If there’s one thing worth setting an early alarm for this weekend, it’s a very good sandwich. Toronto favourites Crudo and Crosstown Craft BBQ are teaming up this Saturday for a one-day-only sandwich drop — and based on the lineups these spots tend to draw, getting there early is probably a good idea.
The last time these two teamed up, the entire batch sold out in under an hour. They’re doubling production this time around, according to Instagram, but you’ll still want to get there early.
If you haven’t been to Crudo yet, they’re the spot behind those addictive panuozzi — Southern Italian sandwiches made with airy, wood-fired pizza dough that’s crisp outside and soft inside. For this collab, Crosstown pitmaster Ruben Silva’s low-and-slow Texas brisket gets tucked inside with stracciatella, arugula, caramelized onions, house BBQ sauce and a scratch-made mustard sauce. Basically, everything you want in a very good sandwich.
Both spots have built loyal followings from the ground up. Crudo started out in a tucked-away Etobicoke plaza and grew mostly through word of mouth, while Crosstown Craft BBQ went from tiny pop-ups and a small smoker to serving thousands of fans. With Crosstown set to open its first permanent space in Scarborough’s Golden Mile later this summer, this is a good chance to try its BBQ before the doors open.
The drop is happening this Saturday, August 22nd, but make sure your GPS is set to the right address. While Crudo’s original shop is in Etobicoke, this pop-up is running exclusively out of their Vaughan location at 40 Innovation Drive. Show up early, because even with double the supply, those smokers will be running dry fast.