Friday Lunch from Harvest Wagon

A legend in Toronto for its pristine fetal vegetables, and high prices, Harvest Wagon is one of the Summerhill businesses collectively known as the "Five Thieves." Since reopening in a larger space, Harvest Wagon is now selling prepared foods. The Designated Courier is dispatched up the hill to investigate.

Eschewing the large chunks of meat, he comes back with that lunchtime staple: tuna salad.  To make our own tuna salad sandwiches, he picked up Ace Bakery's francese loaf from Harvest Wagon's next door neighbour, All the Best Fine Food. The bread is a great foundation for a sandwich with a chewy interior and crust that is just crispy enough without threatening the teeth or roof of the mouth.The tuna salad is a little salty and rather watery, as though the tuna was not drained well enough.  However, both texture and flavor are rescued by the generous addition of chopped red onion, celery, bell pepper, herbs, along with a squirt of lemon juice for freshness.

The citrus poached seafood salad represents a good mix of both inexpensive and luxury ingredients.  The DC is rewarded for his labors when he scores an oyster in his share.  We also discover shrimp, mussels, bay scallops, calamari, and octopus. To enhance the seafood, the cook has blended a dressing with capers, herbs, lemon, pepper and a higher quality olive oil than is usual in a purchased seafood salad.

So yes, as it is for its produce, Harvest Wagon prices are high for two containers of food - but the quality justifies the price.

Price: $21.51
Location:  1103 Yonge Street, across the square from the Summerhill LCBO
Phone: 416-923-7542