Posted by Sandra Poczobut in kitchen equipment, shops on November 11, 2007 at 8:41 am

SasMart
6 Denison Square
416-596-6415

Until two years ago I didn’t know nutmeg graters existed. Nor did I realize that Europeans have specific gadgets for every conceivable meal. The French alone have raclette and crepe machines that they pull out with the same familiarity North Americans do with toasters. The Italians attach pasta makers and meat grinders to their counter tops with ease.

Two years ago I vacationed with friends in the French Alps; it was a culinary adventure that changed the way I saw food preparation. We sat around a table, tucked away in an alpine cottage, moving eagerly from one meal to the next. During one dinner of melted cheese and potatoes (raclette) my friend Thibaut pulled out a tiny nutmeg grater complete with a slot to store the petit nut and boldly added the spice.

I have since been obsessed with locating a nutmeg grater of my own. In Toronto, a city where almost half of the population was born outside of Canada, I recently discovered a store selling this item and so much more.

From the outside SasMart looks like any other Chinatown five-and-dime. The store’s interior, however, feels like a kitchen supply store for European grandmothers. It houses an impressive collection of housewares and random kitchen gadgets from the mid-20th century to today.

Whether a customer is interested in showcasing their butter under the cover of a ceramic duck, or hosting a fondue party for two-hundred of their closest friends, more than likely, SasMart has just what they’re looking for. In every corner, on every available surface, and in every nook and cranny there is a mishmash of kitchen treasures.

I talked with store owner, Joe Freitas, who tells me that SasMart opened its doors over 50 years ago on Augusta Avenue. Its goal was to provide reasonable priced items to many of the new Canadian immigrants living in the area. A bit of home for the homesick.

Frank Szecsanzky, the owner at the time, imported most of the store’s merchandise directly from Europe, buying so much that his Augusta location couldn’t house it. He kept his overflow inventory in a warehouse.

Upon taking over the store, Joe moved SasMart to its current more spacious location. He was able to bring out the antiquated stock from storage into the light of the store. Most vintage items are, in fact, brand new and still come with their original packaging and labels.

SasMart is reasonably priced and fun to visit. Joe's pug, Cappuccino, sits on the front counter wagging his tail to welcome customers. Be warned, however, this store is not for the impatient. There's a lot of chaos to get lost in, so it's best to wait until a free hour or two presents itself before heading in to explore.

Joe proudly boasts that the hosts of Food Network Canada's show Food Jammers pop in often to find specific items for their programme. I also learn, not surprisingly, that most customers have been devoted to SasMart for decades.

Although looking for a nutmeg grater on SasMart’s densely stocked shelves can be both intimidating and time-consuming, the friendly staff, if asked, are knowledgeable and helpful.

The new acquisition hangs on my kitchen wall making my cheese grater look like a giant. At $2.49 a nutmeg grater is a smart investment. Exploring the busy shelves of SasMart was well worth the time to find it.