Kudos to HotBunzz for their ample use of the last letter of the alphabet. A promotional card identifies “HotBunzz Street Cuizine” as having “HotBunzz” and “HotBitezz” available for events and occasions. Or perhaps, eventzz and occasionzz.
A successful TUM (Toronto Underground Market) alum, HotBunzz has opened up a shop inside the Urban Bistro location at Yonge and St. Clair.
Mark Oliver, the man behind the idea, was inspired to stuff doughy buns with different fillings after his first trip to Asia opened his eyes to the variety of stuffed portable snacks. HotBunzz are a somewhat Canadianized take on the traditional Chinese bao. While the Chinese buns are steamed, HotBunzz bakes their buns with a selection of meats and saucy fillings. The bread is slightly sweet — more like a brioche dough. Bun options include bison short rib, Canadian elk, Texas pulled pork, coconut curry chicken, St. Lucia wild boar, and for the herbivores: Thai red curry veggie, and Quebec three cheese, mushroom and spinach. HotBunzz are an affordable $3 each (or $4 for the extra special daily feature). Two HotBunzz for lunch will tide you over for a few hours. Combos with a side salad and drink run about $10. A handful of kettle chips are served on the side of your bunzz because, obviously, carbs with carbs make carbs better. Pretty swirls of sweet sauces and decorative herbs and spices dress up the nicely browned bun tops.
The selection of HotBunzz changes throughout the week, though the most popular bunzz are offered most days– the Texas pulled pork is by far the most popular on the menu followed by the Brazilian BBQ beef. Each weekday there is a daily feature, and one that sells out quickly is the Friday feature of tiger shrimp and diver scallops.
Keep in mind that HotBunzz are not meat with a bun (that would be a hamburger), but a bun stuffed with meat (and sometimes vegetables). Always dreaming up new “flavour adventures,” Mark is working on expanding his bunzz empire with SweetBunzz and BreakfastBunzz, with the idea that bunzz make everything better.
Follow HotBuzz on Twitter: @HotBunzzTO
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