We asked Zachary Barnes, who is helming the kitchen at the newly relaunched Le Sélect Bistro, to taste-test one of his favourite classic French dishes. Here’s his take on eight of the city’s best quiches.
“This is delicious, very sweet. The caramelized onion comes through a lot, and the crust is quite flaky. The texture and density hold it together well, but it’s also not too dense.”
“I love smoked salmon, so this one is very nice; the texture is great and holds together nicely. The crust holds together a little less than the other ones, but this flavour combination is a classic with the broccoli.”
“Very unique, less of a traditional crust, but I don’t mind it. Mushroom and goat cheese is a great combination and so well seasoned, but the goat cheese makes for a softer texture for the filling.”
“This is probably the best crust out of these. It’s heavy on the roasted vegetables, so it’s a little less quiche-like and a little more like a vegetable tart. It’s more crumbly too. But the vegetables are seasoned beautifully.”
“I love ham, and ham and cheese is always so classic. But this is a bit more run-of-the-mill, and it doesn’t have the flakiness in the crust. It would do the trick with a big salad.”
“These are a little bit on the drier side because of the amount of crust compared to the filling. The flavours are good though! And for a cocktail party, these bite-sized ones are a great way to go.”
“More of a unique flavour combination with the pear and walnut. It’s delicious. The crust is a bit more dense and less flaky, but I really like this flavour combination.”
DaiLo sits beside Bar Raval and, along with its owner, Grant van Gameren, chef Nick Liu has transformed west College Street into one of Toronto’s hippest restaurant dining blocks. Liu, 46, has been cooking since attending George Brown College in 1996 and learned his craft at Michelin-starred restaurants like the Fat Duck and also at Niagara Street Cafe, where the food grew to resemble its chef more than the original restaurant concept.
Liu, young and audacious, counted among his peer group rising transformative kitchen stars like Matty Matheson and Scott Vivian, the chef behind Beast, and saw his frenemies open their own spots while he was slower to connect the dots — financing, location, partners — for doing his own thing in the kitchen. The slow burn proved to be beneficial.
“My story reads now like a fantasy, but it’s something I call the ‘beautiful struggle’ and it took a lot of perseverance and resilience — took me sleeping in my car for two days — to open my restaurant,” Liu says over hakka brown wontons and Filipino BBQ pork belly and octopus tacos at DaiLo, where photographs of his parents and grandparents dot the exposed white brick back wall.
DaiLo translates, roughly, to “a nod to the ways and tastes of older cultures and generations,” and Liu, who had opened buzzy pop-ups around town between Niagara Street and now, didn’t find real success until he leaned in on his culture.
He says he thought “good cooking” meant “French cooking” and trained with the best, including Keith Froggett at Scaramouche. But when Liu awakened to the fact that exceptional flavour wasn’t regionally specific and could actually be found in his own home — that the Asian cuisine he grew up with was just as important as the Michelin stars — he found the keys to unlock his happiness, and international success.
“It took me a long time to register that the food I was brought up with was a substantial, meaningful form of cuisine, and I didn’t realize, growing up, I was being raised by so many good cooks with so much good food,” says Liu, who was born in Scarborough and raised in Markham at a time when the town north of the city was all hockey rinks and farmland.
“When we moved to Markham, it was the first time I realized I was an Asian kid. In Scarborough, everyone is just kids and does kid things, but when I moved to Markham as a teenager, it was the first time anyone identified me as a Chinese kid: ‘Nick Liu, do you speak English?’ When you’re younger you want to fit in, and I put my Asian culture aside for a long time, even when I started cooking. I wanted to cook the best French cuisine.”
At DaiLo, Liu cooks the best French cuisine while also incorporating the exact recipes that his parents and grandparents made in his youth. He still has his parents make the hakka brown wontons and serves his restaurant’s most popular dish in a bowl, much like how he ate it when he was five years old. The restaurant, celebrating its eighth anniversary on Aug. 8 — triple eights, which means good luck in Korean culture — has not only gone a long way toward cementing what Toronto cooking tastes like, cutting-edge multiculturalism, but also has influenced a gaggle of rising young Asian stars. As Susur Lee influenced Nick Liu, Nick Liu influences up-and-comers like Colin Li at Hong Shing.
“Seeing what Nick has done has been amazing for me and helped encourage me to try new things while leaning in on my culture but also incorporating my own personality to my food,” says Li, who recently revitalized his menu at his Dundas Street restaurant and fosters a community between his fellow Chinatown restaurateurs.
“It used to be that if someone put pork fried rice on their menu for $8, the other guy would charge $7, and it was a race to the bottom. Now, I feel like it’s more about pushing each other to try new things and a concerted, group effort for us all to reach for the top and, like DaiLo, create something fresh,” says Li.
Words like that, for Nick Liu, mean everything. Liu says his community of Asian chefs has always had to help each other and that kind words from his peers mean more than any critical accolade. Toronto cuisine is continuously being modernized and expanded upon, and with each successful restaurant like DaiLo that transforms a stretch like west College Street, the future of our food gets more exciting.
“It’s not all white kids working in restaurants. It’s Indians, Cambodians, Filipinos, and all across the board, all these ethnic people are starting to believe in the validity of their own cuisines,” says Liu. “It took a lot of hard work to get where I am, and maybe it took me a lot longer than it did some of my peers, but I feel proud of my contribution to Toronto cuisine. All I want is our city’s ethnic chefs to put their story on a plate. That’s where we find something special.”
1. Barenaked Ladies are always a big hit in Toronto
The always-fantastic Toronto band Barenaked Ladies has rescheduled its summer show and will set up musical shop at the Budweiser Stage on Aug. 30. The local date for the Last Summer On Earth tour features an awesome lineup that includes Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Canadian legend Kim Mitchell.
Chinatown Festival
2. Celebrating the city’s oldest Chinatown
There will be dragon and lion dances, kung fu performances, opera, delicious street food, music, dance and much more at the Toronto Chinatown Festival running Aug. 20 to 21 at the city’s oldest Chinatown along Spadina Avenue.
3. SummerWorks Festival
SummerWorks is back, and scheduled to return to the city f rom Aug. 4 to 14. The performance festival will feature more than 30 works and events, presented in 13 neighbourhoods across Toronto.
Potential highlights from this year’s lineup include a new collaborative project Future Perfect: New Bylaws for Civic Space, which brings together elements of game play, intervention and poetics, and Switching Queen(s), which invites attendees to travel through streets and alleyways, tracing pathways and ecologies navigated by queer, trans, poor, mad, racialized, Indigenous, (im)migrant and displaced peoples of Parkdale.
The words of Shakespeare will echo through the leafy grounds of Toronto’s High Park this month as the romantic comedy As You Like Ithits the outdoor amphitheatre. The classic tale of disguise, romance and adventure is directed by Anand Rajaram and stars Bren Eastcott as heroine Rosalind and Paolo Santalucia as her love Orlando.
The production also features new music by Serena Ryder, Kiran Ahluwalia and Maryem Toller, along with production design by Shadowland Theatre.
5. Comedy with a bang at Massey Hall
The legendary Comedy Bang! Bang! was podcasting before it was even a thing. The TV adaptation features guests like Jon Hamm, Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen. And now Torontonians can embrace the hijinks in the comfy confines of Massey Hall when host Scott Aukerman brings the high-spirited and hilarious show to town on Aug. 28.
6. Bentway but not broken
The annual Bentway Block Party returns on Aug. 14 with a day-long, free, celebratory street party across the Bentway site, including musical performances, family-friendly games and workshops, food and drink and much more.
There will be entertainment through the day curated in partnership with Yohomo, a street-inspired fashion workshop and runway performance co-presented with Fashion Art Toronto.
7. 6 Guitars are better than one
One person, six characters, six musical genres and plenty of laughs and great guitar licks along the way. Since it premiered in 2010, 6 Guitars has been performed hundreds of times for tens of thousands of people across North America. The star of the show, Chase Padgett, is a multi-faceted actor, singer, guitarist and improviser who transforms into a number of characters f rom a 20-year-old aspiring rocker to an elderly blues man.
The show runs Aug. 2 to 7 at the CAA Theatre.
8. Wavelength Summer Thing
The Toronto curators of all the good music happenings, Wavelength is back with a part-show-part-festival happening dubbed Summer Thing, running Aug. 26 to 27 at the Lithuanian House in Toronto. The weekend happening is headlined and co-curated by the last two years of Polaris Music Prize winners, Cadence Weapon and Backxwash, and features an array of curated installations, projections and pop-up performances by artists such as Ouri, James Baley and Dreamcrusher.
9. Walk like an Egyptian to the immersive King Tut exhibit
Immersive art pioneers Lighthouse Immersive are back with a new exhibit opening Aug. 10, and this time they’ve turned their sights on the most famous of Egyptian rulers, the Pharaoh Tutankhamun in Immersive King Tut: Magic Journey to the Light.
The exhibit is being launched to commemorate the 100th anniversary of archeologist Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb of the legendary “boy king” in November 1922. The exhibit boasts stunning visuals to tell the story of the Amduat, an important ancient Egyptian funerary text, thought to be the oldest known illustrated story, that was depicted on the tombs of pharaohs.
State-of-the-art video mapping and groundbreaking animation bring to life the story of King Tut’s passage into the afterlife as he escorts the sun through the underworld each night to rise again victoriously each morning.
Toronto’s favourite cottage country destination will be alive with the sounds of music this month as the Muskoka Music Festival, presented by TD, arrives Aug. 19 to 21.
The festival is headlined by Juno Award–winning musical group Whitehorse, who will be performing at the historic Gravenhurst Opera House with special guest Polaris Music Prize long-listed artist AHI on Aug. 20.
This year, running alongside the Dockside Festival of the Arts will be the Muskoka Music Festival Tent, featuring workshops and performances from such artists as Jim Bryson, Lydia Persaud, Matthew Barber, Steve Poltz and many more. The weekend wraps up on Sunday evening with Muskoka Music Festival closing out the 2022 Music on the Barge series with performances from Fred Schulz, the Heavyweights Brass Band, Alex Pangman and the Sweet Hots and the Devin Cuddy Band.
The Danforth’s local fishmonger, Hooked, now offers an in-store fish-and-chips counter with savoury take-out food. Sailor’s Fish and Chips opened recently with little-to-no publicity, making it an “if you know, you know” kind of spot. The owners of Hooked, Laura Cleland and Sean Kinghan, love the community and wanted to leverage the high-quality fish they already have readily available to offer residents another option for enjoying the exceptional seafood Hooked has become known for.
“We take pride in knowing where, when, and how the seafood is caught, and by whom,” says Cleland, who adds that the Hooked team, over the past five years has developed extremely close relationships with the fishermen with whom they work. Letting quality take precedence over anything else, the duo has built a booming business. It’s no surprise locals would be lining up to try their latest venture, a tucked-away counter only open two days per week.
Shrimp roll at Sailor’s (Instagram)
Sailor’s is churning out cult classics such as the Fil EH Fish Sandwich, Pacific cod breaded with seasoned panko, deep-fried and covered in house-made tartar sauce. The combo is sandwiched between a potato bun and topped with American cheese. And if you like a bit of a kick they’ve got you. Opt for the spicy version which drips the cod in buffalo sauce and swaps tartar for spicy mayo. Looking for something a little different? The Southern Fried Rockfish will get you two pieces of firm, lean, and mildly flavoured white-fleshed fish made tangy-sweet with honey mustard, complete with coleslaw and fries.
Fil EH Fish Sandwich
Fancy yourself more of a traditionalist? Then the traditional Shrimp Roll is the way to go. Think: fresh shrimp, house-made tartar, celery, onion, red pepper, and bib lettuce served on a cloud-like Brioche Bun with crispy and perfectly salted Yukon gold fries.
All prices range from $14 to $18 meaning you won’t be trading coins for quality.
Sailor’s is located inside Hooked at 1246 Danforth Ave. The counter is open Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
International pop star Shawn Mendes has cancelled the remaining shows of his Wonder World tour amid “mental health concerns.” More than 70 shows have been cut due to this decision, including two in Toronto on July 31 and Aug. 2.
Earlier this month, Mendes opted to postpone the tour for three weeks, telling fans that he had “hit a breaking point.” The Pickering-born star has been touring quite steadily since he was 15 years old.
Mendes took to Instagram this morning, saying, “After speaking more with my team and working with an incredible group of health professionals, it has become more clear that I need to take the time I’ve never taken personally to ground myself and come back stronger.”
Mendes assured fans that the cancellation will not affect his future musical endeavours, as he plans to release new songs shortly and perform soon.
“We are hopeful that I might be able to pick up with the rest of the dates after some much-needed time off, but at this time, I have to put my health as my first priority,” said Mendes.
Another local star, Justin Bieber, also had shows cancelled in mid-June due to a rare medical disorder. Bieber, aged 28, was diagnosed with Ramsey Hunt Syndrome, which left his face partially paralyzed.
Bieber displayed his symptoms via Instagram, where he showed that he couldn’t smile on an entire side of his face. As well, he had trouble blinking and moving his nostrils.
His cancellation stopped performances in June and bled into early July, which included performances in Los Angeles and Milwaukee. However, the tour is set to resume on July 31st at the Lucca Summer festival in Italy.
Scotiabank Arena has said that tickets will be automatically refunded for Mendes’ missed shows. As well, official information will be sent to purchasers via their registered email.
It was love at first sight for John “Buck” Martinez, the television play-by-play announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays. Though according to his wife Arlene, it was more about a free meal and the ability to say she knew a Kansas City Royals baseball player.
Buck Martinez just returned to the booth on Tuesday after stepping away from his job in April during his fight against cancer. Here, Buck shares how he and his wife met and their complicated first date.
How they met
We met in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in January 1971. I was playing ball with Cangrejeros de Santurce in the Puerto Rican Winter League, and Arlene was on vacation with her friend Debbie. They had just graduated from high school and were enjoying the beach and sun. I had taken in a stray dog that had been in the neighbourhood, and we would run on the beach every day. I noticed these cute girls and sent my dog, Buddy Guy, over to help break the ice. I asked them if they would like to be my guests at the ball game that night with dinner afterwards. They agreed. I didn’t find out for years that they had been shopping in St. Thomas that day, spent most of their money and were desperate for a meal. They had to eat and agreed to meet me after the game.
The first date
I played that night at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Rio Piedres and met the girls for dinner. We had a nice meal, and I thought it would be a good idea to take a drive on the beach to put a nice cap on our first date. Bad idea! I got the car stuck and spent the rest of the night trying to get the car off the beach, which happened just as the sun was coming up. Arlene and I spent another couple of days together on the beach before they left the island to return to New Jersey. Before they left, I asked for her phone number, promising to get in touch when I got back to the States. We didn’t communicate for three years. No calls, no letters, no conversations.
The second meeting
Let’s fast forward to 1974 and Ft. Myers, Florida. Spring training with the Kansas City Royals. Arlene was staying on Ft. Myers Beach with her parents. Tanned and gorgeous, she was on the beach when she was approached by a group of young guys that asked if she would like to attend a party with them that night. Little did she know that they were crashing a Royals party. When she arrived, stunning but underdressed, by her own account, the hostess recognized they weren’t invited guests. Arlene coyly asked who are these young guys and was told they are the Kansas City Royals. Quick on her feet, Arlene responded, “I know one of the players, John Martinez.” Joanne, the hostess, found me and told me, “There is a girl named Arlene from Red Bank, New Jersey, that says she knows you.” I remembered her immediately.
The proposal
Arlene and I dated for about a year before she came to Boston to meet me on a road trip. I asked her to join me in Boston Commons at the swan boats. That’s where I asked her to marry me.
The wedding
We were married in Kansas City, July 14, 1975, during the all-star break. We had a Catholic wedding in Blue Springs, Missouri, with the reception at the Adams Mark Hotel across from Royals stadium.
Relationship advice from Buck Martinez
I think the best advice I can give is to enjoy each other for who you are. You were attracted to each other for a reason, don’t let that leave the relationship.
If you’ve been on TikTok this summer or even walked the streets of Toronto, odds are you’ve seen people wearing vintage football (soccer) jerseys with some baggy or straight-cut denim and some type of classic Adidas sneaker. Whether those are Samba’s or Spezial’s, it’s really up to the person’s preference.
The trend has been around for years in some sort of shape or form. But this summer, the fad blew up and was aptly named “Blokecore” as a playful mockery of British football fans. Brandon Huntley, a 23-year-old from North Carolina, has been credited by most for starting the trend. However, the Blokecore gene pool has lived in the blood of many football fans across the pond.
In the early ’60s, spirited football fans often travelled from the U.K. to watch their team play fixtures against some of the continent’s top sides, including teams from Spain, Italy and France. While away, fans would score on local designer clothing, which was prevalent to the people around them but less heard of back home.
Once they got home, these blokes were seen sporting brands like Stone Island, C.P. Company and Sergio Tacchini. Instantly, these brands, Stone Island in particular, were associated with die-hard football fans who sometimes resorted to “hooliganism” in extreme circumstances.
In 2022, this trend has shown up in a different, less violent light. Josh Roter is the owner of In Vintage We Trust, a local vintage clothing store. Roter has an affinity for retro sportswear, football shirts included.
“Blokecore means something to me because it’s an authentic expression and fashion trend because of its roots. The fact that North American consumers have recently tapped into a long-standing European way of dressing might be new here but has been a staple for many, many years,” Roter says.
Like many, Roter sees a negative side to the recent trend. While people in North America see clubs as good or bad, Roter described the severity of football rivalries in the same context as gang violence.
“Soccer culture in Europe is unlike sports culture in maybe any other part of the world, it’s life and death sometimes. Wearing a jersey in the wrong part of England would be similar to wearing gang colours in North America; it’s really that real. It’s generational fandom, and I’m not sure anything really compares to it in North America,” he says.
Every trend has its benefits. Outside of the inherent fashionable nature of football jerseys, there seems to be an upwards trend in football popularity among Canadians. “More people being put on to the sport of soccer is refreshing here. Maybe a combination of Canada’s national team popping as well has added to more eyes being on soccer kits,” Roter says.
While Roter finds similarities with Polo Ralph Lauren in New York and footy jerseys in the UK, the younger crowd are getting behind Blokecore for similar reasons. Local alternative musician Paolo Laicini finds comfort in Blokecore. Born and raised in an Italian home, Laicini found himself playing soccer.
Laicini says, “I grew up with Ed Hardy and True Religion. You know what I mean? Soccer jerseys, Adidas track pants and trainers was just a part of the look. It was no different than what we wore day to day.” For him and many others, Blokecore is more than just a trend. It’s a lifestyle.
“The reason why I’m fond of this stuff is because I’m so familiar with it. I grew up wearing it. I’ve always thought it was really cool and still do now. Find me a 04’05 Bayern (Munich) kit, and I’m set.”
Today, Blokecore is a stylish fashion trend that is easy to be a part of. Head over to your local vintage shop, get yourself a fashionable football shirt, some jeans that are a bit baggy and a few pairs of slightly beat Adidas trainers and you’re set.
The style that used to be so rich in history can now be attained in one round trip to your local shop.
Juancho Hernangomez and Adam Sandler in a scene from Hustle
The Toronto Raptors just announced the signing of Spanish basketball player Juancho Hernangomez and the city is expressing an inordinate amount of excitement for a journeyman baller who hasn’t managed to stick with an NBA team in his short career. Why? Because this particular journeyman is better known as Bo Cruz, the character he played in the starring role of the Adam Sandler movie Hustle. Coincidentally, Adam Sandler has been spending a lot of time in our city working on a new project and posing for an endless stream of photos posted to social media.
Hernangomez last played with the Utah Jazz, where he suited up for 17 games and averaged 6.2 points per game. He’s another big man on a Raptors team filled with them so he might not play a large role on the team, but will help to shore up a bench that was woefully inadequate last season.
Adam Sandler constantly being spotted around Toronto in recent weeks.
Juancho Hernangomez (AKA Bo Cruz) signs with the Toronto Raptors.
Hernangomez has also suited up for the Spanish national team and won gold at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China alongside former Raptors center Marc Gasol. Hernangomez’s brother Willy plays for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Hustle premiered on Netflix this past spring with Hernangomez and Sandler starring alongside Queen Latifah in a movie described as follows: “When a down-on-his-luck basketball scout finds a potential superstar in Spain, he sets out to prove they both have what it takes to make it in the NBA.”
Perhaps an opportunity with the Raptors, a team that employs the most unique roster in the NBA, is just what Hernangomez needs to get his career on track and make his Hustle dreams a reality.
For those venturing into Toronto this summer, there’s a good chance you’re hoping to snag an ice cream at a local, trendy spot.
This summer, a set of sisters and a one-woman operation are becoming the hotspots for frozen dessert. Some might even call the pair the queens of frozen dessert in Toronto.
Toronto entrepreneur Angela Phung took ice cream season to the next level with her latest venture, Happy Sundae.
Phung, who also operates aka.the store, debuted her new dessert boutique to the King West crowd in late June, serving up farm-to-table scoops with fresh and unique toppings. “Happy Sundae is a little happy place located at 85 Portland St. Toronto,” the website reads. “AKA, King West’s newest ice cream dessert heaven, specializing in soft serve ice cream and a wide range of toppings. Whether it’s in a cone or cup, our Sweet Artists are ready to create your next dessert masterpiece because everyday [sic] is a Happy Sundae.”
Of course, in typical Phung fashion, the shop is nothing if not trendy, complete with a graffiti wall and Instagram-worthy floral accents. The decorations serve as the perfect backdrop to each Sweet Art of the Day creation, crafted in sundaes or colourful flavoured cones in flavours including s’mores sundae and orange creamsicle.
Both scoop and soft-serve options are available, with the scoop selection made by Mapton’s Organic Dairy Farm and the soft-serve flavours hand-crafted in-house daily. The soft-serve selection is both dairy-free and gluten-free, as are all of the flavoured cones. And, the Mapton’s offerings are gluten-free and are even made without salt, creating a healthier selection of ice creams for health-conscious visitors this summer season.
With ice cream season in full swing, two sisters from Port Carling have scooped out their corner of the Toronto market with their photo-ready shop, Bar32.
Sisters Sydney and Chloe Carron took their sweet treats from pop-ups in Port Carling to a Toronto pop-up on Macpherson Avenue, where they serve handmade, artisanal ice cream bars in weekly rotating flavours alongside a wide variety of scoop flavours. The list of flavour offerings can be found on the website. Among these flavours are a Madagascar vanilla bean and gourmand white chocolate raspberry.
Inside the space, the walls are decorated with cute, family-style photos on a gallery wall, and a block-letter decoration displaying the prices for scoops and bars.The Bar32 pop-up is spending the summer at 3 Macpherson Ave. in the Summerhill neighbourhood, joining the likes of businesses such as Grandma Loves You, Sam James Coffee Bar, Nadege Patisserie and more.
Caviar, macron almonds, olives, chips, and miso-caramel popcorn are part of Parc Ave's bar snack offerings.
At Yorkville’s snazzy new bar Parc Ave, Ben Kingstone opens a fridge behind the bar and uses a pair of small tongs to remove a tightly-folded, white towel.
“It’s hot outside, so before you enjoy a cocktail, cool down first,” he says, placing the ice-cold towel in my outstretched palm.
As restaurants grapple with inflation, and diners weigh the cost of going out through a more finicky lens, bars and restaurants in the city are looking for new ways to attract and retain a different clientele.
Seeking to create a refined and high-end experience, beverage manager Ben Kingstone and his team officially opened Parc Ave on July 20. Located at 265 Davenport Rd. in Yorkville, the new cocktail bar serves sophisticated drinks that range from $24 to $135 and are often accompanied by luxurious ingredients, like a dainty scoop of black caviar or a piece of decadent, ruby chocolate.
A look inside Yorkville’s newest cocktail bar, Parc Ave.
Kingstone has worked in restaurants around the world, and is a well-known figure in Toronto’s bar scene (Mother Cocktail Bar, Belfast Love, Death and Taxes). He says Parc Ave was three years in the making.
Despite the impressive space that includes two sprawling bars and a candle-lit lounge with cherry red couches, there’s no kitchen or food menu. There are, however, high-end snack options that include a luxurious black caviar platter served with sour cream, shallots and Ruffles chips, inviting guests to build their own “sandwich.” Popcorn with miso and caramel and sliced macron almonds (some of the most expensive you can get) are also on offer.
Caviar, marcona almonds, olives, chips, and miso-caramel popcorn are part of Parc Ave’s bar snack offerings.
To start, Kingston’s “cocktail library” as he affectionately calls it, will include 30 luxurious options. As the ingredients change with the seasons, he will revamp the menu where he sees fit. Also on the menu are a selection of barrel-aged cocktails that see a selection of spirits aged in new French oak anywhere from several weeks to several months. The result is more of a slow-sipping, sensory experience than what can be expected from the round ordered at a typical neighbourhood watering hole.
“There’s nothing really like it in the area so we thought that it was a good place to have something like this,” Kingston says, noting that Parc Ave’s concept ties in well with Yorkville’s affluent residents and other businesses. “It’s easy to make something taste good, but it’s very hard to make something taste good and have clarity and flavour. If it tastes like the ingredients that are within it, and if you’ve achieved that, then I believe that’s a successful cocktail.”
Ben Kingstone has worked in some of Toronto’s most successful cocktail bars.
The Drinks
Notable cocktails include Kingstone’s favourite, The Godfather ($36), which produces a smokey, buttery taste brought on by the brown butter-infused Laphroaig (a Scottish whiskey), accompanied by cinnamon Amaretto, hazelnut liqueur, and coffee-infused Cinzano vermouth. The Godfather is one of two barrel-aged cocktails patrons can try, the other being the Vampire Campfire which blends notes of peppercorn and cacao alongside Bulliet Bourbon.
The Slightly Dangerous ($24), another crowdpleaser, is a tequila-based cocktail that blends Dejado Blanco, Martini Fiero, passionfruit cordial, mint cordial, and bubbles, and is garnished with a fresh piece of passionfruit that’s set alight with a blow torch.
The Slightly Dangerous is finished with a blow torch, while The Godfather is garnished with a chocolate wafer dusted in 24-karat gold.
But perhaps the most impressive cocktail of all is the Sazerac ($135) —found on the Vintage Reserve section of Parc Ave’s menu, the drink uses Rémy Martin XO Michter’s US-1, sour mash, and Peychaud’s sugar syrup and is garnished with a small white spoon that balances atop the glass and holds a scoop of black caviar. The Vintage Reserve at Parc Ave is, according to Kingstone, “ultra high-end and ultra-premium cocktails with a little bit of a high-end twist and using the best spirits out there.”
While his cocktail menu is the focus for now, Kingstone says that Parc Ave will also offer high-end pizzas through a partnership with Blondie’s Pizza. All of the pizzas will be made from the same housemade, fermented dough that Blondie’s is known for, but the pricepoint will start at $100 and will feature imported, luxurious toppings.
When asked about the creations guests can expect, Kingstone replied, “Stop by and ask for the caviar pizza.”
Parc Ave is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 11 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Summer has finally passed its midpoint, and it’s criminal not to enjoy one of Toronto’s many patios this season. Every neighbourhood has its fair share, each with its own unique quirks and selling points. We’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the best patios in Toronto sorted by neighbourhood, with a few of our top picks for each.
King West
Lavelle on Instagram
After an afternoon spent strolling through the fashion district, sunbathing in the park or walking along the waterfront, you’ll be looking for a patio to cool off on with a refreshing cocktail. King West has no shortage of cozy patios with delicious food, a vibrant atmosphere and a stunning view — all in a central location.
Summer simply wouldn’t be summer without the rooftop bar at Chez Lavelle. 16 stories above the city, this experience is truly iconic. Spend the evening underneath a reservation-only cabana before slipping in the pool to refresh from the sun. Then have a taste of Lavelle’s one-of-a-kind contemporary Brazilian and Japanese menu with the signature truffle fries or a large poke bowl, before continuing to drink the night away with a bottle of champagne for the whole cabana.
Looking for a cozy place to sink into while sipping some cocktails after a long day at work? Try the line of sofas wrapped around the patio at The Parlour. Offering plenty of shaded protection from the sun and high walls to drown out the noise of the city, the patio at the Parlour is all about contemporary class. The best part? The Parlour offers happy hour every day of the week.
As the centre of midtown, the corner of Yonge and Eglinton has everything needed to make the most of a sunny weekend, from an active nightlife, entertainment, delicious restaurants, plenty of shopping and, of course, some great pub patios.
The mural printed on the side of La Carnita Eglinton promises “no bad days,” and that doesn’t seem like a hard promise to keep with a patio this nice. La Carnita is always a great choice for spending Taco Tuesdays, but this location might just be their best. You’ll get to enjoy the one-of-a-kind seafood tacos and fresh margaritas while seated beneath twinkly overhanging lights and potted greenery in an enclosed, shaded space.
A “brilliantly British” pub from the lineup of Duke pubs, Duke of Kent is as simple as it gets: good craft beer, delicious pub grub and laid-back seats in the sun. Its location facing Roehampton Avenue means you’re close enough to the action of Yonge and Eglinton without having to speak over it for your dinner date to hear you!
Leslieville’s close proximity to the lake and its family-friendly atmosphere make it the perfect place for a pint after a day in the sun. And, now that school’s out, Saturday afternoons spent basking in the sun can be wrapped up with a delicious meal at one of the great patios Leslieville has to offer.
The patio at Leslie Jones feels like a garden escape so much that it even gets rented out for weddings and private events. The overhanging foliage whistles in the breeze, while late-night dining is given an intimate and romantic touch with strings of hanging fairy lights illuminating an otherwise dark back patio. The Leslie Jones patio is complete with a minibar and chairs.
Soak up the sun on Avling’s street-side patio just like the veggies growing on their rooftop. Wooden plant beds separate the picnic benches from each other and from the road, mirroring the contemporary and rustic feel found inside the brewpub. At Avling, everything comes sustainably and organically from Ontario, which means you don’t need to feel bad for having just one more beer.
Nobody knows the hottest spots in town better than a sleep-deprived student — especially when you’re looking for coffee to wake you up or a drink to drown your sorrows. With University of Toronto’s St. George campus right next door, the Annex offers a lively scene of students exploring al fresco eateries, pubs and restaurants. It’s sure to draw you in no matter how long ago you were in school.
Chadwick‘s offers two patios depending on the kind of vibe you’re after. The cozy front patio is ideal for people-watching on the bustling streets, and maybe seeing that old professor you didn’t like back in college. In the back, a high wooden fence frames the secret patio, while folding chairs and picnic tables gives it a super casual and laid back feel—perfect for a post-work beer. With Chadwicks’ very dedicated neighbourhood regulars, you’ll want to arrive nice and early to snag a seat.
If student pubs are well behind you, Proof Bar & Patio might just be the spot for you. Located at the Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel, Proof is the best place for a drink after a day in the office. Sleek and comfortable sofas compliment wooded tables and electric fire pits. You’ll want to come in your best attire as this is definitely the place to update your Instagram feed with pictures that will have your followers thinking you’re sipping a martini in New York.
As one of Toronto’s most sought-after neighbourhoods, Rosedale might be known for its beautiful parks and picturesque ravines, but the culture and entertainment scene is just as enjoyable. Rosedale’s patios are some of the best in the city for catching up with a friend over a coffee or something a little boozier.
For some authentic Italian fare in the heart of Rosedale, the sleek rooftop patio at Terroni will have you feeling like you’re sipping drinks on a cloud. The tiled floor, paired with white benches and accent furniture, reflects the sunlight no matter how grey and rainy it is this spring. The fairy lights and city views make an envy-worthy backdrop for your next Instagram photo dump.
While Pantry is most popularly enjoyed as a to-go lunch hub, its large windows and minimalist but contemporary interior make it a warm space for enjoying a dine-in meal. But, for a breath of fresh air, Pantry’s covered patio creates a private area for a quiet morning coffee while watching the passers-by on their morning commutes.
Warmer weather calls for afternoons of window-shopping and spending too much money at some of the highest-end boutiques and shops in one of Toronto’s best shopping districts. But you won’t want to spend your entire paycheque, because the best way to end a day in the sun is by dining al fresco and sipping a glass of chardonnay on a picturesque patio.
Sassafraz’s street-side patio is the best place to watch the hustle and bustle of one of the city’s most affluent neighbourhoods. You can watch shoppers strolling through the Yorkville streets while you sit back with a sweet cocktail and bask in the sun. The iconic Canadian geese painted on the side of the building make for a stunning backdrop, while the large potted plants and overhanging umbrellas give off an intimate and romantic touch for any date night.
Kasa Moto is slightly different from the casual pub patios in the city. Instead, this upscale Japanese restaurant in the heart of Yorkville is a place for getting dressed up with your favourite gal pals for a night of sophistication and an elegant cocktail hour. Serving up sushi platters and noodle dishes, Kasa Moto’s rooftop patio is heated with lots of greenery and comfy sofas so you can hang out all night long.
Over the past few months, Toronto has become the newfound home of some premier barbecue joints – each of which is slinging meat right off the grill, directly on your plates full of all the standard fixings. Below are three of our favourites that opened during Toronto’s warmer months. Beware! There’s a good chance you get hungry as you continue down the list.
If you’re a fan of Southwest America in the 1970s, Bar Coneja promises it can take you there. From the creators of Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!, the new eatery is an outdoor, patio-only backyard barbecue spot complete with an outdoor wood-fire grill. In fact, the entire kitchen is located outside on the patio, adding to a homey, retro-feeling experience located right in the middle of King West.
Food options at Bar Coneja include the braised short rib huarache, the pollo asado quesadilla or classic tater tots with spicy ketchup. If tacos are the vibe, diners can select from options like the pork jowl al pastor, mushroom carnitas or Jamaican patty tacos.
Of course, there’s also a heavily Southwest American-inspired cocktail menu to enjoy, complete with options like the Coneja Jungle Bird made with Havana 7 year rum, Campari, apricot, pineapple, cinnamon and lime. For another sweet option, look to the Pink Flamingo made with Spring Mill vodka, watermelon, strawberry, lemon and black pepper.
Reservations for the summer pop-up experience can be made through Resy. Bar Coneja is open Wednesdays through Sundays at 461 King St. W.
When Alleycatz closed down in the summer of 2020, it left a gaping hole in the Yonge and Eglinton live music scene. But, now, a new locally-owned restaurant, Benny’s Barbecue, is giving the space some life again.
On Wednesdays through Sundays, the craft smokehouse serves up carefully smoked goodness from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., or until the restaurant runs out of meat. Menu options include barbecue platters, brisket (both lean and fatty), pulled pork, smoked turkey breast, ribs and more. And each order comes with a side of pickles, coleslaw and fresh buns, with all Texas barbecue recipes crafted by Chef Ben Slan himself, with assistant pitmaster Andrew Golden helping to manage the barbecue reins.
For savoury sweet treats, Benny’s Barbecue hired a baker whose expertise brings goods like cheesy jalapeno cornbread and s’mores pie to the Benny’s menu, adding a decadent finish to Texas barbecue right in Toronto.
The world’s largest barbecue concept, family-owned since 1941, has come to Toronto. After expanding from Texas, Dickey’s BBQ empire now includes 550 stores across eight countries, including 44 U.S. states, and it has finally brought its drool-worthy smoked goodness to our city.
“It’s always exciting to debut our ‘legit Texas barbecue’ in a new community, but it’s particularly exciting when our brand crosses borders. We look forward to introducing our tastes of Texas to Toronto and more Canadians across the country,” said Laura Rea Dickey, the chain’s CEO.
Dickey’s serves up eight slow-smoked meat options and 12 wholesome sides to pair it with, which they promise to have “No B.S. (Bad Stuff)” included. Meats include brisket, marinated chicken, Polish kielbasa and a half rack of ribs, while sides include creamy spinach, jalapeno beans and onion tanglers.
Their menu is straightforward and gets right to the point. The chain boasts a full bar to help you with all of your alcoholic drinks, including Malibu sunsets to quench your thirst and spicy caesars to pair with the seasoned meat.
