I first met Sanober Motiwala two months ago at Recipe for Change, when she was busy serving up the last of her little baked Alaskas and diplomatically apologizing to any guests who had arrived too late to try the delicious creations. From the informal crowd survey I conducted, it was clear that Sweet Sammies was an overwhelming hit with the attendees that night. I can only imagine how many times she was asked “do you have a store?” and following that, “why not?”
After three years of running a mobile business, Sanober finally decided to set up a bricks-and-mortar operation to showcase her baked goods and ice cream-based treats. While you can still find Sanober and team at festivals and markets throughout the rest of the summer, I’m pleased to announce that The Scoop Shop by Sweet Sammies is now open for business on Dundas West.
Don’t let the size fool you—there are some incredibly big flavours packed into this small space. It’s only been open for a few days, but by the time I arrived (Friday night), was already developing the first signs of a budding neighbourhood gem. While I was still deciding on the best bench corner for photographing my ice cream sandwich, two little boys walked in confidently with allowance in hand, and walked out with two chocolate cones and two very big smiles. “We’re regulars”, the older one proclaimed, disregarding our stifled laughter.
What makes the Scoop Shop such an exciting place? Everything here is made in house, and from scratch. And I mean, really from scratch. From the salted caramel to the fresh Ontario strawberries, to the jams and jellies from Manning Canning, the ingredients are all ones you can see and pronounce, yet pulled together in a surprisingly complex way. Salted caramel and strawberry are sure to please most palettes, but for something a little more exotic, the guava ice cream made with guava paste has a beautiful roundness too. The hazelnut is excellent on its own or paired with espresso from Propellor Coffee Co. for an indulgent affogato.
After trying all of the delicious flavours currently on rotation (Sanober plans on introducing one called “PBCH” soon, as in, peanut butter chocolate heaven), I chose the key lime pie frozen yoghurt to go inside my Snickerdoodle ice cream sandwich. Talk about artisanal. The various kinds of cookies are baked fresh every day to a perfect not too hard and not too soft texture. On the other side of the kitchen, fresh key limes are juiced and zested into a mixture of cream and yoghurt, before homemade honey graham crackers drenched in butter and brown sugar are carefully folded in, and brought together to form the perfect treat. I said I was just going to have half, but as usual, I ate the whole darn thing. It would have been a sin not to!
Final Note: If you’re in the neighbourhood, I would strongly encourage you to drop in for a visit. In addition to the sammies and soft serve, there are malts, milk + cookies, milkshakes, and even ice pops. Follow Sweet Sammies on Instagram for the most up-to-date information about new flavours and hours.
Location: 808 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON
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