Chris Kewley

I thought this might be a good thread to start for us folks that travel around abit in Ontario. For those not following the fishing thread, I fish a ton, mainly sticking to south western & eastern Ontario but do travel north & west a few times a year. Of course my food of choice is wings or fingers but I'm always on the search for local haunts that have that special sauce that will keep me coming back. Can't say I've tried them all but in the GTA I've knocked off quite a few places but there is always room for more so please do tell of your favorite Wing joint. As it stands now I'd have to say The Crown & Dragon (Yonge & Bloor area) would have to be near the top. Nothing hot but their flavors are really tasty, the owner has a second location in Unionville called Dragon Bistro which I've been to a few times. Duffs wings were really good 5 + years ago but have gone down hill since, that seems to be a trend with most wing joints (Wild Wing, Duff's, All Star, CW Coups...etc)

Hey folks, a work mate just returned from India & brought me some F1 Hybrid seeds called Deepika. Has anyone ever grown these or tried these peppers, they kinda look like Cayenne's from the picture on the pack.

 

Thanks  

Well hello folks, it's been a few years since my last post here so I should re-introduce myself. I've been lurking about from time to time but for the life of me could never remember my password or what e-mail addy I used to sign up, have that all straightened out now. Wow seems as though most of the folks I remember are no longer on this forum, but a few are. Anyway I'm looking forward to get back in the swing of things.

I picked this up at the new to me hot shop the other day. I was a little reluctant at first, after reading a label on something called Hawgs Breath(I think) & True Pain(I Think) where they state only peppers were used, not what kind of peppers & they were chalk full of artificial flavors & colours. It wasn't looking to good for Bellycheer, as I almost skipped the rest of that shelf.
Luckly I didn't as this sauce has become a instant favorite. Man-O-Man what amazing flavor, perfectly balanced, sweat,sour,heat.
The Jalapenos do the front work and the Hab's take up the rear & vinegar taste is kept to a bare minimum. I'd like to know the spice mix they use as it does round out this sauce quite nicely.
Heat level is a 6-7


Ingredients: Red ripened jalapeno peppers, habanero peppers, vinegar, salt, spices, garlic & onion.

Like most Torontonians that have a taste for heat, it really has been slim pickings. Either you shop on-line, lucky enough to have a grocery store that carries outside the norm sauces, or you were off to Ottawa (Chilly Chillies). While there has been small mall vendors that has carried a wider range of sauces, the're stores/karts usally lasted a few months at best.
So it came with great surprise that I found out about a vendor that just so happens to reside inside The St. Lawrence Market, THE very place I go to do all my weekly shopping. How could I have missed this place before???
Well... located in the lower north west section of the market, it really is easy to walk on by without giving the place a second glance. In fact, if wasn't for the fact I had a purpose on finding this guy, I wouldn't have ever entered that store. Your first glance has you looking into coolers stocked with all kinds of stuff. Lining the entrance there are gourmet sauces & oils, salsa's..ect, that is when you get your first sight of the hot sauces. Tucked away in the corner of the store you see a shelving unit with some sauces. Making your way over to that shelf is when the store opens up & you find a hole other section lined with all kinds of hot sauces.
The selection is pretty standard for a hot shop, but seeing as these shops are as rare as hen's teeth, it was MOST welcome.
Pain Is Good, Iguana, Melindas, Blairs...ect all lined the shelves. In all I would say a good 150 to 200 sauces stacked the shelves. Hell they even had some of the more insane sauces, Mad Dogs 357, Da Bomb, Black Mamba.
Now pricing is all over the map. Most sauces are in the $6-10 range. From there they start going up to a max of $35 (if I remember correctly), it's not that the're expensive, but there seems to be no flow in terms of pricing or heat index(aside from the insane sauces, seperate cabnet).
If you are ever in Toronto and are in need of a fix, I recomend you try this place. While your at it give the market a try, some great food to be had.
http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/