If you’ve been reading our blog you know that we, at Urbaneer, love great food. And when we come across a place that puts a smile on our face, we share it with our readers. However, as busy as we are, we're not always living it up in restaurants and cafes. When we have time – and bravery perseveres – we cook up a storm in our own kitchens. Recently, I visited The Friendly Butcher for some dinner ideas and top quality ingredients. Located at 3269 Yonge Street just north of Lawrence Avenue, this neighbourhood butcher shop is a go-to destination.

Here's my story.

“Let me be clear, I am not very skillful in the kitchen, so having to choose from a wide variety of meat selections can be a bit intimidating. But as I stood at the glass-front counter (probably looking puzzled) Ken, the proprietor of the shop, came to my rescue with a few dinner ideas. Ken was proud to share that the shop’s meat products are locally sourced without the use of antibiotics or pesticides. Given that The Friendly Butcher has been in business for over 18 years now, I think it’s safe to say that they’re giving people what they want – top-quality, locally produced, never frozen meat.

After a few minutes of deliberation, I decided on the New York Striploin. Ken picked out a couple with just the right amount of fattiness around the edge and perfect marbling inside. Just the thought of tossing these on the pan and hearing the sizzle made me drool a little. As for the side, Ken suggested sautéed mushrooms and onions to help bring out the flavour of the steak – just what I was thinking! The shop also offers a wonderful selection of fresh vegetables, desserts and  a variety of sauces, chutneys and other high-quality condiments sourced locally. I couldn’t resist the frozen “just heat up and serve” soup, perfect for the mid-November chill. I picked up Chicken with Pasta soup.

And then there was dessert. How can a perfectly crafted dinner not end with a dreamy dessert? This shop has an extensive variety to choose from including the richness of chocolate cheesecake, the crunchy sweetness of apple crumble, or the tangyness of lemon squares.The lemon squares by Phipps Desserts were the winner for me.

I must admit, after finishing every last bite of the evening’s dinner and watching my husband do the same, I was pretty proud of myself. Everything was excellent, just as Ken promised. Here's a peek at my culinary masterpiece…

The Friendly Butcher isn't just a name, it's a fact. Everybody in there is friendly, welcoming and happy to share their expertise. This is definitely a place to check out whether you’re cooking to impress or appreciate top-quality local ingredients.”

Can you imagine having this fantastic shop just steps from your home? Check out this contemporary house-in-the-sky with two terraces in 'The Lorindale' at 3130 Yonge Street, offered at $579,000 –> Living Large at Yonge and Lawrence. 

~ Monika

Guest Writer:  Monika MacMillan, Sales Representative
Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage – (416) 530-1100

City Living