Jamie's Italian Toronto to open for training days by first week of December

It’s been a long haul for the first Canadian outpost of Jamie Oliver’s Italian restaurant chain, but the end to the preparation is in sight. Way back in June 2014, they made public the plans that, in conjunction with King Street Food Company (the owners of Buca, the Saint Tavern and other Toronto restaurants), would bring the British celebrity chef's restaurant concept to Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

Jamie Oliver built his celebrity — one of the first chefs with rockstar-level recognition — on simple recipes, often with an Italian bent borrowed from his mentor, Gennaro Contaldo, as well as his longstanding advocacy for teaching children the value of choosing meals based on whole foods.

As we reported in April, Frank Venditti (the former exec chef at Bar Buca) will lead the kitchen team at Jamie’s Italian Toronto. 


Prawn linguine is one of the Jamie Oliver classics on the menu at Jamie’s Italian Toronto.

 

Compared to the three Buca restaurants, Jamie’s Italian offers a more approachable, every-man take on Italian food — Venditti certainly wasn't responsible for creating a kids’ menu at Bar Buca. Their press release goes into more detail: “The no-fuss menu includes a selection of Jamie’s tried, tasted and beloved dishes such as prawn linguine, turkey Milanese, prosciutto and pear salad, 
antipasti “planks” of cured meats and vegetables, made-to-order pizzas and tasty nibbles like olives on ice and polenta chips.”

Apparently, the design for the high-ceilinged space also placed an emphasis on family friendliness, including vintage school chairs for seating. 

The restaurant will have direct access to Yorkdale’s north parking lot — definitely a good thing given how much of a zoo the mall tends to be in December. Jamie’s Italian Toronto plans to be open every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

We're happy to offer Post City readers a shot at an early preview of Jamie’s Italian Toronto. Two winners from the contest below will get a complimentary meal for two. The prize must be redeemed during  their training days preview at lunch or dinner on December 5.

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