Posted by Greg Clow in tasting t.o. on May 10, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Frequently cited as one of the world's leading writers on beer, Stephen Beaumont has been documenting the world of beer, spirits, food and travel for over fifteen years. Since his start penning the "Brew" column for the Toronto Star, Stephen has championed the cause of good beer in publications ranging from the International Herald Tribune to Wine Enthusiast to Esquire, and authored five books, including the critically applauded Premium Beer Drinker's Guide and The Great Canadian Beer Guide.
A tireless advocate of all things good and gastronomic, Stephen is perhaps best known for his work involving the partnership of beer and food, a passion that led directly to his involvement in the ownership and operation of beerbistro (18 King Street East), one of North America's premier locations for creative beer cuisine. His work in the restaurant world has not slowed down his writing one iota, however, and Stephen still contributes regularly to a host of publications, including regular columns in Paste, Malt Advocate, Celebrator, Ale Street News, Flavours, City Bites and Cheers. He also serves as a blogger for Adams Beverage Group and that's the SPIRIT, and he has run the popular World Of Beer website for over 10 years. On top of all that, he finds the time to work as a beer educator for the bar and restaurant industry through his 8 Hour Beer Expert seminar, and he shares his knowledge with beer lovers by hosting beer tastings and dinners around the world.
Taste T.O. recently managed to snag a few minutes in his busy schedule to ask Stephen where and what he likes to eat when he's not jetting off to his next conference, festival or tasting session.
You've got $10 to buy lunch - where do you go?
I don't usually eat out for lunch, and when I do it’s normally going to be some place where I can have a decent beer or glass of wine with my meal, but that would pretty much choke my budget here, wouldn't it? So, I'll pop up the road to grab something from the counter at Fresh & Wild (69 Spadina Avenue), bring it home and enjoy it with something interesting from my beer fridge.
The budget's unlimited, someone else is paying and the choice is yours - where do you pick for dinner?
For pure personal indulgence, Maggie and I love Starfish (100 Adelaide Street East). I could sit at the bar ordering oysters there all night.
Tell us some of the food shops you frequent when buying groceries to cook for yourself.
I'm usually at St. Lawrence Market (92 Front Street East) once or twice a week: DiLiso's or Whitehouse for meat, Mike's for fish, Scheffler's for sliced meats and sundries, Alex Farm for cheese and Carousel for a peameal on a kaiser to get me home. When I have the time to head west, I drop significant amounts of cash at Cheese Boutique (45 Ripley Avenue).
When ordering in for a quiet night at home, what's your favourite place for take-out or delivery?
I don't have time to cook as often as I'd like, and Maggie sometimes works weird hours, so we keep a fair stack of delivery menus around the house. Latest find is the New Peking Restaurant (404 College Street), and I love take-out dumplings from the Dumpling House (328 Spadina Avenue).
Oh, no, relatives are coming to Toronto from out of town - where do you take them?
Obviously, we’re going to have a meal at beerbistro, which even if I wasn't involved in it I'd think is a unique Toronto destination. But aside from that, we'll probably catch a Jays game, stroll Chinatown and both Markets, drop in on Shamez at La Palette (256 Augusta Avenue) and finish the night with drinks at Le Select Bistro (432 Wellington Street West).
Your favourite place to grab a couple of drinks and hang out where everybody knows your name?
Without meaning to sound like a lush, there are quite a few. Again, beerbistro, of course, but also Le Select, Bar Volo (587 Yonge Street), The Rebel House (1068 Yonge Street) and The Abbot on the Hill (1276 Yonge Street) when I'm in Midtown, The Granite Brewery (245 Eglinton Avenue East) for best bitter, The Local (396 Roncesvalles Avenue) when I'm out Roncesvalles way, and of course, the city’s original beer bar, C'est What (67 Front Street East).
What's coming up?
Whisk(e)y and Beer! I'll be hosting an American whiskey dinner at beerbistro on Friday, May 11, followed by The Spirit of Toronto whisky gala on Saturday, May 12, where I'll be presenting whisk(e)y and chocolate and whisk(e)y and cheese pairings at the City Bites booth. Then, on Tuesday, May 15, I'm presenting “Hooray for Hops!,” a new edition of Beer School at beerbistro.
After all of that, Maggie and I are off to Scotland for a little R&R, plus the Feis Ile, what’s otherwise known as the Islay Festival of Malt and Music.
