Wishing Moon Phases

Does Harvest Moon conjure up any images other than Neil on guitar? I think of moon light fields behind my father's house. When the hay has been cut and the nubs glisten with frost, which they have north of the city this time of year.
But enough of that.

Thankfully our province is shaped in such a way that Niagara and Prince Edward County still have some local fare to share our way. As such, today is probably the last batch of JK Cream of Tomato Soup you are going to see for a while.

Also, good meat sandwiches happening today. We are still OUT OF FLANK STEAK, but that has given us the opportunity to offer you Pulled Pork Sandwiches (which are delicious, by the way) and another special guy:
Introducing the Roasted Lamb Sandwich! Rubbed with rosemary and garlic, this sandwich also features it's own mayo - Cranberry and Rosemary Mayo. It's got some other Hank's classic toppings as well - roasted peppers, acidulated onions and mixed local greens on St John's multi grain organic sourdough. Trust me - it's a great reason to come by Hank's today.

Salad goodness includes...
Cumbrae's Chicken Salad
Chipotle Pork Sausage and Dupuy Lentil Salad
Ontario Fruit Salad
Purple Potato Salad
Sweet Potato Pie (What it sounds like = Delicious)
JK Tomato Salad

If you brought a lunch I would advise leaving it in the fridge for tomorrow and hitting up some Roasted Lamb Sandwich.

See you soon,
Max

Potato Tuesdays

Well, there's no going back. Summer is gone and I don't think we will see it's golden head again.
Not for a while anyhow. I guess the good news is we're having another El Nino winter? If that's good news. (Hurricanes?)

Okay, here's some real good news:

Potato & Leek Soup (Yum Yum Yum)

Today we have NO Flank Steak but the good news is a PULLED PORK SANDWICH (hooray!).

Salady Goodness...
Minty Slaw
Cumbrae's Chicken Salad
Chipotle Pork Sausage & Dupuy Lentil Salad
Purple Potato Salad
Crudite (Sticks o'veg with dip)
Sweet Potato Pie (What it sounds like = Delicious)
Albacore Tuna & Scallop Cakes on Watercress & Pea Shoots with Tarter sauce
(Wow, Hank is one serious dude)

See you soon,
Max

Monday Blues

I know, It's Monday and it's raining, not the best combination, luckily we have some great food to cheer you up today, come in and get them while they last! ze specials are:

Chipotle Pork Sausage and Duy Puy Lentil Salad
Albacore Tuna and Scallop Cakes
Minty Slaw
Chicken Salad
Purple Potato Salad with bacon, dill and pickles
Sweet Potato Pie on Greens
Crudite with Purple Cauliflower, Green and Red Peppers, Carrots and Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Dip

..and on this cold rainy day, we have a Mushroom Gumbo Stew to warm you up, Delicious!

See you all for lunch!

Lazy Sunday

It's that day of the week again, Sunday! A day of relaxing and enjoying great food, conveniently we have plenty of great food.. specials today are:

Cumbrae's Chicken Salad
Candy Cane Beets, Strawberry and Walnut Salad with a yogurt poppy seed dressing
Ontario Fruit Salad- Sunshine Golden Watermelons, Golden Raspberries, Blueberries, Strawberries and Blackberries, Berry wonderful!
Crudite with Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese dip- Full of Carrots, Peppers both green and red and Purple Cauliflower, Delicious!

and.. back by popular demand: Soba Noodle Salad- Full of Buckwheat Noodles, Tofu Croutons, Carrots, Cabbage and Sesame seeds, with a Soy dressing, Perfection!

To celebrate Fall we have a Creamy Roasted Fall Vegetable Soup complete with Eggplant, Peppers, Tomato, Onions, Fennel and many more vegetarian friendly ingredients make this a soup to fall for.

Happy Sunday Everyone :)

Fall is in the air

Fall is most definitely upon us today folks so do yourself a favor, head down to Hank's and warm up with some hot and delicious drinks and eat some wonderful food, speaking of food lets talk about ze specials...

Mushroom Sandwich makes its second appearance today and is as delicious as ever!

Salads

Cumbrae's Chicken Salad
Candy Cane Beets, Strawberry and Walnut Salad with a yogurt poppy seed dressing
Ontario Fruit Salad- Sunshine Golden Watermelons, Golden Raspberries, Blueberries, Strawberries and Blackberries, wonderful!
Penne Pasta with Beef Salad - Flank Steak, Radishes, Caramelized onions, Zucchini and other fabulous ingredients makes this a great choice
Classic Minty Slaw
JK Tomato Salad, get it while it lasts!


.. and last but not least to warm the body and soul, we have a Corn Chowder finished with a red pepper drizzle, contains dairy but is vegetarian friendly and fantastic!

That's all for now, Have a happy Saturday! :)

I think we all think

It's been a long week for some reason. Probably it's the sun thing. You know, it's much easier to rise with the birds as opposed to watching the stars "go down." I think we all think it's been a long week. That seems to be the consensus over coffee this morning.

To get things right:
Dumpling Squash Soup (Dumpling Squash is a type of squash). It's like... a Thanksgiving spiced soup. Cinnamon, nutmeg, the works.

MUSHROOM SANDWICH MAKES ITS TRIUMPHANT RETURN.

Salad Sally Says...
Minty Slaw
Soba Noodle Salad
Ontario Fruit Salad
Cumbrae's Chicken Salad
Strawberry, Candy Cane Beets & Walnuts on Greens with Poppy seed Dressing.
(This one's for you Mo.)
Penne Beef Salad

See you soon,
Max

Thursday, Thirsty, Tired, Treats

Hey, remember that time we had that Salmon Chowder? (It was last week, think back, you'll find it in your memory.) Well, the chefs of Hank's have hit the nail on the head again.
Today's Soup is Halibut & Kale in Coconut Broth (Yea, they went there. I was doubtful, tried it and loved it.)
Today we have the Fried Eggplant Sandwich. (Probably it's last day - get it while it's hot).


Salads include...
Minty Slaw
JK Tomato Salad
Seared Halibut Salad with a Creamy Lemon Dressing
Ontario Fruit Salad (Featuring Sugar Melon)
Cumbrae's Chicken Salad
Penne Chicken Salad

See you soon,
Max

Fresh, Fleeting, Fall

It's time to think about lunch again. I like being at Hank's because it means I only have to tackled the breakfast and dinner ideas for home. Thankfully, because I would run out of lunch ideas in a real hurry. Here's what the team's been dreaming up:

Soup today is a Smokey Turkey and Lentil. Sounds delicious.

Yes! We have got the Fried Eggplant Sandwich today (hoo-rah!)

Salads are...
Cumbrae's Chicken Salad
Ontario Fruit Salad
Roasted Purple Potato Salad (with Quail Egg)
Spiced Dumpling Squash Lentil Salad

See you soon,
Max

Here's what we have for you today. See if you can find a theme.

The Soup
Cream of Heirloom Tomato Soup with Rosemary Compound Butter

The Sandwich
Heirloom Tomato and Herbed Goat's Cheese Sandwich

Theme kind of ends here.....


The Salad All Star Line Up
Honey Braised Pork and Bean Salad

Soba Noodle Salad

Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad

Mustard Chicken Penne Pasta Salad

Cumbrae's Chicken Salad

Purple Potato Salad with Quail Eggs and Lemon Creme Fraiche Dressing

See you soon!

One Thousand Red Flames

The time for country drives and finding someone to supply you with a fresh, 14 pound, grass-fed bird is upon us. At least it feels so. My family has started the email barrage of confirmations for Thanksgiving dinner. Preparations are under way.
I had a great bike ride this morning. Light sweater, wind rustling through...uh, the tall buildings?
That's why I need the country drive.

Here's a way to feel the Monday is worth whiles.

Roasted Beet Soup (Vegetarian friendly)

We've got the Fried Eggplant Sandwich today as well as the JK Heirloom Tomato Sandwich with a herbed cream cheese spread. Get your tomatoes while the getting is good.

For salads we have the hook ups:
JK Tomato Salad (with a herby olive oil dressing and goat cheese quenelle)
Soba Noodle Salad (A Hank's classic)
Cumbrae's Chicken Salad (Delicious and gherkin filled yummy)
Mustard Chicken Penne Salad (Shredded Chicken in a melange of yum)
Southwestern Bean and Pork Salad (Texas Style... okay, Arizona maybe.)
Orzo Pasta Pesto Salad (A quick getaway)

I'm sort of craving stuffing now.

See you soon,
Max

TIFF Closing

I hope some of you made at least one film this year. I did - make one that is.
There are still plenty of things to see at this year's TIFF and it seems the hot list of things are all happening in Yonge & Dundas Square.
Check it out here.

Hank is digging his heels into the ground as he fights the pull into autumn. Much can't be done for long but while we can we're hanging on to hopes of one more day at the beach... (okay, my last hopes for the beach were pretty much dashed this morning when it was 6°c on my bike ride to work.)

To hold your head high: We have a Mild Curried Sweet Potato Soup.

Veggie Sandwich today is going to be the JK Heirloom Tomato Sandwich (slathered up in a herbed goat cheese spread and topped with local greens). If you haven't celebrated how delicious local tomatoes are I think that today is the day.

For Salads we have plenty of...

Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad

Cumbrae's Chicken Salad

JK Tomato Salad (with C'est Bon goat cheese)

Ontario Fruit Salad

Crudités with "Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Dip" (Wowzers, I love condiments for vegetables)

Come say hi to Hank. We love having company.

See you soon,
Max

Marching towards sunset...

The summer is whittling away. If you haven't been out to the island yet for a picnic please, oh please, make some time to fit in some green grass sitting before the green grass is gone.
I beg of you. Even head out to High Park or some other such garden.

Pack something from Hank's (we also love to see you week-day-ers on the weekends).

Soup today is a JK Cream of Tomato (Straight from the farm tomatoes, vegetarian friendly)

We do indeed have our Fried Eggplant Sandwich (hot and delicious)

Salads!
Soba Noodle Salad

Cumbrae's Chicken Salad

JK Heirloom Tomato Salad

Ontario Fruit Salad

Chef's Salad with Elderberry Dressing (Topped also with Smoked Turkey, Boiled Egg and Bacon)

Crudités with "Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Dip" (Wowzers, I love condiments for vegetables)

That, for today, is all she wrote.

See you soon,
Max

Crisp Fall Day

Good Morning. Even though our summer kind of sucked weather wise there is something so fresh start about a crisp fall day. I love pulling out the comfy sweater and walking around outside when the sun is a little different then it was only a week ago. It's fall. It's here. So cozy on up and come into Hanks for some lovin comfort food.

Today's line up:
Soup: Salmon Chowder. Tomato based chower with Pacific Salmon, corn, potato and of course a splash of cream. Our chef from the West Coast made it, and that girl knows her salmon! This one's gonna move fast.

Salads:
Macaroni and Meatballs hits the comfort food category head on and takes it down.

Sesame Roasted Carrot and Turnip Salad, brings out the sweetness of these beautiful fall veggies. Looks great and tastes even better.

We have an Ontario Fruit Salad. Yep, our summer has been good to us in that there is still lots of Ontario fruit to be found, so eat it up before you have to store your fridge with apples.

Chicken Salad. You know it, you love it.

Soba Noodle Salad. Soba noodles are so awesome cold and this salad is both light and filling at the same time.

Veggies and Dip. We call it crudite which is french for veggies and dip. It comes with a roasted red pepper and goat's cheese dip, which is delicious!

The Sandwich we're running? Yep still BLT. We're going to go with it to use all of these beautiful tomatoes rolling in our back door from JK's farm.

We'll see you soon, coziness and all.

A tardy post

Soup: Turkey and Pork Delicious

Sandwich Special: BLT

Salad Line Up:
Orzo Salad
Chicken Salad
Soba Noodle Salad
Macaroni and Meatball Salad
Roasted Carrot and Turnips
Crudite with Roasted Red Pepper and Goat's Cheese Dip
Heirloom Tomato and Eggplant Salad

There you have it! The quick and dirty. We'll see you all soon!

Krups Kup of Excellence

So, guess what? It turns out we were in the top 5 for Toronto as voted in the Krups Kup of Excellence. Thank you to everyone who tuned into the blog and then took the time to Vote For Hank.

This morning we had a limo of judges stop by (holy cow NINE of them) with videographer, a photographer and their organizer... IT WAS CRAZY. The cafe was chalk full of people.
Also, thank you to all the morning regulars who waited patiently for their espressos and lattes while I whipped up nine espressos (and a latte for the very pleasant photographer).

I can't wait to hear back on results.

Today to tickle your taste buds we have...
Cream of Celery Soup

Sammys!
Fried Eggplant Sandwich

BLT's Yum Yum Yum

Salads!
Macaroni and Meatball Salad (Family Reunion Styles)

Cumbrae's Chicken Salad

Grilled South Western Corn and Beef Salad

Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad

Yummy Dill Potato Salad

JK Heirloom Tomato Salad with Basil and C'est Bon Chevre

Herbed Bean Salad

Yea, I gotta get me some BLT while the T is still here.

See you soon,
Max

Beautiful September Mondays

Good Morning! On this fine September Day it's time to roll out of your office and come down to Hanks for some sunshine and good eats. Here's what we have for you!


Soup of the day: Mushroom Bacon and Rice

Salad Line Up:
Chicken Salad, is there anything better than meat salad?

Summer Vegetable Bean Salad

Grilled South Western Corn and Beef Salad

Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad

Good Ol' Potato Salad

JK Heirloom Tomato Salad with Basil and C'est Bon Chevre

We'll see you soon with Bells on!

Back to the Grind

The grind is back. So, take this Saturday is for enjoying and come on by.

Today we have a Minestrone Soup which is quite excellent.

We also have a whack of great salads and are running with the Fried Eggplant Sandwich today.

It's quite busy out there so I'm going to hop on back there.

See you soon,
Max

Friday, I'm in Love

Who doesn't love Fridays? Well, they aren't really my Fridays and I still love them... because everyone else is so darned happy.

Today there are lots and lots of things to be happy about.
1! The .pdf menu in the right bar is now... Up To Date! *hooray!* (I love it when computers work)

2! Soup today is a Tomato Consommé with Meatballs, orzo and summer vegetable. So good.

3! Hank's BLT is on the menu today - Heirloom tomatoes, Cumbrae's bacon and Soiled Reputation Greens = Yum, Yum, Yum.

Other great stuff
Fried Eggplant Marinara Sandwich

JK Tomato Salad with C'est Bon goat cheese

Cumbrae's Chicken Salad

Pesto & Bean Salad

Potato Salad with Bacon and Sheep's Cheddar

Voilà! Reasons to love Friday.

See you soon,
Max

TIFF Day 1

If you don't have anything planned for this fine evening of red, velvety carpets - maybe you should get to www.tiff.net, get yourself some tickets and get out there.
This is one of the bigger advantages to living in our fair city - so really, grab it by the ankles, drag it into your social life and don't let it go until it's over (I'm sorry, that was pretty creepy).

Hank's will help out by getting you your daily recommended nutrimites.
(Yup, Nutrimites)

Soup today is a Bacon Mushroom Soup. It is a soup I would expect to eat at my Oma's house and that is a good thing. It's delicious and perfect for a fall day.

The Fried Eggplant Marinara Sandwich is ON today. Bring it.

Salads include...
Ontario Fruit Salad (Get it while it's fresh!)
Cumbrae's Chicken Salad (Gherkin-y goodness)
Pesto & Bean Salad (Protein for our vegetarians!)
Riesling Dill Slaw (A twist on a Hank's Classic)
Cous Cous Salad feat. Smoked Pork Rib (like feat. Jay-Z only more delicious)
Beef Broccoli Soba Noodle Salad (We went there)
Potato Salad with Bacon and Sheep's Cheddar (It's all in the mix, take it or leave it)

I hope to see you all on your way to a TIFF premier this evening, looking as fabulous as Jessica Biel.

See you soon,
Max

What is up?

How are you all?

Today's Soup: Cream of Broccoli, so damn good

The Salad Line Up:
Lemon Balm Slaw, fresh and lovely

Reisling Dill Slaw, need we say more?

Chicken Salad, meaty carbless goodness

Soba Noodle Salad, a veg head's dream

Chef's Salad, Blue cheese dressing. Nough said.

Cous Cous and Smoked Pork Salad. Sweet and Savoury Salty Goodness

Ontario Seasonal Fruit Salad. Rocks.

We'll see you soon!

First day of school

What do we have for your lunch box today?

The All Star Salad Line Up

Chefs Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing, everything should have Blue Cheese Dressing...
Soba Noodle Salad. The gals have loaded this up with more veggies. Ask and you shall receive.
Lemon Balm Slaw. Who knew slaw could be so damn good and ever so interesting?
Good Ol Chicken Salad. But this one is fresh and new
Couscous Salad. I love this little pasta.
Last but definately not least, we have a Jamie Kennedy Heirloom Tomato Salad. His tomatoes from his farm. Let the games begin!

The soup today. And it feels like a soup day to me. Chickpea and Corn with JK Bacon. Corn and bacon are like two food soulmates who've finally found each other. One should never be without the other.

Also, if you haven't heard, Linda our talented pastry chef has made mini versions of her life changing peach pies. I'm telling you..pick one up and take it home. No one makes pie like Linda.

I hope you all had a fantastic Labour Day weekend and I hope the transition of change for today was smooth for those of you who had kiddies off to school. We'll see you soon for lunch. Lord knows you deserve it!

I don't want to be a bragger (okay, well, secretly I do want to be a bragger. Here I go...) but we have great mornings at Hank's. I mean, I really love being here in the morning. I like the people with their papers. I love that 3 year old who eats his pain au chocolat or paints his face with it.
I like making lots and lots of lattes. I like seeing you off to the market.
I like that you make Saturdays in the cafe awesome. (*sings* I love Paris in the fall....)
You know, as far as places go. I like this place a lot.


Special!
Soup today is a Vegetarian-Friendly Cream of Mushroom Soup.

Special Sandwiches are
Pulled Pork Sandwich
& Heirloom Tomato Sandwich with our herbed goat cheese spread.

Salad Bar...

Cumbrae's Chicken Salad
Tri-Bean Salad with Pumpkin Seed Dressing
Lemon Balm Slaw (Delicious)
Niçoise Salad with Tuna & Boiled Eggs plus, Garlic Vinaigrette


See you soon,
Max

Days of Labour

Happy Labour Day weekend. I hope you get out, get going, etc. and etc.

Things I think you should do:
Get outside.
Andrea suggests hitting up the island. Time is running out.
Also, our Brazilian Ex-Pats (well, sort of) suggest hitting up Brazilian Day Canada. (Link to the Event Page) It's going to be broadcast live to Brazil as well and they are excited to see their flag, some TV and movie stars from Brazil (although the music is typical of what we think Brazilians enjoy, Andrea will tell you she prefers Rock 'n' Roll).
It's at Yonge & Dundas Square on Sunday.

And then we'll be closed Monday and none of you should be here either. Please, enjoy your families and friends.

Special!
Soup today is a Vegan-Friendly Carrot & Ginger Soup.

Special Sandwiches are
Fried Eggplant Sandwich (Think... Eggplant Marinara)
& Heirloom Tomato Sandwich with our herbed goat cheese spread.

Salad Bar...

Cumbrae's Chicken Salad
Tri-Bean Salad with Pumpkin Seed Dressing
Lemon Balm Slaw (Delicious)
Niçoise Salad with Tuna & Quail Eggs(!) plus, Garlic Vinaigrette
Blueberry Salad with cream and YUM.
Roasted Turnip & Cauliflower on Asian Greens with a Miso Mirui Dressing

So, I guess we'll be seeing you for lunch.

See you soon,
Max

The Thursday Edition

Today's all star line up.

Stew: Today we have a Sweet Potato Curry and Chickpea stew that's friendly for nearly all eating types...except those who don't like chickpeas or sweet potatoes...or curry.

The Salads:
Hank's Chicken Salad

Panzanella. What is it? Besides damn good it's grilled bread, veggies, and goat's cheese with pesto. It's the summer in a salad.

Curried Beef and Basmati Rice Salad. Hugely popular yesturday, we begged the chefs to make it again this morning. They are so lovely.

We have a salad Nicoise with seared Tuna, roasted tomatoes, fresh edamame and quail eggs. Class in a salad.

We also have an Heirloom Bean Salad with Pumpkin Seed Dressing and Summer Veg. It's fresh and summery goodness. And so good for you!

To mix it up, there is also a Turnip and Cauliflower Salad with Miso Mirin Dressing served on Wilted Asian Greens. This salad is nearly too pretty to eat, but too damn good not to.

The New Sandwiches for today to add to our usual roster of greatness would be
The BLT. Cumbrae's Bacon, Ontario Summer Tomatoes, Greens and Green Onion Mayo. I had it twice yesturday. That's right!

We also have the Fried Eggplant with Marinara Sandwich. If you have any kind of cravings at all I'm pretty sure this sandwich will set you right again. It's delicious in a soul fed kind of way.

I almost forgot! We also have the blueberry Sour cream salad today. I'm telling you, don't let the words sour and cream get in between you and this refreshingly not too sweet but sweet enough to satisfty classy little dessert. It's so good, you'll wonder how you've lived this long without having had it.

That's it, I'm exhausted. It's an incredible line up of greatness. Come and get it while the gettin's good.

We always look forward to seeing you!

Call it what you will but it's wednesday. That's right, the hump in the middle of the week which then slides downward into a long labour day weekend. Just to let ya'll know, we will be closed on the Labour day Monday to use and abuse our barbeques and if we're lucky get some sort of sunburn.

But for today... here's the all star line up.



Soup: French Canadian Onion Soup. Beefy, buttery, cheesy, croutony. Fills a hole you didn't know you had.



Salads: We have the Panzanella salad, which if you haven't tried it and you like vegetale garlicky goodness with some bread attached, this salads is delicious. And pick up some chocolate with it, chocolate helps with garlic breath. It's true.



Good ol' Hank's standby, Chicken Salad.

Coconut Curried Beef and Basmati Rice Salad. I don't think there's anything left to say.

We also have the Pear and Spagetti Squash Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing. It's so

dang good.



Now let me tell you about a blueberry discovery. This morning one of the cooks made her mom's famous blueberry dessert. It's fresh blueberries with a little sour cream and brown sugar. It's awesome. And we have it for you to try. Seriously fresh, not too sweet and full of big plump blueberries, the last of the season.



Alright. I'm off. I wish you all a good morning, we'll see you soon!

Tuesday Hanks Update

Hey Folks, Here's what we've got.

Soup: Sweet and Spicy Roasted Corn. This has both dairy and meaty goodness. Sorry Veggies.

Sandwich Specials: Pulled Pork, it comes it goes, it's always delicious.
A good old fashioned Tomato Sandwich with an herbed Goats cheese.

The Salad Line up Rocks
Panzanella Salad. Italian Bread salad with grilled vegetables. Awesome.
Raspberry Pear and Poppy Seed Slaw. Mixing up the slaws. This one kicks some slaw butt.
Chicken Salad. Meaty goodness
Spaghetti Squash Caramelized Pear Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing. Need I say more?
Family Reunion Pasta Salad with Smoked Turkey. It's got some spicy kick, so if you're family is a spicy group, this one will take you back.

We shall see you folks soon....we're ready..