“Now at least we don’t have to go to the Ex”…jpr

Our “Ex” days are on hold until those grandchildren come…But yesterday we got to see the practice for the air show while waiting for the streetcar at College and Bathurst. AND we had our waffle.  If only there was a ferris wheel…

Our last days of summer ice cream vacation is drawing to a close. We made a nice outing of it by visiting the AGO first, to catch the Surrealism exhibit before it closes. Some of the Dali stuff looks like the mash up at the Cold Stone Creamery, but you might want to wear one of the Fabulous Schiaparelli gowns to Dolce, on College St. in Little Italy. We walked there – and arrived so starving and without lunch that we practically dove into our plates. Pretty place though -  a gorgeous palate of gelati coulours, and the room all sleek and black and slate. Service however, also on the too cool side. For serving such happy making food, you’d think they could lighten up a little.

Pistachio or Pistachio?

The gelato is in fact a knockout. I had to “go pistachio”, in order to be able to compare around town, and Dolce upped the ante by offering TWO, a pale dreamy, creamy Sicilian, and the usual bright green kind, but with candied pistachios. Oh my. I tried alternating tastes, then finished the bright green, to make the Sicilian last. The Waffle? I’m going to let Jamie explain…

Oooohhhhh......I'm so FUUULLLLLLLLLL......

Thanks Jackson and MJ for the heads up on this one…

King of the Queensway

West End Pleasures

It felt like it was time to head west, to bust out of our East End cocoon. We know very well that we are going to have to go to Little Italy or Corso Italia for true gelati, but for the moment classic soft serve was very much on my mind. Having just returned from Newfoundland  (where soft serve came in 40 Flavours in Woody Point !)  I wondered how Toronto was measuring up, especially after the Listeria hysteria of late June – the “scoop” brought to us by The Star. (sorry)

The West End also provided the delightul opportunity to bring along our seldom seen friend Audrey, who set aside her chore list in Parkdale and entered into the spirit completely, She offered reminisences of her soft serve background in Saskatoon. Thus do our experiences expand along with our belt notches.

Absolutely Audrey

Forgot how we heard, but we’d heard that Tom’s Dairy Freeze on the Queensway between Park Lawn and Royal York was the kind of joint we were looking for. Tom’s doesn’t just do all things ice cream, it is also serves up hamburgs, hot dogs, onion rings etc. Despite our pledge that  ice cream would BE the meal, we broke down and had hot dogs; mine was with everything and tasted indeed like the olden days. In a good way. Jamie can never resist a chocolate malt, so that was his treat. Audrey had the thick regular chocolate shake. Both received high marks. Tom’s has  an enormous list of Sundaes with hilarious names, including one called “June Bride”. Jamie asked what was in that – I can’t remember all of it, but there was butterscotch and marshmallow, and of course a cherry on top…

Mango Burst?

It was up to me to do the Soft Serve. I chickened out- could not ask where they ranked on the coliform count. I know. I am not very good investigative reporter. Tom and his Mom (I have no idea if this is true, but they looked related) were really friendly and we got to look at everything up close and it all seemd just peachy to me. I ordered the vanilla soft serve, with a “flavour burst” of mango. I had hoped their process was like the Newfie one -where the syrup goes right in the mixer – but no, this is just a twirl that decorates the outside and doesn’t really BURST with flavour. But the ice cream itself is real, not ice milk or an edible oil product, and  the portion is large, and the price was only 2.65 for a small.  Paper hats off to Tom!

Almost to Scarberia

Our wish for you all!

The Danforth past Dawes Road is really another part of town. We took the subway to Victoria Park station, heading for Maple Leaf Dairy (how Canadian) to sample St. Clair ice cream. All those words are so British, and yet that stretch of road boasts storefront after storefront of halal meat shops,masjids and textile outlets. This is “Crescent Town” and in case you didn’t know, I bring you,  courtesy of Wikipedia wizards, (wazirs?)  that  ”Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland of the television series 24 was among the first Crescent Town residents. He spent part of his childhood in Crescent Town and attended the Crescent Town Elementary School, where he first met the current Mayor of Toronto,David Miller.

Did not see either of those dudes there yesterday. But the place certainly has the feel (and the taste!) of the 70’s. The exterior is quite groovy, as you will notice, but the ice cream is way too colourful and paradoxically bland, to really place among the serious competitors of a taste tournament. I had the Lemon Pie, for which I had meringue high hopes, and it did taste like lemon pie, the kind that was in my college dorm cafeteria in 1970. Jamie had the Rocky Road, an unexceptional version that would put Baskin Robbins to shame.

Gigantic scoops

One thing they have going for them -and it is not to be pooh-poohed. The single scoop is ENORMOUS and the price for two came in under $6.00. A fine place to take your non-discriminating tots -and there were several there. Kiddie dishes are only allowed if you’re under 12. Oh c’mon.

But it was a lovely Sunday afternoon and we thoroughly enjoyed the five kilometre (Yes We Can) walk back home. The Danforth offers no end of diversion, diversity and speculation. For instance, how many people were there pulling on pints and smokes at the many, many taverns along the stretch? Hundreds? . From Pape westward the patio life changes to lattes, wine and Greek meat on sticks.

Tim Horton’s, of all places

Danforth Ambience

Not my idea really, of where to go for ice cream (though I do love a Iced Capp on a hot day) but this cold stone business needed to be investigated. And since there is a Tim’s on almost every corner (btw, Jamie has the  I Phone App “Timmy Me”) we thought this stop could fit nicely into a Friday afternoon run of errands on the Danny. Plus, we had the added bonus of Drewmac in town and over to lunch so we dragged him with us. Lunch SHOULD have been the ice cream, come to think of it. We’ll try to do better with the meal replacement aspect of this venture.

Tim Horton’s has made a pact with Cold Stone Creamery to market their ice cream (Cold Stone is owned by Kahala Corp of Scottsdale, Ariz., owners also of Blimpie (watch out!) sub shops and Samurai Sam’s. ) The gimmick is this: you select your “base” flavour, vanilla, for example is called “sweet cream” they lay it on a cold stone slab and then you order up your concoction. It could be one their “signature creations”. which run heavily to childhood fantasies – e.g. cookie dough, apple pie, birthday cake, cheesecake, oreo overload– or you can invent your own. The server then slaps your mix on the slab- the wedge of brownie,cup of nuts, whatever, and folds and chops it into a blend, using two spoons “right before your very eyes!”

I ordered the “Coffee Lovers Only” (coffee ice cream, roasted almonds, Skor Bar (Heath bar in the States) and caramel. It was loaded with candy bar, which I rather like ,but was too sweet and not coffee enough. Andrew had “Mint Mint Chocolate Chip” (mint ice cream, chocolate chips, brownie and fudge.  He did not rave–but he finished it even on a hangover stomach.

Guest judges--Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul

Jamie created his own – surprise,surpise – and it had to do with sweet cream nuts and cherries I think. I don’t know why he didn’t order the “That’s How I Roll”, but probably because it features Cake Batter Ice Cream not because he feared rolling back along the Danforth. You can order one of three sizes: Like It, Love It or Gotta Have It.

Mix it up!

Ambiance? The  dispensary is garish  and over the top, but  there is something comfy and homegrown about a Tim’s .  Andrew seemd to enjoy the local colour after the pallid hues of Calgary. No one in this busy location was ordering ice cream. One old coot on a stool took great delight in our fussing and picture taking however. I am sure he would’ve had something to say about our bill though, had he heard of it– a whopping $15.81.  And that was for 3 “smalls” i.e. Like It’s. Which  makes me not.  “It’s more like a sundae though,” says James. Don’t know how to tell him they have those  too – one called “Hunka Hunka Burnin Fudge”.

Ick.

World Cup (of ice cream)

Your intrepid reviewer in disguise

We’re a little nervous about this one. End of August should be the time you try take take off a pound or two so your friends don’t look at the muffin top and politely look away…It is the time to take life, job, the world seriously.  But  duty calls. We have reported on other Cups, and apparently Toronto is in the middle of some kind of ice cream war. We have been deployed to the front to check it out. We’ll send in first hand accounts from time to time, so you locals  will be able to make your own forays safely, and profitably.

First Up

Ed’s Real Scoop on Queen St. East at Logan. Big press on this place – and luckily, it is conveniently near Rowe Farm meats where Jamie likes to roam on the range. It’s a nice big place, with a pressed tin celing, little tables inside, and benches and a couple of tables  outside.  The ice cream is made on the premises. They have two large freezers – one with a dozen or so flavours of gelato – the other hard pack. I had the Pistachio gelato, kiddie size- advertised on a sandwich board to be “even better than before”. What do I know, but it was DELISH. Not too creamy, and the nuts tasted very fresh, maybe even slightly toasted? Jamie had, ahem, two scoops of gelato: Amerino cherry, and Tanzanian chocolate – deep, dark, all those sinful adjectives chocolate pervs go for. This is it.

The folks are cheerful, even with a lot of kids around, asking for the extras: sprinkles, oreos,  gummy bears, M and M’s, etc., kept in jars on top and liberally dosed. The prices fit the new look “Leslieville” (Ed’s is on the western edge) One Kiddie, and a Large rang in at $8.61.  The guys out in front of the Duke of York tavern, formerly at “Queen and Leslie”  must be rolling their eyes and wondering what the hell happened to the neighbourhood.

Last Post….end of the road

We had a great trip. Thanks for watching. See you next time. J & C

Under the same moon…Happy Birthday, Jesse Paul

Full moon on the St. Lawrence River--Wellesley Island, New York

In one day: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Quebec, Ontario, New York

Right back where we started--1,000 Islands, New York

Lunch on the road

Wiscassett, Maine

Happy Natal Day! or Simcoe Day! or Monday!

Bingo tournament on the streets of St John, New Brunswick

Final dinner (sigh). Time to start heading home.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

We made it back to the mainland

Toasting the monkey with Michael and Katie

So our ferry was cancelled!

We spent the day driving back across the province to the other ferry terminal, to wait in line. Wish us luck!

…and Recycle?

Placentia, Newfoundland

Luckily, we have some entertainment

The complete set of Perry Masons on VHS