15 h. ago Toronto cafe that abruptly closed down is reopening under new ownership

An indie coffee shop on one of Toronto's busiest streets for foot traffic has triumphantly reopened after a sudden closure that many feared would be its ultimate end after close to a decade serving the community.HotBlack Coffee has been serving up third-wave espresso drinks alongside a curated selection of local wines, merchandise, baked goods and other snacks near Queen Street and University Avenue since 2016, when it debuted with a fancy under-counter espresso machine, reverse-osmosis water filter and more in a polished space.But at the end of March, the Entertainment District staple abruptly locked its doors, posting a notice of an indefinite closure in its windows and on social media."Ever since the owner, Jimson, passed away, the company has sort of been sailing blindfolded in the middle of the ocean, mainly because [of] legal issues. This has to be sorted in the right way, and we figured the only choice is to end this chapter," staff wrote sho...

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45 h. ago Pizza Nova kicks off its 26th annual That’s Amore for Kids fundraiser in support of Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario

Pizza Nova’s campaign includes a pop-up pizza shop in the Variety Village Café TORONTO — Pizza Nova launches today its 26th annual That’s Amore Pizza for Kids fundraising campaign in support of Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario. Since the campaign’s inception, Pizza Nova has raised over $2.7 million for the Variety community. This […]

Society

7 d. ago Two friends open dream Mexican cafe in Toronto that's also a boutique

Just outside of Dupont subway station in Toronto, two friends have created a vibrant new space that blends nostalgic Mexican flavours, vintage fashion, and community. Wey Cup is a cozy but lively café and boutique that opened its doors last month, thanks to the duo that made it possible — friends Barbara Cervantes and Alejandra Blanco. On the café side, Wey Cup serves up classic coffee shop staples, like espressos, Americanos, and lattes, but it's the Mexican-inspired drinks that really stand out. Their "latte de mi corazón" is a sweet twist on a classic latte, made with creamy horchata. Their "café de olla" is a traditional Mexican brew infused with cinnamon and piloncillo (panela or unrefined whole cane sugar) that offers a taste of home for anyone missing it, or just discovering it. Other menu highlights include "grandma chocolate," a traditional hot chocolate topped with a...

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1 week ago Trendy Toronto cafe announces sudden and indefinite closure after a decade

An award-winning Toronto cafe that has been a mainstay in the city's most tourist-heavy neighbourhood has unexpectedly shuttered, with management's confusing (though heartfelt) goodbye message leaving the community wondering about what's to come for business — and the prime address it has called home for close to a decade.On the surface, the closure of HotBlack Coffee appears to simply be the latest casualty in the undeniable demise of the Queen West strip, but missives posted both in the coffee shop's windows and on its social media pages explains that its situation is a bit more complicated, and its future, quite up in the air.General Manager Momi Kishi explained in a post dated March 25 why the cafe's doors, a stone's throw from Osgoode subway station, would have to close for at least a while a mere five days later. And surprisingly, it wasn't due to a rent increase or rising c...

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1 week ago Mark Carney’s office helps get imported Vegemite back on Toronto cafe ‘s shelves

Agency will work with Health Canada, the manufacturer and the importer to find a longer-term plan for Vegemite sales.

Economics

2 w. ago Toronto cafe asks the public for help with paying its rising bills

A Filipino cafe in Toronto that is known for its bubble teas, colourful ube desserts, and variety of other unique handcrafted sips and eats has, like other small businesses in the city lately, issued an appeal to the community for help staying afloat.Teako, which started as an online loose leaf tea retailer, opened its location at the corner of Gerrard and Greenwood in summer 2023, managing to dodge the devastating forced lockdowns of the COVID era that some indie spots are still financially recovering from.But, the present economic uncertainty and ongoing cost of living crisis — which is certainly not limited to the city, province, or even country, but is more acute in already-expensive places like Toronto — has brought about its own set of issues, as it has for all of us.Rising operating costs and slower traffic (because who isn't trying to save as much cash as possible and avoid going out right now)&...

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2 w. ago Government tells Australian cafe owner in Toronto to destroy $8,000 worth of Vegemite

Leighton Walters, founder of Found Coffee, has been given notice from the Canadian government that his imported Vegemite does not meet federal standards

Politics

3 w. ago How this Toronto coffee shop invented the city's most viral drink

One caffeinated creation from a Toronto cafe has been breaking the internet (locally, at least) over the past few weeks, but its owners tell me that its conception was actually a happy accident.Toronto has had its fair share of viral food moments over the years, from ketchup and mustard-flavoured ice cream to delightfully jiggly cat-shaped pudding, but few — in recent memory, at least — have sunk their teeth into the city quite the way that Forget Me Not Cafe's Banana Bread Matcha Latte has.A recent explosion across the TikTok and Instagram feeds of many (if not all) Toronto residents has left many yearning to try the creamy, pastel-coloured concoction.Pairing ceremonial-grade matcha with housemade sweet cream, a hefty dose of banana flavouring and a single banana chip for garnish, the flavours of the drink are designed to complement one another in perfect synchronicity.    View this post on Instagram        &nb...

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