Le Gourmand Spadina closed?

[num nums]

I walk right by Le Gourmand everyday on my way to work. This morning I was shocked to see it all locked up with a failure to pay rent notice taped on the door. So too were the many people who streamed out from the Spadina streetcar who no doubt habitually drop in to grab a coffee and baked goodie before heading to work only to be confronted with this.

I took the closures of their other locations as something of a blessing in disguise in that they would focus on their original location. I know the place has as many detractors as there are fans, but Le Gourmand definitely filled a specific niche in the Queen/Spadina area all these years.

Perhaps this may be a temporary situation. If it is permanent, I'll sure miss the chocolate chip and nookie cookies, mac and cheese, chili . . .

[FrenchSoda]

Very disappointing lunch at Le Gourmand yesterday. The Waldorf chicken salad which was so tasty seems to have disappeared. The curry chicken salad I had instead was bland. The cookie was raw in the middle and burnt at the edges (inedible, it got thrown out). The prosciutto and brie baguette was tasty enough, but nothing special for the money.

$17 and change for a coffee, v.small scoop of curry chicken salad, sandwich and cookie. Perhaps not ridiculously out of range for the type of place, but certainly a waste of the money. I'll go back to Zoe's and get a much better sandwich and cookie for just slightly less next time.

[justsayn]

coffee, v.small scoop of curry chicken salad, sandwich and cookie for less than $17 at Zoe? Do you get a discount there? : )

[FrenchSoda]

No, just the sandwich and cookie for less than that! lol.

But if I were in splurging mood for lunch, it would be a sandwich with a ton more nice ingrendients. :)

[wherejessate]

Agreed! Recently had the curry chicken salad there and was completely underwhelmed. It looked so promising but like you said, a little bland. Also had the prosciutto and brie baguette, which was tasty enough, like you said, but nothing to write home about.

The only thing I like there is their cookies (too bad your's wasn't very good) and their custard tarts (which I rarely see there anymore).

[julesrules]

This is making me depressed about using some vouchers I bought. Do they ever have the lemon bichons here, that was my favourite at the Yonge and Eglinton location?
The cookies have always been like that for me (raw yet burned and also kinda bland). I don't get the appeal.

[kwass]

They do still have the lemon bichons. They are my favourite as well!!

[magic]

The cookies weren't always that way. But they have been for the past while, yes. When they were being baked properly they were outstanding. Now I just go to Miss Cora's Kitchen in Kensington Market for my chocochip cookie fix.

[smartygirl]

do they have a new telephone number? the old one (416-504-4494) is out of service, and canada411.ca just gives me a bunch of places at different addresses...

[vidal_sassooon]

Just passed by today. Door was propped open, and there were people eating inside. i saw a tray of baked goods.

[Pastryrocks]

Would be nice to see Le Gourmand open again, not just for a good place, but also for Milton and grew. Opening again would not only bring some good food back, but would also bring shame to all the nay Sayers!

[YYZjeff]

There is a sign on the door as of today that says "Gone Fishing - Back on Monday."

Looks like the Spadina location could be reopening Monday August 30th.

[ekim256]

I can't wait!! I've been waiting for that cookie!!! :D

http://cookiesandtomatoes.blogspot.com/

[YYZjeff]

Le Gourmand did not reopen today.

I'm not even sure I can still love a place that had 3 locations close due to failure to pay rent and then not reopen as promised.

[ekim256]

...heart broken! those cookies keep us locked in this roller coaster love-hate relationship =( I was going to head over for an 11AM cookie...you saved me the walk, thanks :)

Erin
http://cookiesandtomatoes.blogspot.com/

[millygirl]

I'm with YYZjeff. Time to move on.

[bytepusher]

Certainly because this is the only restaurant to run into equipment or health department issues trying to open on schedule this is a justification to write them off.

[ekim256]

I poked my head inside today, as someone was writing the menu on the chalkboard. I asked the guy sitting at the table when they were going to open, he said that he had no idea and that he didn't work there (didn't want to bug the person writing the menu)
Maybe it'll open tomorrow?
That being said, since you guys are from the area...where have you been getting your cookie fix? I tried Orange Alert's cookie yesterday and it didn't satisfy - they don't make them in house and I poked a few others and they were all pretty hard. The Crazy Cookie was aight...but Le Gourmand set the bar too high :( (http://cookiesandtomatoes.blogspot.com/2010/09/orange-alert-chocolate-cookie-crusade-1.html

)

I know this might sound silly, but I really do like miss a fresh cookie rush that's close enough to walk to...

Erin
http://cookiesandtomatoes.blogspot.com/

[YYZjeff]

It has officially reopened... no cookies though.

[ekim256]

...no...cookies? :( what a tease.

[YYZjeff]

Nevermind, I went back an hour later and they had cookies but they were selling fast. If you want a cookie in the next few days, you're going to have to show up at the right time... they sure are popular.

[ekim256]

Jeff!! I went again and they were OUT...this cookie craving is going to drive me nuts. I feel like a child who is being endlessly teased. However, I did go to Wanda's instead for a really darn good Fully Loaded Cookie - pecans, warm chocolate chunks. I need to try Le Gourmand again to compare...but it was fresh and got my thumbs up. I'm being a total nerd lately and posting pictures up of cookies
Wanda's Cookies: http://cookiesandtomatoes.blogspot.com/2010/09/wandas-pie-in-sky-chocolate-cookie.html

Choc O'Rama
Triple chocolate cookie
It was thin and crispy, but too sweet for my taste - probably from the white chocolate chips. While better than Orange Alert, I wouldn't get it again.

Fully Loaded Cookie
Chocolate chips & pecans
The Fully Loaded Cookie was soft, but not limp, pecans fresh, and the chocolate chips on the verge of melting - just the way I like it. When the chocolate chips are nice and soft, it's a sign of a good, fresh cookie.

Even though the Choc O'Rama cookie was a "triple chocolate cookie" there were less chips - so this was actually more "rama" in this!

I think that after that, Little Nicky is in the area...and I heard that Fresh makes a good one! Ah...I love my afternoon cookie breaks =

)

Erin
http://cookiesandtomatoes.blogspot.com/

[millygirl]

Oh my, that Wanda cookie looks wonderful. I happen to have a copy of her cookbook. I must RUN and see if she has a similar sounding recipe in it. Today is a perfect day to bake cookies.

[YYZjeff]

It looks like Le Gourmand on Spadina will be reopening soon. There's been talk of it on Twitter for the past couple weeks. The closed sign and letter from the landlord have removed from the door. I've seen people working inside, cleaning it up and restocking the shelves this week. All the tables are set up again so it looks like the rumours are hopefully true.

According to the tweets I've seen, it will be under the same management.

[abigllama]

My quality of life will be slightly better with access to those cookies. This is great news.

[smartygirl]

oh, good news! i miss grabbing lunch there.

[currycue]

That's great news! Great timing too, as the coffee at Dark Horse seems to be going downhill.

-----
Dark Horse
2401 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6S, CA

[YYZjeff]

Liberty Group tweeted a few days ago that Le Gourmand on Spadina will be reopening sometime in August. I walk by there twice a day and haven't seen much action inside in the last couple weeks.

As for coffee in the area, try Jimmy's on Portland or Little Nicky's on Peter St.

[ekim256]

I've been eagerly peeking into this place every time I pass it, fantasizing about their yummy chocolate chip cookies...I can't wait

[Gary]

Shame, I will miss the only clean and easily accessible public washroom in that part of the city.

[ingloriouseater]

its funny or sad to think that only the washroom stirs the emotions....lol

[currycue]

That bites, it was one of my favourite places to grab a coffee in that area. That said, I haven't gone in much since Dark Horse opened up further up the street a while back. They have better coffee and longer opening hours. Maybe lots of others felt the same.

-----
Dark Horse
2401 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6S, CA

[magic]

That's crazy. They were always so busy...

I mentioned this on a related thread.... if you are jonesing for similar chocochip cookies head to Miss Cora's Kitchen in Kensington Market. Very similar and very good!

[lidiab]

yesterday i noticed the location in the yonge and bloor hudsons bay food court was also closed....things that make you go hmmmmmmm

[sasgirl]

The Yonge/Bloor location closed because of the same reason - behind in rent.

[pinkprimp]

...and yonge + eglinton:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/682543

[liger]

The HBC location closed just last week - it was always packed at lunch time. There are plenty of joints in that food court that weren't as busy and charged much less - it couldn't have been a revenue/expense issue. I think there's much more to this....

[pinkprimp]

perhaps it wasn't a revenue issue, but who knows how their expenses were set up? even if they were busy and charging more, it is not hard to imagine how a business that is not run properly (and i am not talking specifically about le gourmand because i have no idea how it was managed) could have expenses exceed revenue. from what we have read though, they clearly had issues with paying rent.

that said, i was never that impressed with their coffees (and i always seem to get burnt milk in my lattes at the spadina location), though i have enjoyed their cookies and the occasional croissant was not bad.

[liger]

@pinkprimp - fair enough on the expenses. they did tell TO Life a few months ago that these 2 locations were stronger than ever and that he was planning to open up a few more stores.

someone planning to to open up additional stores must of had their ducks in a row right?

[thelordflasheart]

I was shocked when I went there this morning and saw that they hadn't paid rent since last October...they must have really got themselves into trouble with the Yonge&Eg location...

I mean, I was there several times a week and there were lineups to the door in the mornings and often at lunch. I can't imagine that there were problems with the sales being low!

[SweetSweetPotato]

I adore the nookie cookies and have given them to everyone I know to try. This is a sad day, indeed.

[Calam1ty]

Surely someone somewhere is making or has the recipe for the Nookie Cookie. I am devastated. Any clues?

[jayzie1]

This is such sad news...LOVED their chocolate chip cookies and salads. The place was always busy, which makes me wonder...who was mismanaging the money?

[Yum2MyTum]

OH NO! I will miss their green tea chai lattes. : (