Stephanie Dickison's Blog, page 31

OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News June 17-23, 2021

Photo courtesy of Oji Seichi.

My iconic OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of restaurant openings (virtual/brick-and-mortar/popups/allll the things) and food/drink news in the city. No one does it bigger or better. Watch for the drop every Thursday. #ifyouknowyouknow 

🕒 13.5 min read

You’ve got to be kidding. Here I thought with the insanity around patios, the openings might slow down just a bit. You know, give a girl a break after 15 months of round the clock reporting and breaking news. Nah, Toronto is bringing it this summer with 27 freakin’ arrivals this week.

p.s. Steel yourself for this week’s closures and news.

Here’s the very latest: 

OPEN 

Ajisen Ramen has a staggering 800+ locations worldwide. The latest debuted Saturday in Vaughan (3175 Rutherford Rd.). 

Auntie’s Supply launched at Stackt Market (28 Bathurst St., Unit 1-111) earlier this week. The convenience store boasts a host of enticing Asian pantry items, snacks and drinks. Pro tip: Bring the roomiest bags you’ve got for your haul.

Big Munch Grill (757 Broadview Ave., where New York Café used to be) opens Saturday. The Greek-centric menu here isn’t all that’s on offer. In fact, the restaurant is just one of 16 virtual concepts operating out of the space. Others include Cheesecake & Chill, Chips Ahoy Fish & Chips, Harlem Village Chicken & Waffles, The Pita Piper, Street Meat Hot Dogs, and Undercover Steakout Steakhouse.

Café Artois Yorkville touched down on Bellair on Monday. The outdoor dining space created by Stella Artois, in partnership with Yorkville Murals and Bloor-Yorkville BIA, boasts striking mural ‘Generally Speaking’ by Nina Chanel, curated by Ashley McKenzie-Barnes, and additional seating for restaurants along the strip - Coco Espresso Bar, Trattoria Nervosa, Vaticano, and Yamato Japanese Restaurant - until November 1.

It turns out Conspiracy Pizza’s return las week was just the beginning. Handcrafted ice cream joint Churnt Up (858 Eglinton Ave. E.) joins in on the fun tomorrow. Spotted: Taro, Birthday Cake, Strawberry Pocky, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Honey Teddy Graham, alongside Hot Brownie Ice Cream Sammies.

Gerrard East Market (GEM) is back this year with its beachy vibes and participating bars and restaurants from the ‘Gerrones’ (Gerrard and Jones) nabe: Com Tam 168, Gardel, GB Hand Pulled Noodles, La Cubana, Lavender Menace, Pinkerton’s Snack Bar, Poor Romeo, The Vatican Gift Shop, and 241 Pizza.

Looking to satiate your craving for Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles? Gol’s Lanzhou Noodle opened a branch in North York (5505 Yonge St.).

Good Behaviour Ice Cream continues pop-ups across the 6ix with a stop off in Midtown at Korean-style macaron and dacquoise HQ, The Social Blend (130 Eglinton Ave. E.) starting Friday.

Hale Coffee’s new outpost at Yonge & Eg (2131 Yonge St.) helps fuel your shopping trip to neighbouring stores West Elm, Farm Boy, and Staples. Doors open Saturday.  

Discover Haru Chicken’s Korean fried chicken, skewers and gangjeong inside PAT , Canada’s first Korean supermarket, at the Mississauga location (333 Dundas St. E.).

Lavender Menace (1062 Gerrard St. E.), a retro LGBTQ cocktail bar with southern fare, launches today with patio in effect.

Momofuku Noodle Bar’s second pop-up this summer (the first launched two weeks ago) debuted at Stackt Market (28 Bathurst St.) yesterday. Tuck into Pork Buns, Chilled Spicy Noodles and Extremely Spicy Noodles in the outdoor pavilion. 

Bishara Arraf of Mi’ilya, Israel founded Montfort Mediterranean Grill in 1992. The small Ontario chain just debuted Toronto’s first location(12 Richardson St., Unit 5)., just north of Sugar Beach.

Psst. It pays to be a newsletter subscriber these days. Oji Seichi (354 Broadview Ave.), the new Tokyo/Takayama style ramen spot in Chinatown East featuring comforting fare by Chef Mitchell Bates (former chef/co-owner of Grey Gardens) softly opened for pre-orders for email subscribers. Not on the list? Doors open for takeout for the public at large next Friday.

Doors officially opened June 5 for Mississauga’s Pasta Night (562 Lakeshore Rd. E.). The new biz specializes in weekly 3-course meal kits.

John and Sons Oyster House (56 Temperance St.), long-standing oyster bar in the Financial District, is working on re-opening their patio. In the meantime, they’ve launched a sweet boutique motel in the heart of Thornbury in The Blue Mountains. Penny’s Motel opens July 1, but you can book now.

Piccolo Caffe e Vino (111 John St.) in the Entertainment District, is part bar, café, and bodega. Come for the cocktails, a glass of wine, and toasted sourdough with whipped ricotta, oyster mushrooms and pea shoots; stay for the bodega cat. (Or cats. There may be more than one.)

Alana Nogueda, co-owner of The Shameful Tiki Room and Legal Tenders and one of the city’s top mixologists, is finally able to launch her nautical/tropical themed Portlight on Bloor (946 Bloor Street W.). Patio softly opens tonight at 5pm. 

Doors open Tuesday for Restaurant 20 Victoria (20 Victoria St.), the new destination helmed by Brothers’ esteemed Chris White and Jonathan Nicolaou. Naturally, resos for ‘20 Vic’ are going to go like that. 

That was fast. I just reported the first Scooped By Demetres last week and the second shop’s already touched down in the Distillery District (46 Gristmill Lane).

Earlier this week, Tacos 101, which used to be at Dundas and Church, and Fruta Libre, currently at World Food Market, moved in together in Kensington Market (178 Baldwin St.).

I let you in on the Toronto Beach Club opening a few weeks ago in the newsletter (told you it pays to be a subscriber). Good thing, because resos for the “elevated dining experience" at the water's edge from the team behind some of the city's top restaurants (Lapinou, Patria, Byblos) and Corporate Executive Chef Ted Corrado (The Drake) have been open since then and are likely scarce before doors open on Tuesday.

Venice Beach Bar summer patio (1251 Dundas St. W.) by Bar Mordecai and Unboxed Market makes staycationing a little easier. Bonus: A new food pop-up will be featured every two weeks. 

The opening of Waska Peruvian Chicken was delayed a few weeks ago. Doors at 805 Dovercourt Rd. have opened for realz this time.

Yaowarat Vegan Thai  (557A Mt Pleasant Rd.) replaced Ubon Thai in Mount Pleasant Village.

The owners of Little Italy’s Sotto Voce Wine Bar (595 College St.) kept busy during lockdown. Introducing their newest venture, Zitto Zitto Taverna (593 College St.), right next door.

CLOSED  

Arthur's (12 St Clair Ave. E., Unit M02) - Chase Hospitality Group’s lavish American restaurant with expansive patio at Yonge & St. Clair - has permanently closed.

Bazara Asian Cuisine (188 Ossington Ave.) has been replaced. See above.

You’ve got ten days to visit the first Calii Love (367 King St W.)  at King and Spadina before it closes for good.  It opened September 2016.* (*Notice how small the week’s list used to be, and sadly how many have since shuttered. )

Mulberry Bar (828 Bloor St. W.) may have vacated the space, but their spirit lives on in sibling spot Northwood (815 Bloor St W.) a few doors west

The Spoke Club has come to a close, but there’s a new member’s only “opportunity” in the works. Stay tuned.

Ubon Thai  (557A Mt Pleasant Rd.) debuted last summer.

CHANGES 

Globally Local found worldwide success this year - Canada’s first vegan fast food restaurant became the world’s first vegan fast food resto to go public. Despite all that recognition, the company’s changing the name to Odd Burger.

Cocktail bar Hush Hush relocated from The Junction (2952 Dundas St. W.)  to the edge of Little Italy under Nest (423 College St.), this time with food by the talented siblings of Classico I told you about back in May.

Season Six’s original home on Ossington was great, but within a few months, “We were absolutely slammed with orders, and it quickly became apparent we needed to scale up to accommodate the demand.” Luckily, they didn’t have to look far. Go say hey at their new digs (188 Ossington Ave.).

EVENTS 

Street Eats Night Market kicks off tomorrow at Scarborough Town Centre. The event will run every weekend until September 5.

Need an excuse to raise a glass this weekend? Toast to Ontario Wine Week.

NEWS

The Stockyards Smokehouse & Larder’s founder/owner Thomas Davis passed away Sunday. According to an interview aired on the CBC today, Manager Lisa Josephs is keeping the restaurant open. 

Family-owned Del’s Bakery in Etobicoke - est. 1963 - was decimated by a five-alarm fire Tuesday evening. 

ICYMI

Maria Janelle Marquez has one helluva impressive resume. Currently sous chef at award-winning Alo Restaurant, she’s worked at top spots in the UK (The Ritz London, HIDE) and here in the 6ix: Canoe, Auberge du Pommier, Salon. Despite working in such prestigious kitchens, her go-to takeout sways toward more casual offerings. Discover her favourite spots around town, last cookbook purchase, advice two top Toronto chefs passed down + much more in this week’s At The Pass. 

Did you miss this week’s newsletter? If you haven’t already subscribed, now’s the time. Get The Tip Off, a sneak peek at the upcoming OPEN/CLOSED (because who doesn’t want to be the first to know?), and fab deals and special offers from restaurants and local businesses (because who doesn’t want to save money?), all exclusive to subscribers.

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Life moves fast. (I wrote about +100  new arrivals in May alone.) Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.   

Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.   

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Get in touch.

Need help to spread the word about your menu, bottle shop, patio, but you’re on a budget? We can help. *Prices have been reduced to help local businesses during this time. Limited space available.

At The Pass with Maria Janelle Marquez

At The Pass is a weekly series showcasing Toronto’s best chefs. You won’t find any celebrity chefs featured here. Perhaps you already know these fine cooks, but maybe not. They’re not famous - yet. But it’s time these talented, passionate, hard-working chefs got a bit of the spotlight. Meet Maria Janelle Marquez.

🕒 5.5. min read

Currently

Sous chef, Alo

Formerly

UK: The Ritz London, Hide Restaurant. Toronto: Canoe, Auberge du Pommier, Salon

Favourite dish to make right now

Pancit Canton (Filipino stir-fried noodles) with calamansi juice. *Chef’s kiss*.

Last cookbook purchase

7000 Islands: Cherished Recipes and Stories from the Philippines by Yasmin Newman. I really got into Filipino cookbooks in the past few months.

Have you read it/tried any recipes

I’ve read a quarter of the book already and I’ve tried a recipe from the book so far. Dessert related, ha ha - Brazo de Mercedes (rolled cake with meringue and custard). It turned out well and I ended up using it for a pop up dinner at BBs.

One dish or ingredient you’d like to see gone from menus

Fiddleheads. They have this taste and texture I don’t really like.

And one dish or ingredient that you’re excited about right now and would like to see on more menus

Filipino food in general. So cool to see the next gen of chefs doing their own thing with it.

Biggest influences

Female chefs, female athletes, and female entrepreneurs making way for the women in their industry.

If you could eat at any restaurant in the world

I’d love to go back to the restaurant in the Philippines where my Lolo Noy and Mamang (grandparents) took my little sister and I when we went home to visit them. It was called Harbour View restaurant by Manila Bay. That is one of my favourite food memories growing up and it heavily influenced me. 

Last thing you ate

Pork Belly Sinigang made with Mama Sita’s packet. It’s just so nostalgic.

Three  must-have ingredients always in your fridge

Ketchup, Kewpie mayo, Oat Milk (for my iced coffees).

Guilty pleasure

Pork bone soup, hands down. The best pork bone soup I’ve ever had is from the The Owl of Minerva by Christie Station. THE best. LOL.

Top 3 favourite Toronto restaurants

The Owl of Minerva on Christie. They always play K-Pop music videos on loop and it's such a vibe!

Star King Viet Thai Cuisine, a family-owned Vietnamese restaurant. My go-to pho restaurant up at Yonge and Eglinton.

Taste of China. I think it’s an industry classic. I saw three different kitchen crews at that joint at the same time after a busy Friday night service once.

Top 3 favourite Toronto bars

Pinky’s Ca Phe, Bar Isabel, and LoPan are some of the best spots for food and drinks in the city! They’re definitely staples now.

Go-to drink

N/A.

One habit you have in the kitchen that you should lose, but can’t seem to shake

Overthinking things. It’s a work in progress.

And one habit you have in the kitchen that will inspire young chefs

Don’t let a bad service extend after that day. Tomorrow is a new day. Learn from your mistakes and keep pushing.

Hidden talent

Best career advice you ever received

Cooking is a lifelong craft. You’ll never perfect it. You’ll meet a lot of chefs that have different ways of doing things, but your goal is to absorb as much knowledge and skills from them and apply it to your cooking. Learn and pass on the knowledge to the next gen. From Chef John Horne and Chef Anthony Walsh.

Worst career advice you ever received

Your advice for a young cook starting out in the business

Don’t get discouraged when you make mistakes in a kitchen especially when you’re starting out. You’re there to learn and absorb. Ask questions! Pick their brains! Don’t know how to clean a fish? Ask a chef to teach you how. Read cookbooks from different cultures, read about other chefs and their journey through kitchens. Lastly, your mental health is more important than anything. Working in kitchens is known to be really demanding. So it’s very important to take care of your mental health too.

In order to support chefs during this time, the monthly At The Pass series is now WEEKLY. Know someone in Toronto or GTA who should be featured? Submit their name for consideration. And yes, you can nominate yourself.    

For breaking news, updates, interviews + much more, follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter. 

OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News June 10-16, 2021

 My iconic OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of restaurant openings (virtual/brick-and-mortar/popups/allll the things) and food/drink news in the city. No one does it bigger or better. Watch for the drop every Thursday. #ifyouknowyouknow

🕒 10.5 min read

Patios! Patios! Patios! I know, everyone is extremely excited about the return of outdoor dining this weekend. Before you head out, get caught up on the regulations. And please be patient and kind with staff and remember to tip well.

Many outlets were quick to report a 2am last call time for patios this week, but according to a news release from the City today, it can be much earlier depending on where the patio is located. “When subject to no other regulations, most patios facing main streets may serve alcohol until 2 a.m. and must close by 2:45 a.m. Patios facing local side streets must close by 11 p.m., with last call for alcohol at 10:15 p.m.”

Also, keep in mind: The majority of bars, restaurants, cafés and breweries in Toronto and the GTA do not have patios, so please support these local businesses whenever possible.

As per usual, this week’s arrivals are insane – 23. In amongst them, you’ll find a few notable out of town destinations.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Trevor David’s Art of BBQ Smokehouse (2478 Kingston Rd.) in Scarborough is fairly new, but already legendary amongst barbecue enthusiasts. So how exciting to discover Art of Juicery (2466 Kingston Rd.) a few doors down. In addition to juices, smoothies and traditional Caribbean teas, find a selection of porridges, tropical fruit salads, and Caribbean snacks.

 Take your day up a notch with a creme brûlée topped bubble tea from Ba Cha at Markham’s Langham Square (8339 Kennedy Rd., Unit 1065). Doors opened May 16.

Capital B Cafe debuted at Applewood Village Shopping Centre (1077 N Service Rd., Unit 8) in Mississauga on June 4. On the menu: an array of trendy beverages (Dalgona Coffee, Fluffy Matcha Latte) and fun fare (Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese with bacon).

You may know Conspiracy Pizza from its former spot on Wicksteed when it was a part of a certain barbecue resto. CP hasn’t been associated with that biz since 2019, but it’s been hard to shake, and after everything that went down, owner Dan Rios closed up shop December 2020.  The new spot launched in Leaside (858 Eglinton Ave E.) last week, not far from its original location. In addition to a selection of pies, find oven baked wings, a taco salad, stellar dips (Cilantro Sour Cream, Donair Sauce) and no charge vegan and gluten-free substitutions.

After years of operating out of other venues, The Collective’s first brick and mortar restaurant has landed at Main and Danforth. Say hello to bistro-style Easton’s (2408 Danforth Ave.), featuring local and sustainable fare. Reservations are open now, with space available starting Tuesday.

The menu at East York’s El Sazón de la Tía Flor (1549 O'Connor Dr.) is phenomenal and features a selection tacos for $1 each on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Firehouse Subs announced the grand opening of the second location in Oakville (2501 Hyde Park Gate) today.

Fresh Burrito has arrived in Oakville (2501 Third Line, Unit D3), currently offering $5 off your first order over $20.

Head to Uptown’s Fresh Fruits House (2628 Yonge St.) for fruit and veg, pantry essentials, plants and flowers.

Find HK style café Good Catch Café inside Markham’s Good Catch Boil House (179 Enterprise Blvd., Unit 109).

Ice Creamonology by chef Onur Yilmaz softly opens in Parkdale (1184 Queen St. W.) next to Chen Chen’s Hot Chicken on Saturday.

Kekou Gelato’s second location landed in North York last week at Yonge and Finch (5359 Yonge St.).

Chefs, siblings, and twins(!) Jason and Ryan Buising have worked at  top Toronto restaurants including Gusto 501, Estia, and currently can be found cooking up a storm at Enoteca Sociale on weekends. Their exciting new venture Kumain Kitchen features Filipino Canadian inspired dishes available for takeout and delivery. This week’s drool-inducing menu: Ube Pandesal, Pastel Buns, Bomboloni, Choco Crinkle Cookies, Taho and Sago Galaman.

Misty’s (490 Queen St. W.) moved into Maiz’s former digs with picnic essentials: Taiwanese popcorn chicken, hot dogs, sangria, and cocktails.

Mother Tongue (348 Adelaide St. W.) has expanded with a Blue Mountain outpost (166 Jozo Weider Blvd.) kicking off this weekend.

Palgong Tea really ramped up openings in the GTA in 2021. It continues with a spot in Richmond Hill (372 Hwy 7).

Prohibition Chef launches Sunday. The new ghost kitchen operating out of CC Lounge & Whisky Bar (45 Front St. E.) is a separate concept specializing in comfort fare – think New York and Detroit style pizza, burgers, wings, and fried chicken.

The first Demetres – est 1989 on the Danforth – featured their homemade ice cream. Since then, they’ve launched 13 locations across the GTA, and now their very own ice cream shop, Scooped By Demetres (113 Fort York Blvd.), steps away from historic Fort York.

My discoveries here are usually limited to Toronto and the GTA, but exceptions are occasionally made, especially when talented, accomplished Toronto chefs are involved, such as Jennifer Dewasha (apprenticed under Chef Joel Robuchon, was on opening team for Chef Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud in Toronto and Daniel Boulud Brasserie in Las Vegas, Chef de Cuisine ONE65 in San Francisco, Executive Chef Colette Grand Café) and Jane MacDonald (Regional Chef for Chase Hospitality Group, Chef de Cuisine ICONINK, Chef de Cuisine Origin). Check out their new roadside smokehouse The Smokin Birds (2229 Muskoka Road 3) in Muskoka.

Stock T.C (2388 Yonge St.), the impressive food mecca by Terroni, Cumbrae's and Sud Forno in Midtown, has had a bar in the works for a long time now. Doors/patio open Wednesday.

Sundae's Best Ice Cream debuted this week with showstoppers such as Lemon Fresh (lemon curd poppy seed, topped with blueberry compote and lemon cake crumb)  and Dulce De Leche, fnished with candied pecans, caramel sauce and churro donuts. Find them inside Wasted Youth (834 Bloor St W.).

Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken moved into Come See Me (656 College St.) in Little Italy last week.

Yonge Fresh Market (245 Eglinton Ave. E.) at the corner of Mount Pleasant and Eglinton has heaps of fresh produce and Asian groceries.

CLOSED

The Cumberland branch of Dessert Lady closed this weekend, but you can visit their other Yorkville spot tucked away near The Windsor Arms Hotel.

EVENTS

Attention crepe cake lovers: There’s a Mille Desserts x Oomomo Pop-Up happening throughout June and July, featuring exclusive desserts at their stores in Markham and North York: Rainbow Crepe Cake with Peaches & Cream Filling, Cream Puffs in a variety of flavours (Peach, Matcha, Vanilla, Coffee, Black Sesame, London Fog) and Popcorn.

NEWS

The City of Toronto’s temporary COVID-19 bylaws, set to expire yesterday, have been extended until the end of Council’s September 30 and October 1 meeting. This includes Chapter 545 - Licensing, specifically temporary amendments that require food and drink establishments to implement measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (i.e. through signage, capacity and table limits, etc.) and maintain customer logs.

The City’s “next steps” to reduce single-use and takeaway items includes a “Voluntary Measures Program.”

Industry alert: Applications are being accepted for the Ontario Restaurant & Bar Support Fund.

Looking for a job in hospitality? Now’s the time. A quick scroll through social and you’ll find a surplus of openings for both FOH and BOH.

Think Post Malone isn’t a rosé kinda guy? Think again.

ICYMI

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Two words. Boozy freezies.

Patios are back starting tomorrow. Before heading get caught up on the new rules and regulations.

Stay tuned – more news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR newsletter. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.   

———

Life moves fast. (I wrote about +110 new arrivals in April alone.) Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.   

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Get in touch.

Need help to spread the word about your menu, bottle shop, upcoming patio, drinks (below, for example), but you’re on a budget? We can help. *Prices have been reduced to help local businesses during this time. Limited space available.

Patio season in Ontario officially begins June 11

🕒 4.5 min read

The Province is cautiously moving ahead with Step 1 of the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario on Friday.

In a statement released earlier today, Premier Doug Ford said, “Thanks to the ongoing success of Team Ontario’s vaccine rollout and the ongoing improvements in public health trends, we are able to enter step one of the Roadmap and begin to safely and cautiously lift restrictions.” The announcement comes three days ahead of schedule, as 72 per cent of the 18+ population in Ontario had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of June 6, 2021.

 The first in the three step plan allows bars, restaurants, cafes, breweries and other businesses across the Province to open patios as of Friday, June 11, 2021 at 12:01am.

What to know about outdoor dining in Step 1:

 - Limit per table: four guests
- Guests do not have to be from the same household
- There is no limit of guests per table if everyone is from the same household. The table can include one additional guest who lives alone or is a caregiver
- There is no patio capacity limit, however tables must be at least two meters apart or have a barrier between them
- “Patios will return to regular hours of liquor service as set out in the Liquor Licence Act regulations. In short, no additional restrictions on hours than would normally apply.” – Travis Kann, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Communications to the Premier of Ontario.

Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), sent a message to Health Minister Christine Elliott  and the Ontario Cabinet earlier today requesting further changes to open up the province, including “limited capacity indoor dining.”

And while Restaurants Canada, an organization representing 30K+ foodservice professionals, welcomes the news that patios will be allowed to reopen on Friday, they are “calling for more sector-specific support to make up for the lost year that foodservice businesses have suffered under repeated dining shutdowns.”

A long road

Establishments in Toronto were last permitted to open patios on March 20, 2021, but the COVID-19 Response Framework was paused and the ‘emergency break’ implemented soon after. The city was subject to a province-wide shutdown beginning April 3, 202, prohibiting indoor and outdoor dining, with only take-out, drive-through and delivery allowed. As many businesses didn’t open during this brief period, patios for the most part have not been open since October 2020.

As of today, indoor dining has been closed in Toronto for a total of 373 days since lockdowns began in March 2020, the longest closure in North America - and many say the world - with most of the province’s dining rooms closed for a total of more than 365 days.

By the time bars and restaurants are allowed to reopen on June 11:

- The majority of Ontario’s restaurants were allowed to operate patio dining for just 95 days throughout more than a year under lockdown.

- According to Restaurants Canada, restaurants in Toronto will have been completely shut down for a total of 283 days, without the option to serve customers on patios, despite the significantly lower risk of COVID-19 transmission in outdoor settings.

Stay tuned.

For breaking news, updates, interviews + much more, follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter. 

Patios in Ontario permitted to open June 11

🕒 4.5 min read

The Province is cautiously moving ahead with Step 1of the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario on Friday.

In a statement released earlier today, Premier Doug Ford said, “Thanks to the ongoing success of Team Ontario’s vaccine rollout and the ongoing improvements in public health trends, we are able to enter step one of the Roadmap and begin to safely and cautiously lift restrictions.” The announcement comes three days ahead of schedule, as 72 per cent of the 18+ population in Ontario had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, as of June 6, 2021.

 The first in the three step plan allows bars, restaurants, cafes, breweries and other businesses across the Province to open patios as of Friday, June 11, 2021 at 12:01am.

What to know about outdoor dining in Step 1:

 - Limit per table: four guests
- Guests do not have to be from the same household
- There is no limit of guests per table if everyone is from the same household. The table can include one additional guest who lives alone or is a caregiver
- There is no patio capacity limit, however tables must be at least two meters apart or have a barrier between them
- “Patios will return to regular hours of liquor service as set out in the Liquor Licence Act regulations. In short, no additional restrictions on hours than would normally apply.” – Travis Kann, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Communications to the Premier of Ontario.

Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), sent a message to Health Minister Christine Elliott  and the Ontario Cabinet earlier today requesting further changes to open up the province, including “limited capacity indoor dining.”

And while Restaurants Canada, an organization representing 30K+ foodservices professionals, welcomes the news that patios will be allowed to reopen on Friday, they are “calling for more sector-specific support to make up for the lost year that foodservice businesses have suffered under repeated dining shutdowns.”

 A long wait

Establishments in Toronto were permitted to open patios on March 20, 2021, but COVID-19 Response Framework was paused and the ‘emergency break’ implemented soon after. The city was subject to a province-wide shutdown beginning April 3, 202, prohibiting indoor and outdoor dining, with only take-out, drive-through and delivery allowed. As many businesses didn’t open during this brief period, patios for the most part have not been open for seven months since October 2020.

As of today, indoor dining has been closed in Toronto for a total of 373 days since lockdowns began in March 2020, the longest closure in North America, and many say the world, with most of the province’s dining rooms closed for a total of more than 365 days.

By the time bars and restaurants are allowed to reopen on June 11:

- The majority of Ontario’s restaurants were allowed to operate patio dining for just 95 days throughout more than a year under lockdown.

- According to Restaurants Canada, restaurants in Toronto will have been completely shut down for a total of 286 days, without the option to serve customers on patios, despite the significantly lower risk of COVID-19 transmission in outdoor settings.

Stay tuned for more updates.

For breaking news, updates, interviews + much more, follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter. 

OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News June 3-9, 2021

My iconic OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of restaurant openings (virtual/brick-and-mortar/popups/allll the things) and food/drink news in the city. No one does it bigger or better. Watch for the drop every Thursday. #ifyouknowyouknow

🕒 12 min read

My 20 findings this week reveal a lot of great grub, including an overwhelming number of spots for pide and kebabs, plenty of choices for satisfying your sweet tooth, and exciting arrivals that will help keep cooking fatigue at bay a little longer.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

The newest addition to the AllStar Wings & Ribs fam, AllStar Wings Express (2905 Eglinton Ave. W.) in Mississauga, is all about quick service, though making your way through the list of nearly 200 flavour varieties may take some time.

Dig into Chinese gua baos and Vietnamese banh baos at Bao Babies’ pop-up this weekend (and the next one, and the one after that) inside Markham pool hall Le Cue Lounge (8901 Woodbine Ave, Unit 100).

You know you’re in for a satisfying meal when cabbage rolls are listed as an appetizer. Barrel House Korchma (2385 Lakeshore Blvd. W.) debuts in Mimico on Tuesday with a host of comforting Ukrainian fare, such as Pelmeni ($6), Borscht ($8), Liver Pâté Salad ($7), 1/2 Metre Sausage ($18), Grilled Salmon ($16), and Pork Cutlet ($15).

Casa Tropical’s (774 College St.) healthy offerings of protein bowls and salads dominate the menu, but don’t let the Brazilian savoury pastries [Coxinha (chicken) and Risole (beef) croquettes, Pão de Queijo (cheese roll)] and desserts (Brigadeiros, Nutella Brigadeiro Cake) go unnoticed.

After a wildly successful six month brunch residency at The Depanneur, Fattoush finally has a place to call its own. See you at Fattoush Levantine Diner (253 Gerrard St. E.) in Cabbagetown.

Good Behaviour Ice Cream’s shacking up with Morellina’s (146 Christie St.) for the summer. The pop-up launches tomorrow at 1pm. 

Psst. Your new sando destination has arrived. Doors opened yesterday at Hot Dip (1186 Queen St. W.). What makes it stand out from the crowd, you ask? It’s by the fab folks of Toronto institution Cold Tea, and The MushReuben Dip ($11.50), boasting pastrami spiced portobello with caraway sauerkraut and Swiss, nestled on toasted rye and served with Russian dressing dip, for starters.

Four friends - Andrea, Mel, Jon, and Justin – launched small scale vegan doughnut venture Joughnuts in March. Pre-order six packs for pickup on Saturdays at their Mississauga shop (5915 Atlantic Dr., Unit 1). Bonus: A portion of sales donated to various organizations and charities and their colourful feed is peppered with pugs.

Knockout Chicken’s third outpost just touched down Mississauga (3015 Winston Churchill Blvd.). The fried chicken destination is currently open, with grand opening celebrations kicking off tomorrow.

Taco/burrito joint Mexicados debuted in Leslieville Summer 2018. Find their follow up in The Village at Church and Wellesley (471 Church St.). 

Michael Wong, a chef with +19 years experience and currently sous chef at Toronto’s Mengrai Thai, and girlfriend Hermia, talked about doing Mike’s Asian Kitchen “for a while and finally decided to get the ball rolling” about a month ago. “Because of the pandemic, we feel that takeout will be the new norm so we launched MAK to adapt to the changing food industry,” he says. The menu currently consists of classic Vietnamese dishes - Bun Bo Hue, Bun Ga Nuong - “but as we grow our customer base we will introduce more exciting and less known or harder to find meals.”

Mixed Senses (2010 Queen St. E.) has a lot going for it. A cafe set within a shop set across from Beaches Park is just the beginning.

Momofuku Noodle Bar has popped up at Blood Brothers Brewing (165 Geary Ave.) for the summer. On the menu: Pork Katsu Sando, Spicy Chicken Sando, and new collab brew Tiny IPA.

Naan and Kabob’s signature Afghan fare has arrived in Mississauga (90 Annagem Blvd.). Doors opened yesterday.

Panga (106 Mutual St.) in the Garden District does a mix of international fare by way of pizza, poutine, paratha, burgers and shakes.

Pastor Taco (245 Gerrard St. E.), just steps away from Fattoush (above) is serving up summery vibes via tacos, sides, paletas, and vegan ice cream.

ISO shawarma, charcoal grill kebabs, and pide? Look no further than Plus Istanbul Kebab House (2781 Highway 7, Unit 3). The Turkish eatery debuted in Vaughan this weekend.

You’re sure to find something for everyone on the extensive menu at Markham’s Real Kebab Restaurant (9909 Markham Rd, Unit 10).

Senso Bar & Restaurant (730 St. Clair Ave. W.) is serving up pide, kebabs, burgers, and salads in Hillcrest Village.

Handmade ice cream and chocolates are the name of the game at Sim and Lil (1038 Queen St. W.). Current ice cream flavours include Apple Pie, Seti Nutelli (Hazelnut & Chocolate) and limited-edition Cherry Rose Sorbet.

CLOSED

Chicken Land (3405 Glen Erin Dr.) in Mississauga is temporarily closed. See News section below for details.

Monica Jimenez and Gustavo Álvarez of Mi Terra (828 St Clair Ave. W.) have retired to “spend more time with our family , grandkids and ourselves.”

Playa Cabana Hacienda (14 Dupont St.) shuttered in April. The popular spot opened in 2013 following the successful debut of nearby Playa Cabana Cantina.

In March I alerted you to Renegade Chicken’s +20 virtual kitchens. As of Tuesday, SIR Corp. shuttered them all, save the pop-up at Duke’s St. Lawrence Market (73 Front St. E.).

Sapori (1588 Dundas St. W.) ditched their brick-and-mortar spot for food delivery online. 

CHANGES

ZIBA Berlin Doner is now Amor Doner.

EVENTS

Dine out, do good. Purchase the Punjabi Picnic Party for Two ($90) by acclaimed wine bar/now bottle shop Paris Paris – all proceeds will go to Kailash Satyarthi to support children in India who have been affected by the pandemic.

NEWS

The owners, their two sons, and an employee of Chicken Land (3405 Glen Erin Dr.) in Mississauga were struck by gunfire on Saturday. The owner’s 25-year-old son was fatally shot.

A three-alarm fire destroyed Paramount Fine Foods at Erin Mills Town Centre on Sunday. No injuries were reported.

On Tuesday, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) sent an open letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, calling on him to “immediately begin reopening the economy to save thousands of businesses from being forced to shutter their doors permanently.” The letter outlines that as of June 1 2021, restaurants in Toronto have been “closed to indoor dining for 367 days across the various provincial lockdowns, shutdowns, and emergency breaks. An entire year’s worth of business has been lost and the industry is looking – at minimum – at another 67 days of being closed to indoor dining under the current plan.”

Stay-at-home orders ended yesterday, but with nothing re-opening, it feels pretty much the same. And still there’s no confirmation as to whether Step 1 of the Ontario Re-Opening Plan will go ahead on June 14, which includes the return of outdoor dining. The Plan outlines that 60 per cent of adults would have to have received one dose of vaccination for Step 1 to begin. On Tuesday, the  City of Toronto put out a news release saying they expect to “have administered at least a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to more than 70 per cent of adults aged 18 years or older in Toronto” by that same day. Earlier today, the Health Minister said reopening may be sooner, but no guidelines have been laid out, and essential basic information such as operating hours still missing, leaving business owners and workers on tenterhooks, unable to move ahead, order food and supplies, hire staff, etc.

ICYMI

We’ve been taught ‘Quality over quantity.’ But what if you can have both? Case in point: mini doughnuts by Cops Coffee and Doughnuts. Find out why you need these hot li’l numbers in your life and the details about their new pop-up in The Arrival.

Leah Henry’s love of noodles runs deep. Not just on the job as Giulietta’s pasta whisperer either. In this week’s At The Pass, she shares her current late night eats, the local cookies she can’t get enough of, ingredient she can live without + much more.

If you haven’t already subscribed to the newsletter, now’s the time. Get The Tip Off, a sneak peek at the upcoming Open/Closed (because who doesn’t want to be the first to know?), and fab deals and special offers from restaurants and local businesses (because who doesn’t want to save money?), all exclusive to subscribers. This week I let them in on Tuesday’s phenomenal burger pop-up by one of the city’s best pizza joints, news of two expansive Mediterranean restos launching this summer + much more.

———

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Life moves fast. (I wrote about +110 new arrivals in April alone.) Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.   

Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.   

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Get in touch.

Need help to spread the word about your menu, bottle shop, upcoming patio, but you’re on a budget? We can help. *Prices have been reduced to help local businesses during this time. Limited space available.

At The Pass with Leah Henry

At The Pass is a weekly series showcasing Toronto’s best chefs. You won’t find any celebrity chefs featured here. Perhaps you already know these fine cooks, but maybe not. They’re not famous - yet. But it’s time these talented, passionate, hard-working chefs got a bit of the spotlight.

🕒 4.5 min read

Currently

Pasta Cook, Giulietta

Formerly 

Bar Isabel, La Banane

Favourite dish to make right now

Anything with udon. I usually eat late at night and always have udon and dumplings in my freezer.

Last cookbook purchase

Flour Water Salt Yeast: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza by Ken Forkish

Have you read it/tried any recipes

Yes. Red Wine Rigatoni with Beef Cheeks. I absolutely loved it! I made for a dinner party (when those were still a thing) and everyone loved it! I'd definitely make it again.

Name one dish or ingredient you’d like to see gone from menus 

Beets! I might be alone on this one but I can’t stand beets

And one dish or ingredient that you’re excited about right now and would like to see on more menus

I’m excited for all the spring and summer produce Ontario has to offer! Honestly I love peas and asparagus. Super simple and versatile. I also love ramps, especially since we're able to easily forage them in Ontario.

Biggest influences

Probably my Nana. She’s 81 and still rides her bike out to the grocery store, which is incredible. I don’t even bike anywhere. She’s still an amazing cook. And I’ve also always loved Jamie Oliver. Something about simple food with friends and family is why I love cooking.

If you could eat at any restaurant in the world

Anywhere in Iceland!! Always wanted to try their cuisine.

Last thing you ate

Ham and cheese sandwich. Always on a croissant, with dijon and mayo (Hellmann’s of course), maybe some arugula. It's my go to snack in a pinch! Whenever I'm on the run, it’s just something super easy to make and always good.

Three must-have ingredients always in your fridge

Onions, garlic and lemons.

Guilty pleasure

Cookies… specifically Craig’s Cookies in Parkdale.

Top 3 favourite Toronto restaurants

Quetzal, BB’s, Gus Tacos 

Top 3 favourite Toronto bars

MoK, The Caddi, The Gaslight

Go-to drink

Rye and ginger.

One habit you have in the kitchen that you should lose, but can’t seem to shake

Trying to do too many things at once. I find myself always running around.

And one habit you have in the kitchen that will inspire young chefs

Setting up my station up as soon as I get in.

Hidden talent

I can roller skate! For food-related talents, I can make pretty good Guyanese roti. Thanks, Nana!

Best career advice you ever received

Never be scared to try something new.

Worst career advice you ever received

To never question things.

Your advice for a young cook starting out in the business

Find a kitchen where you not only love the food, but the people as well. Having people you vibe with can make a real difference.

In order to support chefs during this time, the monthly At The Pass series is now WEEKLY. Know someone in Toronto or GTA who should be featured? Submit their name for consideration. And yes, you can nominate yourself.    

For breaking news, updates, interviews + much more, follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter. 

The Arrival – Cops x East Room Pop-Up

Cops x East Room Pop-Up mini doughnuts. OG Sour Cream Glaze, Cinnamon Sugar, flavour of the week Black Cherry Beet.

The Arrival features the newest spots in Toronto/GTA in a quick read format. Because you’ve got things to do. For a deeper look at Toronto’s latest openings check out renowned series The Reveal, and the iconic OPEN/CLOSED published every Thursday.

🕒 3.5 min read

If there was ever a time to be all about doughnuts, it’s right now, while stretchy pants are not only within reach, but likely what you’re living in right now. To indulge in an entire box however, would be madness. That is, unless they’re rings of pillowy bliss by Cops Coffee and Doughnuts.

Yes, the new beyond cute pink Cops x East Room Pop-Up on the east side is Insta-worthy, and watching the machine that doles out the li’l made-to-order beauts is fun, but it’s their from-scratch cake concoctions that are the real attraction.

Treat yo’ self

Two varieties are up for grabs on the regular: Cinnamon Sugar, OG Sour Cream Glaze - with a special, often exclusive flavour on offer weekly. While you can order six or twelve at a time, you’d be wise to nab these soft, fluffy delights in the more popular quantities of 18 or 36, all the way up to 600. Whatever your order, these sumptuous confections strike the perfect balance between soulful and sinful.

Packaged up as soon as they’re out of the hopper, they’re too hot to handle right away. Miraculously, they stay warm long after you’ve left the shop, unpacked groceries, played with the dog, posted a few stories/selfies…  So warm in fact, the on-the-verge-of-gooey-yet-never-mushy velvety texture makes them difficult to keep intact. A good problem to have, and one that leads you to question all the times you downed others at room temperature. Pro tip: Have a pile of napkins at the ready.

And whatever you do, don’t skip the java. Sister resto Baddies – top destination for Aussie-style brekkie and one of the best Flat Whites in the country - knows their coffee. They’ve kept it simple in the east end – no newfangled contraptions or fancy machines (outside of the automatic doughnut maker of course): just drip served hot or cold (from pretty in pink thermal carafes, naturally). Beans are changed up periodically and are available by the bag to take home. (Currently serving: Quietly, roasted in the Ontario countryside.) Not in the mood for a brew? Grab some chocolate milk - “chocky” milk in proper Australian slang - to go. (Psst. After extensive “research,” these delectable delicacies also happen to pair beautifully with an Old Fashioned. Just sayin’.)

Circle of life

While items can also be picked up at Cops’ permanent post (445 Adelaide St. W.) and Baddies (679 Lansdowne Ave.) in Bloordale, the east end pop-up near Queen and Broadview is here for a limited time, so go while you can.

And whatever number of doughnuts you think is enough, it isn’t.

Cops x East Room Pop-Up
4 Matilda St.
Everyday 9am-11pm

For breaking news, updates, interviews + more, follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter. 

For more photos, visit @torontorestaurants.co on Instagram.

OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News May 27-June 2, 2021

My iconic OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of restaurant openings (virtual/brick-and-mortar/popups/allll the things) and food/drink news in the city. No one does it bigger or better. Watch for the drop every Thursday. #ifyouknowyouknow

🕒 10 min read

My 15 findings this week are kind all over the place, pairing well with our scattered brains right now, after being in lockdown for so long. Speaking of minds, has snacking and thinking about snacks taken over your entire day or is it just me?

In the meantime, here’s the very latest:

OPEN

BanCan Kitchen (1328 Danforth Ave.) at Greenwood and Danforth is cooking up a storm of traditional South Asian fare. Think: momos, curries, and biriyani.

Beijing’s famous Crispy Burgers have finally arrived in the 6ix. The first international location of  Bingz opened Sunday at First Markham Place (3229 Hwy 7 E , Unit 11-12). You won’t find the usual accompaniments of fries or onion rings for the three burgers on the menu. Instead, you’ll find Wonton Soup, Hot & Sour Glass Noodles, and Liangpi with Sesame Sauce. No sodas either -choose Chang’an Soymilk or Plum Cold Brew.

Like its older sibling Cheese Boutique (45 Ripley Ave.), CB Bottega (29 Ripley Ave.) offers a whack of culinary wonders under one roof. The café, bakery, gelateria, and shop quietly debuted yesterday.

Chicken Plus + (3250 Midland Ave., Unit G106) softly landed in Scarborough over the weekend. Grand opening celebrations for the popular Korean fried chicken chain get underway tomorrow.

Kung Fu Tea, the American brand that founded ‘National Bubble Tea Day,’ never stops. Find the latest shop in North York’s SteelesTech Plaza (3365 Steeles Ave. E., Unit B3).

LJS Khasos Restaurant + Bar (507 Parliament St.) in Cabbagetown specializes in Italian and American fare. The new eatery does primarily pizza and pasta, but there’s a selection salads, sandos, and mains as well. The new eatery by the folks of Pickering’s Liverpool Johns Pub & Restaurant (1294 Kingston Rd.) established 2017, takes over the space held for decades by Peartree Restaurant.

Shhh… Mo Thai (3085 Hurontario St., Unit 13) by Chef Mo of Sala Thai Kitchen softly opened yesterday, with focused selections including her famous shrimp chips, calamari, Tom Yum Pad Thai, and rich curries.

Nava Social (514 King St. E.) moved Odin’s old digs a few months back. The striking coffee house, “food lab,” bodega, and bottle shop stands out for many reasons including their breakfast sando, Cochinita Toast, Butterfly Pea Latte, and weekend Pocket Pies. 

One of the city’s top eateries, Rap’s Restaurant (1541 Eglinton Ave. W.) has expanded with Rap’s Tropical Ice Cream, a few doors down.

Home-based restaurant Real Taste Of JA in Scarborough is a dream come true for Janelle. “I have always had a passion for cooking. My parents immigrated from Jamaica and have taught me all I know.” She started cooking at the age of 12. “As I have gotten older I kept using the traditional recipes in my own way and now it’s become Real taste of JA,” she says. “I decided to open a business because I wanted to share my love of cooking with the community and friends around me.”.  Her fried chicken marinated , prepared and served fresh,  often with a special BBQ sauce, is popular. Items are prepared using ingredients and spices originating from Jamaican heritage.

I've been dishing on allll sorts of secret places lately, but I couldn't keep this one to myself any longer so I gave TR Newsletter subscribers the head’s up earlier this week... From the folks behind Cry Baby Gallery (1468 Dundas St. W.) comes their on-site 'Spicy Marg Lemonade Stand' here for your long walks, park hangs and happy hours. Open "any day it's warm out." See you there.

Psst. There’s a new hidden butcher in the east end. Stock in Trade (1324A Gerrard St. E.) is launching a second location inside wildly popular southern Italian 7 Numbers on the Danforth (307 Danforth Ave.). After a sneak peek on Saturday, doors officially opened this morning.

At Tasty Sip n' Bite (432 Parliament St.) in Cabbagetown, you can have it all. . You’ll find burgers and spaghetti in amongst Asian soups, noodles, rice, stir-fries, hotpot and snacks, in addition to brekkie in varying sizes: small (Toast), medium (French Toast and Peanut Butter) and Large (Big Breakfast: Two eggs, bacon (3 pcs), ham (2 pcs), sausage (2 pcs) home fries, toast), and everything in between.

Unicorn Café debuted in The Annex at the end of 2019, closing a year later, but not for long. They’ve reopened in the east end at Woodbine and Danforth (2036 Danforth Ave.) with signature whimsical creations including Unicorn Croffles and Freak Shakes (ice cream milkshake with cotton candy, unicorn cookie, unicorn lollipop, marshmallows), set against pastel backdrops. 

The journey to Waska has been a long one for chef Elias Salazar: from Kay Pacha in 2017 to Kensington pop-up in summer 2019, Mrs. Robinson kitchen takeover a few months later, and teasers ever since. Waska Peruvian Chicken (805 Dovercourt Rd.) debuts tomorrow with a host of enticing fare including empanadas tamales, ceviches, alongside Chicharron ($14), Anticuchos Beef Heart ($14), Hamburguesa de Quinoa ($15), Rotisserie Chicken (half $20, whole $40), and Lomo Saltado ($20) featuring wok-fried top sirloin. [UPDATE May27 11:17pm - Opening has been delayed to June 4.]

CLOSED

Monday is the last day for Open House Bar (1051 Bloor St. W.).

After serving the Cabbagetown and Regent Park communities for a decade, Qi Sushi (358 Gerrard St. E.) permanently closed on Sunday.

I reported True Flavours’ debut in March, but it shut down for good last week.

CHANGES

 Hong Kong Island Dim House moved to 248 Spadina Ave.

Corktown’s Rivertowne Deli  (510 Queen St. E.) - home of Meat Ball Potato Curry Roti, Chicken Parmesan Pasta, Spinach Paneer Rice, Tandoori Chicken Salad – is moving a few doors west  on Tuesday to 506 Queen St. E.

Tasty Korea (3323 Lake Shore Blvd. W.) in Etobicoke is now Tasty Korea to Japan, complete with tasty new menu selections.

EVENTS

Head to stackt market (28 Bathurst St.) tomorrow for special event in honour of Asian Heritage Month. Asian Heritage Night Market will feature Asian Led and Asian Owned businesses from across the city: Bean + Pearl, Caviar Citizen, Cuchara, FeasTO, Fersk Self Care, Joybird, Lao Food Co, Magic Oven, Make Kwento, Mama Joos Hot Sauce, Marathon Café, Oishi Box, Saigon Drip, Soft Dough Co., Tong Mein. A percentage of table fees will be donated Collective Society 360 to help create career and entrepreneurial development for BIPOC youth.

NEWS  

Even The BBC can’t believe we’ve been in lockdown this long.

With vaccine rates on the rise, restaurants are starting to announce dates for patio launches, but the industry is left wondering about many unknowns for Step 1 of the Ontario Re-Opening Plan, including essential info needed such as operating hours.

Toronto’s own chef Matty Matheson (Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club, Birria Balam, Maker Pizza, and Matty Mattheson’s Meat + Three in Fort Erie) has been cast in restaurant comedy pilot The Bear for FX. 

ICYMI

Chef Hyun Jung Kim is unstoppable. Two years ago he was doing five-course tasting menus + curated wine dinners at Core, his restaurant in Leslieville. Two months after the pandemic hit, he transformed it into Core Korean Kitchen, a destination for comforting Korean fare. His latest concept for the space, Core Bubble Tea, just debuted. Discover his recent cookbook purchase, fridge essentials, biggest influence (a local chef!) + much more in this week’s inspiring At The Pass.

Secret home-based pizzeria One Night Only Pizza has managed to remain largely under the radar for over a year, despite thousands of fans clamouring for their weekly porch drops. Now that a permanent spot’s opened, is it easier to get your hands on their elusive New York-esque pies? Find out. 

And stay tuned more news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR newsletter. 

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

 Life moves fast. (I wrote about +110 new arrivals in April alone.) Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.   

Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.   

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Get in touch.

Need help to spread the word about your menu, bottle shop, upcoming patio, but you’re on a budget? We can help. *Prices have been reduced to help local businesses during this time. Limited space available.

At The Pass with Hyun Jung Kim

At The Pass is a weekly series showcasing Toronto’s best chefs. You won’t find any celebrity chefs featured here. Perhaps you already know these fine cooks, but maybe not. They’re not famous - yet. But it’s time these talented, passionate, hard-working chefs got a bit of the spotlight.

 🕒 5.5 min read

Currently 

Chef/Owner, Core Korean Kitchen and Core Bubble Tea  

Formerly 

George Restaurant and Globe Bistro. I also briefly worked at Scaramouche, C5, The Chase, Sidecar, and Mercatto.

Favourite dish to make right now

Korean Fried Chicken. 

Last cookbook purchase 

Flour Water Salt Yeast: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza by Ken Forkish

Have you read it/tried any recipes

I rarely try a recipe from cookbooks. I use cookbooks for inspiration and as more like a guideline, to learn certain techniques and gain knowledge. I did not try any exact recipes from the book, but it certainly helped me understand the science and methods behind baking bread better when I used to bake fresh sourdoughs for the restaurant every day.

Name one dish or ingredient you’d like to see gone from menus

Any dish with unnecessary high food waste and unnecessary high labour.

And one dish or ingredient that you’re excited about right now and would like to see on more menus

I am opening a bubble tea shop inside the restaurant soon, so I am excited to learn anything related to bubble tea right now. 

Also, since I changed the concept of the restaurant to Korean from seasonal Canadian Bistro during the pandemic, I am always trying to learn and find a way to introduce not-widely-known Korean flavours in unique ways to our menus.

Just like many French or Western kitchens use many Japanese flavours/techniques/terms, I’d also like to see more widely Korean flavours/techniques used.

Scallops. “A dish we used to serve when we were seasonal Canadian Bistro.”

Biggest influences

Chef Lorenzo Loseto from George Restaurant for his passion and commitment to excellence, attention to details, and he is just one of the hardest working people I know.

If you could eat at any restaurant in the world

Alo in Toronto –  been meaning to try for a while, looking forward to dine there hopefully soon, Noma in Copenhagen.

Last thing you ate

Sazanka Sushi Platter (46 pcs) from Miku.

Three must-have ingredients always in your fridge

Butter, Onions, Eggs.

Guilty pleasure

Medium Double Double.

Top 3 favourite Toronto restaurants

Kibo Sushi House, Canoe, Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie

Top 3 favourite Toronto bars

N/A, I rarely drink.

Go-to drink  

I rarely drink, but I like sweet wines/beers.

Japchae. “After pivoting to a Korean restaurant during the pandemic, serving authentic Korean classics and fried chicken.”

One habit you have in the kitchen that you should lose, but can’t seem to shake

Trying to do everything by myself.

And one habit you have in the kitchen that will inspire young chefs

Hard working. I rarely take a break when I work, and am constantly moving to get things done. I am not saying don’t take a break, and work and life balance is very important, but plan ahead and utilize the time wisely. 

Hidden talent

Making staff meal in a short period of time.

Best career advice you ever received

“Do it once, do it right,” by my former sous chef Ed Yu. As simple as it sounds, it is very hard to follow all the time. Take your time to get things done right, instead of doing it twice or even more. 

Worst career advice you ever received

I can’t think of anything at the moment, but I’d say stay away from the negative minds and focus on the positive things.

Your advice for a young cook starting out in the business

Be open-minded. As a young cook myself, all my focus was on working at fine dining restaurants cooking French or Western style food, but cooking is so much more than that and there are so many different things you can do. 

As you gain more experience in the industry, you will meet with many different opportunities in different fields. Be open minded, learn as much as you can, find what you love, and find what works for you.

——— 

In order to support chefs during this time, the monthly At The Pass series is now WEEKLY. Know someone in Toronto or GTA who should be featured? Submit their name for consideration. And yes, you can nominate yourself.    

For breaking news, updates, interviews + much more, follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter.