After nearly five decades of sizzling success, brothers Robert and Maurice Biancolin, owners of Carousel Bakery at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market, were awarded the key to the city.
The pair, who have long been a beloved fixture of the Market, are best known for serving and popularizing the iconic peameal bacon sandwich.
Now, the siblings are planning to retire, passing the torch along to the new owners of Carousel Bakery.
“Peameal bacon was invented at St. Lawrence Market — and is now known as Canadian bacon all around the world,” Mayor Olivia Chow said in a statement on Tuesday.
“For half a century, Carousel Bakery has been home to world-famous peameal bacon sandwiches. Bakery owners Robert and Maurice Biancolin have also supported the revitalization of St. Lawrence Market as a thriving marketplace for local businesses. Today, we honour their significant contribution to Toronto’s identity,” Chow said.
Under their leadership, the Biancolin brothers have been welcoming generations of Torontonians and tourists to the bakery, receiving praises from visitors, well-known chefs and media around the globe.
As the duo prepares for retirement, they reflected on their journey and what it has meant to serve up some of the best peameal bacon sandwiches to the city, with love.
“We are thrilled to be receiving the Key to the City from Mayor Olivia Chow. It is an honour that reflects the legacy we’ve been proud to build at the St. Lawrence Market, a place that holds deep meaning for us. We’ve been fortunate to serve Toronto residents and visitors to this great city for nearly 50 years,” the Biancolin brothers said in a statement.
Receiving a key to the city is known as Toronto’s highest honour, given to those who have made a lasting impact on civic life, along with embodying the spirit and potential of the city.
An honour Robert says took him and his brother by surprise.
“We didn’t know. We weren’t expecting anything of that nature. I know we would get press because of just the fact that we were in business for a while. And you know, the press started happening maybe two-to-three weeks ago. So, that was kind of expected. But this particular honour was, yeah, not anything we were thinking about at all,” Robert said.
As for retirement plans? Robert Biancolin told Now Toronto on Wednesday that he will be taking up his interest in improv.
“…I always had that kind of interest, and I just have to see what’s involved, how it fits in. I just don’t want to go from one heavy schedule to another,” Robert said.
Additionally, his brother Maurice is prepared to use his golden years travelling.
“Well, my brother has always had a pension for travel, so that’s a high priority on his list. And of course, that’s something that I would look forward to as well, maybe not as immediate as him,” Robert added.
With this recognition, the Biancolin brothers join a distinguished list of recipients who have shaped Toronto’s cultural and social landscape, including 2024 city keyholder Martha Friendly, a leading advocate, policy researcher and expert in Canada’s childcare movement.
The Biancolin brothers are the first to receive the distinction from Chow in 2025.
