Posted by Greg Clow in events, events upcoming on February 9, 2010 at 7:00 am
EVENTS
Eat, Drink & Give
Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street
6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
$75 general admission - $150 VIP - available online
Fundraising event for Haitian earthquake relief, featuring food and wine from an assortment of Ontario's best restaurants, chefs, wineries and producers. General Admission tickets will allow you to sample from all participating food and wine partners on the main floor. VIP Ticket will include access to a tasting experience led by wine writer Zoltan Szabo, with exclusive access to unique local and premium international vintages. Proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.
[more info]
Wine 101
Arcadian Court, 401 Bay Street
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
$55 - call 416.365.5767 or 1.800.266.4764 to reserve
A fun an interactive evening of wine discovery presented by Vintages. Over 30 wines from Canada and around the world will be available to taste.
[more info]
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Posted by Sheryl Kirby in news and media, on the web, what's cooking on February 8, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Here's what's cooking around town today...
We're boycotting the big O (no, not Oprah... the sports thing) over the "burger" debate, but we're happy to see that the tasty cheese shortbread from Sprucewood Handmade Cookie Co will be in the spotlight. [Toronto Star]
Following in the footsteps of the Toronto Star and other publications that scoop themselves online before releasing their print version, Toronto Life offers up 9 new restaurant reviews before the magazine hits mailboxes and newsstands. Why even bother with a paper version if you're gonna do it this way, folks? [Toronto Life: Daily Dish]
What we know about flour - they're not all equal when it comes to baking, and "Ruhlman's Rules" don't always apply. What we don't know - anything about Timtana, flour made from timothy grass... cool. [Foodie and the Everyman]
Raw, raw! Live expands their raw vegan offerings to prepared items available at health food stores. [Mmm, Tasty!]
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Posted by Jodi Lewchuk in bbq, restaurant review on February 8, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Smokin’ Bones
117 Dundas Street East
416-587-9656
Complete dinner (main plus a side) for two, with all taxes, tip and soft drinks: $28
You’ll know it the moment you walk through the door: This is a southern food joint.
Should you miss the sign out front that identifies Smokin’ Bones as a purveyor of southern comfort food, the smoky-spicy-sweet aroma that greets patrons crossing the threshold gives it away. Savoury barbecue (meats cooked slowly with indirect heat, often wood smoke), tangy rubs and sauces kicked up with heat, rib-sticking soups, stews, and sides, many shot through with a sugary streak — these are the dishes conjured by that heady scent.
Open since mid-December, Smokin’ Bones boasts a menu that’s entirely homemade. Owner Orlando da Cuhna, who is a welcoming and friendly presence at the front of the house, and chef Joseph Jacobson, make a point of acknowledging the regional variations in American barbecue but have chosen their favourite technique for the restaurant. Meats are cooked “low and slow” — at a low temperature for an extended period of time — in two smokers that da Cuhna jokes will soon need to be running 24/7 to keep up with demand.
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Posted by Greg Clow in events, events upcoming on February 8, 2010 at 7:00 am
EVENTS
86'D Monday: Valentine Potato Party
Drake Hotel Lounge, 1150 Queen Street West
7:00 PM
free admission
Calling all servers, DJs, bartenders, actors and anyone who's working for someone else's weekend: Every Monday, Drake offers friendly-priced sushi, cocktails, blue plates, bottle service and shooters. Host Ivy Knight rolls out a series of industry-themed events while DJ Johnny Strychnine spins classic '80s and '60s tunes. This week Fiesta Farms presents a DIY Valentine card party with potato stamps and free french fries to promote Spud Love!
[more info]
Butchery Class
The Stop's Green Barn (Barn #4), 601 Christie Street
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
$120 - email danielle@thestop.org or call 416-652-7867 ext. 250 to reserve
Ryan Donovan, Butcher and Baker at Cowbell restaurant, leads a demonstration of whole animal butchery and how each muscle is best used for retail, restaurants and the home cook, with a discussion of farming practices and the challenges of bringing local products to market. Students will learn how to identify good pork, how to utilize tertiary cuts and be more economical in their own kitchens. Proceeds to support The Stop Community Food Centre.
[more info]
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Posted by Greg Clow in restaurant closings, restaurant news, restaurant openings on February 7, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Here's this week's round-up of the latest local food and restaurant news...
Openings:
- Diverso By Ferraro (328 Dupont Street), an off-shoot of popular mid-town pizza and pasta place Ferraro 502, will be opening any day now.
- They may not have the smoked meat poutine that made previous tenant Mel's Diner (in)famous, but the woodburning oven pizzas and other casual Italian dishes available at the recently opened second location of Hey Lucy (440 Bloor Street West) should make them a welcome addition to The Annex.
- Voulez Vous Café (1560 Queen Street East) will be opening this week in the former Leslieville location of iDeal Coffee.
- The newest addition to Kensington Market is The Bellevue Café (61A Bellevue Avenue), where a couple of former Pizzeria Libretto staffers have set up shop to serve light breakfasts, sandwiches, soups and coffee.
- Celena's Bakery (2036 Danforth Avenue), self-described as "a traditional, European-style bakery", opened for business yesterday near Woodbine and Danforth.
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Posted by Sheryl Kirby in announcements, charities, contests, donate, events, events upcoming on February 7, 2010 at 2:29 pm
We're extending the deadline for the giveaway of a pair of passes to Palais D'Hiver at Hart House on February 19th.
With a theme of "Through the Looking Glass", this circus of the senses includes aerialists who will entertain and enchant spectators with acrobatics inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Glamour Puss Burlesque will also be performing their take on the Alice in Wonderland story.
There will also be signature cocktails, seasonal beers and wines, plus food offerings at midnight.
To enter, simply head over to our Donate page and make a donation of any amount in our tip jar. Remember that your donation helps to support local indie media, and that 25% of all donations received will be passed on to The Stop.
Everyone who makes a donation will be included in the draw, which has been extended and will now take place on February 14th. We'll also be drawing for a copy of The Stop's Good Food For All cookbook.
Posted by Greg Clow in books, charities, events, events upcoming on February 7, 2010 at 11:07 am
While it may no longer be front page news, the massive earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12th will leave large portions of the country in devastation for months and years to come, so it's important that those of us in more comfortable and affluent circumstances do what we can to offer aid and assistance. Those in the food and drink scene, from restaurant owners to producers to writers and bloggers, have always been among the first to come forward to help in these sort of circumstances, and that's definitely been the case with Haiti.
One shining example of this is the Blog Aid project, a group of 27 food writers and bloggers from around the world who managed to compile and publish a fundraising cookbook in just over 2 weeks. Spearheaded by Julie Van Rosendaal, the Calgary-based author of the popular food blog Dinner With Julie, the book Blog Aid: Recipes for Haiti includes contributions from several folks in Toronto and nearby areas including Dana McCauley, Emily Richards and Charmian Christie, as well as bloggers/writers from elsewhere, and perhaps most notably, Chef Michael Smith.
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Posted by Greg Clow in events, events upcoming on February 7, 2010 at 7:00 am
EVENTS
The Drake Supperbowl
Drake Hotel Lounge, 1150 Queen Street West
call 416-531-5042 ext. 1 for details and reservations
The Drake presents it's 2nd Annual Supperbowl. Watch the game on the big screen TV, enjoy pitchers of beer and tailgate platters with Super Bowl inspired foods from Anthony Rose, Buddha Dog and Caplansky's. Vegans and vegetarians get their own tailgate platters (including veggie corndogs!) from Ivy Knight and Raw Aura chef Doug McNish.
[more info]
Cast Iron Chef Historic Cooking Series: Victorian Valentine Delights
Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum & Art Centre, 67 Pottery Road
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
$15 for children/youth/seniors - $20 for adults
Discover the world of Victorian sweets suitable for your Valentine, and prepare and sample period recipes that will tempt any sweet tooth.
[more info]
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Posted by Sheryl Kirby in bbq, comfort food, restaurant openings, restaurant profile on February 6, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Hank's
9-1/2 Church Street
416-504-9463
A few weeks ago, when I interviewed Scott and Rachelle Vivian about their take-over of the Wine Bar and Hank's, the duo let me know about their plans to open Hank's at night with a menu of southern favourites that Vivian had learned to cook growing up in Atlanta. Hank's at Night was unveiled and opened to the public this past week, and the menu is indeed a collection of homey and stick-to-your-ribs southern comfort food.
Sourcing all beer, wine and the majority of ingredients from local growers or producers (there's a chocolate dessert, but no stewed greens until they come back in season locally), the pair are offering up a pretty decent assortment of southern dishes, done really well.
Here's a few of the things on the menu...
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Posted by Greg Clow in in the papers, news and media on February 6, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Here’s a round-up of the food & drink articles in Toronto’s papers today…
National Post:
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Posted by Greg Clow in events, events upcoming on February 6, 2010 at 7:00 am
EVENTS
Kuumba
York Quay Centre, Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West
free admission to most events
Harbourfront Centre celebrates Black History Month with two weekends full of lively entertainment including music, dance, film, comedy, spoken word and literary events that support and celebrate innovative local and international artists from the African and Caribbean diaspora. Kuumba's 13th edition salutes some of Toronto's most successful cultural entrepreneurs, while also showcasing numerous styles of dance, drumming and film. (Also on February 7th and 13th-14th.)
[more info]
iYellow Wine School: Wine & Food 101
Reds Wine Bar, 77 Adelaide Street West
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
$35 per class - $260 for all 8 classes - see website for enrollment details
The second term of iYellow Wine School courses for Winter 2010 will help build your confidence around the art of wine and food. Classes are led by Sommelier Taylor Thompson, with food paired by Reds Sous Chef Amira Becarevic. See the website for full details on all 8 classes in this term.
[more info]
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Posted by Sheryl Kirby in news and media, on the web, what's cooking on February 5, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Here's what's cooking around town today...
Are we all too prudish, was it a publicity stunt that backfired, or was the issue of Mildred's Valentine's bathroom sexcapades incorrectly reported? I think nobody wins with this one. [Toronto Star]
A different kind of greenwashing - bagged salad greens still contain nasty germs -wash them before you eat them. [National Post]
I don't drink milk, only buying a litre every few weeks for baking, so the issue of milk in bags is never one I've really given much thought to. But it seems to freak a lot of people out. [Toronto Star]
Ever dream of running a restaurant? Maybe not so much. Zane documents just one of the many wacky things that can happen in a restaurant kitchen, like a mini-fireball, an equipment supplier being led away in handcuffs and a spontaneous health inspection. [Caplansky's Delicatessen]
Loblaw's rolls out a sustainable seafood program. [Toronto Star]
Talking to Vito, the most popular employee at Fiesta Farms. [Fiesta Farms]
And in Food For Thought - hooligan-proof glassware, cheese fries in a bed pan, and being a snack consultant. [Save Your Fork]
If you enjoyed this article, please considered supporting TasteTO via a donation to our Tip Jar.
Posted by Glen Siegel in beverages, wine on February 5, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Just about every wine producing region produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and most regions also produce Cabernet Franc. The interesting question is - why?
Is it because Cabernet Sauvignon is the best red wine grape in the world? Is it because Cabernet Sauvignon has such a distinctive flavour that it doesn’t really matter where it is produced? Or is it because Cabernet Sauvignon along with Merlot and Cabernet Franc are the grapes that are used to make red Bordeaux1 and most winemakers want to try making their own version of red Bordeaux?
I don’t really think that Cabernet Sauvignon is the best red wine grape although it is one of my top three, the others being Zinfandel and Pinot Noir. Cabernet Sauvignon is very distinctive in flavour but it really does matter where it is grown. Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia is different from the Cabernet Sauvignon grown in Bordeaux and different again from that grown in Ontario or Chile. Cabernets from Australia often have a hint of eucalyptus on the finish that other regions do not get. Eucalyptus or mint is a telltale sign that your Cabernet came from a hot country.
And what about Merlot and Cabernet Franc? Again, they both produce differently depending on where they are grown with more bright fruit flavours and more tannin from hotter areas. Even in Bordeaux where these grapes originate, more Merlot is grown mostly on the right bank of the Gironde river and more Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc is grown on the left. The right bank has clay based soils that retain more water and are cooler, while the left bank has more gravel and rocky soils that are warmer and better drained.
So, does it really come down to Bordeaux envy?
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Posted by Greg Clow in events, events upcoming on February 5, 2010 at 7:00 am
EVENTS
The Red Prince Civility Event
Exchange Tower (on Concourse level in the main hallway), 130 King Street West
First Canadian Place (on Concourse level near the waterfall), 100 King Street West
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
free
To celebrate the arrival of Red Prince, an apple variety hailing from Europe and now available in Ontario, the Red Prince himself will be in the underground PATH system at the Exchange Tower and First Canadian Place to distribute more than 10,000 apples to passersby. In addition, to help promote the return of civility and manners to society and to encourage acts of kindness, the Red Prince and the Adelaide Spa will indulge passersby with the royal treatment by offering free hand massages for men and women during their lunch hour. Louise Fox, owner of The Etiquette Ladies, will be onsite to provide useful etiquette tips proven to be beneficial in business situations, family life and dating and to help launch the 30 day civility challenge.
Global Wine Tour: Exploring The Wines Of Argentina
Global Wine Tour Harbourfront Suite, 33 Harbour Square
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
$69.95
Join one of Canada's foremost wine experts, Steve Thurlow, on a one evening tour of Argentina's most important wine regions. This interactive evening will have you tasting 8 different wines and learning about the different wine producing regions of this very celebrated wine producing nation. Over the course of the evening, you will learn about the unique wine making styles and grape varieties that makes it one of the world's most important wine producing nations. You will also learn about how to match food to the types of wines coming from there. A small sampling of dainty morsels will be provided to assist in the learning of matching food with wine.
[more info]
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Posted by Sheryl Kirby in news and media, on the web, what's cooking on February 4, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Here's what's cooking around town today...
Hurricane Hazel gets a series of wines named after her. Hazel's Heritage Reserve comes from Joseph's Estates Winery in Niagara on the Lake. [Toronto Star]
The overall assessment - Harlem Underground hasn't quite found its groove yet, at least not compared to the original location on Richmond East. And don't get us started on the fried chicken - while Steven Davey found it somewhat bland, when I was there last week, almost everything was doused in some spice mix that overwhelmed the flavours of the food. But Davey's got a list of other African and Caribbean places around town in honour of Black History Month. [NOW]
Dr. Steve's also got some flu-fighting goodness in the form of chicken soup. But if you're in Chinatown anyway, just stop at the herbalist and get them to cook up one of those magic potions that kills your cold on the spot. [NOW]
Wayne Robert's offers an interesting take on the recently released obesity statistics - people are filling themselves with too much high-calorie, low-nutrient food, and that the key to dealing with the problem is to eat real food, not junk. [Wayne Roberts]
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