Stephanie Dickison's Blog, page 45

At The Table with Brian Markinson

You for sure know actor . 

In the nineties, he was on every top show - Murphy Brown, L.A. Law, China Beach, Law & Order, The X-Files, Star Trek (The Next Generation, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine), Party of Five, to name a select few - and appeared in countless films, including Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown, opposite Sean Penn, and Shooter with Mark Wahlberg.

Continuing to grace small and big screens in the aughts, he was everywhere: Stargate SG-1, Dark Angel, Judging Amy, The Twilight Zone, Angels in America, Touching Evil, Da Vinci’s Inquest and Da Vinci’s City Hall, Psych, NCIS, Flashpoint, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Sanctuary, and Supernatural, for starters.

In more recent years, his resume has grown to include critically-acclaimed series such as The Killing, Fargo, Mad Men, Rogue, Continuum, The Magicians, and currently co-stars in APTN’s crime drama Tribal alongside Jessica Matten,

Ironically, the New York-born thespian - graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (Class of ’83) - didn’t step in front of the camera until he was 30. 

Speaking on the phone from in North Vancouver, his home for roughly two decades with wife Nancy Kerr and their two sons, the convivial actor - and honorary Canadian - shares his love of Toronto. “It’s a real cultural hub,” he says. “I’ve taken jobs in Toronto just so I can eat there.”

The serious foodie speaks at length about his love of food - Toronto restaurants in particular - extolling the Peking duck at Lai Wah Heen, Tutti Matti’s Pinci Bugiardo (sausage ragu). and “anything at Joso’s.”

Film and television sets are largely shut down due to COVID-19 right now, but once production resumes, you might catch sight of him around town. Probably with some serious takeout in hand.

Occupation

Actor

Place of Residence

North Vancouver, British Columbia

Last thing you ate

Baked salmon and lemon risotto. 

Left to your own devices to make something at home, what would it likely be?

Barbecue baby back ribs. 

When staying at a hotel, what are you raiding from the mini fridge

Wine and mixed nuts.

Guilty pleasure

Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia - Non-Dairy.

Drink of choice

Single malt scotch.

Favourite meal of the day and why 

Dinner. It is when my family - especially now - can sit down together and debrief on the day.

Favourite cookbooks to use

The Silver Palate cookbooks. Old school!

Favourite cookbooks just to look at

Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London's Ottolenghi by Yotam Ottolenghi and Momofuku: A Cookbook by David Chang and Peter Meehan.

Three items always in your fridge

Hummus, Wente Vineyards Chardonnay, and Pecorino Romano.

Top 3 Toronto restaurants

Joso’s, Tutti Matti, Lai Wah Heen, and JaBistro.

Go-to food and drink order at a restaurant

Catch of the day and an oaky Chardonnay.

Would you rather: Go to farmers’ market/nearest pub/food truck? 

Pub. 

Describe your kitchen

Sorely in need of more counter space... A major overhaul is on our to-do list! We love our Wolf range!

Describe your cooking style 

I am the grill king at our house - fish or meat. My wife Nancy loves to take old standbys and jazz on them. No one bakes, sadly.

Ideal food day: from the time you wake up until bed, what are you having?

I love to make bull’s-eye eggs (aka eggs-in-the-hole) and peameal bacon for the family in the morning. On to the panini press for lunch - grilled sandwiches. My wife’s eggplant parmigiana with a side of spaghetti aglio e olio for dinner, with a big Italian red!

Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Wexford Heights

Photo courtesy of Karahi Boys.

COVID-19: Emergency orders extended, Toronto bars and restaurants to remain closed

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.

At The Pass with Samantha Lamanna

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.

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.

Toronto restaurateurs are fed up with Uber Eats

Photo courtesy of Il Fornello Restaurants.