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02/28/13
If the name is any indication, Against the Grain doesn’t do the expected. After all, there are pubs and then there are urban taverns, and Against the Grain bills itself as the latter. The upscale bar opened its first location in 2011, and now it’s opening a second location in Leaside, according to its website.
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02/28/13
This March, let’s agree to not force our beer into the indignity of wearing green. Instead, beers like the Chaman imperial pale ale from Quebec’s Dieu du Ciel!, which have the ever-green flavour of hops, seem like a more appropriate way to celebrate spring.
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02/27/13
Richmond Station is like the best of the British gastropubs — cozy, friendly, and the food is robust and honest, without gewgaws and highfalutin constructions and garnishes.
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02/27/13
It’s shaping up to be a good year for Guu fans in Toronto. First, the restaurant started taking reservations at both of its Toronto locations, and today, it announced that both of those locations now serve lunch (on weekdays, for now). Choices include the likes of sashimi, udon noodles and shoyu ramen (because everyone knows there’s a shortage of ramen in the city).
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02/27/13
Although Hogtown’s hottest taqueria has yet to open up that elusive second floor, Grand Electric’s new lunch hours mean that waiting in line no longer comes part and parcel with the experience — well, not always. Lingering guilt-free is now possible, and those Baja fish tacos and pork tinga tacos need not be wolfed down with haste (not that this’ll stop us).
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02/26/13
A new Spanish restaurant from the team behind Torito is set to open soon on Queen West, near Shaw. Torito’s chef, Luis Valenzuela, has financially partnered up with Torito’s owner, Veronica Laudes, for the new venture. The restaurant is slated to open in late March.
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02/26/13
Queen West institution The Drake Hotel announced today that it is taking on the acclaimed Ted Corrado as executive chef. Formerly known for his culinary flair and local flavours at c5, Corrado will oversee the research and development of the menus at The Drake Hotel and the soon-to-open Drake Devonshire Inn in Wellington, Ont.
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02/26/13
Sure, everyone knows Banh Mi Boys, but this old-school Vietnamese place deserves some love too. Part grocery store, part sit-down joint, Cali Bánh Mì & Chè is filled with a plethora of eats to appease the eye and the mouth: fresh salad rolls, cylinders of Vietnamese sausage, steamed buns visible from the window and a vividly hued roster of sweet desserts.
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02/25/13
Looking to build on the success of its Kensington Market and Dufferin Street locations, Pancho’s Bakery is planning to open a new location near College and Beatrice. Pancho’s is known for its Mexican baked goods, such as conchas, tortas and churros, but this location will have an additional focus on Mexican chocolate.
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02/25/13
Top Toronto chef Grant van Gameren tucks into the GTA’s best spaghetti and meatballs, the classic old-school Italian comfort food.
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02/25/13
A couple of years ago, Khao San Road reinvented Thai food in Toronto. Now, Jeff and Nuit Regular (the ex-owners of Khao San Road) are doing it all over again (and then some) at Sabai Sabai Kitchen and Bar, located at Church and Dundas, just around the corner from Santouka.
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02/22/13
Weekly Restaurant Recap rounds up the week’s Toronto restaurant news. In this edition: a new smokehouse near the Junction, doughnuts for Kensington Market, the closure of two legendary restaurants and more.
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02/22/13
Blaye is a lesser-known region of Bordeaux that produces good value wines. This wine has the characteristic claret nose of cedar and blackcurrants; its soft-mouth feel belies its firm structure. Medium-bodied and dry, with expressive fruit flavour.
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02/21/13
Shortly after learning of Colborne Lane’s impending closure, we were notified that the legendary Centro is closing after 25 years in business. The restaurant had seen some of the city’s most famous chefs pass through its kitchen, including Chris McDonald, Michael Bonacini, Marc Thuet and David Lee.
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02/21/13
Claudio Aprile has just announced that he is closing the highly acclaimed Colborne Lane. “I feel that I’ve said everything I’ve had to say with this restaurant,” Aprile tells us. “It’s time for me to focus on different projects. It just feels right.”
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02/21/13
Kensington Brewing Company’s second beer, Baldwin FishEYE-PA, needs a bit of explaining. The name refers to the densely packed row of fishmongers on Baldwin Street, around the corner from the brewery’s current home at 156 Augusta. The brewery’s Michael Gurr says: “For us, it’s about finding a connection to the neighbourhood around us through the names of our beers.”
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02/20/13
How do you make something cool? Restaurants play the no sign game. If it has no sign, only cool people know where it is. Which is why we walk by Patria three times before asking in the nearby Weslodge. It’s down the laneway! With no signs.
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02/20/13
Boutique Bar has been teasing the Church Street coterie with its martinis for almost three years now. The swish spot is outfitted with plenty of nouveau rococo pieces, while an electric fireplace next to the bar adds a touch of warmth. Co-owner Julien Salomone has crafted an extensive cocktail menu that’s ideal for an after-work tipple.
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02/19/13
When Two Bite Saloon first opened, it was mostly about the meat. There was meat in the kale salad, meat in the beans, and meat, well, on the ribs. Out front, a stuffed baby buffalo demonstrated the place’s love for the stuff. But despite chef Nathan Jones’ carnivorous touch, he is more than game for a tofu challenge.
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02/15/13
Weekly Restaurant Recap rounds up the week’s Toronto restaurant news. In this edition: a new Mexican spot in Koreatown, new tables for Sneaky Dee’s, the Dineen Building gets some new businesses and more.
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02/15/13
This is one of my favourite South African producers, with an almost unpronounceable name. This wine is straw-coloured with a minerally pear nose. It offers good weight on the palate with well-defined pear and quince flavours.
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02/14/13
On one of my first dates with Chef, he brought over a bottle of wine for us to share while watching a movie. To me, the date went fine, but apparently (as I only recently learned) I had in fact committed something of a deal breaker on that date.
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02/14/13
Last week’s First Draught focused on a Belgian-style saison from an Ontario brewery. This week, for contrast, and to demonstrate the diversity of Belgian brewing traditions, we have a beer from Brasserie Caracole in Belgium, one that’s made in the quite different Belgian strong ale style.
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02/13/13
Situated next to The East Ender, Hitch has taken over part of the space once occupied by restaurant Tomi-Kro. Owner Douglas Tiller is no stranger to Leslieville — he co-founded Mercury Espresso Bar, also on Queen East, back in 2006, and he also previously co-owned Morning Glory Cafe on King East.
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02/13/13
When Yours Truly went 100 per cent tasting menu and quit serving snacky dishes, they left a hole in my heart. So hallelujah for their new A-OK Foods, where their salt cod inari has reappeared. This is sushi rice with salt cod in fried tofu pouches.
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02/13/13
Valentine’s Day is upon us. And although we’re not wont to get particularly sappy, the occasion is a perfect excuse to sip on a pretty pink cocktail — with a bit of a kick to it, of course.
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02/12/13
Fat Tuesday (otherwise known as Mardi Gras) is today, and what better way to mark the occasion than with a hefty, overindulgent, trashy-good Southern sandwich known as the po’ boy? While an authentic New Orleans po’ boy is hard to find in Toronto, various takes on the sandwich are popping up on menus across the city. Herewith, four po’ boy-esque creations from around the GTA.
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02/12/13
Torontonians may not be familiar with Brioche Dorée, but Parisians certainly are. Dishing out goods since 1976, the successful French café-bakery is taking baby steps into the Canuck market. After opening at kiosk at Pearson Airport, the chain has just opened its first downtown Toronto location (with more to come), offering brioche, baguettes, pastries and more.
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02/12/13
Pronouncing smørrebrød is the hard part; eating these sandwiches is easy. Denmark’s official open-faced sandwich hasn’t gotten too much love in Hogtown — until now, that is. At Bloordale’s Karelia Kitchen, the selection of smørrebrød is enough to make Danish expats feel like they’re smack dab in the centre of København (a.k.a Copenhagen).
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02/11/13
As residents of Riverdale for some 18-odd years, Simon Holder and Athena Kalkanis felt there was a culinary gap waiting to be filled in the neighbourhood. In Holder’s words: “Most Riverdale eateries are either fast-food or strictly sit-down restaurants. We wanted to give residents the option of having restaurant-quality food to take home with them, although they can sit down for a quick bite if they want.”
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02/11/13
With Valentine’s Day coming up, we’re going with cupcakes. Because everyone loves cupcakes, even if they don’t want to admit it.
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02/08/13
Weekly Restaurant Recap rounds up the week’s Toronto restaurant news. In this edition: two new confection shops for King West, a new restaurant from the Fidel Gastro’s team, a longstanding Queen West restaurant closes and more.
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02/08/13
With its black and army-green décor, staff-donned military berets and combative name, The Burgernator is ready for a fight. “I’m a pacifist,” says co-owner Amer Mokdad, “so my weapon of choice is the burger.” Kensington Market’s newest burger joint is keen to offer up handcrafted burgers to those seeking out a quick and hearty bite.
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02/08/13
You’re more likely to find this style of wine in Northern Italy or Alsace — a dry Muscat. Straw coloured, the wine has a gorgeous perfume of freshly crushed grapes and cardamom with tangerine notes. Full-bodied and rich on the palate, it has the immediate suggestion of sweetness but finishes with a linger, dry flavour.
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02/07/13
After opening in the east end in late 2009, Rooster Coffee House quickly became a neighborhood institution. And now, just over three years later, owners Shawn Andrews and Dave Watson are opening a second location at 333 King Street East.
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02/07/13
New breweries seem to sprout up in groups. The once-dry Junction now has two; new ones are opening in Muskoka and now Niagara has a few. Last November, Oast House joined Silversmith Brewing Company in the growing club of breweries in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Farmhouse Saison is a notable selection from Oast House’s small portfolio of beers.
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02/06/13
My sushi fatigue is so much better now. Sushi fatigue is when it all tastes the same and nothing much jumps out, flavour-wise. It’s when raw salmon and tuna start feeling boring. The thrill was gone.
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02/06/13
Enoteca Sociale may have taken the city by storm last year with a particular kale salad, but there’s much more to the place than leafy greens. Currently the enoteca is serving its answer to Winterlicious: a set dinner menu based on a glorious round of parmigiano reggiano that’s been aged for six years.
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02/05/13
Although hubby and wife team Elie and Dena Kirreh have tried to split up their brand new business, The Red Bench, into a shop that’s equal parts fro-yo, loose-leaf teas and made-to-order cookies, it’s the last item in particular that caught our attention.
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02/05/13
Driven. Focused. Obsessive. As one of the GTA’s most celebrated and visionary chefs, Claudio Aprile has carved out a name for himself thanks to his relentless pursuit of perfection. Initially stepping into the city’s culinary consciousness while heading the kitchen at downtown Toronto hot spot Sen5es, the top chef daringly took off on his own in 2007, opening his critically acclaimed restaurant Colborne Lane, swiftly followed by Origin.
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02/05/13
Delica Kitchen has been tempting the uptown lunch crowd for over three years now. Sitting pretty near Yonge and St. Clair, this shrine to wholesome eats is Devin Connell’s first solo foray into the food biz. Inside, rows of freshly made sandwiches and daily soups are perfect for grabbing and going.
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02/04/13
Translating to “the skewer” from Japanese, Zakkushi is the latest Vancouver transplant to hit Hogtown running. Tucked away in Cabbagetown — and but a stone’s throw from Kingyo, another Van City newbie — this izakaya is a warm sight on a winter’s eve, with cheerful lanterns beckoning from the window. Serving Japanese pub food, the eatery focuses on the skewered eats known as yakitori.
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02/04/13
As a kid, one of my favourite parts of Chinese New Year — celebrated this year on Sunday, Feb. 10 — was getting the red envelopes stuffed with fresh, crisp money bills, given to children by parents and married couples. Today, be it old age or simply nostalgia, I consider the meals at Chinese New Year to be the highlight.
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02/01/13
Weekly Restaurant Recap rounds up the week’s Toronto restaurant news. In this edition: three new restaurants for Riverside, a new bar from the owner of a popular indie coffee shop, a Mexican brunch on College Street and more.
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02/01/13
Ontario’s craft beer industry has grown at a steady clip over the last three years, and while the gap is closing, we’re still playing catch-up with our neighbours to the east. Since 1990, Unibroue (now owned by Sapporo, via Sleeman) has been one of the leaders of a class of Quebec breweries that borrows heavily from the Belgian playbook.
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02/01/13
With its tangerine-coloured sign, Nu Bügel is easy to find among the hodgepodge of Kensington Market businesses. Sitting in the former Kensington Clothing Co. space, the shop is both a takeout joint and a sit-down café, with its Montreal-style bagels already drawing plenty of customers in the first week of business.
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02/01/13
A good buy at the price. Straw-coloured with a nose of apple, spice, toast and a touch of barnyard. Medium-bodied with a green pineapple flavour and zesty acidity. Very satisfying with its freshness and lively flavours.
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