T.O. Tidbits – Sunday, July 25th

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

Openings:

• Between chef Scott Conant's now infamous "Open Letter to Toronto" and the flurry of tweets and blog posts that followed the media preview on Wednesday, it's been hard to avoid this news, but for those who missed it somehow - Scarpetta in the Thompson Hotel (550 Wellington Street West) is open - or is it? The first full dinner service was to have taken place last Thursday, but there have been unexpected delays (possibly liquor license related, but no one is saying for sure). At this point, it's unclear when the doors will open, but popular opinion seems to be "any day now".
• We'd love to tell you something about BLD Restaurant (36 Toronto Street) besides just a name and address, but our Google-fu must be weak today, as all we can find is info about a restaurant with the same name in Los Angeles.
• Mark Ali of The Village Butcher in Etobicoke has opened an organic and gluten-free all-day breakfast joint around the corner from his shop, and it's fittingly called Around The Corner (132 6th Street).
• Also quite literally named is Sushi on Roncy (293 Roncesvalles Avenue), taking over the former location of Freshwood Grill.

• First mentioned as "Coming Up" in the June 28th, 2009 installment of this column, Salt Wine Bar (225 Ossington Avenue) finally opened to the public last night with a special tasting menu showcasing the Iberian cuisine of chef Dave Kemp.
• Pol Cristo-Williams of Sweaty Betty's and The Red Light is continuing to expand his hipster bar empire with the opening of The Unlovable (1415 Dundas Street West), featuring "pints, pinball and Pac-Man", not to mention a fully loaded jukebox.
• Cali Vietnamese Restaurant (179 Dundas Street West) is now open and offering a lunch-oriented menu of phð, bún and bánh mì.
• Apparently we still haven't hit critical mass for indie cafés in Toronto, as there's another new one this week - Hub Coffee House (1028 Shaw Street).

Closings:

• Barrio Lounge (896 Queen Street East) was one of the first decent spots to eat in Leslieville when it opened in 2003, but it seems that it couldn't keep up with the numerous newcomers, and is now closed for good.
• Annex tea shop All Things Tea (476 Bloor Street West) has served its last cuppa.

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.