As a Cabbagetowner, you likely already know of St. Jamestown Steak and Chops at 516 Parliament St. (at Winchester). A neighbourhood fixture since 1971, it is widely popular with the locals.

How popular? Mark Michelin, the owner and son of the business founder, told us about a family who moved away to Calgary, only to come back; they missed his shop so much. Well, that and Cabbagetown, but you get the idea.

Featuring fresh produce, perfectly aged meats and a fully stocked deli counter, the Steak and Chops is a one-stop shop. He hires great counter staff who are knowledgeable and friendly, completing the picture.

Mark is all about quality, serving up a wide range of meats including free-range poultry, Ontario-sourced lamb and organic salmon. He personally knows the fourth-generation P.E.I. farmer that supplies his naturally raised beef and has even visited his farm.

Hand selecting his produce, Mark chats with the farmers when he stops to stock up on his way into the shop, filling his shelves with only the best. We’ve all experienced buying our veggies at a big-name grocery only to have them starting to rot in a few days. To his credit, Mark converted a regular of those well known grocers during a snow storm: she stopped to pick up a few cuts of meat and decided to finish up her shopping there instead of braving the storm. On her next visit she came back thrilled that her produce lasted the week!

Mark has watched Cabbagetown change over the years in a really positive way. His cliental are a wide mix from 30 plus year regulars to new young professionals who have moved into the condo developments skirting the neighbourhood. He notes that his customers are looking for quality they can depend on and he consistently supplies it.

The shop started out as a small butcher counter, but when the prime corner location became available in the mid-2000s, he saw the opportunity to expand. He wanted to keep the butcher shop feel and worked with a friend to repurpose some wood tables for the space, installed new tile flooring and brought in new refrigerated counters to showcase their products. Now it’s a fantastic, cozy lunch spot where you can get one of the biggest sandwiches you’ve ever seen.

And his favourite way to eat cabbage? In their cabbage and bacon soup. We suggest you try a bowl next time you’re passing by!

For more information:

Web: http://www.steakandchops.ca/

Twitter: @eatsteaknchops

Facebook: St-Jamestown-Steak-and-Chops

P.S. Can’t get enough of Cabbagetown? Join the Facebook Page: Cabbagetown Lives Here! A new place for Cabbagetowners to find out about community events, read about local businesses and get the low down on the latest neighbourhood news.