Future Bakery‘s Crimean Talash Pie, $4.49, 106 N Queen St., Etobicoke.
The Dish
When it comes to aromatics in meat pies, I often think of cloves, allspice, ginger — the usual bold, wintry spices that can stand up to heavy beef and pork. That’s why, out of everything I sampled at Future Bakery, this pie that’s just slightly smaller than a CD case (ask your parents, kids) stands out the most. Beneath a buttery, flaky crust topped with sesame seeds is a delightful mix of juicy shredded beef, diced carrots, peas, and onions. The best part? A generous amount of fresh dill, which gives the pie a bright, tangy finish that cuts through the richness and sets it apart from the more typical flavours found across the city.
The Shop
Future Bakery was the first place former Toronto Star restaurant critic Amy Pataki told me to visit when I asked for food recommendations in her neighbourhood. She already knew I was a fan of the Ukrainian bakery’s pierogies (what university student hasn’t tried to win back their tuition during Future Bistro’s all-you-can-eat pierogi night on Bloor Street West?) and she also knew I loved bakeries with factory outlets — because that’s where the good deals are.
The spiffy, family-run flagship in Etobicoke is massive, lined with counters of freshly baked Ukrainian breads, savoury and sweet pastries, and prepared foods full of under-$10 delights. On weekday mornings, seniors come to stock up on bread for the week, and home cooks head to the dairy fridges at the back for kefir, cottage cheese, and — yes — two-kilogram wheels of butter from Future Bakery’s sister brand, M-C Dairy.
If you’re a fan of Future’s downtown outposts at St. Lawrence Market or in the Annex, the flagship will blow your mind.
Also On The Menu
I perused the prepared food counter and filled a box with a variety of Ukrainian bites, then sat down at one of the café’s small tables to eat (everything was at room temperature, but held up well).
I opted for a Transcarpathian meat cabbage roll, $3.99, the beef-and-pork version cooked in tomato sauce that most Torontonians will recognize. I added a buckwheat hamburger patty ($2.19) — a juicy mix of beef and buckwheat topped with sweet sautéed onions — and of course, half a dozen cheese and potato pierogies, $5.99.
For dessert, the syrnychki ($2.99/100g, about $3.45 each) are like fat little cheesecakes: creamy, slightly tart, and mildly sweet, encased in a golden-brown crust.
And that’s just a fraction of what’s available. Next time, I’ll work up the courage to try the little tubs of chicken, pork, and flower-shaped carrot slices suspended in aspic ($2.99).
Explore The Area
Right next to the bakery is Brickyard BBQ & Bar (120 N Queen St.) that does a $25 all-you-can eat weekend brunch as well as daily lunch specials for $14. Also just south of Future is the second location of Pho Ngoc Yen (1596 The Queensway) the Vietnamese restaurant with a loyal online following, whose fans include Kehlani who recently said it was the best Vietnamese food she’s ever had. While there isn’t much here when it comes to a scenic walk, just west of the bakery is Sherway Gardens (25 The West Mall) to walk off the food in an air-conditioned space.
