If Italy is known for one thing, it’s food. To take a trip to the European country is to fall in love with its cuisine, full of fresh ingredients and hearty dishes made with love. Now, the best of Italian food is coming to Toronto, thanks to SpringFest, a festival put on by Eataly Toronto.
Regional pizzas, artisanal salumi and formaggi, sweet Italian desserts, fresh pasta dishes (including some served from a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano DOP) and more will all take over the marketplace‘s three floors. The celebration is a part of Eataly’s first ever SpringFest, a ticketed event held on May 13.
“This event highlights the classic Italian foods, beverages and experiences uniquely offered by Eataly, right in the heart of Toronto,” reads SpringFest’s press release. “Entertainment and live-action stations will be abundant, including a three-piece band, pasta-making demonstrations, oyster shucking and more.”
In addition to the traditional Italian food, Italian wines, cocktails, and beer from Birroteca by Indie Alehouse will be offered at a variety of open bars across the space, complimenting the food offerings.
Eataly is known as one of the most authentic Italian marketplaces in the city, with its multiple stands and restaurants offering visitors and foodies a look into traditional Italian groceries and boasting a wide selection of goods imported straight from Italy.
Eataly on Instagram
SpringFest, the one day event, costs $165 per ticket, and offers three entry times: 6:00p.m., 7:00.pm. and 7:30p.m. at the Eataly Toronto marketplace inside Manulife Centre at 55 Bloor St. W.
At the corner of John and Adelaide, a new gastropub promises to transport its visitors to England. Saint John’s Tavern offers guests a late-night spot to hang out with friends in a low-key, pub atmosphere, with elevated fare that pairs with an expansive drink menu.
Saint John’s is Brian James’ latest venture, adding to his roster of Toronto bars. James is behind two bars just around the corner from his new spot, Melrose on Adelaide and Piccolo. But, Saint John’s is different, with the most expansive food menu and the most casual atmosphere.
Saint John’s Tavern on Instagram
James partnered with Chef Kyle Kadas for the British-inspired menu, which boasts the duo’s spins on classics like fish and chips, bangers and mash and, of course, Scotch eggs. Share plates like oysters and vegetarian options like the Welsh Rarebit and Salt & Vinegar Chip Butty round out a menu that also carries a vegan forager’s pie as well as a vegan rendition of fish and chips, called Chish & Fips.
On tap, there’s an array of beers from the UK and around the globe, including UK Premium amber lager and session ale, Storyteller lager, Brickworks dry cider and more, as well as bottled beers with both an international and local selection. There’s a huge wine offering too, alongside a cocktail menu that’s divided into three categories: Heathrows, Classics and Pearsons (a clear homage to the major airports in both London and Toronto).
Saint John’s Tavern on Instagram
Within each category, cocktails like a paper plane and a penicillin meet an Oaxaca Old Fashioned (crafted with Jose Tradicional Reposado, Sombra Mezcal Agave and Angostura) and Prince Harry’s Flip (a fusion of Sailor Jerry’s Spice Rum, St. Remy VSOP, Benedictine and Saffron Simple).
Located inside Toronto’s historic brownstones, Saint John’s Tavern is located at 118 John Street.
“Where Kanye meets Cornish Hen” is Recette on Queen’s Instagram bio, on a page that just sprung to life less than a week ago.
On the page, shared dishes like scallops with charred lettuce, pear and hazelnut, salmon tartare with green apple, chive and kohlrabi, and lamb with broccolini, english peas and pistachio tempt guests to visit the new Queen West spot. The fare has been dubbed “new forward French cuisine,” crafted by Chef Milo Beaubien-Wright. The man at the helm of the eclectic, changing menu has extensive culinary experience that includes stops at Origin North Restaurant & Bar as well as Actinolite.
Recette on Instagram
Recette is the most recent eatery by restaurateur Naveen Chakravarti, who is also responsible for some of the city’s coolest spots, including Neon Tiger, OddSeoul and Prohibition Pie.
The vibe is where Kanye West himself comes into play. Reverberating around the minimalist decor, a hip-hop and R&B playlist brings a bit of a modern vibe to the space, echoing the idea of a “new forward” French outpost.
Recette on Instagram
To complement the cuisine, an array of natural wines is available, with a freshness but lasting quality that works well with a changing menu.
Recette on Instagram
Recette on Queen takes over the former Apres Wine Bar space at 1166 Queen Street W., which recently hosted a Japanese pop up called Ikune. But, now, French cuisine is back, courtesy of Recette.
If you’ve tuned into the newest season of Big Brother Canada since it premiered on March 2, you’ve seen Arisa Cox working her magic as the host of the reality show. Cox has been there from the start, 10 years ago, when she began as the host, and has since added executive producer to her title.
But Cox says the path to where she is now was anything but linear.
“I wish I could say I planned every step of the way – but I didn’t!” she says. “As a kid I wanted to be a fashion designer and [U.S. fashion journalist] André Leon Talley’s bestie, obviously.”
As a student in the Claude Watson Arts program at Earl Haig Secondary School since Grade 4, Cox says she was a jack of all trades, enjoying making art, singing, dancing and performing. “I had a lot of friends that were working actors. I was not! It wasn’t until later in life I began to understand how my collection of talents, interests and knowledge was a strength,” she says.
After high school, Cox entered journalism school at Carleton University. It was there that she fell in love with TV journalism.
Cox’s career after that became a who’s who of Canadian television’s iconic moments: she ended up a cast member on Canada’s first big reality show U8TV: The Lofters, a host on E! (Canada), an on-air CTV Ottawa reporter and even an actor in Disney’s Camp Rock.
Then, in 2013, she was named the host of Big Brother Canada ahead of its inaugural season, 13 years after the U.S. original franchise debuted.
“Sometimes, if you surrender to enjoying the moment you’re in — really staying present — the future opens up in ways you couldn’t have predicted,” Cox says of the opportunity.
Courtesy of Global TV
That has been true for her role on Big Brother Canada, especially since her new position as executive producer on the show.
“That evolution is the highlight of my career. Hosting the show while also having a big hand in casting and editorial decisions has felt so right,” she says.
Cox has been outspoken about increasing diversity on the show, and her influence has clearly made an impact. This season features 10 of 16 house members who are people of colour, including Jay Northcott of Toronto. (Last season, Toronto’s Tychon Carter-Newman made history as the first Black winner of the show.)
“The cast this season is incredible and has provided a lot of firsts,” Cox says. “That includes our first Acadian house guest and our first doctor — our first Afro-Indigenous doctor at that! The range of backgrounds is making for really rich stories.”
Cox’s secret to making this job work?
“A deep sense of curiosity and wonder at the human spirit — If you have that, journalism and its fun little sister reality TV is probably for you.”
In honour of the Toronto Raptors heading to the playoffs today, we’re rounding up the 5 biggest moments in the franchise’s history!
#5: Vince Carter’s 50 points in Game 3 against the 76ers
[Photo Courtesy: The Sporting News]
In 2001, the Raptor’s faced off against the 76ers and history was made in Game 3. Scoring 50 points, Carter led the Raps to a big win, breaking the franchise’s record for the most points scored by a single player in a postseason game.
To this day, Carter is the only Raptor to ever score 50 points in a postseason game.
#4: Jurassic Park during the 2019 Championship Game
[Photo Courtesy: Nathan Denette/CP]
June 13th, 2019 is a night that won’t be soon forgotten by the Raptors’ fans—especially those who celebrated the big win in Jurassic Park.
When the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors in Game 6, clinching their first NBA Championship, Jurassic Park was alive with excitement and celebration! Among the crowd was mister Champagne Papi himself: Drake.
#3: Plant Guy & the Kawhactus
Perhaps a continuation from #4, but who could forget Plant Guy?!
After the championship win, a reporter covering the aftermath and celebrations on the streets of Toronto captured the loveable Plant Guy, a man who uprooted a plant with the hopes of gifting it to Kawhi Leonard as a housewarming gift. Though his efforts to get Kawhi to stay were defeated, he was victorious in eventually getting a plant to Kawhi during the parade!
#2: Kawhi’s Legendary Shot
[Photo Courtesy: Mark Blinch, NBA/ Getty Images]
Why did Kawhi deserve a housewarming gift, you might ask? Well, there are many reasons. However one moment, in particular, will forever be engrained in Raptor’s history—and that was his legendary buzzer-beater.
Game 7. Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. This shot immediately became one of the most iconic moments in all of Canadian sports history.
#1: The Victory Parade
Downtown Toronto was a sea of Raptors fans as hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the streets to cheer on and congratulate the team.
The parade started at the Princes’ Gates and made its way to Nathan Phillips Square, where the team took to the stage to not only be thanked by the city—but to give their thanks to the city and the country! The team, led by Raptors’ GOAT Kyle Lowry, was awarded the key to the city as the crowd erupted in cheer.
It’s the fist long weekend of the spring season and that means there’s plenty to do across the city, from immersive theatre to a spring marketplace at the Toronto Zoo. If you’re on the hunt for a few fun events to add to your schedule over the next few days, here are seven of the best things to do in Toronto this weekend.
Attend an immersive theatre experience
Running through April 17 at The Great Hall, Transcen|Dance Project’s latest creation, A Grimm Night is an immersive theatre experience inspired by the Brothers Grimm stories. The unique and interactive production is all about audience participation – don a masquerade mask and explore all four floors of The Great Hall as you investigate your surroundings and interact with the cast, including legendary prima ballerina and Canadian Walk of Fame inductee, Evelyn Hart.
Visit the Canadian Pet Expo
If you’re looking for one of the best events for your furry friend this weekend in Toronto, why not head to the Canadian Pet Expo, running Friday to Sunday at The International Centre. There will be trainers on site to answer any pet-related questions you have, a canine fun zone, a cat show featuring some of the most unique breeds, a canine circus, celebrity pet appearances and over 300 market booths to shop for cool gear for your pet.
Get some home décor inspiration at the National Home Show
Tackling home upgrades both large and small can be intimidating for some, but the National Home Show offers everything you need to improve your space. Running from April 15-24 at the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place, visitors can expect expert talks, workshops where you can make and take away your own craft project, food and entertaining seminars, a DIY centre where you can try new hands-on skills, as well as many vendors on site covering everything from outdoor living to home décor.
Check out the Toronto Zoo Spring Marketplace
Starting this Friday (and running all weekend), the Toronto Zoo’s front courtyard will be transformed into the first ever Spring Marketplace. Get some fresh air and (hopefully) sunshine while shopping a variety of local vendors selling everything from handmade crafts to jewellery to tasty treats. There will be 15 vendors on site, with the roster changing each day of the marketplace.
Learn to create your own vintage wood sign
Anyone feeling crafty this weekend might want to check out the DIY vintage wood sign workshop happening on Saturday between 8 and 11 p.m. at Paint Cabin in the east end. The price includes instruction and all the materials you’ll need (stencil, premium pine wood, oil stains, nails, paint colours, etc.) to create your very own vintage wood sign. Beer, wine, cider and cocktails are available for purchase while you work. Paint Cabin has been one of the best spots for arts and crafts events in Toronto for a while now, so you won’t want to miss out!
Go on an Easter club crawl
Celebrate the long weekend with a club crawl along King Street this Saturday night from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Your VIP wristband gets you free cover at four different clubs, speedy entry and the chance to win some giveaways at the last stop. Stops along the club crawl include Door Three, Love Child, Juliet and Arcane.
Take in a documentary
Add a dose of culture to your weekend itinerary with a documentary exploring the themes of Blaxploitation in 1970s films, including Blacula, Coffy and Shaft, as well as films that have been influenced by the genre (like Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown). The film, from director and visual artist Isaac Julien, is screening on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema and features interviews with Pam Grier, Fred Williamson, Richard Roundtree the Melvin Van Peebles.
Watch an Easter parade
The Beaches Easter weekend celebration is back and better than ever! After it was cancelled in 2020 and turned into a drive-through version in 2021, this year it’ll be in-person in all its glory. Enjoy the famous Easter parade this Sunday, April 17 at 2 p.m. with family. The parade starts on Queen Street at Munro Park and ends after turning onto Woodbine Avenue, so grab your kids and set up early for all the fun!
French patisserie Nadège is expanding, taking pastry chef Nadège Nourian‘s delicately-crafted cakes, macarons and chocolate to the Annex.
Nadège on Instagram
The latest location sees Nourian build on her patisserie locations, offering Instagram-worthy mini cakes and themed collections that are sure to impress around every holiday season. The most recent offering, the Easter collection, offers “whimsical chocolate sculptures and Easter eggs,” crafted with tiny butterfly and ladybug decals, mini macarons and traditional dessert ingredients like vanilla panacotta, almond biscuit and milk chocolate.
Nadège already has boutiques in Rosedale, Queen West and the PATH, all offering delectable French desserts that are both picturesque and decadent. The Toronto-based bakery also has a head office where pre-ordered desserts are available for pickup.
According to reports, the patisserie will move into the corner space at Bloor St. and Albany Ave., taking over a former Starbucks space, across from a former Aroma Espresso Bar and Second Cup. Nadège will join a slew of other eateries in the area, including Fuwa Fuwa Japanese Pancakes, Victory Cafe, Slanted Door and, just around the corner on Bathurst, Mallo Coffee & Bar.
Nadège on Instagram
While the exact opening date is not yet confirmed, Nadège is already causing those sweet sweet cravings with news of the upcoming 494 Bloor St. W. location.
Few of us pass through our twenties without having a brief ambition to open a bar or restaurant with a group of friends. At Blackburn Social House, twenty-something co-owners Armin Eftekhari, Mac Savage, Collin Wong and Coulton Speight are living that dream, with the aim of offering Little Italy its latest local gathering place.
Blackburn pays homage to the street name of a house in Ottawa where the four friends met while attending university. “We lived there for four or five years while we were studying and it was the best place,” says Wong. “Our big thing was an open door policy at all times.”
Wong says that the Blackburn house was a hub for parties, as well as an inviting environment where friends were welcome to come in without knocking and hang out at any time. The co-owners hope to recreate the “come one, come all” spirit of that house with their new restaurant.
The two-floor space features a dining area on the main floor and a casual bar area upstairs, allowing the venue to lend itself equally well to date night dinners or late-night drinks. “We’re not pretentious. There’s no dress code here. Wear what you want to wear,” says Wong. “You’ll enjoy a good dinner and if you want to come and join us for drinks later in the night too, that’s great.”
The Food
The culinary program is overseen by co-owner Coulton Speight, who cut his teeth at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Alberta before moving to the UK to work at high-end restaurants like the Stafford London hotel.
Blackburn’s menu takes a cue from the restaurant’s neighbourhood for its Italian dishes, while also drawing on Speight’s experience cooking in British fine-dining kitchens. “It’s also just things that we personally enjoy eating and cooking,” says Speight.
“We’re constantly changing the menu,” he adds. “We never want to have a menu where that’s the menu all the time, forever. We want to have fun with it and keep our returning guests coming back for more.”
The menu features a classic line-up of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, mains and sides, allowing diners to order a variety of nibbles for sharing over drinks or create their own multi-course dinner. Apps include the Hennessy garlic shrimp, a brightly-flavoured dish featuring sauteed shrimp drizzled with a brothy Hennessy emulsion.
The meatballs – which are served in a rich Pomodoro sauce and dusted with Parmesan – and accompanying focaccia are both made in-house.
The restaurant’s levelled-up take on French fries is smashed fingerling potatoes seasoned with rosemary and lemon and served with remoulade sauce. They’re also available as a poutine, with chicken gravy and cheese curds.
Blackburn Social House on Facebook
The crispy smashed potatoes are also served as an appetizer alongside short ribs, which are slow-cooked for six hours.
For meat-lovers, there’s a traditional burger, stacked sky-high with toppings and served on a house-made, potato roll-style bun.
Courtesy Blackburn Social House
The duck confit sandwich turns a fine dining classic into an approachable bar bite. Shredded duck, which is cured for 24 hours and slow-cooked in duck fat, is layered with goat cheese, blackberry compote, baby arugula and orange and served on the same house-made, potato roll-style bun.
Courtesy Blackburn Social House
Goat cheese and candied walnuts bring creaminess and crunch to the Social House Salad, which is doused in a simple white wine emulsion dressing.
Slow-cooked beef brisket and sauteed mushrooms are tossed with hand-rolled pasta for this savoury pappardelle ragu.
The Drinks
House-made infusions are a focus of the cocktail program at Blackburn Social House.
Courtesy Blackburn Social House
The herbaceous Two-Six-Two, for example, features bourbon infused with rosemary and orange, mixed with root beer bitters, mint syrup and lemon juice.
The spring-ready Once Upon a Thyme sees ginger-and-thyme-infused gin mixed with cucumber, St. Germain, mint syrup, lime juice and sacred earth bitters.
Courtesy Blackburn Social House
The dessert-like take on an espresso martini – made with freshly-brewed espresso, vodka, Kahlua, Disaronno, Galliano vanilla liquor and Scrappy’s chocolate bitters – is one of their best-sellers.
The wine program highlights small, generational wineries from around the world. There are a handful of beers on tap, including rotating seasonal brews.
The Space
The four Blackburn owners bootstrapped renovations of the restaurant, repainting and redecorating the two-floor space themselves. Exposed brick walls, previously painted black, have been whitewashed to brighten up the cozy interior.
Blackburn Social House on Facebook
Candle lighting and rustic wood ceiling beams make for intimate dining experiences on the main floor. The front windows open fully to the street on warmer days.
Upstairs, there’s a relaxed bar area with high-top tables. The team are beginning renovations of a secluded back patio area, with the hopes of transforming it into a two-level space in time for summer.
“We looked at many restaurants before we found this one,” says Speight. “As soon as we found this one, I think we all knew that this was the one.”
Courtesy bargainmoose/flickr at www.bargainmoose.ca/
Lovers of nostalgia and fashion will rejoice to hear that Le Château is making a comeback after its pandemic-prompted closure in 2020. The brand will reopen in 37 stores across Canada after Suzy Shier acquired the company’s intellectual property, including seven stores in the GTA.
The new Le Château collection is focusing on evening wear, what the brand was known for before its closure. So far, only the locations in Scarborough Town Centre and Erin Mills Town Centre in Mississauga have opened, but by April 21, the rest will open, including one in Orfus Road in Toronto, Trinity Commons in Brampton, Vaughan Mills in Vaughan, Promenade Mall in Thornhill and Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga. The brand will open inside already existing Suzy Shier locations.
Franco Rocchi, the senior director of marketing with Le Château and Suzy Shier who was with Le Château for 40 years up until it closed, said the reopening of the brand with Suzy Shier makes for a perfect “synergy” between the brands. “Suzy covers casual wear, work wear, day wear, whereas Le Château reigns supreme when the sun sets,” he said. “Customers will have a new experience where they get 360 degrees of service, all under one store.”
Le Château originated in 1959 in Montreal as a menswear store, but quickly pivoted to womenswear. By the ’60s, the brand focused on fashionable imports for a younger demographic, which turned into mainstream local fashion in the ’70s. For those growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, the brand was known as the place to go for more affordable, trendy clothing and “club wear.”
I learned of it this way
“Le Chateau is being ressurected…”
*nod okay fond memories of 90% of my clubbing clothes*
“…as a pop-up in some Suzy Shier locations.”
*huh didn’t that stop existing in the 80s??*
Rocchi said the new Le Château will be less “utilitarian” and focus more on on-trend fashion. “The new Le Château is really about fashion, constantly evolving with whatever is new and hot in the occasion fashion,” he said, referring to special occasion wear and evening wear.
With the reopening, the brand is still focusing on affordability. “Dresses here start at $69, and you can get fully beaded gowns for $190.”
Rocchi said the Canadian market is missing someone catering to the niche of affordable dresses and evening wear, and after the pandemic, there’s a real need for it. “After two years of people being at home, they’re ready to step out again and take back the night,” he said.
While Le Château had a few offers from companies looking to acquire the brand after they closed, according to Rocchi, other contenders would have seen the brand leave Canada and enter the U.S. market. “Suzy is still in Canada, which is great for the store at the end of the day.”
Broken Social Scene, Brendan Canning bottom left (photo: Richmond Lam)
Fabulous Toronto band Broken Social Scene helped define a musical generation, and it is back for more. The indie rock band helped make the city the centre of the musical universe when it burst onto the, ahem, scene back in the very early 2000s.
Helmed by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning, the band was, and remains, infamous for its large lineup, featuring some of Toronto’s best, such as Leslie Feist, Emily Haines of Metric, Jason Collett, Amy Milan of Stars, and many more. After 20 years, the band is set to play Massey Hall for the first (and second) time on April 20 and 21 in support of Broken Social Scene’s latest album Old Dead Young. These shows will be epic and are not to be missed.
As a long-time resident of the city’s west end, we asked Canning to give us his five favourite Toronto places. This is his “pandemic version.”
Throughout the pandemic there became less and less things I could set my watch to. Walking into Global, having a bitch session with Manny, and then having him pick out some nice cheese for me became part of my mental health regimen. Cross the street to Blackbird Bakery Co. and the mission was complete, and when I got home I could enjoy the simple things in life: bread and cheese.
After two-and-a-half years of not playing a gig and walking into this familiar room a few weeks back felt as natural and normal as it ever did in the before times. This bar boasts absolutely nothing fancy.
It’s a square box, that’s it. I’ve seen loads of shows and will hopefully continue to do so in the coming years. No bullshit. A small bar where bands play and folks get their drink on. Simple.
I like to buy the occasional nice article of clothing for myself and the purveyors of this fine shop have always done me right over the years. Throughout the pandemic (yes, I know I keep saying it) it was a consistently relaxed atmosphere where I could try on some clothes and dream of being able to wear them to any type of function that may happen one day when we’re all “safe.” Or, I could just hang out there and buy nothing and hang out with my pals. Either way, I’m glad they’re around. Park & Province ain’t a bad bet either ya know? Real cool folks across from Trinity Bellwoods Park.
BMO field, 170 Princes’ Blvd
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Having a soccer stadium be a 10-minute bike ride from your front doorstep has been a godsend for me. I love soccer. Always have, always will. I’ve been there on the good days and the not-as-good days but never take it for granted. Watching grown men kick a ball around is a zen activity for me. It’s not for everyone I get that, but we all have our passions. Life outside those football grounds ceases to exist when a match is on and that is very important to my well-being. I’m sure at some point I’ll get plucked out of the stands and be ordered to suit up since my goal-scoring prowess is the stuff of legends. Ask around.
Specifically, it’s the trails at (Evergreen) Brickworks where Herbie Hancock Jr. (the chihuahua) and I have been going for walks since his arrival in August of 2019. These past few Toronto winters have been no joke. Let’s face it, some brutal f—–g days. When it comes time to shed the layers, the brickwork nature paths really soothe the soul and help you forget you’re living in a very busy and noisy city. Cue the cranes.
Sitting at the corner of Crawford and Harbord Streets in the heart of Little Italy is Olivia’s Garden, a bespoke florist and multi-roaster specialty coffee shop.
Everything about this café is stunning. Working perfectly in unity, the white walls and coffee bar details allow the colours and brightness of the florals and plants to pop. Golden details spread across the space, elevating the design to feel Bridgerton-esque. The ambiance of the space comes together with the smell of fresh floral aromas, mixed with fresh ground coffee and espresso.
Serving up unique signature drinks featuring syrups made in-house and in small batches weekly, the Olivia’s Garden coffee bar offers a rotating selection of beans from around the world.
Olivia’s Garden on Instagram
The flower shop offers a variety of fresh blooms and dried arrangements. Individuals can choose to make their own bouquets or have a florist help them in designing one. There are also pre-made offerings if grab-and-go is more your style.
This spot is also a plant parent’s paradise, with tropical house plants available throughout the Olivia’s space.
Taking pride in the little details, Olivia’s Garden incorporates floral accents across the board, Using edible flowers from their garden and locally grown microgreens in their brunch menu, their signature toasts might be some of the most beautiful in the city. The elevated flavour profile only adds to the experience.
Though the toasts are only available on the weekends at the moment, baked goods and pre-made sandwiches from local shops are also available throughout the weekdays. As the summer brings about the opening of the Olivia’s Garden patio, their hours are expected to extend!
