Today, while the sun was shining...

After a cold and grey winter spent indoors, and with the abundance of sunshine we have been enjoying these last few days, dare we say a week(!), exploring a new 'hood was very much needed. That is why finding such a gem as Pantry was such a joy.
Located in Toronto's Dufferin Grove neighborhood, Pantry was a busy little place today.

Liz and Greg Bolten, busy parents of two, are the owners of this smart little shop. Committed to local, sustainable farming and distribution, they are also providing a variety of fabulous items for your gourmet pantry. The main focus at present is take away, though they will soon be offering a week-end brunch menu that will, no doubt, be a huge hit considering how busy it was today.With partner Eric Walker in charge of the kitchen, on offer were such temptations as apple, cabbage & aged Ontario cheddar pudding; kohlrabi & goat cheese bake ("you'll never go back to boring scallop potatoes again" they claim); as well as beef brisket & wild onion Shepard's pie(!) One could easily be tempted to let Mr. Walker do the cooking more often.

Formally of Jamie Kennedy's kitchens, Eric, a graduate of The Cordon Blue in Ottawa, is also along with Liz and Greg a lover of olives, lemons, chocolate, limes, and mangoes, as well as good sea salt.
Bringing in this wonderful produce they make sure that what ever they bring into this little jewel of a shop, is sustainable, small batch and flat out delicious.
As their web page states,
"whenever we can keep it local, that's what we do"
Our kinda folk....

Not only will you find wonderful food to eat-in or take-away, along with fresh bread, great cappuccino or latte as well as pastries, Pantry also offers wonderful gifts and books.
We saw rustic baskets as well as the greatest "old school" aprons, on sale now from Valentines,
as the cheeky advert suggests...

Well worth checking out, whether the sun is shinning or not.
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UPDATE: September 20, 2010
According to the recent edition of City Bites magazine, Pantry has closed its doors.
The space has been taken over by the restaurant Black Skirt

*****