Toronto Ward Museum - Dishing Up Toronto Series
IMPORTING A TASTE OF HOME: A SPECIAL EVENT AT THE PASQUALE BROTHERS WAREHOUSE
DATE: Saturday, November 26, 2016
TIME: 6-9pm
Pasquale Brothers has been a family run business since 1917. When Edward Pasquale, an Italian immigrant, founded the company in the historic Ward its sole purpose was to supply fellow Italian immigrants with familiar foods. It quickly grew in popularity and Torontonians beyond the Italian community began to frequent the shop. Pasquale Brothers soon became a go to destination for the rapidly growing and diverse population of Toronto eventually growing to manufacture its own products.
In 1969 the family decided to focus its energy on the store they opened at 145 King Street East where their passion for food flourished, and the manufacturing end was consolidated into the Unico brand.
The store on King soon became a gathering place for people with a passion for food. Chefs mingled with customers; recipes, cooking tips and travel adventures were all exchanged right in the midst of the store and amongst the very ingredients that often became the topic of conversation.
Now, on the eve of the company’s 100th anniversary, join the Pasquale family in their warehouse and uncover the family stories behind one of Toronto’s most recognized food brands.
HOST: ANNA MARIE KALCEVICH
Thirteen years ago the company moved its operations to Etobicoke. It is now owned by Anna Marie Kalcevich, the granddaughter of Edward C. Pasquale Sr. and the daughter of his son-in-law Henry Madott, who once ran the company. Anna Marie is the third generation of the family to run Pasquale Brothers.
Join Anna Marie and her family for this exciting event as she shares her family’s story in the heart of the Pasquale Brothers warehouse.
LOCATION:
Pasquale Brothers Warehouse
16 Goodrich Rd, Etobicoke, ON M8Z 2H1
Partners: Toronto Ward Museum, Culinaria Research Centre at the University of Toronto Scarborough
For more information and tickets please click on below:
Paella Mixta
Pronouncing paella can seem intimidating, let alone cooking one. A traditional Valenciana paella has rabbit, chicken and snails. A delicacy when in Spain, a harder sell to my family for a weeknight dinner. I'm a firm believer that if you use high quality ingredients and do your research on how to best use them, then your meal will likely be delicious. This Americanized "Paella Mixta" is surprisingly quick and easy to make and was enjoyed by all at my house. Use the best ingredients you can find, prep them in advance, resist the urge to stir and Enjoy! (Recipe inspired by Saveur, June 25, 2014)
Paella Mixta Recipe
(SERVES 3-4)
Ingredients
30 cm paellera [traditional Spanish paella pan]
pinch saffron
3 cups stock, preferably homemade [I used turkey]
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 lb chicken breast, cut into small pieces
1/4 lb Spanish chorizo, sliced
1/2 lb jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails left on
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 dried bay leaves
2 tomatoes, DOP San Marzano, crushed by hand
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup DOP Bomba rice
1/4 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup caramelized pepper strips
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Infuse stock with saffron in a small pot over low heat. Heat oil in a paella pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and chorizo and sear all sides for a few minutes. Quickly cook shrimp and remove to a plate. Add paprika, garlic, bay leaves, crushed tomatoes, and onions to the meat, stirring until it becomes a thick paste, 5 minutes. Add saffron-infused stock and bring to a boil over high heat. Season with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle rice evenly throughout the pan. Without stirring and over high heat, cook until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add peas, peppers and shrimp. Cook, again without stirring, for another 5 minutes until all the liquid has been absorbed. Remove pan from heat, cover with aluminum foil, and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
WINE PAIRING
Paul, from Tinto Fino, has suggested two wines that would pair well with Paella Mixta. www.tintofino.com
Estay Prieto Pricudo 2012, Spain $15.95
Rompesedas 2006, Spain. $19.95
October 2016 Newsletter
September 2016 Newsletter
Liquid Gold - Sauce and Meatballs recipe
Labour day is fast approaching. Nights are cooling off and kids will soon be back in school. Before having children, the return to school in September really only meant the return to heavy traffic across the GTA. Now I'm bracing myself for school lunch preparation. Containers filled with pasta always come home empty.
I recently came across a slim recipe booklet created for Unico Foods, written by my grandmother, Georgina 'Pasquale' Madott. My family will agree that my grandmother makes the absolute best sauce with meatballs. As kids we referred to it as liquid gold. Every so often we’d be the recipients of a special “meals on wheels deluxe” delivery. I've made some slight modifications to her recipe.
LIQUID GOLD (SAUCE & MEATBALLS) recipe
Meat balls:
½ lb ground beef or veal
½ lb ground pork
½ lb ground turkey
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 sprig parsley, minced
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
4 tbsp grated Romano cheese
1 clove garlic, minced
Spaghetti Sauce:
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic
5oz tin tomato paste
28 oz tin San Marzano DOP tomatoes
2 cups water
1 tsp salt
pepper to taste
1 tsp basil
My grandmother always fried her meatballs. I find it easiest and quickest to shape mine using an ice cream scoop and then bake them in the oven on a baking sheet lined with foil. Spray the baking sheet and the meatballs after they’ve been formed on the tray, with oil. Bake them at 425 for about 15 minutes then brown them using top broil.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large heavy bottomed pot. Add the garlic and let it brown, then remove it. Fry the onions until they become translucent. Add the can of tomato paste and cook for about one minute. I only use whole San Marzano DOP tomatoes. A flavourful tomato requires little seasoning. Break up the tomatoes using a spoon. Add two cups of water and bring to a brisk boil for a few minutes. Reduce to a slow boil and add the meatballs from the oven. Cook the sauce partly covered for at least 2.5 hours. Enjoy!
-Christina Kalcevich
This is how we've always made meatballs in our family. Olivia Rose from the MyKingCook blog has done an in-depth review of the various ways that other people make their meatballs.
CLICK HERE to view her cooking tips
O-Med Smoked Olive Oil
We have just received in a new smoked oil. O-Med is small family owned olive grove and mill in southern Spain. They use only early harvested olives in their oils. The extra virgin olive oil for their smoked oil is extracted from Arbequina olives. The olive pits are then burned, and the smoke is passed over the oil. The resulting oil has a smoky flavour with hints of vanilla and caramel.
July 2016 Newsletter
June 2016 Newsletter
NOW - "The Best Canadian Cheeses and Where You Can Get Them in Toronto"
We have just been listed in an article from NOW Toronto - "The Best Canadian Cheese and Where You Can Get Them in Toronto"
Click here to read the article
The Fleur de Weedon that was a prize winner of the semi soft cheese category at the 2015 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix. It is a lactose-free Emmental/Swiss-type farm cheese that is made by hand. It is matured in a very controlled environment and has a taste and mild aroma of nuts and cream.
We welcome you to come to our store and experience this cheese and others from our extensive selection of cheeses.