Here's this week's round-up of the latest local food and restaurant news...
Openings:
- Good news for pub-goers: gastropub The Queen & Beaver (35 Elm Street) and brewpub The 3 Brewers (275 Yonge Street) will both be turning on the taps tomorrow (June 15th). And there's a rumour that Patrick McMurray's Ceili Cottage (1301 Queen Street East) may open this week as well.
- Poutini's (1112 Queen Street West) opened on Friday, and is already doing brisk business. The short menu includes fries, poutine, and baked potatoes.
- Peter Primiani of DJ pair Peter & Tyrone has moved into the cafe business with The Communal Mule (984 Dundas Street West).
- Eco Chefs, a new mini-chain of prepared food shops using organic and locally-sourced ingredients, opened their first location this weekend in Burlington (1240 Burloak Drive, Unit 2), with a second to follow next weekend in Oakville (188 Lakeshore Road East).
- The long-planned third location for casual Italian eatery Mercatto (110 College Street) has finally opened in the MARs Building.
Closings:
- The restaurant side of Atelier Thuet (171 East Liberty Street) has been shuttered, but the original gourmet food shop remains open.
- Sitting Around Eating BonBons (3308 Lakeshore Boulevard West, Unit 1) will be closing their retail shop on June 30th, but will still be doing wholesale and special orders for their organic chocolates and cupcakes.
Coming Soon:
- More info has come out about the soon-to-open bar with food by Cory Vitiello (Harbord Room) that's taking over from the recently closed Cock & Tail (1168 Queen Street West). The owners have been revealed to be Dave Mitton (Harbord Room, Czehoski) and Jeff Salvian, and the name, which we incorrectly reported last week to be White Rabbit, is going to be chosen via a contest with the winner receiving a $1000 bar tab.
- Smoke's Poutinerie will be expanding to a second location at 203 Dundas Street East this summer.
- Toronto will get our first "dining in the dark" restaurant on June 24th with the opening on O.Noir (620 Church Street), an offshoot of a restaurant of the same name in Montreal. Patrons will dine in complete darkness, and will be served by staff who are legally blind.
- Mitzi's and Mitzi's Sister are set to get another relative (Mitzi's Cousin? Mitzi's Other Sister?), opening soon on College east of Dovercourt. [ooh, ooh... Mitzi's Other Brother, Daryl!! - Retro TV Ed.]
Other News:
- Citing both family and business reasons, Trish Magwood has sold Dish Cooking Studio (390 Dupont Street) to school director Pam Pridham. Pridham tells Toronto Life that she plans to scrap the catering side of the business, and will be closing for renos until August when the cooking school and café will reopen.
- Bob Bermann (ex-Boba) has reportedly taken over The Senator (249 Victoria Street).
If you have a scoop to share about the local food & restaurant scene, please let us know so we can include it in a future edition of T.O. Tidbits.
