New Toronto soul food restaurant backed by culinary dream team

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3:11 pm

UNCLE-RAYS-PLATER — Uncle Ray's Southern platter

Uncle Ray’s Food and Liquor is coming to Toronto. The team behind the new restaurant and the recently openly Hamilton soul food spot of the same name includes well-known Toronto restaurateur Yannick Bigourdan as well as Adam Teolis, Michael Angeloni and Dan Kennedy.

You might recognize the Bigourdan name from popular restaurants such as Carbon Bar, Splendido and of course, chef David Lee’s now closed, Nota Bene.

The new concept, set to open near Church and Front, boasts “food with soul, and liquor with love”.

Uncle Ray’s will open at 11 Church St. in the new year.

Bigourdan has paired up with a team of other restaurant mavens including Teolis, who was Bigourdan’s right-hand man and general manager at Carbon Bar and Nota Bene; Dan Kennedy, the operating partner of Open Concept Hospitality as well as executive chef Michael Angeloni. Angeloni cut his teeth in plenty of notable Toronto kitchens, like the Black Hoof, Splendido, Grand Electric and more recently L’Unità Enoteca, where he was the chef de cuisine.

Diverging from his Italian roots, Angeloni will be cooking up some Southern soul food at Uncle Ray’s.

The menu at the new spot will consist of fresh takes on comfort food. The red snapper fish tacos are a standout at the Steeltown location and will surely grab the attention of IG foodies.

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A post shared by Uncle Ray’s Food & Liquor (@realunclerays) on Dec 4, 2019 at 9:00am PST

Served whole, this snapper is decorated with taco fix-ins and served with fresh tortillas. Yes, of course, the former executive chef of Grand Electric is making his own tortillas. The menu is a long list of creature comforts, but the big star is the Southern platter that features everything but the kitchen sink.

The Hamilton location opened Dec. 11 and the plan is to open the Toronto location in the coming weeks just after the holidays. I guess the only question we really have left is, who the hell is Uncle Ray?

Serge Ibaka cements status as a Toronto fashion icon with new deal

By

Nikki Gill

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2:59 pm

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Drake isn’t the only star in the city walking around with the title of global ambassador. Toronto Raptors centre Serge Ibaka has been named the global ambassador for Canadian outerwear brand Nobis.

The NBA champion is known for his fashion flair off the court, which is often best exhibited by the ensembles he puts together for his pre-game looks. So it’s no surprise that a fashion brand took note and nabbed him to be their global ambassador.

Over the next year, fans can expect to see Ibaka modelling parkas and more from the Nobis brand in their upcoming campaigns. The current campaign shows him sporting the Kane and Martin parkas — while holding a basketball of course.

Nobis — which means “us” in Latin — launched in 2007 in Canada and creates premium outerwear and accessories with a focus on function and quality. The company is based in Markham and was selected as one of three finalists of the Markham Board of Trade Global Business Excellence Award.

Though the brand is a local one, it has global reach. Nobis products are available in more than 35 countries across North America, Europe and Asia. Ibaka has noted that his fashion is often inspired by fashion hubs in Europe, as well as the style he sees in his hometown of Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo. Some of our favourite looks from the NBA champion include his mountie-inspired hat and red shirt combination and his many striped co-ordinates.

He doesn’t shy away from a statement-making hat or a loud and colourful print, so we are excited to see what his style sense brings to the Nobis brand throughout the coming year.

Ibaka is quickly becoming our favourite Raptor with his off-the-court personality, including his persona as Mafuzzy Chef. If you’re not in the know, check out his YouTube series How Hungry Are You? where he cooks for celebs and fellow NBA players.

Hanif Harji and Charles Khabouth take over North Toronto landmark

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Nicole Richie

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11:47 am

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The new year will bring more than champagne and resolutions for the Miller Tavern. The Hogg’s Hollow restaurant and its sister spot on Bay Street are being transformed by the Khabouth and Harij machine, ICONINK, in 2020. With extensive renovations and a complete menu revamp in the works, ICONINK is hoping to turn the tired Miller Taverns into places where people actually want to dine.

Open since 1857, the original Miller Tavern has had many different reputations over the years. First launched as the York Mills Hotel, this tavern was a Yonge Street stop-off point for travellers on their way through Toronto. In the 80s, what became known as the ‘Jolly Miller,’ was a cesspool for underage debauchery. In a 2004 review, after an eight year closure and $3 million renovation, restaurant critic Joanne Kates called the Miller an aspiring country club with “a bad case of the blahs”.

So why did the successful hospitality and lifestyle brand, known for high-brow spots like Patria, Estia and Byblos, want to jump onto the Millers’ sinking ship?

“Our vision was to bring more of the classic tavern idea back to the Millers. The Yonge location especially is so iconic. It’s a part of the Toronto history, and we wanted that feeling to remain, while small details are updated to bring back its relevance and quality,” said Victoria Simmerling, Director of Marketing at ICONINK.

Aiming to revamp and refresh the spaces, ICONINK have taken over management of the Millers, changing up the way things run behind the scenes. The Millers have already seen some revitalizing as a result: The menus have been re-envisioned from the once discombobulated mix of dim sum baskets, ahi tuna crudo and lobster quesadillas, to a revised tavern-style menu comprised of elevated classics like oysters Rockefeller, burrata Waldorf salad and brick roasted cornish hen.

The new management will also bring changes to the interior of the spaces. The first big change will come in summer 2020, with the opening of the downtown Miller’s brand new patio. The Yonge St. location’s patio will also be updated this summer, along with a main level renovation. The latter will bring a new bar, cosy velvet and camel banquets and the instalment of a new fireplace.

The ICONINK’s turnover has already made headway and updates will continue throughout the coming months. After 160 years, the Miller Tavern might just be ready to recapture its early glory days.

A Toronto teen and 14 others are taking the government to court

By

Erin Neilly

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9:33 am

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David Suzuki is the host of CBC’s The Nature of Things and author of more than 30 books on ecology, (with files from Ian Hanington).

With no real say in the political process, children and youth are taking to the streets worldwide, demanding that those in power do more to address the climate crisis. The message appears to be getting through: climate disruption and plans to deal with it became a key issue in the recent Canadian election.

But instead of doing everything possible to ensure these young people have a secure, healthy future, governments here and elsewhere continue to expand fossil fuel infrastructure, arguing — as they have for decades — that we can’t get off fossil fuels overnight. It’s kind of like an addict who really isn’t ready to quit.

A group of young people has decided marching isn’t enough. The 15 youths, including 15-year-old Cecilia, from Toronto, and Mikael, a 10-year-old from Mississauga, range in age from seven to 19 and hail from Vancouver Island to the Northwest Territories to Nova Scotia. They have decided to take the federal government to court “to protect their charter and public trust rights from climate change harms,” claiming the federal government’s failure to take action consistent with the scientific evidence violates their rights to life, liberty and security of the person under Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and for failing to protect essential public trust resources.

Since climate change will disproportionately affect youth, they’re also alleging that the government’s conduct violates their right to equality under Section 15 of the charter. These youths are supported by the David Suzuki Foundation, Pacific Centre for Environmental Law and Litigation and Our Children’s Trust and are represented by law firms Arvay Finlay LLP and Tollefson Law Corporation.

They aren’t seeking money. Rather, they’ll ask for a Federal Court order requiring Canada’s government to prepare a plan to redress charter and public trust doctrine violations by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and making a sufficient contribution to preventing, mitigating and redressing dangerous climate change.

As 13-year-old Sáj Starcevich from Saskatchewan says: “The planet is dying. The animals are dying. We will all die if we don’t act. As an Indigenous vegan, I fight for Earth and her inhabitants. The youth have to step up because no one else has. We need you to join us to end this climate crisis.”

As adults, we’ve helped create this mess through rampant consumerism and our lack of attention to the problems our pollution is causing. We owe it to children to help clean it up, to push for the kinds of changes the scientific evidence calls for. We can’t leave it to the youth because by the time they grow up, Earth could well have reached the tipping point for climate catastrophe.

Children shouldn’t have to march in the streets or take their own governments to court. But in times of crisis — which this surely is — people have to do whatever they can to get the many available and emerging solutions implemented.

This luncheonette’s dumplings may just be the best in Toronto

By

Nicole Richie

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4:59 pm

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Food stylist Jill Chen runs a luncheonette program called Freestyle Farm out of her photography studio, just west of Spadina Avenue on Richmond Street, each week. Every Monday to Friday since November of 2018, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., foodies across Toronto are able to place an order and pick up hot, handmade lunches straight from Chen’s in-house kitchen.

“I was always feeding clients lunches,” says Chen, “and I thought, why don’t I do dumplings on the side, for fun? I wanted to make use of the space and I’m cooking anyways, so why not?”

Chen quickly realized that her idea served a lunchtime need in a busy area, and so she signed up with the Ritual app in November this year. With companies like TouchBistro — which hosts around 300 employees on site — living in the same building as Freestyle Farm, business has been booming. Prices range from $4 – $13 for takeout only, and everything on offer is handmade by Chen herself. She also offers gluten-free dumplings for a small upcharge.

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A post shared by Jill Chen (@jillfreestylefarm) on Apr 2, 2019 at 2:29pm PDT

Certain menu items are mainstays, like Chen’s popular scallion pancakes and Shanghai dumplings, but patrons might also arrive to freshly baked cookies, handmade pastas, or Chen’s homage to the now shuttered Spadina favourite, Jackpot Chicken.

Chen and her partner are also passionate about urban farming: they grow food year-round, experiment with aquaponics, and are cultivating an orchard at their Toronto home. While the output isn’t enough to sustain 5 weekly lunch menus, Chen likes to add ingredients from their constellation of urban farm projects where she can.

Freestyle Farm may have started as a side gig, but Chen’s passion for cooking what she loves is creating a lunchtime community in a fast-paced Toronto area. Her loyal customer base is expanding, and Chen even offers intermittent wonton and dumpling classes on the weekends where in addition to a homemade lunch, you get to take home what you fold.

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A post shared by Jill Chen (@jillfreestylefarm) on Dec 4, 2018 at 11:35am PST

Pro food tips to help you detox during the holidays

By

Samantha Peksa

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4:40 pm

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Candra Reynolds runs a healthy food blog called Wife of a Grocer, and her husband Brad McMullen owns and operates Summerhill Market in Toronto.

Can you believe the holidays are just around the corner? There are so many things that happen to us mentally and physically over the holidays; they are busy, emotional and well let’s face it, toxifying. The holiday grind is often full of eating rich foods, desserts, alcohol overload and stress. Yes, stress is the real deal and it diverts your internal energy from the detox process to the “fight or flight” response your body is creating. Detoxing when your body is stressed, is like insisting on having a cup of tea on Christmas eve knowing you haven’t started your holiday gift shopping. Sounds impossible right? Here are some food tips to help your body detox during the mad holiday rush.

Food detox tip #1

Eat your artichokes. Really? Yes, artichokes. There are antioxidants found in artichokes, that help boost bile production which ultimately increases the detoxification that naturally happens in the body. Artichokes are also a rich source of dietary fibre and we all know that fibre really is the holiday angel to digestive elimination. So, keep your artichokes close…then eat them! Don’t know how to eat them? I have you covered. Simply cut off the stem of the artichoke, place in a pot with a couple inches of water, boil for 30-45 mins (depending on size), serve on a plate with butter for dipping. Important tip: only eat the very small fleshy bottom of the leaf and it’s a great appetizer!

Food detox tip #2

Eat or drink your wheatgrass. I have a strong affection for wheatgrass and its results on my energy and general well being. Wheatgrass has many soldiers working for you but the one I’m going to focus on is Chlorophyll. Yes, you can get chlorophyll from many leafy greens, but 70% of wheatgrass is chlorophyll! Chlorophyll purifies the blood and detoxifies the liver by stimulating the enzymes that help in the elimination process. How do I eat wheatgrass? I buy it fresh off the shelf and put it into a green smoothie each morning. Here’s what’s in it: wheatgrass, celery, apples, kale, hemp seeds and water. Try it out during the holidays, it’s sure to boost your energy and help your body naturally recover!

Food detox tip #3

Eat your cabbage. Break out your Grandmother’s coleslaw recipe, not only is this the best back-up salad to have in the fridge during the holidays but cabbage will also do your liver wonders. Here’s what you need to know, cabbage contains sulphur which is the most important element for detoxification in the body. Sulphur promotes synthesis of bile and liver detoxification, including detoxification of excess hormones. Not to mention, your grandmother will be full of love because you used her recipe!

I have a final tip on stress: no present given (or not given) will define your relationship. A meal served late welcomes more socializing so if you are just too exhausted to cook a holiday dinner, I know someone you can call!

Summerhill Market has been de-stressing families for years by providing holiday meals prepared with real ingredients and all the fixings. The best part? No one will ever know it wasn’t you doing all the work.

Happy Holidays!

Explore Summerhill Market‘s unique food shopping experience at any one of the following locations:

Annex location, 1014 Bathurst St., Toronto,

Rosedale location, 446 Summerhill Ave., Toronto

Sherwood location, 1054 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Toronto

The best chocolate bark in Toronto

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Samantha Peksa

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2:38 pm

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Popular Toronto barbecue restaurant closed due to fire

By

Ron Johnson

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10:04 am

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On Dec. 10, Corso Italia restaurant Earlscourt BBQ announced that they would be closed until further notice, following a fire.

The restaurant, located on the lower level of 1278 St. Clair Ave. W. is owned by barbecue competitor Jason Rees, otherwise known as the Pork Ninja. It’s a popular destination for smoked foods in the Southern barbecue style.

Yesterday, a notice of the fire and closure was put on the Earlscourt social media channels including Facebook. “We had a fire at the restaurant. No one was hurt. While the fire wasn’t extensive, we’re closed until further notice,” the message read.

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NOTICE: We had a fire at the restaurant. Thankfully, no one was hurt. While the fire wasn’t extensive, we’re closed until further notice.

A post shared by Earlscourt BBQ Restaurant (@porkninjas) on Dec 10, 2019 at 11:51am PST

A more recent update posted in the early morning hours sees the popular eatery starting to move forward, even going as far as expressing hope that they might reopen in time for a planned New Year’s Eve shindig “even if we have to cook everything in a tent outside.”

Just goes to show, you can’t keep a good pitmaster down. We look forward to the return of this primo barbecue destination in the near future.

Holiday Gift Guide 2019: Fashion-forward gift ideas in Toronto

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Samantha Peksa

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12:30 pm

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Jeanne Beker picks clutches that are ready to party

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Erin Neilly

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8:20 am

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Snow is in the air, and the sound of carols is ringing in our ears, so the end of the year must be near. That means soiree season, so we asked Jeanne Beker to pick the perfect party clutches to complete your outfit for the office holiday party, family dinner or a New Year’s Eve bash.

A) SILVER BELLS

“I just love this metallic leather because it looks a bit distressed. A great clutch that just folds over.”
Andrews, Bayview Village, $163

B) REINDEER ROPE

“This haircalf is dyed the most exquisite shade of blue with this wonderful cording that gives it an artisanal feel. A gorgeous bag.”
Milli, 231 Avenue Rd., $1,195

C) A LUXE ORNAMENT

“This is a forever kind of piece. It’s beautifully made inside, lined with a sumptuous black leather. It has a sense of whimsy to it but also a sense of style gravitas.”
Archives, 1275 Bay St., $4,886

D) GLITTER & GLAM

“A very structured bag with this lovely Lucite detailing on the clasp. This bag is ready to party.”
Freda’s, 86 Bathurst St., $125

E) C FOR CHRISTMAS

“This gorgeous rich purple, this ombre idea, this stunning jewelled C, this bag has a lot of glamour to it, a real rich quality.”
Coach, Yorkdale mall, $395

F) METALLIC MUSE

“This is the kind of piece you can dress up or down. It has really interesting texture, and it’s Canadian, so we love it even more.”
Ela, elahandbags.com, $42

G) VERY INTO VELVET

“This is a very rich-looking bag in a beautiful deep sapphire with all this beautiful ruching on the round handle.”
Ever New, Eaton Centre, $64.99

H) GEOMETRIC GEM

“This is a work of art. It’s like a little sculpture. It’s got this mixed media, and, from a distance, it looks like stone.”
Archives, 1275 Bay St., $1,430

I) MINIATURE LUXURY

“A whimsical little Fendi bag. It’s got a metallic thread going through some of the stripes. It’s so cute.”
Rewind Couture, 577 Mt. Pleasant Rd., $295

J) POP OF RED

“I love this because of the handmade feel it has. It’s really beautifully crafted in a minimalistic way.”
Zane, 753 Queen St. W., $450

K) LIP SERVICE

“For those of us who refuse to leave the house without some red lipstick. It’s a glorious statement piece with a lot of whimsy attached to it.”
Aldo, Promenade mall, $68

Two big restaurant openings Toronto diners eagerly await

By

Nicole Richie

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4:26 pm

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It’s no question that delays come with the territory of opening a new restaurant. There can be issues with construction, licensing, staffing, you name it. There are an inexplicable amount of hurdles restaurateurs have to get over before they cut the red ribbon. This year has brought some incredible restos, but since the summer we have been waiting on two big Toronto names to finally open their doors.

Toronto restaurants Gusto and Buca have been pushing to open new locations before we say goodbye to 2019. Both restaurant groups announced earlier this year that they were opening up sister spots (although Buca already has several other members in their resto family), and now fans are eager to dine at the new establishments.

Cucina Buca

Buca at St. Clair has been in the works since November of 2017, when the King Street Food Company and Rob Gentile announced that they were going to open the fifth location under the Buca name. Since then, Yonge and St.Clair has undergone a complete revamp, but the anticipation of Burrata e Fichi and Polipo e Vongole still burdens the Midtown crowd. Although similar to the other Osteria’s, the Yonge and St. Clair location is reported to be revealed under a new name, Cucina Buca. Cucina, which means kitchen in Italian, implies this location might be more back to basics than the others. But without any other information besides a couple decals on the restaurant’s glass doors, there has been no word.

Gusto 501

Now, Janet Zuccarini has a lot on her plate. The international restaurateur has been taking over the Los Angeles food scene with Felix, her collaboration with pasta maker Evan Funke and her new cannabis brand, Gusto Green. So we aren’t surprised that Gusto 501 has yet to announce its grand opening. The new Corktown resto has been on everyone’s radar for the last six months. Working with the Partisans team (Bar Raval, Paradise Theatre), Gusto 501 will be just as much a spectacle as it will be a restaurant. The building has been completely reimagined and features a huge terracotta wall that spans three storeys. Since the summer the whole city has been waiting to explore the new space, get their gram and enjoy a mouthful of Mafalde ai Funghi, but the restaurant doesn’t foresee an opening until early 2020.

Iconic Toronto eatery opens in Prince Edward County

By

Nicole Richie

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3:24 pm

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To some, 7 Numbers is a restaurant, but to most diners, it’s a second home. The original southern Italian eatery has been a staple of the Eglinton West community for over a decade. Presided over by chef Rosa Marinuzzi—better known as Mama Rosa—an evening at the cozy space unfolds like it would at your imagined nonna’s house. Platters of soul-feeding pasta, veal parm and bottles of vino decorate tables, while an atmosphere of merriment envelops the dining room. Now, as of Dec. 13, Picton is set to embrace its very own 7 Numbers eatery.

Sidestepping Toronto’s bustling dining scene, Mama Rosa and her son, Vito Marinuzzi, opted to venture out to the charming community of Picton. Bringing their brand of Italian authenticity into the ever-more-dynamic Prince Edward County, 7 Numbers will join a region put on the international map by The Drake Devonshire and, more recently, millennial-bait the June Motel.

The eve of Dec. 13 will mark the opening of the third restaurant in the what can now be dubbed the 7 Numbers mini-empire. (The Danforth is home to resto numero due.) During the grand opening, diners can expect to see Mama Rosa in the kitchen all day long, cooking up hearty Ital favourites with her trademark grin and plenty of brio.

Mama Rosa and Vito will continue to oversee the two Toronto outposts. Vicky Worlidge, a Picton resident and former coworker at 7 Numbers, is in charge of the newest eatery. While a number of other local restaurants are seasonal, catering to the influx of summer tourists that parade through the area, Worlidge and co. have set their sights on the locals. With a menu that focuses on unfussy Italian classics — with local produce playing an all-important role — the 7 Numbers ethos is sure to resonate with the community.

Much like with her Toronto restos, Mama Rosa’s Picton menu is a people-pleaser meant for sharing. Think fresh burrata made for smothering hunks of good bread with, incredibly scarfable calamari fritti, and giant hunks of lasagna that are the definition of comfort food. Yes, there will be plenty of red sauce and platters of osso buco. Rather than highlighting a bunch of Chianti, the wine menu will highlight local wineries in keeping with the community-oriented vibe.

From the sounds of it, 7 Numbers’ familial Italian warmth will be a perfect match for Picton.

7 Numbers, 161 Main St., Picton