Toronto’s two main coaches appear to be using the same motivational playbook lately. Last year, Dwane Casey arranged for a 1,300 pound boulder to be placed in the Raptors dressing room, in order to reinforce the team’s “Pound the Rock” motto. During off-season renovations, Randy Carlyle decided to install a slab of limestone, which weighs over five thousand pounds, to demonstrate that the organization is “Rock Solid.” Although Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment often tolerates the status quo, they were not apparently not satisfied with the Thornhill quarry that provided last year’s stone, purchasing the from a location in Wiarton …
Stockyards Smokehouse and Larder
I showed the Stockyards Smokehouse and Larder to my colleague Ed and he seemed to be as enthusiastic about the joint as I am. Hopefully he will be able to enjoy several lunches proximate to his workplace in the near future. Definitely, the Stockyards Smokehouse is one of those places that takes every aspect of its business seriously. It tries to do a small number of things exceedingly well. There are homemade sauces and drinks along with top quality ingredients. For example, the in-house spicy dipping sauce and the garlic aioli are very flavourful. The personal service that is friendly …
Pizzeria Libretto, Part II
My third and fourth visits to Pizza Libretto proved to be a mixed bag, less satisfying than the first two trips. One pizza, the Pingue Prosciutto, was a complete waste. The tomato sauce was overwhelmed the rest of the pizza. The finely sliced ham could not be tasted due to the potent tomato taste. They could have served cured Iberian pork and nobody would have noticed; one might as well have ordered the Margherita pie. Chile oil or thicker slices of prosciutto would have enhanced this pizza. The Sardines pizza boasts a variety of flavours. At times, it was somewhat …
Pizzeria Libretto, Part I
Pizzeria Libretto prides itself on creating premium Neapolitan pizza with authentic ingredients prepared by “pizza artisans.” The key is the ingredients. The restaurant may win the award for Toronto’s best pie but it is not a fair comparison. The quality ingredients are a cut above what is served at Cora’s, Massimo’s, or Papa Ceo’s that there should be two separate categories: one for walk-up stands that sell slices and another for sit-down restaurants which sell more expensive pizzas. The service is very attentive which partially compensates for the lengthy waiting period but the attitude is a bit much. Although the …