Dutch food in Toronto is relatively tough to find - it's spread out over a number of small specialty stores. The city's few Dutch cafes, delis and restaurants have closed over the years, leaving few opportunities for expats to find their old favourites - and for newcomers to try Dutch specialties.
Yes, the Dutch are better known for their cycling culture, soccer team, national flower and those cafes in Amsterdam than they are for their cuisine - but, then again, we also invented
flavoured sprinkles that go on toast , and if you know where to look in Toronto, you'll be able to dig up the snacks of your Dutch dreams.
Here are my picks for the top stores to buy Dutch products in Toronto.
Dutch Dreams
The towering ice cream cones at this St. Clair and Vaughan parlour put them on the map - but they live up to the name with their reliable selection of Dutch treats, including a slew of different flavours of hagelslag, and a baked, ice cream-topped dutch baby pancake (aka pannekoek) on the menu.
Niemeyer Imports
For some, this Richmond Hill store might be a trek - so take the opportunity to stock way, way up on their selection of Droste chocolates, Dutch cheeses, Rusk bread, and drop licorice.
Holland Store
In addition to wooden shoes, windmill trinkets, and Oranje soccer jerseys, this little shop on Weston Rd. stocks dry goods, candy and deli essentials like cheeses and cold cuts (including, apparently, horse meat).
Grumble's
This cafe and deli on Main St. leans more toward German and Austrian food than Dutch, but Holland still gets some representation in the form of stroopwafel, Dutch chocolate products, speculaas, and some Indonesian items.
Gardenview Convenience
It's a pretty bog-standard convenience store, but Gardenview gets onto this list for sheer convenience. If you're downtown and hankering for some stroopwafel, you should be able to find some - imported direct from Holland - on their shelves.
BONUS:
BorrelTO
It's not a shop or a restaurant, but the Dutch dining series, formerly based at the Ossington, still happens every few weeks around Toronto, with recent pop-ups at the Depanneur and the Cloak and Dagger. Their brunch-time events present a smorgasbord of Dutch snacks and dishes, including poffertjes, bitterballen, and boerenkool.
Did I miss any? Leave your favourite sources for Dutch products in the comments.
Photo of Dutch Dreams.
by Natalia Manzocco via blogTO
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