This is the Thursday, May 15 edition of Food Crawl, the Star鈥檚 weekly food newsletter.听Sign up to get it in your inbox every week.
I鈥檝e been 鈥斕齛s they say on social media听鈥斕齣nfluenced听by听my colleague Richie Assaly, who recently wrote about Cineplex Cinemas Vaughan being one of only 10 theatres in the world showing writer-director Ryan Coogler鈥檚听“Sinners”听in IMAX 70mm, the format Coogler intended: fuller frame, more immersive and visually lush.听I have no idea what the movie鈥檚 actually about (going in completely spoiler-free), but it鈥檚 only screening in this format for one final week starting May 15. So if, like me, you鈥檙e planning a trip to Vaughan for the experience, you might want to make a day of it 鈥 and think about where to eat. Yes, this stretch of Vaughan leans heavily on SmartCentres and big-box stores 鈥 one film critic swears by the Costco hot dogs just south of the theatre 鈥 but there are some solid food spots within walking distance worth checking out. Here’s four of them.
The Garden Fresh Skillet from听
The Garden Fresh Skillet from P眉r & Simple.
听
Karon Liu/海角社区官网StarIf you’re like me and catching the 10:40 a.m. screening (I have errands in the afternoon!) your best bet is this Canada-wide breakfast and brunch chain that’s open at 7 a.m. The spacious dining room is awash in the typical millennial brunch esthetic: soothing white walls and floors decorated with gold accents and lost of plants, which is also good for those who need a post-horror movie cleanser. The menu is expansive, with the requisite eggs Benedict, omelets, avocado toasts, pancakes, crepes, waffles, plus brunch cocktails like mimosas, Caesars and bellinis (mocktails are also available). Since the movie is more than two hours long, I’m opting for something more hearty under the skillet section. The veggie-friendly Garden Fresh Skillet, $20, starts with a base of crispy home fries with saut茅ed mushrooms, spinach, roasted red pepper, red and green onions and sliced avocado. Crumbled goat cheese adds a salty-creamy contrast, and the whole thing is blanketed with Hollandaise sauce (it kinda reminds me of nacho cheese in a good way). Top it off with an egg done your way 鈥 I鈥檓 going sunny side up for that extra yolk-y silkiness over the potatoes.
Where to get it:听听is at听130 Windflower Gate at Nova Star Drive. It is open every day 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.听Takeout is available through Uber Eats, Doordash,听. There are听.
The Chicken Souvlaki Dinner from
The Chicken Souvlaki Dinner from Zet’s.
Karon Liu/海角社区官网StarThis classic Greek diner and burger joint 鈥 long a go-to for Pearson Airport taxi drivers 鈥 has a second location about a 20-minute walk north of the theatre. Sure, it’s a bit of a trek, but once you see the sharable chicken souvlaki plate, $23.50, you’ll see why I think it’s worth the extra steps. Grilled-to-order, massive hunks of tender and extra juicy chicken glisten on top of essentially an entire potato’s worth of golden-brown wedges, a big mound of seasoned rice, a generous helping of Greek salad with lots of tomatoes and feta, plus a big dollop of extra-garlicky tzatziki. And just in case that鈥檚 not enough, they throw in a crusty dinner roll with butter.听
Where to get it: is at 15 Jevlan Dr. Unit E at Chrislea Road. It is open Sunday, and Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., as well as 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It is closed Monday. Takeout can be ordered by Door Dash, Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats or . There is another location in Mississauga at听6445 Airport Rd. at Orlando Drive.
The Paneer Spring Bowl from
This Toronto-based Afghan kebob chain is a reliable bet for skewers of grilled meat served with generous portions of rice and naan. The dining room is casual, but colourful tiles and roomy tables give it a touch of flair鈥攑erfect if you’re doing a dinner-and-a-movie night. Even better, it鈥檚 directly across from the theatre in the Woodbridge Square plaza, making it a convenient sit-down option if you鈥檙e not up for wandering too far. Knowing that I’ll be eating butter-laden popcorn and soda later, I opt for the Naan & Kebob’s newer lunchtime menu addition: big salad bowls available between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. where you choose between chicken, beef or paneer, $17.99, on a bed of greens, whipped avocado, yogurt chutney, pickled onion, crispy chickpeas, diced cucumber and 听鈥斕齛 salad of diced tomato, red onion, cucumber and mint. The grilled paneer and eggplant are comically large, but when cut into smaller pieces and tossed with the other salad elements, it makes for a satisfying salad that’s hot, cold, silky, crunchy, tart, salty, crispy and zesty. It’s a salad worth going back for.
Where to get it: Naan & Kabob is at 7600 Weston Rd. at Highway 7. It is open every day 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Takeout is available on Ritual, Uber Eats, Door Dash, or听. There are in Toronto, Scarborough and Mississauga.
The Assorted Cold Cut Banh Mi from Jolly Days
The Assorted Cold Cut Banh Mi from Jolly Days.
Karon Liu/海角社区官网StarIf you’re short on time, in the same plaza as Naan and Kebab is an outpost of the Asian supermarket Nations, which has its own bakery and prepared-food counter for fried noodles, sushi, Chinese barbecue and ready-to-eat buns. Just be warned there’s no tables and chairs inside the store or around the plaza. The shop had pre-prepared banh mi on sale for just $4.70 each, but spend the extra 80 cents and get the far superior made-to-order ones from Jolly Days, a separate Vietnamese food stall just on the far side of the checkout lanes. For $5.50, you get the classic assorted toasted banh mi with the requisite slices of pork and ham with pickled daikon and carrots, cucumber, cilantro and the optional hot sauce and chilies (I like heat so I asked for both). The fillings are more generous than the pre-made version, and the toasted bread adds a nuttier, crispier element that adds better contrast to the sharp zing of the vegetables and the creaminess of the cold cuts.听
Where to get it: Jolly Days is located inside Nations Fresh Foods at听7600 Weston Rd. at Highway 7. It is open every day from 9 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. It is not on delivery apps.
Before you go, I have a few more听recommendations
鈥⑻齏hy line-up for 鈥淣ew York-style鈥 pizza when you can听grab a massive slice of this homegrown classic for just $5?
鈥⑻鼿ere are the best places to eat and drink in Toronto听according to chef Monika Wahba, owner of Maha鈥檚.
鈥⑻鼼et fresh canoli and loaves of bread听at this beloved Italian bakery on the Danforth.
鈥⑻This 海角社区官网restaurant听is keeping the 鈥渄ying art鈥 of Chinese barbecue alive.
鈥⑻鼴ack on campus?听Here are four places to grab a bite between study breaks.
鈥⑻鼼et a warm bowl of ajiaco at this听charming Colombian spot to cure to the winter blues.
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