Posted by Sheryl Kirby in news and media, rag round-up on May 17, 2007 at 9:00 pm

NOW's got their super-comprehensive Patio Guide out this week, and instead of grouping things by neighbourhood, they've arranged the places by category; people-watching, rooftops, great food, etc.. Besides all that patio research, Steven Davey still has time for a bowl of soup at Le Bar A Soup on Ossington. Davey's also got piles of restaurant news in his Fresh Dish column. Plus, Graham Duncan offers his boozy picks for the traditionally boozy long-weekend.

Over at Eye, Alan A Vernon and Denise Balkissoon head west to Karuchi on Dundas West where they adore everything about the place.

Chef-owner Chris Thorn knows the value of a buck. His plated artistry is not just pretty darned astounding, it's unbelievably priced. A mystery starter platter ($12) promises never to present the same combination twice. Expecting the typical, we're instead presented with an imaginative smorgasbord: half a pound of plump mussels in a tomato-Pernod sauce; properly grilled and sliced hanger steak topped with crisp daikon slaw; mildly tangy house-marinated artichokes and a medley of mushrooms, alongside thin slices of prosciutto and sweet little arugula sprouts, not to mention a quartered fresh fig accompanied by a wedge of beautifully stinky rosemary-encrusted Piacere from neighbouring La Fromagerie. For $12? And for the same price, you can go with a bowl of pillowy house-made gnocchi swimming in cream and topped with superbly tender braised venison that could easily satisfy as a main if you're a light eater.

Billy Munnelly looks at the import and mixing of offshore and local wines in his column this week at Metro, while in honour of this 2-4 weekend, Aonghus Kealy interviews one of Canada's top beer drinkers: Doug McKenzie.

Also in Metro, for those not heading to the cottage, there's plenty of fun food and drink-related things to do this weekend, including the Beer and Cocktail Show, eating barbeque and more. And finally Rick McInnis reviews Coca and vouches for the very Spanish-ness of their tapas menu.