If you are traveling to Toronto, this multicultural metropolis, you will have a chance to have sweets from around the world, but one of the national courts are not well represented: Austrian cuisine. Canada is experiencing a great wave of Austrian immigrants, just after the Second World War and during the 1970s, but since then the number of arrivals from this small nation in Europe declined substantially, leading to a shortage of Austrian restaurants.
When Austrian immigrant himself, aCity caught my eye a while ago: an authentic Austrian café / pastry shop as "Confectioner", German for "sugar-baker." In recent months I have tried several times over and try some Austrian dishes, which I had grown up, but every time I swung by, I accidentally took a Monday or Tuesday, when the plant closed.
Now finally, after I Blinoff today my interview with Sheila and Carole Stimmell the beach metro community news, I decided to pay mea visit to confectionery and given the fact that it was Thursday today I finally picked the right day of the week. I came in right around noon, a small but tidy office in Toronto Beach neighborhood, on Queen Street west of Woodbine Avenue. This compact coffee has nine tables and three of them were filled with enthusiastic patrons. The mood in the place was surprisingly cheerful, with patrons chatting back and forth from table to table, and I heard a conversation betweentwo different groups of customers who both agreed that the best pastry has the best apple strudel and coffee.
A group of three local business people sat down at the next table: Ernesto Monte is the owner of meat on the beach, known for its high quality meat, Arthur (Arturo) Bossio, runs a local pest control company while his brother Tony is a general contractor that is a lot work in the Beach does.
Bald jokes flew back and forth and Arturo started to ask whyfor my visit. He pointed out that he was originally from Italy, from the southern region of Calabria, but came to Canada when he was a little kid. Then Arturo joked with one of the owners, Benedetta Stellino, who also comes from Italy.
Some people say that Toronto residents are reluctant, and foreigners are reluctant to talk to each other. Well, have a confectioner, funny comments flying back and forth, and complete strangers (myself included), rib each other, with a goodTime.
The real reason why I came here, at last, for example, some Austrian cuisine, a few nibbles, which reminds me of my time grew in the Austrian Alps. So I ordered my favorite Austrian soup: Fritattensuppe (pancake strips soup) and a gourmet roast pork sandwich. Tasting the food of my native land, here in Toronto, was large and filling meal definitely hit the spot. The gentlemen next to me were about to ask how I was to polish away a substantial dishSoup, plus a nice size sandwich, but no problem, can not eat this girl ....
Guests receive streaming and Benedetta kept them entertained with their charm and an enviable tongue. It has definitely feel a special gift for making everyone welcome, as they had been friends for many years. She explained that begins on the weekend this place really jumping. Finally, I had the opportunity to be their business needs, and the pastry itself. Burgi Riegler grew up on a farm in Mürzzuschlag, aTown in the beautiful province of Styria, about 30 miles from my home town in Austria. We sat down and talk a little bit in our local German dialects, and then switched to English when the formal interview starts.
Raised on a farm, Burgi was to prepare the cooking introduced early after the meals for her large family. At age nine she had already found her ideal job: she wanted to become a chef. She thought she could also pay for their favoriteActivity. After their local training, she spent some time during the winter season in the Austrian province of Tyrol, and worked as a cook and skiing to the content of their heart. Although they sometimes work 20 hours per day in winter, it would summers off.
But she kept calling the city: Vienna. She spent several years in the Austrian capital, the estimated work in these establishments as the Hotel Bristol, the Hilton Hotel and Restaurant Corso, one of Viennamost renowned restaurants. She worked with some of Europe's most famous culinary experts. While working in Vienna, she fell in love with pastry (who would not?), And took an apprenticeship as a confectioner evening. Part of the reason for this was also one of her former boss wrong, who had said she was proving a "total loser with cake." Jetzt Burgi official credentials as executive chef, as well as a fully qualified pastry.
After a few years ago in Vienna thatAustrian city had become too small. The big, wide world cried - Burgi wanted to go to America. But she was not able to obtain a green card and a friend suggested that she should be to Canada. Burgi was actually recruited by the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, when they tried to raise their profile with high-end desserts. Burgi was game, and in 1987 she arrived on Canadian soil. I myself had arrived here in 1986, so we realized that we both have over 20 years of the Canadian standard of living within ourBelt.
Burgi first impressions were that the country was so great, the city (compared to 5.3 million people Greater Toronto, Vienna, which has by far the largest city in size in Austria), only about 1.5 million inhabitants. Just as I fell in love with this Austrian transplantation Toronto. She felt that the people were friendly, and within half a year she had a Canadian who was so friendly that they decided to marry him found. Over the next few years Burgi and her husband, a family inToronto.
According to the Royal York Burgi several years as a pastry at the prestigious Badminton & Racquet Club Benedetta came up to her and said she had to waste their talent and should pursue their life dream of opening her own coffee house. Burgi liked the idea, quit her job, and Burgi and Benedetta always ended business partners. The big breakthrough came when Ben heard a radio show, where Kerry Stratton, conductor of the Toronto PhilharmoniaOrchestra said that he was not able to find a decent Sacher Torte (a real Viennese specialty) in Toronto.
Benedetta Burgi said, "You Sacher cake is awesome" and they sent a sample of the conductor. The sweet delicacy was really good, and Burgi has been invited to the sweet table for the famous Viennese Ball organized by the Toronto Philharmonia offer. Other highlights in the career of Burgi's also an appearance on the popular "Christine Cushing Live" cookingTV show, working for the Italian consulate and the annual Salute to Vienna concert at Roy Thompson Hall. People were definitely having this talented Austrian confectioner.
Today, confectionery, and the partnership between Burgi and Benedetta is well established. While Burgi sinful delicacies prepared in the kitchen, processed Benedetta customers in the foreground. Ben is definitely a character, she has a great natural sense of humor, and is not afraid of ribsCustomers in a kindly manner. While I was there, a regular customer came in and Ben told him to hang up too much at Starbucks, its competitors. The boss came right back with a quick-witted response, and a little humor banter flying back and forth.
Not surprisingly, Benedetta background in sales, she spent many years in the headhunting firm, said that she sells "heads for cash", before the founding of a company with Burgi. Although, in the last three yearswas a lot of work to get the two entrepreneurs, was their trip to the transfer of business ownership is very rewarding.
Their recipe for success is the provision of a typical Austrian coffee-house atmosphere with quality food and desserts. In addition to delicious products, they seek an environment that makes people feel comfortable, as if they create at home. Benedetta chat has a talent for engaging people in conversation, and patrons each other freely. Ben, aAvid poet, said she was tracking all the happenings in their construction, and one day she will write a book about where she will dish the goods and shares the juicy tidbits that they saw in their café. I joked that I conduct myself as to prevent, better than no compromise leakage of communications.
Ben adds that Burgi's desserts look at any second, and they taste even better than they. And the people who have traveled to Austria to confirm that this place looks likea typical Austrian cake. As an Austrian I can prove myself, dass For Mozart's 250th Burgi's birthday last winter, a special cake, the three animal was eaten by a crowd of 200 patrons. The participants were fortunate that it was one of the warmest days in January with temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius. Patrons were able to hang outside on the terrace.
I asked if there are any special events at the restaurant. A recent initiative atConfectioner consists of regular readings of poems "Poetic Justice", is first Thursday of every month. One or two poets present their works and viewers have the opportunity to read their own work on the open mike.
A delicious strawberry cream cake represented a nice highlight to the end of the conversation, I thought I could not leave this place without at least one of the many sweet treats. Finally I had it until pastry, a small Austrian anglethat to me so much of it, where I grew up, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I will come again recalled (Arnold)'s famous words, not only for food but for the company.
