Strickland's is one of the few proper butcheries left in Toronto, especially the east end. They have been there since I can't remember when, I know that when I was a cub scout we'd get all the burgers, hotdogs ect... from there before a camping trip.
On a recent weekend I needed pork ribs for a BBQ and in the 20ft jaunt to the local No-Frills, I found that their selection was indeed 'no-frills'. Their selection of meat was so horrid looking and overpriced that I could not do that to my dear friends who I promised my delicious patent-pending ribs.
It was in that moment that I recalled Strickland's and figured hey if it was more expensive at least it'll be a better cut.
So I put on my most impressive just got out of bed and need meat pants and went on the 100 meter saunter to get there.
Once there I was greeted by 2 older gentlemen, whom I am sure have been breaking down animals longer than I have been alive, asking how they could help me. I quickly perused their delicious meat wears, of all sorts of handmade sausage, fresh cuts of every domestic farm animal and some brought in deli meats and then proudly asked for 2 racks of pork back ribs. The butcher said of course and went into his cooler; he returned with a side of pork to accompany the pre-cut ribs in his display case and promptly butchered the side of pork with hands that knew that pig more intimately than its wife.
All in all I walked out of there with 2 perfectly butchered racks of ribs and to my chagrin, way way way cheaper then what the negative-luxury had to offer.
I highly recommend Strickland's to any and all of my meat eating brethren