Note: G… for Gelato and Espresso Bar is permanently closed.
As father to an infant, my expectations shot through the roof for my dining experience compared to where they were a year ago. Now that my evenings away from home have plummeted in frequency, I want every time I’m out to be an amazing one, and I pity the establishment who’s lacking in their skills.
But on those odd occasions where I’m out and someone gets it really right, the effect stays with me, seeing me rave about it to friends and family seeking a solid recommendation.
One of the good ones is G… for Gelato and Espresso Bar, run by Shant Behesnilian, a man whose dedication to customer service is readily evident in the dining experience his patrons receive in his restaurant.
I’ve come a long way since my culinary inclinations as a kid, where I’d come home from school to a Miracle Whip Sandwich, my snack of choice. A little older now, my palate’s developed with my various foodiesque life experiences, and for my next #DIYSandwich, I was long overdue in proving I could put something appetizing together without anyone holding my hand.
The Internet’s awash with a plethora of recipes, and without a clear idea of where to start for my next sandwich-making session, I went to my social network to see what they had in mind!
As a guy who rarely cooks, I’m guessing that God’s having none of that and making sure I can actually provide for my family.
Some time ago, I shared the story of my hatred for cooking, sure I’d avoid the kitchen for the rest of my earthbound years. But with daycare nipping hot at the heels of the East York Palmers, and with it the scheduling unpredictability that comes from a family with two working parents, I had to bite the bullet sometime!
So whaddya know—despite being loath for anything finding me in front of a stove, brands like Samuel Adams put their money where their mouth is (and product where mine is), challenging me to grab an apron and see what I can do to feed myself without calling the number for the local pizzeria—and yes, it is on my speed dial.
Everyone, for your viewing pleasure, I present—Cooking With Beer: Because it’s Not Just Good for Drinking!
This month’s Dempster’s sandwich gave me a little lesson in supply, demand, and the art of improvisation.
Originally, we wanted to rock some mean burgers. Sarah and I are part of a crew that holds semi-regular Danforth Dinners, a dinner party for 8-10 where we take turns hosting to give everyone a taste of what the group has to offer. Though not everyone lives in East York anymore (rumours of a St. Clair Supper are in the air…), we still try to keep up, regardless of the newest—and likely most difficult—member sometimes wanting us to do otherwise.
So, knowing that time’s often limited for parents, our friends give us the easy job—”just bring the buns”. Well—everyone in town must’ve had the same idea now that our weather’s more promising than the horror we dealt with for 6 months because no matter where we looked, we couldn’t find Dempster’s Deluxe Hamburger Buns anywhere! We checked six stores, and everyone must’ve been out barbecuing in 10° weather because they were out of stock like the hot toy at Christmas!
So that didn’t work out—I mean, obviously, we still had burgers, we’d be stupid not to—but with some other bread we’d never heard of before to encase the deliciousness we knew we were to get.
With my delicious burger dream reduced to crumbs and the buns to hold them mysteriously absent wherever I looked, I needed a new sandwich idea and fast; a freelancer’s deadlines wait for no man! So it was off to Plan B—thinking back to my childhood and the stuff my Mom whipped up when she was in a hurry — SLOPPY JOES.
If one thing unifies my friends and me, it’s food. Sarah’s always said that I merely eat to live—I don’t salivate at the thought of delicious meals, but let’s get one thing straight—I know delicious food when I taste it!
Since becoming a parent, I don’t get out much. Save a birthday party, I spent March largely as a shut-in, wavering from my routine of work, home and church only for trips to the parents and the dentist. While the days of luxurious ice cream and dining at 350 metres are behind me for now, it doesn’t mean I can’t eat tasty food at home!
This year, Dempster’s challenged me to change my thinking on the sandwich, seeing whether I could eat them for dinner instead of lunch! Though it’s the last thing I’d expect on a plate to finish a long day, what is a sandwich really but a stack of deliciousness between two slices of bread?
So with my limited culinary skills, there was only one place to find a recipe that would make for amazing sandwich fare—the Internet. More specifically, Epicurious, the one-stop-shop for leaving your taste buds senseless! Without further ado, let’s drive into a pork sandwich that’ll knock your socks off!!!
