Hey everyone, it’s Paralympic medalist sprinter and Canadian record holder Marissa Papaconstantinou! I’m proud to continue exploring my Greek heritage in partnership with Krinos Canada by visiting some amazing spots around the country spreading #FetaCulture. 

Just off the Don Valley Parkway you’ll find family owned and operated Select Bakery (405 Donlands Ave, East York, ON M4J 3S2). Celebrating their 20th anniversary, the bakery was inspired by family patriarch and former bakery owner Manolis Katsamakis’ vision of creating a one-stop destination for the finest Greek & Eastern Mediterranean products in Toronto. I caught up with Manolis’ eldest son, Kosta, who runs the business along with his sister Areti and his brother Nicholas. 

My family actually shops here often, so I’ve come to understand why Select is a top bakery in the city. As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted with a warm smile and the smell of Greek pastries crisping up in the ovens. “We want to offer the best quality product for our customers,” Kosta says, “we work with companies like Krinos that share that same philosophy. It’s a brand that Greek Canadians grew up with and the name is synonymous with quality.” 

The Barrel-Aged Feta and Kefalograviera Hard Cheese are the most popular products at Select. But what keeps customers coming back is the taste, consistency, flavour, and versatility of the cheeses. “I like making my own Saganaki at home,” Kosta mentioned when asked about how he uses Krinos cheese, “grating it (Kefalograviera) over my pasta, to even last year with the big TikTok trend of pasta, tomato, and Feta in the oven.” 

After munching on a spanakopita and an iced espresso freddo freshly prepared at the bakery, we got right back to thinking about the simple & tasty possibilities of Krinos products stocked around the store. Call me crazy (or Greek), but I snack on Krinos Olives straight out of the jar when I’m craving a salty burst of flavour. Kosta has a more civilized approach: “I warm it (olives) up with a little olive oil in the pan and finish with some oregano for a perfect side.”

If you got hungry reading this blog, make sure to check out Select Bakery and try out some of the different ways to add a little taste of Greece to your meal!

That’s all from me for now! Make to stay tuned for my next visit on the Krinos Canada Kitchen Blog.

 

Select Bakery
405 Donlands Ave, East York, ON M4J 3S2
Online Shop: https://greek-food-shop.com/shop/

Hours:
Mon, Tues, Wed : 9am-6pm
Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: 9am-7pm

Hey everyone, it’s Paralympic medalist sprinter and Canadian record holder Marissa Papaconstantinou! I’m proud to continue exploring my Greek heritage in partnership with Krinos Canada by visiting some amazing spots around the country spreading #FetaCulture.

First up, Longo’s Leaside (93 Laird Dr, East York, ON M4G 3V1), just southwest of the Ontario Science Centre where I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of the bionics exhibit. This Longo’s location actually used to be an old locomotive shop for the Canadian Northern Railway. The character of the store comes through as soon as you walk in as they kept a lot of the historical elements like the original wooden ceiling.

I thought there would be no better place to start my conversation with store manager Steve Gigis than at the deli counter. Feta cheese is at the top of my list of favourite foods, it’s a super tasty topper to many of the meals that fuel my busy schedule as a professional athlete. Lucky for me, Longo’s Leaside carries all sorts of Krinos feta varieties like Greek Barrel Aged, Sheep’s Milk, or Goat’s Milk, and in all different shapes like wedges or ready-to-use crumbled feta.

“Krinos products are special to us because they provide us product from Greece, it’s DOP, and because of that the cheese just has a different texture than anything else produced elsewhere,” Steve noted when asked why he carries Krinos feta. “Krinos feta is creamy & soft, and comes in different sizes for all families.”

At the core of Steve’s store is a commitment to freshness, quality, and catering to the community they operate in. “We only offer products to our customers that I would be proud to offer my own family,” he says. “We’re just north of the Danforth so we have a large Greek customer base looking for products made in Greece.”

Steve showed me around to even more Krinos products dotted around the store like the Attiki Honey, Roasted Sweet Red Peppers, and the Fillo Twisters which he mentioned were a customer favourite.

In the end, everything comes back to the feta. “It has to be the feta cheese,” when Steve was asked about his favourite Krinos product, “it’s a phenomenal product, a homerun for me!”

That’s all from me for now! Make to stay tuned for my next visit on the Krinos Canada Kitchen Blog.

Congratulations to Marissa for her amazing achievements this year! We were so happy to support her on this journey and are so proud for what she accomplished this summer. Winning bronze in the Women’s 100M T64 and placing 5th in the Women’s 200M T64. Hard work and dedication allowed her to achieve greatness and we can’t wait to see what she does next!

 

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Since 2019, Krinos Canada has been thrilled to work in partnership with Canadian sprinter Marissa Papaconstantinou. The Toronto-based track and field athlete is known for her ability to dig deep and put in the work, which helped her achieve the Canadian record in the T64 100m. This season, Marissa has remained strong, focusing her training on her #JourneyToTheFinishLine at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics.

Marissa is no stranger to staying keenly focused on her goals. As a 13-year-old first time track athlete, her level of dedication to the sport was impressively unwavering. It has been this unstoppable work ethic that has helped her weather some difficult times. After a disappointing finish at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio, then grueling injuries in 2017 and 2018, the 21-year-old has taken some much-needed recovery time during the COVID-19 pandemic, regrouped, and refocused her training efforts.

As a proud Canadian, Marissa takes a great deal of inspiration and positive energy from her fans. This past year, she has also used her social media platforms to shine a spotlight on others. Recently, she and other Canadian athletes, partnered with Race With Me Canada Virtual Challenge inspiring children and their families to keep their physical and mental health on track during the pandemic with a regular weekly 400-meter run on a local track.

Along with being a proud Canadian athlete, Marissa is also incredibly proud of her Greek heritage. Before she began her track and field career, she spent many summers visiting her family in Greece which led her to develop an appreciation for Greek cuisine and culture. Being an inspiring Canadian role model along with her passion for her Greek heritage made the partnership with Krinos Canada a perfect fit. This partnership has been a unique opportunity for Marissa to share her enjoyment of Krinos Foods with Canadians coast-to-coast, who will also be cheering for her, as she continues on her #JourneyToTheFinishLine.

Krinos Canada is pleased to continue supporting Marissa as she works towards achieving her goals, elevating the profile of Paralympic athletics and raising awareness for Paralympic sport on a national and global level. Join us in cheering her on throughout her #JourneyToTheFinishLine by leaving a comment for Marissa at www.instagram.com/krinoscanada!

Follow her journey at – https://www.instagram.com/marissa_paps/