to the market every week and sometimes snack on some dumplings, but the goal is to stock up for the week, not grab a bite.
Near perfection is a cheese called Al Tartufo – Acio Di Bosco from Alex Farms Cheese. Hands down the best cheese I have ever had in Canada. A perfect truffled italian cheese. Serve it with truffled honey drizzled on top and some Serano Ham or Pata Negra from Schefflers with roasted chestnuts on the side and the world will be at your feet. At least until the pig is gone…
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the amazingly fresh sushi handrolls on the main floor directly across from the bagels place – same people that do the $10 trays (but buyer beware, sometimes the fish isn’t that fresh at the end of day)
P.s. that guy who didn’t like the peameal bacon sandwich sounds like a high maintenance princess. Please… it’s bacon on bread, what could possibly be wrong with that.
@ Niki: BRAVO! Now you’re talking: its truly about finding the ingredients, tools, etc. to channel your own creativity, make your own special meal, not get some takeaway… its about the little finds and the hard-to-find ingredients all in one place.
Yes, the Churrasco is fantastic, but did you know their chicken soup (made with the roasted bones) is by far the best in the entire city?? Didn’t investigate THAT now did you TorontoKife?
NO, Carousel’s peameal (the owner is a big A$$, I know, I used to have a shop in the Market) is not the original nor the best. Paddington Pump’s is, and even better is PP’s breakfast on a bunch, its simple, glorious decadence!
… and yes Jae, for take-away, how on earth can you exclude Moustachio’s?
I honestly am beginning to believe TorontoKife is just lazy and corrupt, their articles are pretty shyte now, anyone agree? How can you whittle the St. Lawrence Market down to 9-single-sentence paragraphs? Garbage reporting.
The Chinese takeout place at the lower level near the stairs is terrific! The food is always good, great selection of dishes, reasonably priced and they are so very friendly! On Fridays, they have a small selection of dim sum favourites, too. Mmm.
There are more great choices in the Market than this article mentions, however…
The highly overrated St. Lawrence Market cannot compare to markets in other cities – Granville Island, Vancouver – Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA – Lexington Market, Baltimore, MD, North Market, Columbus, Ohio. All of these are more interesting with AMAZINGLY varied offerings and a wide range of prices.
St. Lawrence market is significantly better than Granville Island market: that is a fact. It has less of the bullshitty touristy stuff than Granville does, is more authentic, and when the farmer’s market is open it’s as complete a shopping experience as is available in North America. It’s terrific. Granville is very good, but people grade it on a curve because the island is so pretty and there are other places around the market that add to the experience. St L has fewer prepared foods/ready to eat foods than at Lexington Market or Pike Place, but that’s not really what I want out of St. L market, to be honest: I love going there for stuff to take home. If anything, I wish that they would have fewer vendors who make fast-food type stuff and more Kozlik’s and their ilk instead. Still, it’s great.
The Peameal bacon sandwich may be ‘legendary’, but I’m not sure why. I’m always dissapointed with it!It is chewy and skimpy. And one of the main reasons I go to the market is to EAT and discover new foods. Thanks for the report, I appreciate all the feedback, good and bad. That’s what this is all about!
Cate
If St Lawerence Market does not compare to your list why was it rated one of the 25 best markets in the world according to Food & Wine magazine!
I have been to most of the markets you mentioned and they do not compare to the gem we have here. Stop bashing what we have and just enjoy it !!!
Soory Cate…my comments were for carol
Ferry Plaza Market in San Francisco rates right up there. Their outdoor vendors are terrific. Indoors is pricey but still wonderful. I think they all have their own vibe, and now that I’m back in Toronto I try to make SLM every weekend. Paddington’s is my favorite peameal sandwich!! The coffee shop downstairs has delicious coffee.
Fortunately we all have our own preferences, which make life more interesting and keep us all out of the same place at the same time…less crowding :)
I like the markets for both the interesting local ready-to-eat foods, and top quality local take-home foods.
To each his/her own. “Bashing” was not my intention.
The market is a weekly ritual in our house and here are our top 3 that I suggest you try:
1) Mustachios breaded chicken cutlet sandwich AND a side of their huge meatballs in sauce… amazing, just try them. (bottom level)
2) Mad Mexican guacamole, hot salsa and homemade tortilla chips. (bottom level near atm)
3)Stonemill Bakehouse’s cranberry walnut bread. (bottom level)
Another vote for Mustachio’s – although *my* favourite happens to be the breaded veal cutlet sandwich … I swear it’s big enough for TWO!
To Sophia. Lots can go wrong. You can have a good bun or a shitty bun like they use. You can have bacon done properly or you can have it overcooked and dry like they do. You are making an assumption that Jaydee is a guy. This high maintenance princess thinks you need to upgrade your food tastes. No, Mcdees is not it either.
To Matt: Just expressing the opinions of my friends. Dry, overcooked and the bun soggy. Bleeech!!!
I haven’t lived in Toronto for a couple of years but when I did, I really enjoyed grocery shopping there (my apartment was 10 minutes away) and dropping by for the occasional lunch. I think it’s a wonderful market – some of my favourites were New Zealand and French honey (and associated compulsory tastings) at the honey stand downstairs, dollar cafe-au-lait Wednesdays at the Everyday Gourmet, mocacchino at Luba’s Coffee beside Paddington’s Pump, the different types of smoked salmon – especially the wild Pacific and the gravad lax – at Dominic’s Seafood, and the Greek salad, topped with chicken skewer, at Gianni’s (I think that’s what it’s called). This list doesn’t disagree with the others’ favourites but…now I’ve gone and made myself feel nostalgic.
@ Metal Micky:
bullshit touristy stuff at Granville Island?? You must be joking – that’s been my chief complain about SLM, too many tourists. Well, that and the awkward hours and higher prices. Me, I’d still take GI in a heartbeat but hey, to each his own.
that said, the farmer’s market on Sat at SLM is a gem and man, I do be loving the roasted bacon with the sugar glaze. Drool…
surprised no one’s noticed the fabulous markets in Montreal. Jean-Talon anyone?
St. Lawrence Market is our market stands the test of time and while reading the comments I had to wonder why there were no comparisons to the local “soup kitchen” or food bank.
Carol
You make comments like “The highly overrated St. Lawrence Market cannot compare to markets in other cities” – but then you say ” “Bashing” was not my intention” ????
@Carol
The article is about St. Lawrence Market. Period. No comparison to other cities, markets or even other place in Toronto. Period. St. lawrence market.
Why are you bringing up other cities??? Toronto bashing is fun and its easy if you’re a culture snob. Its awesome that you have visited those other cities way to go. Its got nothing to do with the article!!!
Also its funny that other people visiting Toronto love the market. You know those people from the cities that you mentioned.
Gee, what have we here??? Back bacon is here to stay….I crave it…the bun is lovely and chewy…service is fast, fast, fast….It’s the original…and who knows…somehow it became famous…it’s not like someone went looking for the fame..it kinda showed up at the stripped awning..I saw it with my own eyes….they’re busy, busy, busy…hmmmm so much bad taste here??? Why are they so busy then???? I follow Joanne Kate’s sharings… we seem to have the same taste…(LOL)