Sometime in the past 3 months I visited a grocery store where i picked up a package of “Smokey Beef Strips”. I didn’t get an opportunity to use them right away so I put them away in the freezer.
Two weeks back I took them out and tried them with breakfast. OMG!!! They were to die for!!!
Frantically I started trying to figure out which grocery store I had purchased them from. For the life of me I couldn’t.
Ultimately I had to look at the label and find the manufacturer “East Meats West” online and head to their location, which happened to be in Mississauga.
I found so many other deli cuts of meat, sausages, pre-seasoned chicken in jerk, cajun and tandoori flavours, stuffed chicken breast ready to cook and even Angus Beef Short Ribs!!! All halal!!! Alhamdulillah.
Turns out the owner of the company is a convert that trained as a chef at what was once known as the prestigious Sutton Place Hotel, the place to see and be seen for celebrities etc in Toronto. He and his son, Abdullah, now run the business and are even looking to open up a cafe/restaurant where they will serve deli sandwiches and speciality dishes.
While I was picking up enough deli cuts to feed an army, I ordered a Montreal Smoked Meat sandwich. I figured that Noor would only have a taste and would pass on it but look at the expression on her face as she chomped it away mA:
Here is their website for those that are local and wish to give them a go: eastmeatswesthalal.com
Please do support such businesses if you can. If we don’t keep them alive, who will?
So I messaged 9 of my close friends in GTA area about the place, 5 of the kaminey dost told me they already know about this place and go their to buy products occasionally. Kaminey because they never told me about this Ok in their justification they didn’t coz I moved out of GTA area
rest are interested and will stop by (i know they will knowing their apatite for meat )
many people I spoke to about it said that they knew as well but they went a long time ago and found the place closed.
I just told them to check the website for hours and go when they are open
^ LOLs I am one of those people. Never attempted to go back again, but I will now for sure. Like yourself I too crave a good deli fresh halal sandwich from time to time
We have been going to Paramount butcher shop for cold cut meats and it’s been good…price and freshness wise
Needless to say I have found a halal grilled cheese place too, but its all the way in Scarborough
Zabiha app also have good review for east Meats west
ps: Thanks for sharing the insight on the founder of the company, very inspirational mash’Allah
pss: Sorry for all the jumbled thoughts written down here
no worries....thoughts aren't jumbled at all.
yeah...while I was waiting for him to make the sandwich for us we got chatting and he explained about his background.....how he converted back in 1985 and married, I believe a Guyanese woman who put him onto the spice trail.
he had issues with the alcohol and pork that was used in the kitchens where he trained/worked so decided to go out on his own. (there's a whole section on the website about him and how the company came to be....quite interesting to read)
even Abdullah is keen on the business and he's the one that designed and built the website.
that kinda stuff just makes you want to see them succeed......
Ok in their justification they didn’t coz I moved out of GTA area 
)
