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Ontario to cap third-party food delivery app fees in lockdown zones

By
Ron Johnson
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restaurant delivery app

Some third-party restaurant delivery apps charge as much as 30 per cent to transport food from a restaurant to your home. In the best of times, these fees are a lot for restaurant owners to shoulder but when you add the current pandemic lockdown to the mix, delivery app fees are unsustainable.

New legislation delivered under the Supporting Local Restaurants Act 2020 will put an end to the highest of fees for restaurants struggling in lockdown zones.

Premier Doug Ford has made his dislike of delivery app fees known previously when he pleaded with delivery companies to lower fees during the pandemic.

While many restaurants survived the first wave of the virus despite high fees charged by apps such as Uber Eats, the province is set to make charging those fees impossible. The new Act would impose a cap of 15 per cent on delivery fees and a 20 per cent limit on all additional fees.

App companies caught breaking this new law could be charged up to $10 million. New York City recently put similar laws into place when the New York City council voted to cap app delivery fees at 15 per cent. The new Ontario law would apply to any restaurants in lockdown zones of Toronto and Peel Region currently offering delivery options.

Another aspect of the Supporting Local Restaurants Act is a clause protecting app employees. Under the new law, contractors and employees working for food delivery apps cannot be impacted by the percentage limit.

“Ontario’s small and independent restaurants have shouldered an outsized share of COVID-19’s economic burdens,” said Minister Sarkaria, in a press release. “But through it all, they’ve continued to serve our communities, our families and have lifted our spirits. With this legislation, our government is helping local businesses stay in business and providing a solution that will help our local restaurants when every little bit helps.”

The province is also offering restaurant owners relief in the form of financial relief with a $600-million fund to help with taxes and utility bills. The Supporting Local Restaurants Act is expected to be in place swiftly and will apply to the GTA and any area in Ontario where restaurants are currently closed.

North York has a new spot for vegan comfort food

By
Jessica Huras
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harlem bodega toronto

Opening Harlem Bodega, North York’s new vegan takeout spot, has been a long-time dream for owner Juss (who prefers not to share his last name). Originally from New York, Juss relocated to the GTA with his wife in March just as COVID was picking up steam. Previously a full-time DJ, Juss found himself out of work amid the pandemic and decided to turn his passion for cooking vegan cuisine into a business.

“It’s a way of earning income, but it’s also just a great idea,” says Juss, adding that ordering takeout at home during the first lockdown made him feel that Toronto needed more varied, high-quality vegan options.

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Harlem Bodega’s menu is inspired by the grab-and-go comfort food served at bodegas, New York’s ubiquitous corner convenience stores.

For example, Juss puts a vegan spin on chopped cheese, a classic bodega sandwich typically made with ground beef, using plant-based beef and cheese. Like a traditional chopped cheese, it’s topped with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and served on a long, hoagie-style bun.

Other dishes, such as baked or fried pastelillos and arroz con dulco (rice pudding), draw inspiration from Juss’ Puerto Rican heritage. Harlem Bodega also sells popular Puerto Rican beverages, including Coco Rico soda.

An example of the ghost kitchen trend that’s continuing to gain momentum in Toronto, Harlem Bodega doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Instead, orders are prepared for takeout or delivery in a rented commercial kitchen space.

In the future, however, Juss says he’d also like to potentially expand into a food truck, do pop-ups at food festivals and potentially open a permanent location when lockdown measures are lifted.

A beloved Toronto food hub is crowdfunding its first community cookbook

By
Jessica Huras
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the Depanneur kickstarter

West end Toronto food hub the Depanneur is set to release its first cookbook thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign. Depanneur, The Book Where Interesting Food Things Happen, is founder Len Senater’s homage to the city’s culinary mosaic. Featuring 100 recipes, the book will spotlight the many cooks that have passed through the Depanneur during its ten years of operations.

Since 2010, the Depanneur has acted as a multi-purpose restaurant, commissary kitchen, supper club, culinary salon and cooking school. As an active member of the local community, Senater has also used his space to support Syrian refugees in Toronto with his non-profit social enterprise, Newcomer Kitchen. 

To raise funds for the upcoming cookbook, the Depanneur launched a Kickstarter last week that has already surpassed its $20,000 goal.

Asking donors to “Adopt-A-Recipe,” the campaign allows backers to nominate dishes or cooks that have been a part of the Depanneur’s history, to be included in the celebratory cookbook. The money raised will be used to pay the book’s contributors, as well as finance photography. 

“We’re long overdue for a cookbook that actually reflects the diversity of Toronto,” says Senater.

The book will include recipes, conversations and guest contributions from the decades’ worth of culinary talents that have passed through the “Place Where Interesting Food Things Happen,” from local home cooks to celebrity chefs. 

The Depanneur cookbook kickstarter

Today, the Depanneur launched the second phase of its campaign, which is aimed at raising additional funds for writing, editing, publishing and marketing of the cookbook, as well as financing related audio and video content. 

As part of the campaign, Dougie Kerr, the artist behind Honest Ed’s iconic signage, has been commissioned to create a limited number of original, hand-painted signs for donors who make a $100 contribution when pre-ordering a cookbook. Kerr is also part of the Depanneur’s storied history, having painted the food hub’s original street sign in 2011.  

Donations and book pre-orders can be made via the Depanneur Cookbook Kickstarter page.

Marc’s Mushrooms reportedly owed almost $100,000 from King Street Food Company

By
Marlene Mendonca
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King Street Food Company entered insolvency this month, leaving members of its restaurant supply chain unpaid as we head into some of the darkest days of the pandemic.

Marc Eber is the owner of Marc’s Mushrooms. A decade ago, he walked into Buca (one of King Street Food Company’s restaurants) with a basket of wild mushrooms, kicking off a long-running business partnership.

Today, however, Marc’s Mushrooms is owed $97,006 from Buca and other King Street Food Company establishments.

The outstanding money has affected Eber’s business strategy during the pandemic. “That [money] could be used for payroll or for weathering the storm,” Eber said, “so not having the money is impactful.”

King Street Food Company was on an upswing before the pandemic. In a press release, they said that this growth came to a “devastating halt” and that COVID-19 brought “unexpected and staggering financial difficulties.”

Unfortunately for the industry, it’s likely that more closures are on the horizon. “This is the first of many,” Eber said. “In the next three months, it’s going to be a bloodbath.”

In light of these struggles, Eber started Grow, Gather & Co., an online grocery home delivery service. They offer pre-made baskets featuring meat, fish, dairy and pasta, all sourced from markets, restaurants and producers from all around the city. They also have a custom basket option, where you can choose items from a wealth of local purveyors.

 

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Eber sees his company sticking with this new business model beyond the pandemic. “I think a lot of places are considering somewhat of a new reality,” Eber said. “I think it’s going to take years before the atmosphere of restaurants comes back.”

In the meantime, suppliers like Eber will forge on, adapting like everybody else to these unpredictable times.

Charges laid after Toronto restaurant defies lockdown regulations

By
Marlene Mendonca
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The Adamson BBQ saga continues. Hours after Toronto officials padlocked the doors of the restaurant for defying Ontario’s Health Protection and Promotion Act, owner Adam Skelly reposted an Instagram story with a cartoon version of himself standing on a police car, brandishing a spatula and proclaiming “We’re not closing.” His message, though illegal, was clear: “Etobicoke. 11 am to sold out. Dine-in.”

As of this afternoon, Skelly is facing nine charges, including operating a business without a license, breaching indoor dining regulations, and allowing illegal gathering.

The BBQ joint has become an outpost for anti-lockdown protests, with supporters seen lining up beginning Wednesday morning. Throughout the course of the day, many have reportedly been yelling at journalists and holding up signs reading “We Are Essential.”

Despite police warning patrons that they would be charged if they refused to leave, Skelly announced earlier in the day that he was all sold out and that he would bring five times as much food tomorrow.

The maximum penalty upon conviction for violating the Reopening Ontario Act can be up to $100,000, with jail time of up to one year.

The best food subscriptions in Toronto for holiday gifting

By
Kristine Hughes
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Treat your loved ones to the gift of edible surprises year-round and support local businesses this holiday season with these Toronto-based food subscription boxes.

General Assembly Pizza food Subscription

Pizza from General Assembly Pizza

Downtown restaurant General Assembly Pizza launched its pizza subscription service earlier this year, featuring naturally leavened, frozen pizzas that can be cooked at home in about five to seven minutes. Subscriptions come with four, six, eight or 10 pies, and there’s the option to customize your pizza choices. There are plenty of vegetarian and plant-based pies, as well as classics like the Loving Cup with Ezzo natural pepperoni. You can prepay for three, six, nine or 12 months to make it easier to give the deliveries as a gift for your favourite carb lover.

Leslieville Cheese Club

Cheese from Leslieville Cheese Market

Leslieville Cheese Market delivers two thoughtfully selected cheeses to members each month through its cheese club. The selection at this long-running east end specialty shop typically includes cheeses like creamy applewood smoked cheddar, aged manchego and douanier, a French Canadian washed rind cheese with a line of vegetable ash in its centre. Leslieville Cheese Market’s monthly package also includes a baguette and another surprise sample from the shop, as well as tasting notes for the items included.

Carnivore Club Subscription

Charcuterie from Carnivore Club

Although Carnivore Club now delivers across Canada, the U.S., U.K., E.U. and Australia, this cured meat subscription service is based locally in Toronto. There are several different box options, including snack boxes packed with proteins you can eat on the go and classic boxes filled with artisan meats like bacon, salami and prosciutto. Each month highlights products from a different artisan, introducing subscribers to meat producers around the world over the course of the year, including numerous top-notch Canadian companies.

Le Dolci Subscription

Cake from Le Dolci

North York bakery Le Dolci will deliver a sweet treat to the dessert lover in your life each month with its cake of the month club. Le Dolci is known for its artfully designed cakes, with its current selection including a snow-themed Winter Wonderland cake with chocolate buttercream and a Cable Knit Yule Log cake with a sweater-inspired frosting design. The bakery’s cake of the month club is no exception, with subscribers receiving a new flavour and a surprise design each month based on seasonal themes. Subscriptions are available for six or 12 months.

Hemant Bhagwani revamps his Leaside restaurant

By
Jessica Huras
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Bom-Bay Snack Bar Toronto
Photo Credit: Back of House

Restaurateur Hemant Bhagwani has pivoted his Leaside restaurant Egg Bird less than 5 months after opening. Bhagwani recently relaunched the midtown restaurant as Bom-Bay Snack Bar a new concept centred on Irani-Indian cuisine. Fortunately for fans of Egg Bird, Bhagwani says the burger and fried chicken sandwich joint will soon be opening a downtown location, although the full details have yet to be announced.

Named after India’s largest city, Mumbai (which was previously called Bombay), the menu draws inspiration from the city’s Irani cafés. Brought to Mumbai in the 19th century by Irani immigrants escaping British persecution, these cafés were known for breaking down social barriers by bringing people of different faiths together, according to Bhagwani.

Bhagwani says that on a recent trip to India, the food served in these cafés “blew me away.” He adds that most Indian restaurants in Toronto emphasize northern Indian food and he wanted to offer the city something different. “In the last two years, I’ve made a conscious decision of focusing on these regional cuisines,” he says, referencing his Burmese restaurant Pōpa as an example.

“Some of the dishes are available at other restaurants across Toronto, Scarborough and Mississauga, but nobody was actually doing full-blown Irani café food so I took an opportunity,” he says. Bhagwani explains that the tradition of these Irani cafés is beginning to fade in Mumbai, and he hopes to bring their spirit to Toronto with Bom-Bay Snack Bar.

 

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Menu highlights include small plates like the Avocado Papdi Chaat, a brightly-flavoured and crunchy combo of wheat crisps, cornflakes, avocados, chickpeas, sev, potatoes, yogurt, chutney and roasted cumin powder; and Bombay sandwiches, such as bhuna chicken and avocado chutney, served on grilled bread. The extensive menu also includes kebabs, biryanis, curries, a naan bar and a separate breakfast menu.

Dishes like the Frankie Rolls pay homage to Mumbai’s street food culture, featuring wraps filled with mayonnaise, chutney, red onion, pepper, signature ‘magic masala’ and cheese. The rolls come with a variety of main fillings, including potato, chicken or paneer chilli.

Once indoor dining reopens, Bom-Bay will also feature a special tea service with over 60 teas from local retailer Tea Squared. Teas will be served in glass pots, with a sand timer brought to tables and used to regulate the precise steeping time for each brew.

As with all Toronto restaurants, Bom-Bay is currently only open for takeout and delivery but dine-in and patio are set to open when lockdown measures are lifted.

Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health orders Adamson Barbecue to close

By
Ron Johnson
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Adamson

The city of Toronto issued a news release late Tuesday afternoon relaying the information that it had taken steps to close Adamson Barbecue after the Etobicoke outpost of the restaurant chain opened its doors to indoor dining this morning in defiance of COVID-19 rules.

“Despite Ontario regulations requiring all restaurants to be closed, except for takeout, delivery and drive-through, this establishment opened its doors to patrons for dine-in eating in contravention of the law that is designed to protect people from the spread of COVID-19,” the statement read, in part.

When the restaurant opened at 11 a.m. this morning, it was visited by city bylaw officers, Toronto Public Health inspectors and Toronto Police Service officers.

It was not ordered closed at the time, nor was owner Jason Skelly fined, which set social media ablaze with a debate over the merits of his action.

Although the city did nothing at the time, according to the press release, an investigation was “immediately launched,” in the restaurant’s contravention of the Reopening Ontario Act. Now, not only is Skelly under investigation under the aforementioned act, but his restaurant is also being investigated “for compliance with business licensing, zoning, public health, Ontario Building Code and the Ontario Fire Code requirements.”

Premier Doug Ford was asked about the incident during his daily press briefing, and seemed understanding of Skelly’s plight when he said, “I can’t get angry at any business person right now.” But said he wanted the business closed. 

The province ordered all restaurants and most retail stores closed as of Nov. 23 for a period of 28 days right in the middle of the busiest time of year, and nerves are beginning to fray after just one day of the lockdown.

Will Adamson open for business tomorrow?

Lineup announced for the annual Dream Serenade concert happening this weekend

By
Ron Johnson
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hayden desser at Dream Serenade
Hayden Desser performs at Dream Serenade

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Hayden Desser and company will once again put their sizable musical talents to good use for the annual Dream Serenade benefit concert. The show will be live-streamed on Nov. 28 with proceeds going to the COVID Family Relief Bursary.

The evening, hosted from its creators’ home, will feature performances by Feist, Kathleen Edwards, Dan Mangan, Kevin Drew & Brendan Canning, William Prince, Kevin Hearn & Hugh Marsh, Lou Canon, Desser and special guests.

Dream Serenade was created by Toronto parents Christie Greyerbiehl and Desser to raise funds for their daughter’s school, Beverley Street School. A groundbreaking facility in the city for students with a developmental disorder or physical disability.

The popular annual event hosted at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall has expanded to support other like-minded schools and care-centres in the GTA and raise funds that directly assist Toronto area families with a large summer camp bursary fund.

The COVID Family Relief Bursary was created earlier this year by Dream Serenade with the goal of meeting the community’s urgent needs during the pandemic. The new Bursary received over 450 applications in its first week.

An online fundraising market has also been set up and includes special packages donated by community vendors and previous event merchandise and new special edition item. All proceeds are directed back to the community, directly supporting children and families in the Greater Toronto Area.

For more information and to buy tickets to support this incredible project go here.

Adamson Barbecue set to open for indoor dining today against Ontario rules

By
Ron Johnson
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adamson BBQ

One Toronto restaurant is set to defy Premier Doug Ford and open his restaurant to the public on Nov. 24. Yes, today.

Never one to shy away from controversy, Adam Skelly, the owner of Adamson Barbecue with locations in Leaside, Aurora and Etobicoke, announced on social media today that he will open his Etobicoke location in Ford’s own backyard for in-restaurant dining in direct contravention of provincial rules that ban indoor and outdoor dining during the lockdown.

 

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In the video, Skelly basically goes off on the provincial lockdown choosing from a highlight reel of anti-mask, anti-lockdown rhetoric.

Thankfully, he isn’t long-winded about it but makes a point to thank those who have supported him in his efforts. So, apparently, this sentiment is nothing new for him.

“Thank you for the messages of support. Thank you for filling out my little polls. Thank you for letting me know that we have people in our corner. This is a risky move. And you guys gave me the gas to do this,” he says. “So I just want to thank you guys so much. Now, for anybody out there who’s going What is this guy doing? And you’re questioning my motives here, look, top to bottom, this thing stinks. It reeks of corruption.”

Skelly questions things such as the current method of COVID-19 testing citing issues such as “cold fragments in flu shots,” as well as the slim number of deaths that can be traced to restaurant visits.

“We’re opening for anybody who’s a fan of freedom and sovereignty,” he continues. “The right to choose what you wear, where to go, who to have over at your house, what businesses you can go to.”

Skelly also caught some serious heat from others in the food community and beyond this past spring for some heated debates deemed offensive by many for his language and

It will be interesting to see just how long Adamson BBQ can stay open today given his direct public appeal for business. And, how big the fine will be for contravening the provincial rules.

Deer Park Library to be redeveloped 

By
Ron Johnson
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Deer Park Library
Deer Park Library

Toronto City Council, Executive Committee voted in favour of moving forward with consultations into redeveloping Deer Park Library. 

According to a report from CreateTO, the property was originally identified for proposed redevelopment back in 2009, but “the continuing interest for retaining a library on the site has posed significant challenges, which have limited the ability to intensify the site.”

The action supported by the Toronto Public Library Board enables the board to enter into negotiations with CreateTO and a developer to discuss a potential turnover agreement for the property at 40 St. Clair Ave. E.   

If approved by city council, the agreement for consultation requires development proposals to find a suitable replacement facility and new service delivery model for the library. It also requires the proposed resolution of any financial and operational issues arising from the redevelopment, including the cost of relocating library staff. Lastly, the agreement is subject to ongoing consultation and communication with the community, councillor and other local stakeholders.  

According to a project proposal from CreateTO, the plan includes the possibility of moving the current library around the corner to 1485 Yonge St.  

Josh Matlow, councillor of the ward that’s home to the library, said the action does not signify there has been any approval, merely that the city is considering options.  

Before any further progress, Matlow said he wants the next step to be a community consultation process. 

“One way or another, there will continue to be a library at Yonge and St Clair,” said Matlow.  

Matlow said the focus of the potential redevelopment should be on “city-building.”

“If there are real benefits to the community that are tangible and real, then, yes, let’s discuss, How do you pay for that?  What does it look like?”  Matlow said. 

Matlow said he isn’t interested in strictly commercial development in the area. “If it’s simply a condo tower to make somebody some money, forget it.” 

CreateTO was also unable to answer what the cost of the proposed project would be but said “a financial evaluation is currently being undertaken,” and the, “goal of the project is to deliver a new, modern and expanded library branch that has a strong community presence and is integrated into a transit-oriented development at no cost to the Toronto Public Library.”

The action passed the executive vote on Nov. 18 and will be considered by city council on Nov. 25.

People are eating earlier than ever at Toronto’s restaurants thanks to COVID-19

By
Jessica Huras
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0
El Catrin
El Catrin

With Toronto currently sitting in the control (red) level of the COVID-19 response framework, indoor dining in the city remains off-limits for at least another month. On top of that, the city has implemented a 9 p.m. curfew on alcohol, meaning that despite some restaurants staying open past 9, they are not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages to their patrons.

Despite the colder temperatures, restaurants are endeavouring to work within the restrictions by offering sit-down dining outside and a growing trend has emerged. Customers are booking their dinner reservations earlier than ever, both to avoid dining in the dark, but also to secure a spot before the crowds roll in.

For many restaurants, dinner reservations once poured in after 5 p.m., signalling the end of the business day for many who work a 9 to 5 job. But, with the majority of Canadians now working remotely from home, time has gone out the window and eating earlier is not only a new possibility but also a convenience.

“With current provincial restrictions mandating a 9 p.m. last call for alcohol in Toronto right now (with a consumption end time of 10 p.m.), we have naturally seen a shift to earlier business,” said Elisabeth Bottomley, marketing and recruitment manager for Distillery Restaurants Corporation, which manages restaurants like Madrina, Cluny and El Catrin. “With that being said, we’re certainly not reaching anything approaching capacity at 5 p.m.”

In an attempt to boost profits, the Distillery Restaurant Group has launched a “happy hour” initiative between 3 and 6 p.m. on Monday to Friday (the slowest business hours) at Pure Spirits and El Catrin.

 

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Juan M. Gonzalez-Calcaneo is part of the communications team at Bandit Brewery, a bustling brewpub located in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood.

“We’ve definitely noticed that our patio has been seeing a bit more action earlier in the day,” Gonzalez-Calcaneo said. “The 9 p.m. curfew hasn’t changed things too drastically for us. We’re really thankful that our guests continue to brave the cold to join us for dinner on our heated patio, taking advantage of the day’s last rays of sun. We hope we can continue doing this safely for the next few weeks.”

Prior to the pandemic, Bandit Brewery opened up shop at 5 p.m. but now, as a result of the earlier demand for tables, has revised its operating times and has started welcoming guests beginning at 4 p.m.

Once only a summer fling, patio season in Toronto is here to stay, with many restaurants coming up with creative ways to cater to their guests outside. Heated patios continue to allow for a cozy and comfortable dining experience, whether that means having outdoor fireplaces or torches, or even handing out blankets to guests.

The majority of restaurants in the city also continue to offer takeout and delivery, both via their own in-house delivery systems or through third-party service providers. 

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