Stephanie Dickison's Blog, page 45
May 18, 2020
Support Local: 60 Toronto Restaurants Open Victoria Day
Photo courtesy of Parallel Brothers.
60 Toronto Restaurants Open Victoria Day
Photo courtesy of Parallel Brothers.
This year’s Victoria Day long weekend is unlike any other, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The imposed lockdown doesn’t have to be a drag though. Think “staycation”: have an indoor picnic, game night, take the Takeout/Delivery Challenge! Consider this year’s holiday Monday the perfect time to catch up with friends (from a distance), start a new hobby, tend to your plant babies, and a much-needed vacation from cooking and the dishes.
From breakfast in bed and BBQ to fine dining and late night snacks, Toronto restaurants have all your cravings covered, available for pickup and/or delivery.
Take a look:
Note: This is by no means a complete list of everything that’s open today; just a sign that restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bars, breweries and food shops are here for you, so reach out to the businesses in your ‘hood. They need your support now more than ever.
Kosher Middle Eastern restaurant Aish Tanoor (994 Eglinton Ave. W.) in Upper Village has got your shawarma and hummus cravings covered. Open until 7pm.
Level up your holiday with refined fare from Aloette (163 Spadina Ave.) at Queen and Spadina. Open 11:30pm-9pm.
On the menu at Leslieville’s Avling Kitchen & Brewery (1042 Queen St. E.): Beer and prepared food to go. Open 11am-8pm.
Since you can’t hang out at the bar, bring it home with Bar Hop Bar (391 King St. W.). Open 1pm-9pm.
While Bellwoods Brewery brewpub remains closed, their retail shops are open regular hours today, so stock up like the true Canadian that you are. Open 20 Hafis Rd. 12pm-7pm. 124 Ossington Ave. 11am-9pm.
Get your caffeine fix at Birds And Beans Café (2413 Lake Shore Blvd. W.) in Mimico. Open 11am-4pm.
Host pub night at home with The Bull: A Firkin Pub (1835 Yonge St.) in Midtown. Open 4pm-9pm
No need to fire up the barbecue today. Breakwall BBQ & Smokehouse (1910 Queen St. E.) is doing all the heavy lifting. Today’s special: Smoked Wings. Pick up orders are 10 per cent off. Open 11pm.
It’s not officially a long weekend until there’s ice cream. Head to Brett's Ice Cream (1698 Queen St. E.) in the Beach Triangle for contactless pint pickups. Just add spoons. Open 2pm-9:30pm.
Did you know neighbourhood café Cafe Con Leche Espresso Bar (1571 Dupont Ave.) reopened last summer? Visit Sandra and Carlos for coffee, pastries by chef Marc Thuet, and chat. Open 8am-5pm.
The Carbon Bar (99 Queen St. E.) specializes in southern BBQ. Open 3pm-9pm.
Meatless Monday is a breeze thanks to York’s Celebrity Pure Vegetarian (1474 Eglinton Ave. W.). Open 11am-11pm.
CocoaLatte (671 St Clair Ave. W.) nestled in Hillcrest Village is starting the week off with all-day breakfast, lunch and dessert. Open 8am-4pm.
Fahrenheit Coffee, established 2011, has expanded over the year. Today, head to one of two downtown outposts (120 Lombard St., 529 Richmond St. W.) for a jolt of java. Open 9am-3pm.
Neighbourhood pub The Edmund Burke (107 Danforth Ave.) at Broadview and Danforth . Open 3pm-9pm.
Cocktail hour starts early on holiday Mondays, so head to The Grand Trunk (1718 Queen St. W.) at Queen and Roncey for sandos, snacks, brews, and cocktail kits. Open 12pm-9pm.
EDO-ko (425 Spadina Rd.) in Forest Hill Village is serving up refined sushi all day. Open 12pm-9pm.
Skip making breakfast for a change and go to Egg Sunrise Grill (1422 Dundas St. W.) instead. Open 8am-2pm.
Enigma Cafe and Restaurant (1556 Bloor St. W.) at Dundas West is open all day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so it definitely fits in with your “schedule” today. Open 9am- 9pm.
Fantail Bakery & Café’s (333 Roncesvalles Ave.) healthy, hearty soups and homemade sweets are available until 4pm.
Bloorcourt’s Filosophy Pastry And Espresso Bar (912 Bloor St. W.) gets up early to bake fresh pies and pastries daily. Open 8am-6:30pm.
Free Times Cafe (320 College St.) has been around for +35 years. Discover their authentic Jewish, Middle Eastern and Canadian cuisine, available for takeout until around 6pm.
Not in the mood to make dinner tonight? Leave it up to Lawrence Park stalwart Gamberoni (3249 Yonge St.). Open 4pm-8pm.
Pizza party! All that’s needed: General Assembly Pizza’s (331 Adelaide St. W.) naturally leavened pizzas (ready-made, frozen, or kit), beer, wine, cocktails and extended playlist.
Golden Gecko Coffee (282 Jane St.) in the heart of Baby Point has an array of items available for pickup and delivery including coffee, frozen bagels, salads, pies, ice cream, coffee, and instant yeast.Open 8am-5pm
Visit Good Cheese (614 Gerrard St. E.) for all your cheeseboard and snacking needs. Open 12pm-5pm.
Don’t sweat dinner tonight. Let Gordons Pub and Kitchen (993 Queen St. E.) in Leslieville do the cooking. Open 4:30pm-8pm.
Tired of the same ol’ same ol’? Give Japanese-inspired Mexican dishes a whirl, courtesy of The Haam (342 Adelaide St. W.) in the Entertainment District. Open 12pm-9pm.
Long weekends call for beer High Park Brewery (839 Runnymede Rd.) is doing pick up and delivery
Shop prepared foods and grocery packs at Hurricanes Roadhouse (963 Bloor St. W.) in Bloorcourt. Open 2pm-9pm.
The Indie Alehouse (2876 Dundas St. W.) in The Junction is open for take out and beer to go! Bottle Shop: Open 11am-8pm. Kitchen: Open 3pm-8pm.
Dig into aburi, sushi and sashimi from Juzz Sushi (912 Queen St. E.) in Leslieville. Open 12pm-9pm.
Can’t decide whether to get sushi, ramen or karaage? Kintaro Izakaya (459 Church St.) has it all. Open 5pm-12am.
Knockout Chicken (207 Augusta Ave.) in Kensington Market satiates your hankering for fried chicken. Open 11am-10pm.
Just because it’s the holiday doesn’t mean your eating has to go off the rails. Stick to your vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diet with dishes from wheatless and meatless chain Kupfert & Kim (2313 Yonge St.). Open 11am-9pm.
Little AAA (1276 Queen St E.) in Leslieville has all your cottage-at-home essentials: fried chicken, smoked ribs, steaks ready for the BBQ, suds, and liquor. Open 4pm-9pm.
Shop Mary Be Kitchen (21B St Clair Ave. W.) at Yonge and St. Clair for scratch-made grocery items and curated meal boxes. Open 9am-8pm.
Weekend feels begin and end with chowder and fish and chips. Off the Hook Fishbar (749 Broadview Ave.) at Broadview and Danforth has other seafood, booze, and vegan and gluten-free options. Open 4pm-9pm.
Comfort food is the name of the game at O’Grady’s (518 Church St.) in The Village. Paired with beer, wine, cider, etc., you’ve got yourself a cozy night in. Open 4pm-10pm.
Onnki Donburi (40 Hayden St.) just east of Yonge and Bloor, is all about Japanese rice bowls. Open 11:30am-3pm (2:45pm last call),5pm-9:pm (9pm last call).
The Original’s Dining Lounge (160 Springhurst Ave.) in Parkdale is back (it was Harry’s Charbroiled in the interim) with classic diner fare. Open 2pm-9pm.
It doesn’t get much better than the lineup at Oyster Boy (872 Queen St. W.) lineup: Oysters, chowder, beer and wine. Open until 2pm.
You’ve got until 2pm for Panagio’s All Day Grill’s Scarborough location (1928 McCowan Rd.).
One of Toronto’s top restaurants, Parallel Brothers (217 Geary Ave.), doesn’t believe in holiday hours. Open 10am-10pm.
A trip to Vietnam isn’t in the cards right now, so get the next best thing: Family-owned Ngoc Yen Restaurant (1090 Kamato Rd, Unit 18-19) in Mississauga. Open 11am-7pm.
Rails And Ales Pub (1106 Danforth Ave.) is serving up wings, burgers, souvlaki, and more for the holiday. Open 2pm-7pm.
Lucky you. One of the city’s best ramen shops, Ramen Isshin delivers (421 College St., 609 Queen St. W.)
The Remarkable Bean (2242 Queen St. E.) in the Beach has a a selection of Fair Trade Organic coffee, tea and pastries. Open 8am-8pm.
If wings are calling your name, The Right Wing Sports Pub (2497 Yonge St.) uptown has got you. Open 1pm-10pm.
Ordering from Royal Meats BBQ (710 Kipling Ave.) means you don’t have to clean the grill tonight. Open 11am-8pm.
The burgers at Rudy’s are epic. See for yourself (619 College St., 69 Duncan St., 1330 Danforth Ave.). Open 12pm-10pm.
Bring the tropical feels home with delectable fare from Scotty Bons Caribbean Grill (789 Warden Ave.). Open 11am-9pm.
Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso in Markham (5762 Hwy 7, Unit 3) Open 10am-2:30pm
Etobicoke’s Sushi Momo’s (3226 Lake Shore Blvd. W.) is like? insta feed is drool-inducing, so imagine it in person. Open 2pm-10pm.
The Sweet Escape Patisserie (24 Tank House Lane) in the Distillery District has a ton of sweets on offer, including ice cream sandwich kits. Open 11am-4pm.
Helen Andrews and her family make everything – savoury and sweet – at Sweet Trolley Bakery (3056 Dundas St. W.) from scratch without additives, preservatives or nuts. Open until 6pm.
In the mood for tacos? Salvadoran restaurant Tacos El Asador (689 Bloor St. W.) in Koreatown. Open 12pm-9pm.
Forgo your usual pizza spot and order from Village Pizza (761 Dundas St. W., 759 Dovercourt Rd.) instead. Open until 9pm today.
Realize your #bagelgoals at What a Bagel (421 Spadina Rd.). Open until 4pm.
Calling all burger enthusiasts: Zeal Burgers is open in Weston (1926 Weston Rd.) 12pm-7pm and Stouffville (5812 Main St.) 11am-9pm.
May 16, 2020
May 15, 2020
COVID-19: City of Toronto and Ritual offer food businesses free online ordering system
Delivery apps have been making headlines lately, but this week, Toronto-based Ritual stepped into the spotlight.
Mayor John Tory announced on Wednesday the City of Toronto has partnered with the takeout/pickup app to help local restaurants and other foodservice businesses implement online ordering for pickup and delivery on their existing websites and social media.
The new Ritual ONE platform offers businesses commission-free online ordering. And any restaurants, bars, cafes, and food shops that sign up for the service by June 1 2020, will receive it “free for life and will not pay any commission or monthly subscription fees on Ritual ONE orders,” and receive dedicated support during integration.
These perks also extend to existing restaurants on Ritual, and businesses registered or registering for the City’s newly launched ShopHERE program, including local independent businesses and artists (Note: standard credit card processing rates still apply).
Due to COVID-19, restaurants and other food businesses have been relying solely on takeout and delivery orders since mid-March. With Uber Eats continuing to charge high fees despite the Mayor asking that they be lowered, the platform will help businesses immeasurably.
The initiatives are a part of Mayor Tory’s Economic Support and Recovery Task Force’s short-term economic support and recovery plan for Toronto’s businesses. “I want to thank Ritual – a Toronto tech success story – for developing Ritual ONE and partnering with us at this critical time as we begin the work of rebuilding our economy,” said the Mayor. “It is through partnerships such as this that we can help our local businesses, especially the restaurant and food services sector, survive and help our entire economy thrive again.”
Ritual was founded in 2014 by Robert Kim, Ray Reddy, and Larry Stinson. Headquartered in Toronto and San Francisco, the app is now available in over 50 cities across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. The company laid off half its staff - approximately200 employees - in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 14, 2020
Support Local: 5 Toronto restaurants and bars offering exciting takeout + delivery experiences
Paradise Theatre combos include freshly popped popcorn, candy, beer, wine or cocktails.
5 Toronto restaurants and bars offering exciting takeout + delivery experiences
Paradise Theatre combos include freshly popped popcorn, candy, beer, wine or cocktails.
May 13, 2020
Toronto restaurateurs are fed up with Uber Eats
Photo courtesy of Il Fornello Restaurants.
May 9, 2020
COVID-19: Thank You Frontline Healthcare Workers
Once a week, Toronto Restaurants will be celebrating local folks dedicating their time and energy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This week: Heartfelt gratitude to all Frontline Healthcare Workers.
These individuals are putting their lives at risk for others. While we are safe at home, doctors, nurses, administrative staff, technicians, pharmacists, social workers, EMTs, clinicians, nursing home staff, and all healthcare workers are working exceptionally long hours under extreme conditions during this global crisis, to fight coronavirus and care for those that need it most.
Thank you to for all the sacrifices you make. We are deeply grateful for your tireless commitment and dedication to saving lives every day, and especially during this unprecedented time.
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Want to help? Donate to local initiatives raising money to purchase meals for Toronto frontline hospital staff.
May 7, 2020
Pamper Mom This Mother’s Day with Curated Takeout & Delivery
Wondering what to do for Mother’s Day this year? Toronto restaurants, bars, and food shops have got you covered, from wine and flowers to full-on dinner for six. Take a look:
BAKERS DOZEN
If your mama’s mantra is “Happiness is fresh bagels and cream cheese," look to Primrose Bagel Co.’s Mother’s Day Weekend a La Carte Specials.
Pre-order Za’atar Bagels, Ramp Cream Cheese, Banana Cream Pie, Nutella Tart, White-Chocolate Matcha Rugelach, Sesame-Tahini Cookies, and Lemon Blueberry Cookies before they sell out.
BUT FIRST, BRUNCH
Chef Diona Joyce’s of Tita Flips on Dundas West has got a not-to-be-missed Mother’s Day Brunch Special ($50) on the menu this weekend:
Tapa (Soya lemony beef rib-eye slices)
Tocino (Filipino bacon)
Longaniza (House made Filipino sausage)
Spanish Sardines - Pandesal
Garlic Rice
Tomatoes - Eggplant Ensalada
Champorado (chocolate porridge)
Garlic Butter
Homemade Jam
Toyo Mansi - Spiced Vinegar - Atchara (pickled papaya)
The meal feeds 2-6 people, and is available for preorder now, with delivery on Saturday and Sunday.
QUEEN FOR A DAY
Paris Paris on Dundas West has put together Mother’s Day Wine Packs that include wine, flowers, and card “ that could have been painted by your childhood self.” You can further customize it with a Chocosol Dark Chocolate Bar.
Pickup and delivery options are available.
TACO PARTY
The Mother’s Day Al Pastor Kit ($50) from authentic taqueria El Trompo in Kensington Market allows you to either cook with, or for Mum this weekend.
The meal kit, delivered on Sunday, contains 1 kg of Al Pastor (marinated pork), 40 corn tortillas, condiments and garnishes (onion, pineapple, cilantro, lime), and makes 30-40 taquitos.
TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS
West end wine bar Paradise Grapevine is offering $5 Tulips and a “lovely note” as an add-on special to wine orders ($20-$240) this week.
Deets: Order by 2pm on Saturday for delivery to Mom’s door (M4-M6 postal codes only) on Sunday.
ULTIMATE K-FOOD CARE PACKAGE
Uncle Mikey’s Mother’s Day Korean Vacation Care Package ($120) has it all.
Literally everything: Immune-boosting Kimchi, Bulgogi Hanger Steak for Four, accompanied by Lettuce Wraps, Rice + Soup; Instructions on how to pull it all together, Plant from MIKA, Spotify K-Pop Playlist, and Netflix K-Drama Suggestions.
Pre-orders only. Deadline is Friday May 8 at 11pm for pick up Sat/Sun or delivery Sat 3-6pm.
