Toronto Food Alphabet

Gremolata just published their essential ABC of Toronto restaurants, so I decided to do something similar just for fun, with both restaurants and food shops: not necessarily what I think of as the very best, but the ones I feel the most attachment to and think of first. Of course I had to leave out a lot.

A is for Altitude Baking, with their scones and cupcakes to die for (1346 Queen East, 416-461-7519)
B is for Bar Italia's eternal muffaletta (582 College, 416 535 3621)
C is for Ceili Cottage (1301 Queen East, 416-406-1301)
D is for Daniel et Daniel's croissants and patisseries (248 Carlton, 416-968-9275)
E is for the Emerald Bar & Grill's peameal bacon breakfast (1628 Queen East, 416-691-3817)
F is for Farmers' Markets
G is for the Gladstone Hotel and its Harvest Wednesdays (1214 Queen West, 416-531-4635)
H is for Haandi Indian buffet (1401 Gerrard East, 416-469-9696)
I is for Island Foods' Caribbean dishes (1182 King West, 416-532-6298)
J is for the Jet Fuel Coffee Shop (519 Parliament)
K is for Kristapsons Smoked Salmon (1095 Queen East, 416-466-5152)
L is for La Palette French bistro (256 Augusta, 416-929-4900)
M is for Madeleines, Cherry Pie and Ice Cream (1087 Bathurst, 416-537-3131)

N is for Nova Era's custard tarts (1172 Dundas West, 416-538-7700)
O is for the Old Spaghetti Factory. So sue me. (56 The Esplanade, 416-864-9761)
P is for Peter's Cajun Creole Pizza (181 Parliament, 416-368-8099)
Q is for Queen Pita, for their falafel and their chicken shawarma dinner, to go, extra hummus on the side (1276 Queen East, 416-778-9643)
R is of course for Red Rocket Coffee (1402B Queen East, 416-406-0880).
S is for Stubbe's fabulous chocolate truffles (653 Dupont, 416-923-0956)
T is for Terroni's nightly buzz (57A Adelaide East, 416-955-0258)
U is for Udupi Palace with its spicy South Indian vegetarian fare (1460 Gerrard East, 416-405-8189)

V is for Volo, with cask beers and pasta (587 Yonge, 416-928-0008)
W is for Ward's Island and its Rectory Café (102 Lakeshore, 416-203-2152)
X is only a slight cheat: Daily EXpress (280 Bloor West, 416-944-3225)
Y is for Yung Sing Pastry Shop and other noble purveyors of curry buns (22 Baldwin, 416-979-2832)
Finally, Z is for Zorba's Greek home cooking (681 Danforth, 416-406-1212)... or Zane Patisserie Boulangerie (1852 Queen East, 416-690-2813). I just can't decide which!

Photo: Jdurham, Morguefile