I like simple names. I like looking at the name of a store and knowing exactly what I will find in there. Northern Reflections? Kind of misleading. Pizza Pizza? Tells you twice just to be sure. Yogurty’s? The result of yogurt + tasty. Apple? Nope. And that brings me to Porchetta & Co. The tiny little shop on Dundas Street just west of Bathurst has been serving up popular porchetta sandwiches for over two years. If you do not want a porchetta sandwich, you won’t find much else to eat (other than some sides). This is a shop that focuses on doing one thing, and doing it well.
Owned by Nick auf der Mauer, Porchetta & Co. became a reality when he wanted to open up a place that specialized in something no one else was doing. And people have responded by chowing down on his juicy porchetta sandwiches ($6.45). Nick’s porchetta is a marinated pork shoulder wrapped in sliced prosciutto, and wrapped again in cured skin-on pork belly. This pork on pork on pork threesome is roasted for a few hours then sliced and served on a squishy sourdough bun with crispy crackling. Toppings and sides can be added to customize your meal. The “House Special” is a porchetta sandwich with truffle sauce, Parmesan cheese, mustard and hot sauce.
Nick is famous for tweeting and posting Instagram photos of his sandwiches including the occasional special. Last week a special side dish was 4 crispy fried smelts ($5.95) with malt vinegar mayo, lemon and dill. Crab fans can get excited. Porchetta & Co. is well known in food circles for their soft shell crab sandwiches. Nick hints that crab season is about to start and to keep an eye on his Twitter feed for the special. He also mysteriously mentions that he’ll be doing something new with the crustaceans this year.
If you can’t get out to Dundas and Bathurst during the week, Nick does a perfect breakfast sandwich ($6.45) on Saturdays with porchetta, crackling, a fried egg and smoked gouda. The menu is small but you know you’ll always get a good sandwich here.
Follow Prochetta & Co on Twitter: @PorchettaAndCo
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