One positive thing coming out of COVID are the budding new
businesses springing up across Toronto. Search on Instagram and you’ll find at
least a dozen local chefs who are creating delicious eats and delivering them
across the city.
When Patty Queen came across my feed, the photo of the
yellow pastry made me stop. It’s something I ate a lot of in high school – a cheap
lunch from the cafeteria and my parents always had a box of frozen Patty King
around in case I was hungry before dinner. After high school, it’s something I
ate less of: after a night out, at a TTC station, when the food cravings were
too strong; or most recently with co-workers as we sampled the three options
around the Yonge and Dundas neighbourhood.
As I’ve grown, my palette has become fussier: I want
something with a flaky crust, something that’s flavourful, and a filling with
discernable ingredients and not merely a brown paste. Those three things seem difficult
to find unless I was willing to travel to the city’s outskirts and wait in line
for the greats like Randy’s.
The founders of Patty Queen seemed to be facing the same dilemma
– where could they easily get a freshly made Jamaican patty to feed their love
of Caribbean cuisine? After one owner
lost her job, she decided they would start making it for the masses. After all,
they already served them to friends with great fanfare.
Their spin is to use quality organic ingredients, ensure the
patties are made-to-order, and deliver them fresh to customers (every Wednesday
and Saturday). Their motto: Always fresh; never frozen.
After getting them delivered to my doorstep on the weekend,
my husband and I immediately heated two of the Man Down or vegetarian patties
to try ($28 for a dozen; $18 for six). Since they were fresh, a quick 8-minutes
in the toaster oven yielded hot fragrant patties. We marvelled how the crust
was flakey, crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside.
And the vegetable medley (carrots, peas, onions, and
potatoes) sat in a thick peppery sauce – not like the flavourless versions I’ve
had at work. I only wish there were more of it in the patty as I found the
first couple of bites along the curved sealed end sometimes lacks filling…
perhaps due to the patties being stood up in the box when packaged.
That evening we tucked into the Pon de Replay or mild
beef patties ($25 for a dozen; $16 for six) and it too had the coveted flakey
crust. While the filling looked like a uniform paste, upon biting into it, we
tasted the meaty bits and the beef flavour was much stronger. Imagine this to
be the Black Angus of the patty world.
The mild patties were a manageable level of spice with a
restrained heat that tickles the tongue. For future orders, I think I can move
up to the Sasha Fierce (spicy beef patties) instead. After all, having
supported Ree Ree for my first order, I’ll get a touch of Queen Bey next time.
How to Purchase: email pattyqueenalwaysfresh@gmail.com
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Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never order again
- 6 - decent for delivery and takeout, but there's better
- 7 - this is good, for delivery and takeout
- 8 - great for delivery and takeout, it's almost like you're in a restaurant
- 9 - wow, it's like I'm eating at a restaurant
- 10 - I'd happily order this for delivery or takeout instead of dining in any day!
Is That It? I Want More!
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