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What’s Hamilton’s #CityDish? Vote for the food that best represents the city
Here are our 10 finalists and a few more honourable mentions
http://www.thespec.com/living-story/...ents-the-city/
One thing's for certain: Hamiltonians love their food.
We asked readers to help choose a dish that they feel truly represents the city, in the hope of finding the one food that's truly Hamilton's own. After a deluge of calls, emails, tweets and discussions, we've narrowed the selections to 10 finalists (as well as a list of honourable mentions: those nominated at least once).
The final 10 are mostly simple, longtime favourites — think hotdogs, sausages and doughnuts — rather than dishes from the growing crop of restaurants that have popped up in Hamilton over the past several years.
To vote for your favourite, tweet to Emma Reilly (@EmmaatTheSpec) using the hashtag #CityDish, or call 905-526-2452.
The finalists:
Beach Road kielbasa
This smoky, salty sausage has been beloved by Hamiltonians for decades.
The kielbasa — which is made with extra-lean pork and contains less than 10 per cent fat — was reportedly sampled by Pope John Paul II, thanks to Cardinal Jozef Glemp, who brought some back to the Vatican after visiting the Beach Road Meat Market in 1985.
"Back in the day, we used to have lineups on Beach Road probably a mile and a half long, and we'd have to limit it to two pounds per person. Then you would have to go to the back of the line," said Chris Newport, butcher manager of Locke St. Meats and Deli, the current home of Beach Road kielbasa. "People would bring five of their family members so they could buy more."
Hutch's fish and chips
Since Hutch's opened in 1946, their fish and chips have become a mainstay of classic Hamilton cuisine.
People love the restaurant's diner-style decor, beachfront views and, of course, the generous helpings of battered fish and fries.
"It's a family institution," said Rick Creechan, Hutch's general manager.
The reason why Hutch's fish and chips are so good? They're fried in beef fat — the same way they've always been prepared, says Creechan. While vegetarians may shudder at the thought, it's an all-natural, trans fat-free product that makes the dish extra crispy and tasty.
"We try to make sure the food's consistent," he said. "We use all the same ingredients we've used forever."
Easterbrook's hotdogs
Though Easterbrook's is technically in Aldershot, Hamiltonians have embraced their hotdogs as their own.
The restaurant, first opened in 1926 by Mable Easterbrook, was originally a tea house. In 1930, they began selling hotdogs — and the rest, as they say, is history.
Since then, Easterbrook's has sold 1600 miles of 'dogs each year — roughly $500,000 worth.
"We've been around for almost 100 years. Families have been coming here for decades," said Blake Easterbrook, who recently took over the restaurant from his father, Ray.
"We've got the best food in town, of course," he adds with a laugh. "That always helps."
Roma Pizza
Roma Pizza — a mainstay of Hamilton birthday parties, pot lucks, picnics and family gatherings — has a curious allure that's not often understood by outsiders.
Indeed, when Roma's bakery tried to sell its famous pizza in Toronto, the venture fizzled. To this day, Roma Pizza remains an only-in-Hamilton phenomenon.
The concept is simple: tomato sauce, a puffy, breadlike crust and maybe a limited selection of toppings (if you want to get fancy) — but the slab pizza inspires a cultlike following.
Roma Bakery in Stoney Creek produces 2,500 handmade pizzas every week. The secret's in the sauce, said longtime employee Donna Smith.
"It's like no other pizza. It's distinctively Hamilton. It's very unique — it's good hot or cold," she said. "It's one of those things. Once people find it, they always come back."
Tally Ho roast beef sandwich
While other fast-food joints on Main Street West come and go (RIP Harvey's and Burger King), Tally Ho has been a mainstay for hungry Hamiltonians for decades.
Its no-fuss menu is a particular favourite of past and present McMaster students (especially in the post-party wee hours) and Hamilton rocker B.A. Johnston, whose love for Tally Ho is documented in several of his songs.
Tally Ho's signature dish is arguably the roast beef sandwich, prepared from scratch on-site.
"It's very special meat. It's all homemade. It's not processed or anything," said Tally Ho supervisor Athena Keramidas.
Tim Hortons double-double and doughnut
Before Tim Hortons set up shop in every Canadian city, town and hamlet, it was Hamilton's own. The original store, on the corner of Ottawa Street and Dunsmere Road, is now a museum dedicated to the beloved made-in-Hamilton franchise.
A coffee and doughnut from Timmies is classically Hamilton: simple, unpretentious, and just the right mix of bitter and sweet flavours.
Denninger's sausage
Denninger's is the official hotdog and sausage supplier of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and its sausages are like meaty morsels of civic pride.
Made in a Hamilton manufacturing facility from 100 per cent Ontario pork or locally raised poultry, the sausages have been Hamilton favourites since Rudolf and Frieda Denninger arrived in Hamilton in 1953 and opened their first deli.
Today, they're available in more than 15 flavours, ranging from the traditional (bratwurst, honey garlic and Italian) to the more adventurous (chicken mango, chipotle, kale and artisan beer).
Gorilla Cheese lumberjack sandwich
The story of Gorilla Cheese is about as Hamilton as you can get.
During the economic downturn, Graeme Smith was laid off from his job at U.S. Steel. With the help of the provincial Second Career program, he went to culinary school — and from there, Hamilton's first food truck was born.
Since its inception, Gorilla Cheese has consistently drawn long lineups at festivals, been featured on the Food Network's "Eat Street" and Smith even landed an investment deal on CBC's "Dragons' Den."
The lumberjack — featuring bacon, Granny Smith apple, maple syrup and medium-aged cheddar — exemplifies Hamilton's love of hearty, meaty foods, says Smith.
"I've always tried to be what you go to Hamilton for, as far as a sandwich goes," he said. "I like to think of the lumberjack as Hamilton's sandwich."
"It's something neat that Hamilton can claim for itself. I think grilled cheese is by far the food of Hamilton."
Grandad's Donuts
Grandad's Donuts are like little pieces of dessert heaven — though they're not really that little.
The generously-sized desserts have become Hamilton favourites since the bakery opened, almost exactly 10 years ago, in May 2007.
Made fresh at the store at Burlington and James streets — which looks like an '80s time capsule with its retro colours and upholstered stools — Grandad's doughnuts are completely handmade from scratch by five bakers with a combined 150 years of expertise. The bakery produces 2,500 to 3,500 each day in flavours that aren't available anywhere else (including walnut crunch and orange twist).
The doughnuts always sell out, says Samantha Whipps, Grandad's owner, operator and manager — sometimes earlier than they would hope.
"Our bakers work 12-hour shifts. They can only do so much," she said. "Our doughnuts are done the old-school Hamilton way. We're what Hamilton grew up knowing — the doughnuts everybody knows and loves and misses."
Karma Candy canes
Did you know that candy canes are a quintessentially Hamilton food?
Karma Candy on Emerald Street North is Canada's only candy cane manufacturer. It's also the only place in North America that produces mini canes wrapped individually like the large canes. (Other places use what's known in the candy biz as "cushion wrap" — a rectangular, cellophane extrusion where the candy cane sits in the middle).
While the 300,000-square-foot facility may not be a household name — none of their confections are branded — they are active community members. They donate candy to local food banks and also ship pallets of candy canes to Canadian troops overseas.
"We're very involved with the community, and we're trying to get more and more involved," said Tiffany Rushing, Karma Candy's manager.
Honourable mentions
● Dawson's hot sauce
● La Luna shish tawook sandwich
● Mike's submarines
● Nique's sushi nachos
● HAMBRGR's burgers
● Mama Yolanda's lasagna
● Black Forest Inn's schnitzel
● Nickelodeon sandwich from Rankin's Restaurant
● Roma Bakery's chicken on a skewer
● Vegan macaroon from My Dog Joe
● Donut Monster's doughnuts
● Relay coffee
● Cake and Loaf Bakery treats
● Rudy's paletas (Mexican fresh-fruit ices)
● Strub's pickles
● Mustard (G.S. Dunn has been milling seeds in the city for 148 years)
● Pizza from Mother's
● Chicken Roost — no specific dish, but people still rave about its chicken on a bun, cherry cokes, pies, spareribs, fries with gravy, steaks, chicken soup, butter tarts, ice cream puffs with hot fudge, tea biscuits and graham wafer butterscotch pie. Restaurateur Max Mintz opened The Roost in 1948; it closed in 1986.
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that place had been there for well over 10 years.
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