Karelia Kitchen is located on Bloor just a couple blocks west of Dufferin. They claim to be a Nordic smokehouse and café. What is that you ask? Here is my description after visiting and reading their website: Karelia Kitchen is a small, casual space with a few tables (and a small patio), with table and counter service. They serve brunch and dinner. Karelia Kitchen features a European style smokehouse, open-faced sandwiches, pastries and modern interpretations of classic Nordic entrees. Using locally sourced and organic ingredients (thank you!!!), traditional techniques and their own creativity, the chefs and business owners, Leif Kravis and Donna Ashley are bringing their passion for food, flavour and design to Toronto by emphasizing simplicity, quality, craftsmanship and innovation. As far as Nordic cuisine, I might not have a complete understanding or appreciation about it, but I can tell you that it is by far the BEST smoked salmon that I have ever had.
I really enjoyed the organic Irish smoked salmon open-faced sandwich served on thin organic rye, and some smoked chicken and beet-gravlax (salmon) I took out.
Check their menu out online, but if you need to know what to top a Humblebread sourdough bagel with Monforte sheep milk cream cheese (both available at Brickworks Saturday Farmers’ Market), I would highly recommend Karelia’s smoked salmon!
