Authentic Newfie food

[adf1962]

OK, I'm ready to take the plunge. I've experienced poutine (good and bad) and I'm ready to expand my Canadian horizons further east. Anybody know where I can get decent Newfie food here in Toronto. I don't expect I'd find cod tongue or scruncheon but hey, you never know. And can someone tell me what the heck maggotty butter is (besides being part of the lyrics in I'se the Bye)?. Thanks.

[Gary]

Can't help you with any Newfie delicacies (I suspect the lack of ocean here in Toronto will be a problem) but I'm guessing maggoty butter is simply butter that is infested with maggots, probably from being stored too long over the winter, as implied by the lyrics "Codfish in the spring o' the year / Fried in maggoty butter". Yum!

Also see http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/maggoty

[hungry_pangolin]

I don't know where you could find real, honest, Newfoundland cuisine, BUT... a chef friend of mine was able to get cod tongues from her supplier a couple of years ago, so it's within the realm of the possible. Seal flipper pie might be a greater challenge.

[Scary Bill]

The best grocery store to try for Newfie products like salt beef, hardtack, gooseberry jam, summer savory, etc is Sobey's because of their east coast origins. Perhaps you will be able to order tongues and cheeks, or flipper as I'm certain they carry them in some east coast stores.

You can also try The Newfie Shoppe & Fish Market in Hamilton.

Before all the Newfies went to Fort McMurray they used to come to Toronto and it was easier to find Newfie food here. The local A&P carried naval beef (salt beef) and there was a Newfie store at Keele and Eglinton.

You can make a lot of Newfie dishes from other than region specific ingredients however, just make sure start with original Newfie recipes, bye'.

Scruncheons btw are just diced salt cod fat (only) fried til crispy. MMMMMMMM

And don't overlook a great Newfie dish, hand-cut steak, from a tube of Maple Leaf balogna (not baloney).

[ekammin]

It's easy enough to make fish and brewis, at least, at home. The only exotic ingredient you need is hard bread, usually made by Purity in Newfoundland and available at several places in Toronto. Salt cod is common enough (being a mainstay of Portuguese cuisine). Scrunchions are not, I believe, made from cod, but rather from pork fatback, fried crisp.

The dish is deadly - if the salt in the pork and the cod doesn't get you, the cholesterol will - but it's delicious.

[Scary Bill]

Oops! I stand corrected.

Brain cramp! I typed "pork" but "cod" came out.

[mikeb]

Eastern Passage in Brampton has been mentioned on this site in the past. Never been, myself. Here's a link to it:

http://www.torontolife.com/guide/rest...

[lamaranthe]

Chef Michael Smith moved to Newfoundland about 2 yrs ago. You might want to contact him. He is on foodnetwork.ca.

[jayt90]

I heard he is in Prince Edward Island.

[lamaranthe]

Why not contact him? I did, on one occasion, and he was very friendly and helpful.

[lamaranthe]

True, but I emailed him a question and he answered in a very friendly way. I thought he could be a good source of infos.

[adf1962]

PEI. I was watching him last night and he was talking about dinner inspirations from his backyard in PEI.

[adf1962]

Thanks to all for the advice! I'd raise a glass of Screech as a toast if only I had some. I like watching Michael Smith on TV and the Food network is one of my faves for sure.

[xtal]

I think Eastern Passage used to be called Newfie Grocery, so there should be some good ingredients available there.

Also, you CAN find screech at the LCBO.

http://lcbo.com

[Googs]

If you search for Newfie and Newfoundland here a few things pop. Enjoy your journey.
http://www.toronto.com/

[tamaletartare]

How aboot
Eton Tavern
710 Danforth, at Pape, 416-466-6161
The marquee describes this spotless Danforth tavern as "3,200 km to Newfoundland, five steps to Newfoundland on the Danforth." An unchanged men's taproom from the 50s, the Eton sports cafeteria furniture, shiny terrazzo floors and wood panelling everywhere. Belt screech while catching the club's Saturday-afternoon Newfie country matinee.

never been there, but who knows, could be exactly what you're looking for.

[Zengarden]

This is a rough and tumble bar, not exactly a chowfind. I've passed by and it's always been so dimly lit that there would be no way one would ever know if the floors are shiny or not.

[Scary Bill]

If you've only passed by, how do you know it is " rough and tumble"?

NOW Magazine has it in its Top 100, and one of the go-to bars in the Danforth area. Maybe they serve the best Jiggs Dinner in town?

[Zengarden]

I would love to eat there as Newfoundland is my spiritual homeland!

But it doesn't look like a spot for food though it definitely promises to be a good drinking hole.

I'd love a good cod's tongue snack. Just not certain that this is the spot for it.

[Scary Bill]

I'll let you know what I think as I plan on taking some out-of-town guests there during the Christmas break.

Half of my family is Newf, so I think I can be a fair judge.

[Zengarden]

Excellent! I'll look forward to your review and recommendations.

[Zengarden]

Scary Bill,
Did you manage to get to the Eton Tavern?

[Scary Bill]

Zen, did not make it to the Eton. Had intended to, and still do, though it probably won't be soon. There were too many other things our visitors wanted to do.

Instead we went to the ( closer for us as we live in Mississauga) Eastern Passage on a Saturday afternoon. There was a house band playing with participation from a couple of by's from the audience, one of whom who must have had a job shattering icebergs back home with his singing.

The menu had all the usual down home offerings, and very reasonably priced. We did not eat, but will go back soon.

Everyone there was very nice and all seemed to be enjoying the music, however you will clearly run into some with a "rough and tumble" appearance, though in this case, appearances are deceiving.

[Googs]

More info on Eton here:
http://www.torontoplus.ca/bars_restau...

One man's rough & tumble is another man's chowfind.

[bluedog]

Nothing about the food though, or did I miss it?

I also often pass this place and I have to agree that it appears a bit "rough and tumble", The music on the weekends is great, though (you can hear it from the street), and I've often wondered about checking it out. My concern about places like this, however, is that it looks like it has a large core of regulars and it always feels when you go that you've crashed someone else's party. Probably just me though!

[Googs]

Talk hockey. It's the universal language of Canada. Works every time.

[bluedog]

Sadly its a language I don't speak :(

[adf1962]

No problem . . .all u need to do is walk in on a Saturday night and say "What's the score, eh?" or perhaps "Eh by', anybody know the score on the game?" After that, find a seat and ask for a menu.

[bluedog]

So report back if/when you go, eh by?

[bbbradk]

I'm at the Eton House every Tuesday night (the best free open mike comedy in the city, hosted by Jo-Anna Downey) and while comedy brings in a bit of a different crowd, the regulars (there are several who live upstairs) are very friendly.

As for eating?
The owners (Tommy and George) are Greek, not Newfies, and the menu is pretty limited, burgers, wings, nothing fancy.
It's far more a place to drink

[bluedog]

That was my impression....so if the owners are greek, how'd it get to be a peice of Nesfoundland on the Danforth????

[Stewart]

Gotta go to Eastern Passage in Brampton; corner of Steeles and Melanie.
Real Newfie food and real newfie people; always a coupla of the boys at the bar drinkin' beer from the bottle .... imagine !
My favourite is cod and chips; pan-fried cod with fresh cut french fries ... simple and easy.... if you really need to fill up get dressing, fried onions and gravy on the fries.
and yes, they have cod-tongues !
Enjoy

[LJS]

Ahhh, stop you guys are killing me with nostalgia and hunger...but no one has mentioned my faves: partridge berry pie, moose stew made from 'bottled' moose, bluberry slump/grunt, rabbit 'paste' (pie), moose ball cookies, Labrador tea...sigh...I want to go home...

[bluedog]

I gotta know what bottled moose is....

[LJS]

Think of preserving: now think of moose meat. Yeah, I know, it dones't sound great, but then do you really want to know how they make hot dogs?

[Wahooty]

I don't know if you're still on your quest at this point, but as I was walking down Eglinton toward Warden, I noticed some small signs outside the Merchant's Flea Market. They said, "Newfoundland Food, Aisle 1, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm."

I have no idea what exactly they're selling, but I thought I'd pass it along in case anyone wants to investigate...

[JamieK]

There's a store called Newfoundland Foods and Seafood Market on Victoria Park just south of St Clair, across from No Frills. I drive by all the time but never been in. I think the pub at the corner there, the Brigadoon, also offers Newfie menu items and entertainment.

[Snively]

It's certainly not a short trip but there is a decent place in Fergus.

Goofie Newfie
105 Queen Street W
Fergus, Ontario
[phone]

[foodguy 905]

Go to your local Mary Browns chicken location. It is a staple of any good Newfoundlanders diet . It was founded in Labrador City Nfld by Cy Fleming. I believe that they still produce the best quality fried chicken on the market today. Funny enough their busiest location is Fort Mac Murray