Stephanie Dickison's Blog, page 50

At The Pass with Chocolatier Mariane Arruda de Oliveira

Currently

Founder and Chocolatier of Mary's Brigadeiro Handcrafted Chocolates.

Formerly

Human Resource Assistant in a private company in Brazil.

Favourite dish to make right now

Feijoada - traditional Brazilian bean stew with meat.

Last cookbook purchase

Right now I am reading and in love for Confeitaria Escalafobética by Raiza Costa.

Have you read it/tried any recipes

Yes.

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

Margarine and shortening.

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

Much more local ingredients, and more information about them in the menus. A dish can tell so many stories, starting with the origin of the ingredients.

Your biggest influences

Chef Philipe Vacayseele. 

If could eat at any restaurant in the world

Mocoto Restaurant in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Last thing you ate

Homemade sweet potato soup.

Three must-have ingredients always in your fridge

French butter, cheese and eggs.

Guilty pleasure

Chocolate! :)

Top 3 favourite Toronto restaurants

 Maha’s, Union Restaurant, and Defina Pizzeria.

Top 3 favourite Toronto bars

Just two: Cider House and Timothy's Pub.

Go-to drink

Cider House for their Hot Mulled Cider. It's incredible!

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

I reorganize the space too often - sometimes my team cannot find anything. :/

One habit you have in the kitchen that will inspire young chefs

Discipline.

Hidden talent

Luiza Ferrer, the first young chef who was part of our team.

Best career advice you ever received 

I received two important pieces of advice:

The first one was to grow our chocolate business to other levels and channels – i.e. corporate gifts, online store (ship worldwide), export, and events and partnerships with other small businesses.

The second was from my mentor, that we should open a concept store to receive our clients and show them where the products are made, who is behind the scenes - the magic happening during the process - and he was so right!

Worst career advice you ever received

"You should automate 100 per cent of your process by introducing more machines.”

Your advice for young cooks starting out in the business

You can do anything you want, so never let anyone say you cannot. Pay attention to the details, work extra hard, learn from the experts, and always ask for help from people you admire. If you believe in your idea, there will be always good people surround you to support your dream!

Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News February 6-12, 2020

This week’s 11 entrants aren’t just all over the map geographically – options range from cotton candy and bagels to a ton of pasta selections and a fast food concept you’d never thought of, but now, will be racing to try.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

In the Bloor West Village ‘hood? Add Montreal-style bagels to your list, thanks to new occupant Bagel Time (2457 Bloor St. W.).

Blooming Cotton Candy touched down at Square One (100 City Centre Dr.) yesterday. Find their pop-up cart filled with candy floss in the shape of cute animal heads at The Food District until March 1st.

The arrival of Boukan’s (452 Kingston Rd.) French Creole fast food street food (say that ten times fast) begs the question: “Where has this taste of Haiti been all our lives?”

Early Bird Coffee & Kitchen just added a second location. And this time, the sleek new digs are right in the Financial District (Brookfield Place -181 Bay St.).

Elm Street Italian Deli (15 Elm St.) opens Monday, with dishes they assert are “made with so much love, you might cry.”

Gusto 501 (501 King St. E.) debuted in Corktown two days ago. And I’ve got alllll the deets (Floating levels! Rooftop patio!) in this week’s The Arrival.

Lost Coffee has landed at Assembly Chef's Hall (111 Richmond St. W.) with a selection of coffee and lunch items.

Ma Maison (2432 Bloor St. W.) offers an “authentic French culinary experience” at Bloor and Jane.

Indulge in your love of carbs at Pastucci's in College Park (777 Bay St.).

Inspired by Italy’s “style capital,” Trattoria Milano debuts today at Eataly (Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St. W.).

You won’t find any plastic packaging at “plant-centered” White Rabbit Caffè (717 Bay St.).

CLOSED

Launched last summer at Queen and Dufferin, the fourth Bespoke Butchers (1164 Queen St. W.) has shuttered.

Bulldog Coffee left Assembly Chef’s Hall (111 Richmond St. W.),, but reopened in a new spot last week. To discover what took its place, check out this week’s arrivals below.

Royal Myanmar (438 Horner Ave.) has closed, though it may be short-term.

Tandori at Hudson’s Bay Centre Food Court (2 Bloor St. E.) is boarded up.

EVENTS

Leslieville’s Chez Nous Wine Bar - which in case you didn’t already know, features exclusively Ontario wine and spirits - is hosting a Ricky + Olivia pop-up on Wednesday from 5pm to 2am.

Winterlicious is underway.

A number of Toronto restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries + cafes are helping to raise money for those affected by the devastating Australian wildfires. Check out the amazing new events happening around town.

There are more Chefs For Change events this month.

NEWS

Asialicious is launching in Markham next week in response to business downturn in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. Stay tuned.

California Pizza Kitchen is finally coming to Canada.

Chinese restaurant Peking Express (217 Parliament St., Unit 2 ) – established in 1984 smack dab between Corktown and Regent Park – just added Wok 2 Go to its lineup.

You’ll never believe the transformed used cooking oil from McDonald’s recently underwent.

Itsuo Kobayashi’s 30-year food diary, a hard copy Instagram of sorts, is just as drool-inducing as your current feed.

Have you seen this restaurant panda?

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Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Want to get the word out about your business or service to an exclusively food-hungry audience? Shoot me an email -> writerscramp@stephaniedickison.com.

p.s. Be sure to subscribe to the fab Toronto Restaurants Newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest resto news + events, receive exclusive content, get in on contests, giveaways, etc., and follow Toronto Restaurants on Insta and FB for exciting announcements!

Innovative Trattoria Gusto 501 Opens in Corktown

Gusto 501. Photo credit: Kayla Rocca.





























Gusto 501. Photo credit: Kayla Rocca.





























Gusto 501. Photo credit: Kayla Rocca.

It took an achingly long six years to bring Gusto 501 to life. Leave it to powerhouse Janet Zuccarini, CEO and Owner of Gusto 54 Restaurant Group to make it worth the wait.

Same but different

If you’re a Trattoria Nervosa and Gusto 101 devotee, then you’ll be all over its new Corktown cousin.

Gusto 501 is “taking the roots from Trattoria Nervosa, the innovation from Gusto 101, and using them to propel a transporting dining experience in a very special neighbourhood, all the while delivering the passionate, soulful Italian hospitality we are intrinsically known for,” Zuccarini said in a recent release.

Italian, but make it modern

Gusto 54 Restaurant Group Executive Chef Elio Zannoni and Chef Michael Magliano - formerly of Michelin-starred The French Laundry and Quince, and L.A. resto Felix (awarded top spot on the 2017 “#1 Best New Restaurant in America” by Jeff Gordinier in Esquire Magazine); currently Gusto Green, a healthy plant-powered eatery opening in Los Angeles this spring - have created plates rooted in tradition, with contemporary constructions.

The all-day eatery takes you from early morning coffee to late night dinner and drinks across the striking five “floating levels” structure:

Attico snack bar on the second floor, offers a focused menu of 12 spuntini - from puffed collagen with black truffle and Parmigiano Soffiato ($10) to Risotto Verde ($20) with hen of the woods, chlorophyll and garlic - and six grigliata terracotta, dishes cooked in clay pots as the Romans did ($8-$12), designed to be enjoyed with a selection of amari, cocktails ($17-$19), house wine on tap ($1/oz.), other wines for $3.oz, as well as a variety of wines by the glass and bottle in the cocktail bar above.

Guests can tuck into the Trattoria menu in the Amari lounge on the mezzanine, and main dining room on the ground floor. Notorious dishes from Trattoria Nervosa and Gusto 101 (hello Cavolo Nero $16, Mafalde ai Funghi $23) make an appearance, alongside “contemporary Southern Italian fare” such as Coppa ($28) a trifecta of pork, savoy cabbage, and raisin mostarda: Branzino ($34) with blood orange and fennel pollen; and prime striploin (aka Tagliata $40) with cauliflower mash, arugula and garlic. For brunch, Ricotta Pancake ($14), Eggs in Purgatorio ($15), Smoked Grain Bowl ($15), Gusto ‘Americano’ Burger ($20-$25), and array of Pizzettes ($15-$24).

The caffè, featuring espresso-based drinks and housemade Italian pastries, is also a nod to Zuccarini’s father Giacomo, who imported the first espresso machine to Canada, and later opened The Sidewalk Caffè on College Street.

The rooftop patio is set to debut this spring.

Terrracotta dreams

The industrial edifice nestled between Sumach and Sackville boasts modern design utilizing natural materials by leading Toronto architecture studio, PARTISANS (You’ll recognize their handiwork from hotspots Bar Raval and Quetzal, and colossal spaces such as Union Station and Ontario Place).

The 1400 sq. ft. “Hypergarage” features one of the largest operable glass facades in the world, “undulating walls,” and 50-foot glass roof, delivering unique dining experiences across the multi-tiered space.

The restaurant accommodates 205 guests: 60 in the Trattoria, 35 on the Mezzanine, 25 in the Cocktail Bar, 30 at Attico, and once the warm weather arrives, 55 on the roof.

Destination: Corktown

Like adjacent east end nabe Leslieville, Corktown is quickly evolving into a dining destination thanks to popular haunts like Roselle and Odin, stalwarts such as Morning Glory Café, and newcomers Reyna on King and Bodega Henriette.

The arrival of Gusto 501 simply confirms why your next reservation should be east of Yonge.

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Deets 

Gusto 501
501 King St. E.
416.477.5647

Hours
Mon + Tues - 8am-10pm
Wed  - 8am-11pm
Thurs + Fri  - 8am-1am
Sat - 10:30am - 1am
Sun - 10:30am - 12am

Psst. Stay tuned. Gusto 54 - which includes Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, Gusto 54 Catering & Commissary, and partnerships with Pai and Kiin on its roster - is set to launch five more concepts In the coming year: Azhar and two Thai concepts (in partnership with Pai) in Toronto; Gusto Green and Stella in Los Angeles.

Don’t miss a thing - be sure to subscribe to the fab Toronto Restaurants Newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest resto news + events, receive exclusive content, get in on contests, giveaways, etc., and follow Toronto Restaurants on Insta and FB for exciting announcements

Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News January 30-February 5, 2020

It’s hard to believe, but last week’s +10 arrivals felt a little sparse compared to weeks past.

So this week’s seismic surge - 20 new destinations - with coffee and bubble tea shops leading the charge, seems strangely about right.

And naturally, there’s a whack of closures, news and events to catch up on, so get comfortable - you’re going to be here awhile.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Despite reports the the zero-waste store opened last month, Annex Market (718 Bathurst St.) actually just launched, with the grand opening taking place this Saturday. The green grocer offers pickup, and delivery, and aims to make “local food and sustainable goods available to all at affordable prices.”

Bar Mordecai (1272 Dundas St. W.) debuted last night. The Dundas West spot by the Mahjong Bar (1276 Dundas St. W.) crew was inspired by “the aesthetics of Wes Anderson’s films” and styled after “hotel lobby bars of yore”, so eye-candy is just the beginning. To find out more, you’ll have to see it for yourself, but keep your eyes locked here. Coming soon: a lounge bar and private dining rooms featuring karaoke on the lower level.

Doors opened Monday for Regent Park’s newest occupant, BLCK. (383 Dundas St. E.), taking over Ontario Restaurant’s former digs, with a “globally- inspired” menu including: Fruity Loop’s Pancakes ($11), Brussels Sprouts Ceasar ($13), Signature Burger ($15), and Mac + Cheese ($12).

It turns out you can go home again. Bulldog Coffee (89 Granby St.), moved back into its original home at Church and Carlton, where it first launched in 2003 (To give you some context: It was the year Apple launched iTunes, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California, and top flicks included Bruce Almighty, The Last Samurai, and Lost in Translation. So yeah, a helluva long time ago).

The latest outpost of rapidly expanding chain Butter Chicken Roti just landed in East York (1041 Coxwell Ave.), with a bunch more in the works – both in Toronto/GTA and further afield. Stay tuned.

Scarborough’s Chicha’s (2300 Lawrence Ave. E.) isn’t your typical Indian resto. The Asli Hyderabadi eatery calls itself “Frivolous. Fearless. Flirty.” On the menu: shawarma, dosa, maggi and samosa.

Also in Scarborough: CoCo FreshTea & Juice just landed at the 402 & Kennedy (8 William Kitchen Rd.).

Love Sugo (1281 Bloor St. W.)? Get yourself to Conzo’s (1279 Bloor St. W.), their new pizzeria a few doors east (where Emerson used to be).

Copper Branch - the plant-based chain with big name ambassadors (Bianca Andreescu, Montreal Canadiens Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Olympic Figure Skater Meagan Duhamel, for starters), just added a Mississauga outpost (3055 Argentia Rd.) to its roster.

Drippin Coffee (5 Kenaston Gardens) at Bayview and Sheppard is about “chef inspired coffee” by Zac Kara, a teen who has appeared on various cooking shows. A focused food menu was just added.

Heyyy fashion set: Holts Café (50 Bloor St. W.) at Holt Renfrew has a new look (Alex Cochrane Architects) and feel (contemporary Canadian menu by executive chef Benjamin Lillico).

When a company rolls out a bunch of spots close together, it can feel like Groundhog Day. Take Kung Fu Tea, who’s expanding across the GTA so quickly, they landed in the Annex in September, Yorkville in November, and on College as recently as last week. While their first Mississauga satellite (285 Enfield Pl.) kicks off Sunday with 25 per cent off all drinks, more locations are to follow soon. Knowing these guys, very soon. Stay tuned.

NaanSpot (310 College St.) offers much more than just naan (though that would be totally fine too). Dig into an array of Indian fare including fish, chicken, and vegetarian selections (chaaps!).

In the St. Clair and Christie ‘hood?  Neapolitan-style pies have arrived courtesy of Pi Co. (687 St. Clair Ave. W.). Go on Tuesday for a free Margherita from noon to 3:14pm (line cut off at 2:30pm).

Riverside Burgers (688 Queen St. E.) has taken over from BQM Burgers. While it’s retained the same ownership and menu, you’ll find a few new items including a double patty option and jerk burger.

You know I would normally never include a Starbucks opening here, but the first pickup-only location for the brand in Canada (the world’s first launched on November 5, 2019 in NYC ) kicks off on Tuesday in Commerce Court (25 King St. W.). A trend already in motion by other retailers including PC Express, is one we’ll see increase exponentially in the next few years.

Thirstea (632 Bloor St. W.) arrived in Koreatown last year, but closed shortly after launching, leaving a wake of confusion as to whether it was actually open or not. Doors finally reopened earlier this week.

Find Wallace Espresso inside Ubisoft Toronto, on coincidentally, their namesake street (224 Wallace Ave., Unit 200)

One of the city’s best restos, Woodlot (293 Palmerston Ave) just  reopened with a little revamp to the space and menu.

Xing Fu Tang Tea Hall is another bubble tea chain that doesn’t like to be idle. They celebrated their Scarborough (3278 Midland Ave., Unit D11) soft open yesterday, with a grand opening to follow Tuesday. In the meantime, enjoy 20 per cent off all drinks until Saturday.

CLOSED

The Junction’s Bricco Kitchen + Wine Bar (3047 Dundas St. W.), home of one of my all-time favourite dining rooms –a mid-century furniture lover's dream - has shuttered after six years.

B. Good’s location across from The St. Lawrence Market (100 Front St. E.) is papered up and no longer listed on the company’s website.

BQM Burger (688 Queen St. E.) west of Broadview is no more. See above for what’s taken over.

Enoteca Sociale (1288 Dundas St. W.) has temporarily closed for “a full renovation,” with the re-launch to follow next month.

Leslieville’s Hitch (1216 Queen St. E.)  on Feb 15th after seven years.

Holy Noir (790 Dundas St. W.) closed this month. Soon to take over - Descendant Pizza’s second location - instead of once-in-the- works Rumble Tang.

The Library Bar at Fairmont Royal York (100 Front St. W.) closes tomorrow for a “refresh”, reopening Summer 2020.

Sobeys Urban Fresh Bay Street  (777 Bay St., Unit C209) closes today, reopening this fall as Farm Boy.

EVENTS

If you like Oreos, you’ll want to head to the new Oreo Stuf Shoppe ASAP.

Chefs For Change kicks off tonight.

Winterlicious begins tomorrow.

This weekend, head to the Toronto Reference Library for the Toronto Tea Festival.

Chocoholics unite at Saturday’s Winter Chocolate Show.

Beer-lovers have their own bash happening Saturday at Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival.

IKEA North York celebrates Chinese New Year on Sunday.

Another great food-centric event on Sunday: Super Bowl LIV.

A number of Toronto restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries + cafes are helping to raise money for those affected by the devastating Australian wildfires. Check out the amazing new events happening around town.

NEWS

DJ Khaled gave big ups to Chubby’s when he visited last week. #BlessUp.

Man Ray Bar À Vin (227A Ossington Ave, Second Floor), a “luxe fondue bar” by Sarah Keenlyside and Brandon Olsen of CXBO Chocolates and La Banane, is launching soon. Stay tuned.

Pizzeria Libretto is adding to its current four locations across Toronto, with a planned expansion set for Spring 2020.

Singer-songwriter Andy Shauf based a whole album around a Toronto restaurant.

Food Network Canada’s new series Wall of Chefs, debuts Monday.

Ben & Jerry’s Netflix and Chill’d Ice Cream is now available in Canada.

A Paul Bocuse resto got a serious Michelin demotion.

The Beyond Meat story continues.

Milk is the latest item to be recalled.

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Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Want to get the word out about your business or service to an exclusively food-hungry audience? Shoot me an email -> writerscramp@stephaniedickison.com.

p.s. Be sure to subscribe to the fab Toronto Restaurants Newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest resto news + events, receive exclusive content, get in on contests, giveaways, etc., and follow Toronto Restaurants on Insta and FB for exciting announcements!

Laurie Woolever on Anthony Bourdain, NYC's best restaurants, Le Swan, and what’s next

Photo credit: Steve Legato

Laurie Woolever isn’t your typical writer. And that’s a very, very good thing.

A quick listen of her addictive, no-holds-barred Carbface for Radio Podcast with Laurie and Chris, and suddenly you too will have thoughts about Personal Pan Rice Krispie Treats, dump and stir shows, burger rings, Grape Mentos, and other culinary . And Appetites: A Cookbook that she co-authored with Anthony Bourdain, is anything but standard (i.e. a Korean army helmet filled with Budae Jigae,Anthony holding a bird upside in one hand and hair dryer int the other, for starters).

The sharp-witted author, podcast host, and long-time Anthony Bourdain collaborator, traveled to Toronto recently to be a part of a panel about women and food. Once settled back at home, she shared her thoughts about Carbface, Anthony, New York restaurants and more, in her trademark funny/smart/sardonic style.

What are three things you’ve learned in doing the CarbFace for Radio podcast? 

Doing Carbface has taught me the value of practice and experience. When we first started working on it, I was nervous and self-doubting; the more episodes Chris and I make, and the more we spend time talking and riffing and being silly, the easier and better it gets.

I've also learned that there is value in creative endeavors that don't generate direct income. It's a change of pace for me; I have long found it hard to write something for the sheer love of writing, if there isn't an assignment or contract attached.

I have also learned more than I ever knew possible about the bizarre world of candy and snacks from around the world, thanks to our awesome and generous listeners who like to send us packages.

Any advice for those wanting to write a cookbook?

Appetites: A Cookbook by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever. Photo credit: Stephanie Dickison.

We talked about this on an episode of Carbface with Matt and Ted Lee, who run an annual cookbook workshop, and I think they really got to the heart of it when they said, ask yourself why you want to write a book. If you think you're going to make a lot of money, you'll likely be disappointed.

From my own experience I'd say it's important to have an agent advocating for you, if you're not comfortable doing that yourself. The money you spend on commission is an investment in your career and the success of the book.

Also: TEST YOUR RECIPES. Send them out to a tester, re-work them yourself, and make your explanations clear and direct, whether in the method or the headnotes. Once it's out in the world, be prepared to promote it relentlessly. Publishing houses don't have the resources to promote all the titles they publish; it's up to authors to find or create opportunities to move copies.

In working with Anthony - both as his assistant and co-authoring Appetites: A Cookbook - you got to see a side of him away from the cameras. What would his fans be surprised to learn about him? 

In going back over old episodes and transcripts, I am struck by how transparent Tony was about himself, in whatever mood or stage of life the cameras found him, but I think that people might have been surprised by the shy, gentle and generous sides of him that were as much who he was as the swaggering, wisecracking world traveler.

Left to your own devices, what three dishes do you tend to make for yourself? 

I cook eggs almost every day, either a plain omelet with cottage cheese and raspberries, or fried eggs with vegetables, lentils and something spicy. 

I like to make spaghetti -- lately it's the kind made of lentil or chickpea flour -- tossed with an egg and some grated cheese or nutritional yeast.

And I'm a big fan of roasting chicken thighs with salt and pepper in the toaster oven, which I'll eat with some garlicky sautéed greens and a purple sweet potato, also roasted in the toaster oven.

I like to cook a few big batches of vegetables and have them on hand for a few days.

Are those dishes vastly different than the ones you make for friends and family? 

Photo credit: Bobby Fisher for Appetites: A Cookbook.

I think they're all delicious and would serve any of them to friends and family, but if I'm entertaining, I'll generally braise a hunk of fatty meat in the Instant Pot and then build a meal around that, making a sauce from the braising liquid and maybe cooking some rice and veg in that liquid, too.

Or I'll cook a real pasta, that is, white flour pasta. My sister came for dinner recently and I made Israeli couscous with basil pesto, green beans, blanched squid and chickpeas. It sounds odd but it was really tasty, and the green-ness of it sort of fooled us into believing it was healthy.

Are you reading any food-related books right now? If so, which ones?

The late chef Gina DePalma wrote a beautiful book about Italian sweets, based on her time living in Rome and traveling around the country, called My Sweet Italy.

Unfortunately, her long illness delayed her finishing it, and it was never published. I was lucky to get a copy of the manuscript before she died in 2015, and I read it again recently, before my first visit to Rome. It's bittersweet in the extreme; she was a magnificent writer, with prose that is wry and economical and warm and informative, and I really hope that someone sees fit to publish it posthumously.

What kind of non-food books are you most drawn to? 

I love contemporary novels; I just read Fleishman Is In Trouble: A Novel by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. I also really like memoirs written by people with significant mileage on their lives; bonus points for being funny (Tina Fey's Bossypants is the gold standard). And I love collections of personal essays; the best one I've read recently is Alicia Tobin's So You're A Little Sad, So What? Nice Things to Say to Yourself on Bad Days and Other Essays.

Describe a typical day of eating from when you get up until you go to bed.

La Caridad 78, New York City. Photo credit: Antonio Mora.

Coffee is always the first priority. I use Café Bustelo, which has the best flavour, is dark and rich, and is also very cheap. It's often two bricks for $5 at my local grocery store, so I stock up. There are about seven bricks in my freezer right now. I used to do the Italian stovetop espresso thing, but generally I want a small ocean's worth of coffee each morning. So, coffee with whole milk.

Then I'll make the aforementioned omelet with cottage cheese and raspberries, or fried eggs with whatever leftover cooked veg I have from the previous night's dinner.

I work at home, so at some point mid-morning I'll wander back into the kitchen for more coffee, a handful of almonds, a piece of fruit, or this kind of awful breakfast cereal that's like Cheerios but made from quinoa. It fills the need for something crunchy and something sweet. I love actual sweets, but I am now middle-aged and have still not figured out how to enjoy a reasonable portion of them, so I mostly don't/can't keep things like cookies or candy around.

If I'm home for lunch, it's generally dinner leftovers, plus or minus a few eggs, or a can of tuna or some cottage cheese. If I'm out, I try to get something reasonably healthy, like deli nori rolls that don't give me an immediate botulism vibe, or steam table soup, or one of those absurd birthday cake-flavored protein bars and a cup of coffee, which is absolutely as tragic as it sounds, but I don't care, it's a portable $4 lunch and I love it.

If my 11-year-old son is with me in the evening, I'll make us some kind of standard dinner: variations on braised or roasted chicken, or burgers, or a substantial soup, or pasta, or tacos made with ground meat and soft corn tortillas. The other day I made "Dinner Nachos" -- I cut up some corn tortillas and fried them in oil, then topped them with the last of the leftover braised short ribs and some shredded mozzarella, microwaved it and added mild salsa from a jar.

If my son isn't with me, I'll do eggs plus vegetables and maybe lentils or chicken, or a bowl of cereal, or I'll go out. My boyfriend took me to one of his childhood favourites recently, La Caridad 78 in Manhattan, which is old-school Cuban Chinese, straightforward, cheap and delicious. That kind of place is my strong preference lately, over self-consciously cool places, or fine dining. There's a great place in my neighbourhood called The Queensboro, that's comfortable and relaxed, with great food -- nothing too fancy, but everything done really well -- and as a bonus, it's a few blocks' walk from my apartment. 

Top three restaurants you’ve been to 

Le Swan French Diner, Toronto. Photo credit: Laurie Woolever

In my life? Uh ... I had the best omelet ever at Le Swan recently; it was just perfectly cooked, and the shaved cheese and ham gilded the proverbial lily. It's exactly the kind of dining room I like; it was basically an ideal restaurant experience.

I used to live around the corner from Casa Adela, a tiny place on Avenue C in Manhattan with the best rotisserie chicken and plantains I have ever had. The consistency, coupled with the warmth, value and the inscrutably, insanely delicious seasoning on the chicken, make this a top restaurant memory for me.

And I will always love Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant in the basement of Grand Central Station.

Three restaurants you order the most takeout/delivery from

I do very little takeout/delivery, but when I do, it's pho from a place in my neighbourhood called Thai Son, tamales from the unnamed business that sets up every Sunday at my local farmers’ market, or a run through the hot and cold buffet at Woorijip, an excellent Korean take-out place in Manhattan.

What projects are you working on right now? 

I am finishing a travel book that I started co-authoring with Tony Bourdain before his death (World Travel: An Irreverent Guide, available for pre-order until its release this October), and am also working on an oral biography of his life.

I enjoy the collaboration process, and helping non-writers with interesting lives to tell their stories, and I'm also starting to believe that I've got a few stories of my own worth telling. 

Toronto Restaurants celebrating Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year is upon us and a number of not-necessarily-Asian restaurants are celebrating Year of the Rat with delectable sweet and savoury fare you’ll crave long after the festivities.

Take a look:

The Ace
231A Roncesvalles Ave.

You’ve only got until Saturday January 25th to get your hands on sumptuous Chinese New Year Dinner Specials including Pot Stickers ($8), General Tso’s Duck Wings ($12), Braised Beef Cheek and Gai Lan ($18), and Chinese Lettuce Wraps ($12/$17).

DaiLo
503 College St.

Chef Nick Liu has put together a special menu, complete with Winter Melon Soup, French Onion Soup Dumpling, Whole Steamed Branzino, Crispy Lobster “Dan Dan” Noodles, Duck “Fried Rice,” Aloe Sake Sorbet, and a TBA dessert.

His Chinese New Year Menu available Jan 28th to February 1st

George Restaurant
111C Queen St. E.

Chef Lorenzo Loseto’s inaugural Lunar New Year’s Eve Dinner 8-Course Tasting Menu ($99/pp) on Friday January 24th features Duck Breast, Shiitake Mushroom Tempura, and Jasmine Tea Brûlée.

Patois Restaurant
794 Dundas St. W.

If you’ve never had this unique take on Jamaican-Chinese cuisine based on owner/chef Craig Wong’s background, now is a good time to start. For the week of January 21st, dig into two Chinese New Year Specials:

- Lee Sang (Prosperity) Salad - Boasting salmon sashimi, cucumber, carrots, crispy wonton skins, daikon, pomelo, taro, salted plum and orange vinaigrette, this salad is meant to be shared, with everyone lifting ingredients high in the air with chopsticks and tossing them together for good luck and prosperity.

- Imperial Snow Crab Fried Rice - A mountain of decadence by way of snow crab, gai lan, jalepeno aioli, and tobiko, crowned with half pound of butter-poached snow crab legs.

St. Regis Hotel
325 Bay St.

The first Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea Ritual ($75*/$90**) features an array of sweet treats (Green Tea Macaron, Lychee Mascarpone Bavarois) alongside savoury selections (Peking Duck Salad, BBQ Pork Buns), served with tea of course (including rare Pu’er from China), in the Astor Lounge (Lobby Level) of the prestigious hotel.

The afternoon tea promotion is available weekends until Sunday February 2nd.

* includes glass of Prosecco.
**includes glass of Louis Roederer Brut Champagne.

Terre Rouge
162 Enterprise Blvd.

Ring in the new year at Markham’s contemporary French-inspired bistro with a four-course Lunar New Year Menu ($68/pp) from Friday January 24th to Friday January 31st.

Mains include your choice of Lobster Squid Ink Pasta, Miso Glazed Black Cod, or Filet Mignon Frites.

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Note: Menu items, prices, and ingredients subject to change.

Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News January 23-29, 2020

Looking for new ways to tantalize your tastebuds? This week’s +10 arrivals have got you covered, from classic French fare and old school Italian to healthy plant-based bowls and Japanese tapas.

And there’s some colossal closures.

What a week.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Zero waste grocery store bare market (1480 Danforth Ave.) has softly opened, with an official opening on February 1st.

Gamberoni (3249 Yonge St.) launches across the street from its fixed address for over thirty years on Monday. At the helm are original owners, brothers Mike and Nicola Colombaro, with new additions: Nicola’s sons Giancarlo and Alessandro (of now closed Pisco Restaurant). More info below.

Holy Cow Steakhouse (254 Queen St. W.) is the latest concept to move into the Queen and John spot, with pick-your-own steaks and Japanese tapas.

Look for Imanishi Basement Bar by Imanishi Japanese Kitchen (193 Carlton St., B1)  below Zakkushi on Carlton in Cabbagetown.

I told you ghost kitchens and virtual restaurants were on the rise. Say hello to Kitchen Hub (935 The Queensway), a “virtual food hall” (read: a bunch of restaurants you can order from from one site and/or platform) featuring Pai Northern Thai Kitchen, The Carbon Bar, Blondies Pizza, Kanga Aussie Meat Pies, Greenhouse Juice Co., and The Cheesecake Factory Bakery. There’s also a selection of snacks, ice cream and pop available.

The sixth Kung Fu Tea (287 College Street) has arrived. Stay tuned: the authentic Taiwanese bubble tea and fruit tea has three more locations planned for the GTA.

The Yonge-Eg ‘hood just got a new meatless and wheatless destination. The eighth Ontario outpost Kupfert and Kim (2313 Yonge St.) debuted earlier this week.

While Chantecler remains closed for renovations due to a fire in November, head to Le Phénix (1263 Queen St. W.) for fab food [i.e. French Onion Soup ($8/$14), Winter Salad ($12), Poached Halibut ($24/$40) and Duck (half $35/whole $66)] and drinks. The temporary eatery by Chantecler’s Jacob Wharton-Shukster is set to stick around until August.

Saving Mondays (1655 Dupont St, Unit 100) is all about cookies and coffee. What’s not to love?

Speaking of coffee, sleek new Third Wave Coffee (42 Church St., Unit 2A) at King and Church specializes in specialty coffee and premium tea.

CLOSED

Leslieville’s Brooklyn Tavern last day is Saturday.

3238 Yonge St. was Gamberoni’s home for 33 years until Saturday. The owners had to move (luckily just across the street –  see above) due to a 50 per cent increase in rent.

Kensington Market mainstay Hibiscus Café (238 Augusta Ave.) shuttered on Friday.

Cabbagetown’s Kanpai Snack Bar (252 Carlton St.) was shut down after failing an inspection on December 19, 2019. Now there’s a Notice of Distress posted on the front door due to “rent arrears.”

While Neruda Restaurant (1681 Lake Shore Blvd. E.) appears to be still up and running online (their website still touts “Toronto's Best Steak & Seafood”), the palatial building does not. For weeks now - they purported to be open for New Year's Eve celebrations, but left people stranded outside in the cold.

EVENTS

The International Vegan Film Festival World Tour kicks off tomorrow at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.

Reservations are now being accepted for this year’s Winterlicious, taking place Friday, January 31st to Thursday February 13th.

NEWS

Robin Goodfellow (Bar Raval, Pretty Ugly Bar, Paradise on Bloor, Little Bones Beverage) and Amanda Bradley (Alo) are opening Vela in May, with food by Chef Jeffrey Lapointe (Soho House, Piano Piano, Splendido).

Pay-it-forward at Sultan Shawarma (2558 Danforth Ave.).

Castro’s Lounge (2116E Queen St. E.) in the Beach has seen some drama in the last few days regarding their liquor licence.

Uh, Coca-Cola's single use plastic bottles may be here to stay.

If you think the number of meat recalls has dramatically increased lately, you’re right.

ICYMI

A number of Toronto restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries + cafes are helping to raise money for those affected by the devastating Australian wildfires. Check out the amazing new events happening around town.

FYI

Do you have an upcoming food, drink or chef event coming up? List your event in a few seconds for FREE.

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Want to get the word out about your business or service to an exclusively food-hungry audience? Shoot me an email -> writerscramp@stephaniedickison.com.

p.s. Be sure to subscribe to the fab Toronto Restaurants Newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest resto news + events, receive exclusive content, get in on contests, giveaways, etc., and follow Toronto Restaurants on Insta and FB for exciting announcements!

Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News January 16-22, 2020

I’ve been doing the Open/Closed for eeeons now and this month marks an unprecedented amount of openings for January - Including today’s mind-blowing 20, I’ve unearthed 53 new eateries, watering holes, and food shops so far, and we’re only halfway though.

The closures are rapid too.

You’ve got your work cut out for you this weekend.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

There’s been so much movement at King and Portland in the last year. The newest occupant, Mexican resto Añejo (600 King St. W.) right on the corner, opened earlier this week.

 On the menu at Gerrard St. Bakery’s new Black Dog Cafe (878 Kingston Rd.): plenty of sweet and savoury options including tarts, cookies, cakes, empanadas, pot pies, sandos, Cliffside Hearth bread, and Hatch Coffee. Doors opened Monday.

Dino’s Wood Burning Pizza (820 The Queensway) - home of thin-crust pizzas, Turkish pides, wings, and salads - launches a second location today (4923 Dundas St. W. *Note: just the pizza section is open for now). A third outpost is set to follow next month.

Japanese soufflé pancake shop Fuwa Fuwa’s third spot at Mississauga’s Square One (100 City Centre Dr.) debuted Sunday. A grand opening is set for Saturday with free signature pancakes for the first 200 people in line. Guests will also receive free bubble tea with the purchase of pancakes for the remainder of the grand opening.

Authentic Middle Eastern spot Ghazale has been a mainstay at Bloor and Bathurst for as long as you can remember. So how nice they’ve added a spot closer to Spadina (4 Walmer Rd.), giving you two options in the ‘hood just one subway stop apart.

Green Haven (3080 Dundas St. W.) offers Junction dwellers “Asian inspired vegan food and drinks in a casual atmosphere.”

Food, but make it fashion. Holt Renfrew Bloor Street (50 Bloor St. W.) gets a swish new Holts Cafe starting Wednesday.

La Cantina del Pueblo takes over from shuttered Captain’s Boil (671 College St.) in Little Italy. The new Mexican resto features an array of tacos with daily housemade corn tortillas, ($8-$10), soups and salads ($10-$14), and house specialties including Barbacoa Hidalgo ($23) - Steamed lamb, consommé and rice; Pescado Sarandeado ($22) – Grilled red snapper, achiote pepper adobo; and Molcajete del Pueblo for Two ($42) – Grilled arrachera steak, pork in adobo, grilled chicken, nopales and guacamole.

The Food Dudes just launched LafLaf, a new Middle Eastern ghost kitchen. The delivery-only biz features build your own and set bowls in almost exclusively compostable packaging.

Bright new Lighthouse 971 (971 Kingston Rd.) is open for breakfast (Lobster Florentine Benedict, French Toast), lunch (Vegan Chopped Cobb Salad, Avocado Toast Sandwich) and dinner (Chicken Xacuti, Wild Mushroom & Cheese Gnocchi, Beer Battered Fish & Chips, Top Sirloin with Blue Cheese or Feta) seven days a week.

My Dosa Place (383 Jane St.) - brought to you by My Roti Place - just moved into Baby Point. Doors opened yesterday,

Late night Extra Burgers and fine wine? Uh hello, THISISWHATDREAMSAREMADEOF. See you at Parkdale’s Nice Nice (269 Dunn Ave.) by Paris Paris (1161 Dundas St. W.).

Oystermine has taken over Grano’s old spot on Yonge between Eglinton and Davisville (2035 Yonge St.). Expect an array of seafood and meat apps and mains ($6-MP), and “significant desserts” ($10-$26.95) coming in at “six inches.”

Pitalite isn’t wasting any time launching new outposts. Check out their latest arrivals downtown (34 King St. E., Unit 102) and in Oakville (230 North Service Rd. W., with more in the works, including College Park.

Pōpa kicked off yesterday at Bayview Village (2901 Bayview Ave.). The Burmese spot is the newest venture by restaurateurs Hemant Bhagwani (Goa, Good Karma) and Trevor Lui (Yatai Street Food). 

The Annex Food Hall’s (384 Bloor St. W.) newest vendor Ramona’s Kitchen, softly opened this weekend. They’re celebrating with a grand opening this Sunday, complete with free pancakes for the first 100 customers starting at 10am.

Raza (403 Rocesvalles Ave.), “a unique brewery, restaurant, taproom and entertainment space” that “fuses Latin and Canadian culture,” launched on Boxing Day.

Doors open Tuesday for The Junction’s Tâm Vietnamese Street Food and Café (369 Keele St.).

The team behind The Carbon Bar, Union Chicken, and Amano Restaurants unveiled their new concept Uncle Ray’s Food & Liquor in Hamilton on December 11th. The Toronto location (9 Church St.) is set to launch tomorrow, though the website states it’s “Now Open” and the restaurant is already under fire for its “racist” marketing materials.

CLOSED

The Academy of Culinary Arts (1703 Bayview Ave.) – established 1971 - is closing after 49 years at the end of March.

Chabrol is on the move. Last service at their current teeny boite (90 Yorkville Ave.) is February 9th. Don’t worry - they’re moving close by (156 Cumberland Ave.) in March.

The Coffee Lab (141 Spadina Ave.) shuttered their brick-and-mortar shop on Saturday, but will maintain their online shop, with “other new things to come.”

The Library Bar at Fairmont Royal York (100 Front St. W.) is closing January 31st for a “refresh”, reopening Summer 2020.

Pizza Forno has pulled the plug on its 24/7 automated pizza oven at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.

After a short postponement, Schnitzel Queen (211 Queen St. E.)I, founded in 1983, is shutting down tomorrow. But not for long – they’re currently on the lookout for a bigger space.

Despite reports it already closed, Tequila Bookworm (512 Queen St. W.) is keeping the kitchen going until Tuesday. The popular haunt of +25 years cites a rent hike for the closure.

One of the city’s best restos, Woodlot (293 Palmerston Ave.), is temporarily closed - reopening at the end of the month with… Stay tuned.

EVENTS

The inaugural byMINISTRY secret supper club The Enlightened Dining Club takes place Tuesday.

NEWS

The St. Lawrence Market is FINALLY updating their hours to later during the week, and open on Sundays starting March 15th.

McDonald’s still isn’t accepting reusable cups.

ICYMI

A number of Toronto restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries + cafes are helping to raise money for those affected by the devastating Australian wildfires.

FYI

Do you have an upcoming food, drink or chef event coming up? List your event in a few seconds for FREE.  

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Want to get the word out about your business or service to an exclusively food-hungry audience? Shoot me an email -> writerscramp@stephaniedickison.com.

Psst. Be sure to subscribe to the fab Toronto Restaurants Newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest resto news + events, receive exclusive content, get in on contests, giveaways, etc., and follow Toronto Restaurants on Insta and FB for exciting announcements!

Toronto restaurants raising funds for Australian wildfire relief

The devastating bush fires in Australia continue to rage on. Over 20 people and more than a billion animals have died to date.

Toronto restaurants, bars, cafes, and bakeries are raising money to help those in need.

Take a look:

Baddies Toronto
679 Landsdowne Ave.

Both the Aussie brunch spot at Bloor and Landsdowne and sister spot Cops Toronto, donated all coffee sales on Monday January 6th to NSW Rural Fire Service.

Bluestone Lane
Multiple locations

The “Australian-inspired coffee, café and lifestyle brand” with avocado toast, flat whites, and over 45 locations in the U.S., touched down for the first time in Toronto last April, and quickly launched another location in August.

Founder & CEO Nick Stone, grew up in the state of Victoria, so from Wednesday January 8th to Friday January 10th, all profits from all 48 Bluestone Lane locations will be donated to the Red Cross and their Australian Bushfire Emergency Relief Fund. Missed the window? Donations are being accepted all month long in-store and via their mobile app. They’ve also set up a fundraising page to “help with the emergency relief and recovery efforts made possible by the Red Cross.”

And on Sunday January 26th, the company is holding Australian Bushfire Appeal Events at seven locations across North America, including Toronto’s 40 King St. W, with all proceeds from ticket sales and fundraising initiatives being donated.

Hemingway’s
142 Cumberland St.

The Yorkville restaurant celebrating its 39th year is co-hosting an Australian Bushfire Relief Fundraiser on Sunday, January 26th, alongside The Toronto Rebels.

Kanga Aussie Meat Pies
Multiple locations

You have Kanga’s Megan Chan and Erynn Mayes to thanks for bringing a bit of Oz to the 6ix. They introduced their authentic Aussie meat pies to Torontonians back in 2014, and later expanded the menu to include other Down Under delicacies including Lamingtons, and for a too limited time, Chicken Salt.

Currently, they’re donating 50 cents from pie sales (meat and veggie $6.50-$6.85) to the Australian Red Cross, so dig in and do good.

Sanremo Bakery & Café
374 Royal York Rd.

For over fifty years, the Bozzo family has been wowing customers with their delectable savoury fare, drool-inducing fresh baked goods, and warm hospitality.

On Saturday January 11th and Sunday January 12th, the famous Italian bakery in Etobicoke is donating all coffee proceeds to the Australian Red Cross and WIRES, the largest wildlife rescue organization in Australia.

Woodhouse Brewing Co.
303 Lansdowne Ave.

While the Toronto brewery has been slinging suds since 2014, the new Woodhouse Brew Pub just debuted in Brockton Village two months ago.

On Friday January 10th and Saturday January 11th, they’re donating $10 for every pint of their Australian IPA sold to fire relief.

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Organizations you can donate to:

- Australian Red Cross

- Red Cross Australia Fires Appeal

- NSW Rural Fire Service

- CFS Foundation Supporting Volunteer Firefighters

- Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES)

- St Vincent de Paul Society

- WIRES

- Koala Hospital Port Macquarie NSW and their GoFundMe page for Thirsty Koalas

- Currimbin Wildlife Hospital and their GoFundMe page to Save Koala Bushfire Victims

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Stay tuned for updates here, on IG and FB, and in the TR Newsletter. Not signed up yet? It takes just a sec to subscribe.

Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News January 9-15, 2020

Historically, January is the slowest month for restaurants. People are beyond broke and exhausted after the holiday frenzy, and thanks to the blistering cold spells, ordering in takes on greater appeal. Restaurateurs hang on for dear life, hoping their empty dining rooms will see warmer days.

Keep that in mind when I tell you I’ve uncovered 20 new places to eat and drink for this week alone.

And it’s so busy, I’ve already started on next week’s list (If you need me, I’ll be at the bar).

In the meantime, here’s the very latest:

OPEN

From Aburi Restaurants Canada Ltd. (Vancouver’s Miku, Minami, and Gyoza Bar; in Toronto Miku and Aburi Tora) comes Aburi Hana (102 Yorkville Ave., Unit 4, in the alley between Chanel House and Stone Island) a modern kyō-kaiseki restaurant in Yorkville. Two 15-course dinner menus ( Aburi $195, Hana $330) -are available at four seating times (5:30pm, 7pm, 8:30pm, 8:45pm) at the the chef's counter and Kakurega private dining rooms. Despite prices not for the faint of heart (it is steps from Brunello Cucinelli after all), reservations for Day One (Wednesday), are booking swiftly, with just two time slots left at press time.

Bar Biltmore (1006 Bloor St. W.) debuts Saturday with Spritzes, Sours, Negronis and bar bites. That’s what I’m talking about. Find it on the second floor of Paradise On Bloor above Osteria Rialto (Note: Enter on Westmoreland Ave., just north of the patio).

Despite protests, American chicken chain Chick-fil-A debuted the first Toronto outpost in September. The second launched on Tuesday at Yorkdale Mall (3401 Dufferin St.).

Cho-kwok-lat (31 Main St. N.) isn’t your average chocolate shop. The new patisserie and  chocolaterie in Markham comes way of Chef Chris Kwok, one of Canada’s most inventive chocolatiers and pastry chefs (i.e. His AI robot with a single-wheel motorcycle on her shoulder showpiece was just one of three items that won him the World Chocolate Masters for Canada in 2017, while he was at Cluny Bistro and Boulangerie in the Distillery District).

Not far from its original location (5 Coady Ave.) comes Completo No. 2 (337 Broadview Ave.). The Latin fast food eatery (think grilled cheese, hot dog or poutine covered in diced tomato, mashed avocado, roasted red pepper sauce, and housemade hot sauce) softly opened yesterday in East Chinatown in the former home of longstanding Chinese housewares store, Mei King Co.

What was once (and seemingly forever) Pan on the Danforth is now District 34 (516 Danforth Ave.), a seafood-ish* restaurant, complete with belly dancing.  *Vegetarians, carnivores and flexitarians have options from Greek mezes Vine Leaves ($7) and Halloumi ($11), to meat-centric starter Beef Liver ( $10) and mains: 8 oz Burger ($16), Chicken Schnitzel ($19), 8oz NY Steak ($24).

Divine Dumplings (478 Dundas St. W.), a “virtual” restaurant by Superfine Food & Entertainment, is serving up an array of meat, seafood and vegetarian options including: Seafood Medley ($10), Mushroom Tahini ($10), Pepper Chicken ($7.50), and Mapo Tofu ($8.75).

Faz’s Burrito (733 Bloor St. W.) has touched down at the corner of Bloor and Christie.

Leslieville’s The Green Wood (1402 Queen St. E.) just got a sibling in the west end (461 King St.). Tuesday marked the first official day for the Fashion District destination. To celebrate, enjoy free coffee and tea until Sunday (any size, at this location only).

Lims Chicken (623 Bloor St. W.) takes over from Do Eat in Koreatown.

Lobster Burger Bar (214 King St. W.) has set up shop across from Roy Thompson Hall. On the dinner menu: apps (Roasted Root Vegetable Salad $15, YYZ Lobster Tacos $12), burgers ($14-$28), lobsters ($42 for 1.5 lb to MP for 2+lb) and desserts ($6-$18).

MIA Brunch Bar (2140 Yonge St.) softly opened just south of Eglinton. The crowd-pleasing menu includes Halloumi Cheese Sliders ($9), Chicken Belgian Waffles ($17), Fluffy Pancake Trio ($16), and Portobello Quinoa Burger ($17).

Japanese-style café Ninetails Coffee Bar (651 Bloor St. W.) just moved into Koreatown.

Osteria Rialto kicks off Tuesday inside Paradise On Bloor (1006 Bloor St. W.). With folks including Executive Chef Basilio Pesce, Chef Ryan Baddeley, and Pastry Chef Jill Barber behind the ingredient-focused, Italian-inspired menu, it’s going to be one of the hottest spots of 2020. (Note: Enter on Westmoreland Ave., just north of the patio). See you there.

Pi Co. (160 Bloor St. E.) is slinging free Margheritas from its new digs at Church and Bloor on Tuesday [Deets: Available Noon to 3:14pm (line cut off at 2:30pm), in store special, limit one per person, no gluten-free].

You can get your hands on Primrose Bagel Company’s (317A Oakwood Ave.), fresh hand-rolled, malt-boiled Toronto-style bagels starting tomorrow at 7am.

Smokeshow BBQ and Brew (744 Mount Pleasant Rd.­) opened earlier this week in the same spot once home to The Mt Pleasant Rose and Chicken ‘N’ Deli. Menu items include BBQ mains, burgers, sandwiches, starters, salads, sides, desserts, shakes and floats.

Bubble tea meets bakery Tea 18 Genuine Tea Store (495 Bloor St. W.) nabbed a spot in the Annex.

World Food Market (335 Yonge St.) near Dundas just added two vendors to its roster:

1. Montreal Smoked Meat with iconic deli sandos.
2. Goup, specializing in Korean BBQ in a cup.

CLOSED

Yesterday the owners of Leslieville’s popular haunt for six years, Brooklyn Tavern (1097 Queen St. E.), announced the restaurant will close after service on Saturday January 25th.

Further east along Queen, Meat on the Beach (1860 Queen St. E.) shuttered Friday after more than 20 years of serving the community.

It’s peace out for Wildfire, the nightclub inside The Thompson Toronto (550 Wellington St. W.).

The first Sukhothai (274 Parliament St.) has closed to the public, and now serves an an expanded kitchen for the brand. Sukothai’s three other locations remain open.

NEWS

Cannabis edibles were supposed to be available December 17, 2019, but the date got pushed to January 6, 2020. This past Monday however, they were hard to come by.

There’s a lot of insane news this week, including: Timbits Cereal, and Martha Stewart X Subway.

Sobeys is getting rid of plastic bags as of January 31st.

Speaking of the environment, in reusable cup news: This, and also this.

If you’re look to start a COR certified food biz, Kosher Tank might be for you.

Machines are replacing humans. For example, Meowing cat robot waiter .

ICYMI

Chef Emma Herrera of top bar, bottle shop + music hall Burdock Brewery, dishes on what’s in her fridge, advice for chefs just starting out, her favourite bars and restaurants in the 6ix, and much more in this month’s At The Pass.

If you haven’t been to Chefs for Change before, this is the year to go. Discover who’s cooking and how to get tickets now.

FYI

Do you have an upcoming food, drink or chef event coming up?. List your event in a few seconds for FREE.  

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Want to get the word out about your business or service to an exclusively food-hungry audience? Shoot me an email -> writerscramp@stephaniedickison.com.

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p.s. Be sure to subscribe to the fab Toronto Restaurants Newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest resto news + events, receive exclusive content, get in on contests, giveaways, etc., and follow Toronto Restaurants on Insta and FB for announcements. Big news coming soon!