The seemingly impossible has occurred: Kensington Market just upped its edibility quotient. Easton’s is now serving an assortment of charcuterie and house-prepared foods in the space seasonally occupied by Mr. Cream at 61 Kensington Ave.
For the next six months, Easton’s —the joint pop-up project of former Sanagan’s butcher Derek Easton, along with longtime cook Kay Pollock — will offer everything Torontonians need to keep well-fed during the impending sub-zero season.
Easton and Pollock have honed in on a substantial gap in Kensington market, lauded as one of downtown Toronto’s fresh food hubs: charcuterie and artisanal prepared foods. “It was a void in the market that we wanted to fill,” says Pollock. And fill it they shall.
Weekly specials will include dinner-ready items like game stews, beef Bourguignon and braised ribs, all priced per 100 grams. This week’s offering: braised pork belly, seasoned with the house’s special spice rub ($2.49/100g). Staples like Bolognese sauce ($8 for 1L), chicken stock ($5 for 1L) and veal demi-glaze ($8 for 4oz) are likely to entice seekers of wholesome dinners who lack the time or culinary prowess to execute such savoury treats at home.
The options at Easton’s charcuterie counter will have the gastronomically-inclined batting their lashes in a shameless display of food-flirt. Italian favourites like guanciale ($4.99/100g), speck ($5.49/100g) and prosciutto ($4.99/100g) will soon be joined by Mennonite summer sausage and bresaola.
Herbivores needn’t be dissuaded from paying Easton’s a visit. Parboiled veggie packs — from golden beets ($1.49/100g) to potatoes, beans and sweet peppers seasoned with garlic and spices ($1.99/100g) — are available and are vegan-friendly, as are the house-made veggie stock ($3 for 0.5L, $4 for 1L) and tomato sauce ($5 for 1L).
Additional fare includes packets of Easton’s favourite pasta, Rustichella d’Abruzzo, as well as giardiniera (mixed pickled vegetables). Fresh bread is in the works.
Solid maple charcuterie boards — made from the salvaged wood of felled Toronto trees — sell for $60.
Yesterday marked day one of Easton’s soft opening, and judging by the sea of curious faces peering through the shop’s window, it’s only a matter of time before the Easton’s-obsessed are duking it out for the last precious piece of prosciutto in the display case.
Easton’s Charcuterie and Prepared Foods, 61 Kensington Ave. 416-518-0051