As the former proprietor of Shay Gourmet, Andy Shay is no stranger to the Toronto food scene. Today, he is known as the man behind Shay Cheese, which started up in 2004 as Canada's first online cheese retailing business, and has become the fastest growing Internet distributor of fine cheese boxes in the country. Andy also offers cheese appreciation classes, serves as a regular contributor to local foodie website Gremolata, teaches in the Hospitality program at George Brown College, and is a board member of the Ontario Cheese Society.
You've got $10 to buy lunch - where do you go?
My boys (7 and 9) are always up for a counter meal at an authentic diner and if my wife is not around we often head to our local: Vesta Lunch (474 Dupont Street). Best bet is to stick to the real basics, but then if you order a Cobb salad or teriyaki chicken at a diner, you get what you are asking for!
If I was on my own? The other day I had the most amazing smoked meat sandwich from Caplansky's (12 Clinton St). I don't eat a lot of meat and so I was a little leery at first (it was a big meaty sandwich), but it was incredible! Rich and smoky and spiced and ohhh so tender. I will be going back there again as soon as high cheese season is over!
The budget's unlimited, someone else is paying and the choice is yours - where do you pick for dinner?
At age - well, let's just say "over 35" - I have had four of those absolutely incredible meals where the result of service, food, wine, atmosphere and friends equals way more than the sum of the parts and the whole affair sends you into a state of sublime being - and any unlimited budget meals would be a quest for a fifth such occasion. Hmm... how about The Fat Duck outside of London, England, or closer to home Madeline's (601 King Street West), or Colborne Lane (45 Colborne Street), or even Scaramouche (1 Benvenuto Place) - not an adventure, but where they never let you down.
Tell us some of the food shops you frequent when buying groceries to cook for yourself.
Well, generally I am a bit of a pantry cook. I cook dinner most nights and I generally have no idea what I am going to make until 5:10, and dinner is usually served at 6:00 sharp. In order to support this habit I have to have a well stocked pantry.
I have a basic list that I shop for from my local grocery store, and generally try to buy organic produce as long as it looks reasonable. In summer months our family hikes down to the market at Liberty Village on Sunday mornings for terrific fresh produce, and conveniently, Atelier Thuet (171 East Liberty Street) is just a block away with enticing pastries and scrumptious breads, especially spread with Beurre Echire.
Cumbrae's (481 Church Street & 1636 Bayview Avenue) is my butcher - it is not in my neighbourhood so I order a month's worth at a time if I am in the area or get home delivery. Fiesta Farms (200 Christie Street) is a good stop for Italian staples and interesting independent brands, with great prices on bronze cut pasta and olive oil. Finally, I have a neighbour who organizes weekly mushroom delivery from Fun Guy Farm, the best shiitake, oyster and occasionally other mushrooms. Each box is like a still life!
When ordering in for a quiet night at home, what's your favourite place for take-out or delivery?
King's Noodle House (296 Spadina Avenue) for nice soups and noodles, and Vanipha Lanna (863 St. Clair Avenue West) for great Thai - I always order the Gang Ped (red curry) with duck and lychee.
Oh, no, relatives are coming to Toronto from out of town - where do you take them?
My relatives are all from a small town in upstate NY so there are a million ways to impress them or have them try something different. Dim sum, pastries, Terroni (720 Queen Street West & other locations), Boom (1036 St. Clair Avenue West & other locations), etc. Really, any of our usual spots that work with our kids - they don't have anything like it at home. The last time my sister was in town (she travels quite a lot and likes to eat well) we went to Lee (603 King Street West) and that worked well - food was great, casual and quick to get home to relieve the baby sitter.
What's coming up?
At Shay Cheese this is my busiest time of year. We have just released both the November (all Canadian cheeses) and December (Classic French and English cheeses) collections. Shay Cheese collections are really like a self guided cheese tasting session, but as people continue to warm up to cheeses I am getting more and more calls for guided cheese tastings. Corporate orders are another large part of the business and I spend quite a bit of time personally planning and organizing those orders.
If there is one cheese you should be sure not to miss this holiday season, for me it would be Brillat-Savarin, the lightest and most fleeting of the French triple cream cheeses. It is spoonable, you get a short sharp blast of salty rich butter, it barely touches your tongue and then it vanishes! Oh, and it is a perfect pairing with champagne! Be sure to check it out.
Tasting T.O. is a regular feature where we ask local artists, writers, musicians, foodies and other personalities about their favourite places to eat and drink in the city. If you or someone you know would like to be featured in an upcoming instalment - especially if you have an upcoming event, gig, release, etc. to promote - please get in touch.
