The owners of some of Toronto's most game-changing Portuguese restaurants, Mercado Negro and Casa Portuguese have just launched their new marketplace, Tia Delfina Goods.
Available online and in both stores, you can now place orders to get your hands on iconic Portuguese products, picked out by the group and imported directly from Portugal.
Carlos Oliveira opened his first restaurant Mercado Negro on Corso Italia three years ago. Dominantly operated by the Oliveira family, this space gained mass-popularity for the dynamic presence they bring to the St. Clair West neighbourhood. As Oliveira puts it, they aimed to do everything that other Portuguese restaurants in the city haven't. From their extensive menu, to elaborate decor featuring an outdoor patio, shaded by rows of colourful umbrellas collectively draped over the heads of diners, Mercado Negro quickly established themselves at the forefront of Portuguese cuisine in Toronto. At his restaurants, Oliveira says if you can't find it anywhere, you'd find it there––a statement proving to be true as the next step for the restauranteurs is opening Tia Delfina Goods.
The idea to create a market full of Portuguese products difficult to find in Toronto, came from the group creating Christmas baskets as a way of sourcing revenue for the restaurant during this challenging time. These gifts included items like codfish, dish soap, canned sardines and even vintage products that Oliveira says would hopefully remind people of home.
After a successful holiday season, Oliveira came to the realization that despite Portugal being home to high quality products that often carry age-old traditions, the city lacked in showcasing a variety of these gourmet goods from Portugal to Torontonians.
After spending a month researching the best products, the family took their dedication to creating the perfect Mercearia even further, by jetting off to Portugal to see, taste and purchase the items they had their eyes on.
Amongst the offerings are products from businesses that they felt could best represent Portugal in Toronto, most of which have been in operation for decades.
"We are working with companies that have been around for a very long time," said Oliveira. "Pauperio, a cookie company that makes the best cat tongues, was founded in 1874. Lucas Canned Goods was founded in 1896. Avianense, a chocolatier, founded 1914."
The ultimate goal is to provide customers with items that uphold a lot of tradition and quality, alongside flavours that he says have never been seen here in Toronto. A particular product he names are jams from Vale das Cardeiras, who are located in the mountain regions of Portugal.
Being top producers of cured sheep cheese, Oliveira is excited to be selling their jams that are infused with what they do best.
"Pear Jam with cured sheep cheese or apple jam with sheep cheese and walnuts. It's these unique products that we filled our shelves with."
Now three months later, the family has transformed the space that would have been used for seating inside the restaurants into a vintage, old school Mercearia––a neighbourhood grocer; in their case, a Mercado. Shelves are stocked with items personally selected by the team, verifying that they truly stand by every product they carry.
"We offer the experience of tasting and smelling Portugal. When you open a box of cookies that are still handmade and remind you of grandma's house or a taste that has only been had in Portugal, like the biscuits or jams from Ginja D'arte the famous sour cherries," Oliveira said. "Who hasn't been to Lisbon and had a Ginginha?"
Especially since Toronto is such a food-centred city with seemingly everything from around the world to be found, Oliveira says he wants to offer Toronto unique items that showcase his country with the best it has to offer, often with original products that can't be found anywhere else.
Tia Delfina Goods is also soon to launch the Oliveira family's own line of hand-made goods. Many products are inspired by family recipes, are new creations that were popular at the restaurant and are also new items that they're currently experimenting and perfecting.
Some items include an olive tapenade that has been offered at Mercado for the last three years, the 'ovos moles', which is a popular sweet egg yolk treat, as well as a line of Portuguese-inspired ice cream––the first flavour will be a Pastel de Nata custard ice cream, according to Oliveira.
"I believe it will be a big success, [it's] never been made here in Toronto and when you think of Portuguese dessert, it's the first thing that comes to mind," said Oliveira.
Oliveira proudly notes that these ice creams in particular are being developed by his oldest son William, who's also credited for many of the other sweets sold at Mercado Negro, including the highly sought-after tripas de Aveiro dessert––a Portuguese-style undercooked crepe that is soft and chewy, oozing with creamy fillings like Kinder Bueno or Ferrero Rocher.
Part of the excitement of creating Tia Delfina Goods stems from the bond with customers the family misses that they hope to bring back through their niche market.
"We enjoy the interaction and the visits, we get to meet different people who have been to Portugal, they tell us about their visits what they enjoyed and how they are looking forward to returning, it makes us feel very special and proud," said Oliveira.
Tia Delfina Goods is available online with the option to pick-up or have your items shipped to you. Both restaurants are also still offering takeout and delivery at the moment. In-store hours for Mercado Negro are Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m.
Hours for Casa Portuguese are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. If you're going to drop by to browse their wide selection of goods from Portugal, why not walk home with takeout too?
