T.O. Tidbits – Sunday, August 2nd

Here's this week's round-up of the latest local food and restaurant news...

Openings:

• Rumen Dimitrov, former owner of Pravda Vodka Bar and current owner of Rasputin Vodka Bar, is on his way to building a new Russian empire right here in Toronto with the opening of Samovar (51A Winchester Street). In addition to the expected list of vodkas, his new spot also features a fine selection of champagne and absinthe, as well as a food menu that ranges from charcuterie to caviar.
• Madras Pantry (877 Queen Street West) is now open and offering unique takes on dosa that will make purists wince (Szechuan beef? Jerk chicken?!? Yikes.)
• Scoop & Bean (2 Follis Avenue) is something like the 142nd café to open in Toronto this summer, with their shtick being that they offer ice cream in addition to coffee and sandwiches.
• Renowned barista Sam James, known for his coffee creations at Hank's, Manic Coffee and other java hot spots, is opening his own place, fittingly named Sam James Coffee Bar (297 Harbord Street). If all goes as planned, the first shots will be pulled next Saturday August 8th.
• With a few weeks of lunch/brunch service under their belts, the folks at Lola's Commissary (634 Church Street) will start serving up dinner this coming Tuesday, August 4th.
• After the obligatory several months of delays, brothers Leeto and Leemo Han have finally opened their gourmet Korean restaurant Swish by Han (38 Wellington Street East).

Coming Up:

• Richard Lambert and Jesse Girard, co-owners of The Social, have a new venture on the horizon in the wilds of Parkdale. Parts & Labour (1566 Queen Street West), opening soon in a former hardware store next door to Cowbell, will be a "neighbourhood hangout with good food", and "a place that attracts international and local artists", boasting "environmentally conscious design" by the über-hip design studio Castor.
• Long considered one of the best of the many Ethiopian restaurants clustered around Bloor and Ossington, Lalibela will soon be opening an eastern outpost at 1405 Danforth Avenue, where another "Little Ethiopia" is starting to develop.
• It seems that the reports that the new bar from Cory Vitello and Dave Mitton would be named Concession were a bit premature (as were earlier mentions of it being called White Rabbit), and now it will be christened The Double Deuce Saloon (1168 Queen Street West). (Unless they change their minds again, of course.)
• Lil' Bean n' Green Café (1133 Queen Street East) will be opening this fall in Leslieville, and will undoubtedly be warmly welcomed by the yummy mummy set, as they'll be offering lots of space for strollers and a play area for the wee ones.
• The rumours that Vancouver izakaya chain Guu was looking to expand to Toronto have proven to be true: the group has taken over the lease at the former location of Sushi Plaza (398 Church Street) and will be opening later this year.

Other News:

• Congrats to Pizzeria Libretto (221 Ossington Ave), which recently became the first and only restaurant in Canada to be awarded a certification by the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association.
• Stop For Food, a prix fixe promotion to raise money for The Stop Community Food Centre, is back for the month of August. Sixteen restaurants including Amuse Bouche, c5, Crush Wine Bar, grano, Harbord Room, Vertical and more are offering special menus at $35 to $50 per person, with $5 to $10 of each going directly to The Stop.