Grand Re-opening March 19th – Cozy Cafe & Bakery

 

www.stephencaissiephoto.com

As you may know, DECA’s Business Revitalization Team, in partnership with a number of other generous supporters, are working feverishly on the Cozy Cafe and Bakery at Woodbine and Danforth.  This Saturday the sisters are opening their doors to say thank you to the neighbourhood for embracing them and their business.  And they are inviting everyone to join them for the grand re-opening!

There will be food, music and dancing.  The food, compliments of the sisters of course.  The music, from Chris at Twelfth Fret down the street.  The dancing, well who knows who will be doing the dancing by the time it’s all said and done.

All are welcome on Saturday, March 19th from 4 – 7 p.m.

Cozy Cafe

Today my morning was full of Cozy Cafe.  First I received this note from DECA member and my friend, Helen, who had Cozy Cafe cater a party on the weekend…

“I was hosting a party for 80 people and needed help with the food!  A frequent visitor to Cozy Cafe, I had noticed a sign that said they did catering and thought I would ask about it.  I am so glad that I did!  Vera and Slavicia were so helpful in choosing what and how much to order.  They have a huge variety and were flexible to what I wanted and needed.  The food was freshly made and not only was it delicious, but it also looked great (my photos don’t do it justice).  They are very creative and thoughtful about how things will work together in terms of taste and presentation.  And to top it all off, their prices are very reasonable.  The food was a huge hit at our party and I would recommend their catering to anyone.”


Then I opened up the Toronto Star to see Catherine Porter’s Cozy column

A Cozy Corner That Warms A Danforth Community

By Catherine Porter

I set out from my sleepy home early yesterday morning to make bread with the Cozy Café sisters and dance.

Yes, dance —in a line, “kolo” style, hands joined, chests proud like a turkey, while the multigrain dough rises and the challah tumbles in a mixer.

The dancing is their secret ingredient, transforming their customers into friends.

It’s likely what has saved their business — so far.

“It’s the magic circle,” says Slavica Bodiroga, the willowy one, shaping the still-warm dough into balls. “The more you dance, the more energy you have.”

“This is the energy,” agrees her older sister, Vera Krasabac, who is the pastry expert and the dreamer, the one who leans over a counter, hand on chin, talking to customers. “We give a lot. We are still giving even though we are broke. There are things we appreciate. We are happy. That’s why we dance.”

The sisters are from Serbia. Krasabac came first, Bodiroga had to follow, such is their love. They started baking bread for survival — they were too broke to afford anything but pre-sliced rye from the local Valumart, which even their children refused to eat.

“In our culture, bread means a lot,” says Krasabac. “Our bakeries are open 24 hours and there are always people in them. We always eat fresh bread.”

Next came the pastries and the cakes and the spanikopita, stretched to two metres.

They opened a European-style delicatessen at the cheap end of the Danforth, near Woodbine, where the boutiques are filled with second-hand clothes, because the price was right. They named it the Cozy Café, but there was no money for Starbucks-style lounge chairs or mood lighting. What made it cozy is them.

“You can taste the love in the food,” says Paul Zevenhuizen, a violinist with the Canadian Opera Company who drops in twice a day to get his tray filled up with lasagna and croissants and Tuscan soup, half of which he isn’t asked to pay for. “I worry their generosity be their undoing.”

He was right to be worried. Three weeks ago, the electricity was cut. They hadn’t paid their bill.

“It was dark; it was quiet,” says Krasabac, 45. “We sat on the couch and laughed for five minutes. Then we fell asleep.”

“It wasn’t depressing,” says Bodiroga, 37. “You have to look at the other side. It was a day off.”

Two days later, one of their regulars asked about the blackout. They told him the truth. He is a contractor, it turns out. Next weekend, he’s redoing their floor and electrical wiring for free.

A local graphic designer is planning a new sign and brand for the store. A nearby pet store owner is offering coupons to her customers for the café. And while I stepped out yesterday to take my daughter to school, Zevenhuizen dropped off a $1000 cheque.

What we lack in style in the east end, we make up for in community. We savour the good things we have. (An admission: I regularly dash into the Cozy en route to work to write out their specials on a chalk board, because I have nice penmanship and I am smitten, too.)

“Even in my country, I never had that kind of love,” says Krasabac.

With all this talking, we don’t get down to dancing till after the lunch rush, the last of the schnitzel frying on the stove. They choose a cowboy song.

The sisters grab my hands, one on each side, and we shuffle to the right, faster and faster, until Bodiroga barks and Krasabac twists her arm around like the bread mixer.

The woman who works at the nearby bulk store pokes her head into the kitchen. She’s asked the sisters for their secret to happiness, which glows all the way down the block, she says. She now has her answer, watching us dance.

“This is the part of the puzzle I’ve been wondering about,” she says. “It’s this neighbourhood. And you are part of it.”

What To Get For Your Favourite Community Blogger?

It can be difficult.  What is the right gift for the woman who sends you news you can use in your own neighbourhood?  A woman who toils away in front of her computer night after night just so you can be the first to know what’s happening and where?  Wink wink.

Tak Bui decided to send me this fabulous electronic christmas card.  And I thought I would share it with you….gracious gal that I am.

Of course, you can never go wrong with jewellery.  Fine Silver Girl is hosting another open house from 3 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at 48 Woodington this Saturday.  Fine Silver Girl, aka Heather, also offers various classes including a adult and child classes.  Check out her calendar.

You may also want to check out Karen Franzen and friends.  They’re selling artwork, jewellery, quilts, functional ceramics and tiles, home-baked cookies at 3 Wembley Drive, 2 blocks east of Coxwell and upper Gerrard St.  Karen will also be offering 7 week pottery classes and tile painting workshops in her studio beginning in January.

(Note for people buying presents for women – especially men who aren’t always that adept at choosing the pefect gift – a pottery class is a really really good present.) Why?  Because not only do many of us ladies harbour secret fantasies about making pottery, it is also a little bit of that glorious ‘me time’ that we so crave but have trouble carving out for ourselves.  Take it from me and put this one in the stocking.

Speaking of pottery, on January 1st, 2011, LucScultpure will celebrate four years at its location at 663 Greenwood.  Luc is committed to this community and to the arts, locally and beyond and if you’ve never wandered into the building just steps north of the Danforth on Greenwood, now is the perfect time.  There are arts items for sale from $2 – $200 available until Jan. 2nd.  Gift certificates (for pottery classes and other things) are available.  But Luc also throws some pretty cool parties there.  From Jam sessions (Friday, Dec. 17th $5) to the ‘Lost Soul Party’ on New Year’s Eve ($10!).  It’s a warm, welcoming environment to wander into.

Other local gifts that might tempt you? I’ve just bought a lovely gift bag of delectable foodie goodies at Royal Beef.  I’d like to keep it for myself, but I won’t.  Also, Cozy Cafe has the most delightful meringue cream chocolate ‘trees’ and I will certainly be giving those as a gift in the near future.  If you have other ideas, post them here.

Carmelina Condominiums

Perhaps you feel that any of the things I’ve mentioned just aren’t significant enough to fully convey to your favourite blogger how much you appreciate her?  You would like to get her something really special…something big?  Maybe a condo would be what you’re looking for?  The big hole at Danforth and  Coxwell now boasts a big blue fence and a big sign advertising Carmelina Condominiums.  But really, you shouldn’t have.

Danforth Mosaic Business Improvement Association

On December 8th, the BIA held its Annual General Meeting and elected it’s new board members.  They are ‘nominees’ until approved by community council in January.

Aurelio Acquaviva
Maria Acquaviva
Tanveer Arif
Peter Dekoulos
Jordan Ison
Banchi Kindie
Mehmet Korkmaz
Carmelo Lorefice
Enza Lorefice
Litsa Kostouros
Jason Manos
Pat Silver
Victor Singh
Nick Sissakis
Yared Tibebu
Asres Yirga

Arts And More Arts

Shop Local

T’is the season for shopping locally and there are any number of ways to do it as you will see below.  Don’t forget to share your local shopping tips with the rest of us and check out what others have already posted – here.

Madame Gateaux – is a new shop at 2034 Danforth, just west of Woodbine. Owner, Noel Yim, is a George Brown -trained pastry chef who has worked at the Windsor Arms Hotel and as Head Pastry Chef at Humber college.  The shop sells a large selection of baking utensils and ingredients and is offering a range of classes for both hobbyists and professionals.  There are a number of Christmas-themed classes coming up including gingerbread houses and cookies, yule logs, sticky toffee, fruit cake and tarts and cookies.

Cozy Cafe and Bakery – on the southwest corner of Danforth and Woodbine , is starting extended holiday hours as of Monday, November 29th.  Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sat-Sun 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Don’t forget their homemade frozen food section!

Fine Silver Girl


Heather Bell Denison (a.k.a Fine Silver Girl) was one of the volunteers on the organizing committee and also one of the vendors at the Danforth East Arts Fair.  She’s hosting a studio show and sale on Saturday, Dec. 11th from 3 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. at her studio at 48 Woodington Ave (near Coxwell and Danforth). She also offers a number of classes.  Information about all of this and more is on her website at www.finesilvergirl.com

Tyke Threads

Tykethreads.com is a local online shop for hip boys clothes.  But, owner, Grace Sanchez MacCall is hosting a ‘pop-up’ store sale Dec. 10-12th at 1390 Danforth (east of Greenwood) from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.  Cash only.

Art Needed!

Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon would like some children’s seasonal artwork for holiday (electronic) cards and to hang in the office.  If you have a kid in your house who can help, send your approx. 5″x7″  drawings to 100 Queen St. W. M5H 2N2 by Dec. 15th.

Music Festival

From the brains and the brawn who brought you the Art of the Danforth, there is another project afoot – an Ethiopian/African music festival in 2011.  Working with some of the business owners along the Danforth, Cindy Rozeboom and her band of merry art-makers are planning on musical community workshops leading up to a day- and night-long bridge-building event.  If you are interested in helping with the organization of this project, contact Cindy at info(at)artsimperative.ca