March 20, 2025

Dear reader,

I scream, you scream we all—well, we just scream. But one Canadian company is making sure we can still afford to drown our sorrows in two-litre tubs of Heavenly Hash. Chapman’s, a family-owned ice cream brand based out of Markdale, Ontario, is refusing to raise the prices of their products, despite incurring extra tariff-related costs. We spoke to CEO Ashley Chapman about his altruistic act. 

Sticking to the frozen-dessert theme, today’s Table Talk includes a breakdown of the Joneses’ baked Alaska, the ice cream cake that’s doused in booze and set on fire. In the spirit of the whole Americano/Canadiano mini-movement, should we be calling it the baked Yukon? Whatever the moniker, this flaming cake is really giving 2025. We had O&B chef Andrew Piccinin take us through all of the dessert’s various delectable parts.

Also in this week’s newsletter: What it’s like to be a Torontonian operating a restaurant in the US right now, plus one woman’s week of swapping out American-made goods and services for all-things Canadian.

For more of our food-and-drink coverage, visit torontolife.com or subscribe to our print edition.

—Rebecca Fleming, food and drink editor

Chapman’s Ice Cream—a staple of Canadian household freezers since 1973—is pulling some patriotic punches by switching out US suppliers and refusing to raise their prices. We caught up with CEO Ashley Chapman to discuss the price freeze, Can-Con flavours and why some companies claiming their products are made in Canada are “full of shit” (his words, not ours).

Like a culinary Two-Face, baked Alaska combines frosty decadence and sizzling-hot showmanship into a dual-personality dessert that turns heads. We had the Joneses’ executive chef Andrew Piccinin takes us through the making of his nostalgic, show-stopping, meal-ending treat, one sweet component at a time.

Nicki Laborie, the restaurateur behind Reyna Yorkville and Reyna on King, boldly ventured south in 2022, opening a Reyna in New York’s Union Square. She now finds herself shuttling between Toronto and NYC, navigating the choppy waters of Donald Trump’s tariffs and cross-border complexities. We caught up with her for a chat about doing bilateral business in tumultuous times.

Torontonians are boycotting American products like it’s 1812—but how hard is it to go all the way? Filmmaker Set Shuter took the challenge, buying only Canadian goods and services for a whole week. To keep herself honest, she tracked her purchases, which included made-in-Canada coffee beans, kombucha, cheese and dinner at a restaurant hyping up local products. 

In the latest issue: Edward Rogers was dismissed as a meddling nepo baby—until he muscled out his siblings, acquired his competitors, cornered the telecom market and became the dominant force in Canadian sports. Plus, murder in the Blue Mountains,  winter-worthy margaritas and more. Still not receiving Toronto Life at home? 

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