RonJohns® long johns set to take over T.O.

10:04 am

UPDATE: Happy April Fools’ Day everyone!

Hot on the heels of Jay Manuel’s Attitude design debut, Post City Magazines’ very own Ron Johnson is ready to reveal the results of his first foray into fashion. Our longtime editor-in-chief, known for his trendsetting sartorial statements (“plaid on plaid” and “so what if I wore this on my jog this morning?” are two of his signature looks), is taking the undergarment world by storm: his tartan and silkscreened long johns, RonJohns®, will hit the shelves in early Fall 2011.

While Johnson had hoped to debut his new line during LG Fashion Week, he faced a number of debut-encumbering setbacks.

He says he struggled with the initial design of the long johns, and suffered a nervous breakdown while working with a local seamstress. The seamstress, whom Johnson refuses to name, disapproved of his design, and demanded the editor incorporate a “button flap” to improve the wearability of the RonJohns®.

“Ultimately, we settled on a zipper flap,” says Johnson. “This is 2011, people. The button flap is so 1880.”

Johnson hasn’t had much luck finding distributors (“Idiots!”), but he does think his RonJohns® would make a welcome addition to The Room at the Hudson’s Bay Company.

“It seems like a great fit, no?” he rhetorically ponders. “I’m sure more than a few pairs of long johns were traded for furs and pelts back in the day. I’m going to call up Bonnie [Brooks] this afternoon to see if we can work something out.”

While a few local fashion critics have dismissed Johnson’s designs as “too hillbilly” and “the opposite of good taste,” we predict that RonJohns® will be the new jeggings of the undergarment world; everyone will own a pair — even if they won’t admit it.

Q&A: Judy Fong Bates, author of this year's One Book selection

9:09 am

The Toronto Public Library’s month-long festival of reading, Keep Toronto Reading, kicks off today with the One Book program, a city-wide book club in which everyone is encouraged to read and discuss one book. This year honours Judy Fong Bates‘ novel Midnight at the Dragon Café. She’ll be at the Toronto Reference Library tonight for the One Book launch, but we had our own discussion with Judy Fong Bates by telephone.

For people who don’t take the time to read, what are they missing?
When I think of reading, I think of stories. Stories tell us who we are. Stories expand our horizons. They take us into places we might not ever think of going. I mean, on that more profound level they make us look at things from new angles and they add depth to our lives, but in another way it’s also fun!

Some say there is a bit of the author in every character. How much biography is there in fiction?
I suppose that for any writer of fiction, every character is based in some way on the writer. I mean, I can only speculate based on my own experience how someone else feels. Because fiction is about feelings. Even though I might be writing about someone else’s [feeling of] betrayal or grief it is still based on my sense of grief or my sense of betrayal or joy or loss or whatever. But I think what you try to do as a writer is you hope to create that world where the reader will bring his or her experience, and then it becomes even richer.

By contrast, in your family memoir, The Year of Finding Memory, you say that it is “your version” of your family’s story. Is there some degree of fictionalization in any biography or memoir?
I don’t know if it’s fictionalization so much as it is re-creation, because certainly when I think of my own memoir, some of those scenes that I try to bring to life, I can’t remember them in that great detail, but I try to re-create it so that it will come to life for the reader. What you want to get at is that emotional essence. Whereas, in my novel, that is fiction.

But as you say, it is based on your experience of life.
Yes, I think that in many ways the emotional heart of the narrator belongs to me.

The main character in your novel, Su-Jen, struggles between wanting to fit in with her family and wanting to fit in with her small-town community in the 60s. Could you say something about the relationship between identity and racism?
There is something really ugly about discrimination based on race. As simple as it sounds, it really is skin deep. Race is one issue for Su-Jen, but I think that, ultimately, probably the cultural differences become larger as she grows older. Cultural issues and language issues become much larger for her. Because, when I say that Su-Jen shares my emotional heart, what’s happened in my case as I become older and as Canada has evolved, for me, race has become less of an issue. And as far as finding oneself, and the differences I’ve had to reconcile, those have had more to do with culture and attitude and language than with race.

What’s next for Judy Fong Bates?
I’m working on a piece of historical fiction. We’ll see where it takes me.

One Book Kickoff with Judy Fong Bates and the Starlight Opera, Toronto Reference Library, April 1

Canadian icons joining forces in Toronto this April for Japan earthquake relief

9:59 am

David Suzuki and Naomi Klein are lending their support. So are Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje. Oh, and Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul. In fact, innumerable Canadian celebrities are coming forward under one roof in Toronto this April for Hope Blossoms, a fundraising show to help relief efforts in Japan.

The show is being put together by Toronto to Japan, a collective of Canadian artists, musicians, writers, business leaders and activists who organize fundraising events for victims of the earthquake and tsunami. We talked to spokesperson and founding member Sang Kim (creator of Blowfish and KOKO! Share Bar). He takes us from Toronto, to Japan, to the big event happening April 21.

Do you remember the first thoughts that went through your mind when you heard about the tsunami and the earthquake?
There is a story in The New Yorker this month by Haruki Murakami, U.F.O. in Kushiro, one that was published in an earlier collection called After The Quake. It tells the story of a man whose wife leaves him inexplicably after sitting numbly in front of the television set all day and night for weeks, watching the aftermath of the 1995 Kobe earthquake. I felt like that woman, numb, as I was sitting in a bar watching the images of the tsunami roll across Sendai.

After the tsunami hit, when and how did the idea for Toronto to Japan come about?
After that experience, I immediately picked up the phone and called Sachiko Murakami, a friend and poet, and she asked me to join a group that was meeting that week. It was at Joy Kogawa‘s home. I was asked to chair the meeting. The idea [for Toronto to Japan] came to us at the meeting. It is a dynamic group of people, across generations, genders, vocations and ethnic backgrounds. We wanted the collective to reflect a local response to what was happening in Japan. We also felt that the preposition "to" in Toronto To Japan reflected direction and equality, as opposed to "from," which could suggest pity, condescension.

Was it easy to garner support from writers, activists, musicians and artists across the city?
Very easy. With people like Kerri Sakamoto, Kyo Maclear and Joy Kogawa on the collective, reaching out to artists, especially writers, was easy. The first two to come on board was John Ralston Saul and Margaret Atwood. Others quickly followed suit. Now, we have Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Adrienne Clarkson, and Bob Wiseman performing at our main event on April 21.

What do you hope to accomplish with Toronto to Japan?
We hope to raise as much money as we can and send it to the areas that have been most affected. We also want to send our support and solidarity to the Japanese people. We have launched a very effective viral campaign, called "Toronto To Japan, with love…" which are short and sweet video messages of love to the survivors. People from all walks of life, from all areas of this city, and soon around the world, are joining us in this campaign.

What words of advice do you have for Torontonians who are on the fence about helping with relief efforts?
The fable of the hummingbird. A fire rages in the forest. The bears wake from their slumber and line up from the banks of the river to the fire, passing buckets full of water to each other. A hummingbird flits back and forth, irritating the bears. One of the bears finally stops the hummingbird in mid-flight, saying angrily, "What do you think you are doing?" The hummingbird spits it’s drop of water out of its beak and replies "I am doing what I can." Members of Toronto To Japan are doing what we can.

Toronto to Japan: Hope Blossoms,TIFF Bell Lightbox, April 21

Guud times: a look at Guu SakaBar’s menu

4:05 pm

Guu SakaBar, the sequel to Church Street’s hugely successful Guu Izakaya, may have finally opened its doors in the Annex, but the waiting has just begun. Thankfully, it’ll be in an enclosed waiting area this time around. Many elements here are reminiscent of the Izakaya — this is a Guu, no question — but there’s a sizable selection of new menu items. We sampled some and had Natsuhiko Sugimoto, chef and general manager, break them down for us.

BBQ pork

Pork belly has been making its presence known across town as of late. Here, slabs of it are marinated for 12 hours in a sauce of sake, honey, ginger, garlic and soy sauce. After being oven-cooked for an hour, the meat is sliced and garnished with green onions, sesame seeds and a drizzle of the aforementioned sauce. The results liquefy upon mouth entry. $6.

Hotate butter

This dish comes served in a real scallop shell, but best not to eat the bed of salt it’s resting on, Sugimoto jokes, it’s just there so the shell stays put. Inside the shell is where the action is: scallops, pan-fried with soy sauce, margarine and a bonito-based dashi broth (the base for miso soup). Tucked underneath is a heaping of mushrooms pan-fried in the same stuff. Topping it off is a generous douse of garlic butter, replete with sea salt and parsley. After a quick bake in the oven, the creation is dusted off with panko bread crumbs. $7.20.

Gindara

A skin-on filet of black cod is marinated for at least one day in miso sauce consisting of white miso, mirin (a sweet Japanese condiment), sake and sugar. After 10 minutes in the oven, it comes out moist and flaky, whereupon it’s drizzled with more miso sauce and garnished with yuzu rind. $9.80.

Carbonara udon

Yes, carbonara is just about everywhere in Toronto these days, and now it’s at Guu. The cream sauce starts with what you’d expect – whipping cream, Parmesan cheese, pepper – but it’s infused with kombu dashi, an umami-heavy broth made from kelp. Slightly firm udon noodles are tossed with pieces of pan-fried peameal bacon, sweet onions and dried seaweed. Right in the middle is a soft-cooked egg, so delicate it breaks with the slightest touch. “It’s so difficult to make it,” Sugimoto says of the egg, which is cooked for 13 minutes in water at 70 degrees Celcius. $8.30.

Kushi age

These deep fried Japanese kebabs are comprised of either ham, bacon, potato, mushroom, quail egg or lotus root (which, when chopped, looks kind of like Honeycomb cereal). Chefs take an item of choice and either boil it first, or just go ahead and coat it raw with panko batter, whereupon it’s deep fried. $7.80 for five.

Rice burger

There’s some messy indulgence to be found here, between two rice patties that evoke misguided weight-loss efforts. Thin slices of pork are pan-fried with soy sauce, honey, ginger and sake. Add in crunchy bits of cabbage and a slather of garlic mayonnaise and you’ve got yourself a burger. $5.80.

Guu SakaBar, 559 Bloor St. W., 647-343-1101

Yorkville disses hot dogs, becomes even snootier

1:27 pm

While hamburgers are still cool In Toronto, hot dogs are out, apparently. So out, in fact, that they’ve been booted from the Mink Mile. According to the Sun, The Bloor-Yorkville BIA says hot dog carts don’t fit in with Bloor Street’s newly renovated vibe.

Bloor Street’s plush new improvements include planters, granite sidewalks and 100 trees to be planted this spring. Apparently, the new landscaping means vendor carts no longer comply with bylaws, so vendors’ permits won’t be renewed.

“We’re not making any bones about the fact that this was done to be an enhancement to the pedestrian environment,” Briar de Lange, executive director of the Bloor-Yorkville BIA, told the Sun of Bloor’s recent improvements. “Sticking a cart in the middle of it doesn’t make any sense.”

Vendors, as expected, aren’t happy and are hoping that city council will let them stay. Disgruntled hot dog fans voiced their concerns – where else? – on Twitter.

“That’s a travesty! i’m gonna pelt hot dogs at sassafraz in protest!” one Tweeter wrote. “Who says I can’t pick up Gucci shoes and a frikkin hot dog?!?” wrote another.

And, when haute hot dogs become Toronto’s next silly craze, Yorkville’s no doubt going to be wallowing in some serious remorse.

[Toronto Sun]

Twitter to Holt Renfrew: don’t can the doorman

12:17 pm

In yet another example that Twitter isn’t just for vain self-promotion, the social media site has started an uprising in order to save the job of Holt Renfrew’s long-time doorman, Tom Hargitai. Mr. Hargitai, often referred to as the unofficial mayor of Bloor Street, was recently told he is being let go after 21 years of service at the luxury department store.

Within hours of catching wind of Hargitai’s dismissal on Saturday, Toronto’s fashionistas and avid Holts customers took to their Twitter accounts to vent their dismay. The tweets were so populous that trending topics from @holtrenfrew to #mayorofbloorst and #tomhargitai showed up on Twitter in Toronto on Sunday.

So far, the bigwigs at Holt’s have made no comment. “Perhaps social media can change their minds,” style blogger Cynthia Cheng Mintz told the Star. “I think Holt’s is already trying to be too trendy. This is the kind of rebranding I’ve already seen inside the store.”

As for Hargitai, he was unclear whether his last day would be March 31 or before.

[Toronto Star]

Intelligent design: The White Space for men at The Bay

9:48 am

What do you get when you mix one part style and one part substance? Probably something along the lines of the newly-opened The White Space for men at The Bay. Suzanne Timmins, The Bay’s fashion director, says the concept area is meant to appeal to the discerning customer. Pieces are stylish but understated.

“Lines are made up of intelligent design rather than fashion for fashion’s sake,” she says.

The new menswear space was the natural answer to its equivalent in women’s wear, Timmins explains. Opened this month, in time for the spring 2011 season, its labels include Filippa K, Band of Outsiders and Stone Island.

The 1,200 square foot space features quite a few up-and-coming designers, whose lines are typically only found in boutiques or in high-end retail shops like Barneys in NYC.

Take Simon Spurr, for example. The New Yorker, who trained at Yves Saint Laurent (among other fashion houses), is credited with playing a big role in bringing about the return to simple, well-tailored designs in menswear.

As for spring 2011 trends, Timmins says military and denim have strong staying power. Newer to the scene are what she describes as Mediterranean resort and neo-grunge influences.

“Men look best when they’re not aware of themselves, they’re not trying too hard, and I think that’s what I really like about these brands,” she says. “It has that kind of sensibility.”

The White Space for men is still evolving. With fall will come footwear and accessories.

The White Space for men at The Bay, 176 Yonge St.

Meaty, manly, big and porky: BMO Field's new nosh

4:06 pm

The culinary minds at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) revealed a meaty new list of concessions yesterday, just in time for the Toronto FC home opener against the Portland Timbers tomorrow. The inspiration behind BMO Field‘s new barbecue-driven menu is “comfort food,” says Tony Glitz, executive chef of Real Sports Bar and Grill, who helped put the menu together. Fans of beef, pork and porchetta will be impressed.

Many of BMO Field’s new offerings are adaptations of favourites from the Real Sports menu, like the deliciously daunting triple threat sandwich ($10.95, at right): a thick, six-ounce stack of smoky barbecue beef brisket and pulled pork finished with two slices of peameal bacon.

Glitz’s personal favourite, the beef brisket sandwich ($9.50) – made according to his secret recipe – strikes a perfect textural balance, its tender chewiness topped with a tangy slaw that lightens its meat-heavy load. The pulled pork sandwich ($8.25) is a delightful, seamless blend of sweet and savoury paired with the same crunchy, citrusy slaw. The secret to any good barbecue, Glitz explains, is dry heat cooking. It may prolong the process, but it’s sure worth it.

Most of the off-season was devoted to perfecting cooking methods and tweaking condiments to allow this season’s most promising concessions to shine through. “Barbecue is starting to get a strong foothold here in Toronto” Glitz says. “It’s really getting the fans interested.” And porchetta, all the rage these days, hasn’t been left by the wayside. A sandwich of tender, slow-roasted Tuscan porchetta on a mustard-slathered ACE Bakery bun is $8.95 (at left).

And, of course, a frosty beer accompaniment can’t hurt. “Beer is the center of our beverage universe,” says Chris Zielinski, executive chef of The Air Canada Centre, who collaborated on the new items. Accordingly, BMO Field’s concessions are designed with double-fisting in mind: “food in one hand, beer in the other,” a mantra that fans will no doubt continue to adopt entering into TFC’s fifth season with MLSE. After all, what else screams sports more loudly than barbecue and beer?

Other new BMO Field offerings include the chicken and black bean empanada ($4.95), a mixture of pulled chicken, red rice, beans and cheddar cheese encased in a golden, house-made pastry crust, and a chili bowl ($6.95, at right), featuring slow-cooked chili prepared with fresh ingredients and topped with sour cream and cheddar.

TFC’s new menu might seem disproportionately carnivorous – unabashedly masculine, even – to some, but the truth of the matter is that it sells: “we sell a lot of meat here,” says Robert Bartley, executive chef of MLSE. “We’re not strictly catered towards men, but we try to know our customer.” Zielinski agrees. “Everything we do here is based on demand.” No one can argue with that; BMO Field is touted as offering one of the most diverse concessions menus, a reflection of both Toronto’s multiculturalism and a tribute to the international game of soccer which it so boisterously hosts.

Bash-ful broads: T.O.'s biggest roller derby event hits Downsview Park this weekend

2:23 pm

If you’re a sports fan who’s never been to a Toronto Roller Derby game, it’s a great time to get your feet wet. Toronto’s biggest roller derby event of the year is going down this weekend at Downsview Park as Toronto’s all-star team, CN Power, hosts teams from Kitchener-Waterloo, Ottawa and Montreal in a two-day tournament. We asked CN Power co-captain Lady Scorcher to fill us in on this weekend’s events.

For someone who might be watching roller derby for the first time, it can seem a bit confusing. Any tips for getting the most out of your first game?
Look for someone with a derby name on their back and ask questions! There will be lots of girls from surrounding leagues at the hangar and derby girls sure do love talking about roller derby. Most people find that the first game they watch is confusing, but they get the hang of it by the second. This weekend’s tournament is a great opportunity to catch multiple games and really get a better understanding of the game.

Describe what makes this tournament something special compared to all the other roller derby people can see in the city?
I think the most noticeable difference will be in pack strategies. Exceptional skaters playing on their own are not very effective. At this level, you will see all four skaters in the pack working together. Expect to see more control of speed, and fast switching from defensive to offensive modes.

The event is strangely structured in that it’s a round robin with no playoff rounds. Why did you decide on that format?
It’s true, it is an unusual format, but it was important to us to play full-length games, and for each team to play each other. We are currently pursuing full membership in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, which has member leagues all over the world. From a fan’s perspective, look for some of the best roller derby being played in Canada right now.

How does Toronto compare to the other teams who are coming?
CN Power reorganized at the beginning of 2011 and has improved immensely in the last few months. This will be our first game against any Canadian teams since our loss to Tri-City Thunder near the end of 2010. Montreal’s New Skids on the Block have been steadily improving, and depending on who you ask, they’re ranked among the best teams in the world. I expect both the Vixens and Thunder games to be the close matchups against CN Power.

In your real job, you’re very organized. Are there any skills from your job that translate to the derby track?
I’m an engineer by training but have worked in optimizing processes and project management in manufacturing for many years. I work in a highly regulated environment now, so yes, being on top of details is really important for my job. I do love the details, but I am working on clearing some of those during the game to be able to make quick decisions when things change. We have a great blend of people on the team and I love how well we complement each other, from supporting each other on the track to planning and executing success for our team.

Quad City Chaos, Downsview Park, March 26-27. Saira Peesker is a writer for Post City Magazines and a skater with Toronto Roller Derby.

The Dressing Room: a head for charity

12:26 pm

The notion of daily rituals is an alien reality to me. It’s not that I am some soapbox bohemian, mistaking consistency for conformity – in fact, it’s the very opposite. I have done everything possible to grasp hold of the relief consistency might afford: decades worth of New Year’s resolutions and ineffectively vowing to sustain simple customs, like enjoying a take-away cup of tea each morning while walking pup in the park.

But, as much as I aspire to be a modern day Thoreau – keeping the axis of nature spinning with my daily rituals – I repel even the most undemanding of the batch, right down to the proverbial apple a day.

It’s not that I am so monumentally busy that I am unable to apply any uniformity to my life; it’s more that my nature may essentially be a frazzled one, which has at least partially paralyzed my knack for structure.

That’s what I told myself last Saturday when I slept in and once again missed brunch with my two early bird friends (10 a.m. is a bit too ambitious for me on the weekend), and, what I repeated to myself later that evening while rushing back to my house to shower and change for a charity girls’ night in event. Hosted by dbotelas, a local label specializing in colourful hand-woven hair bands made in Bolivia (and sold in shops like Tabula Rosa), the evening was dedicated to raising both awareness and funds for dbotelas’s ongoing campaign to support Kiva, an online micro-financing source that connects lenders with borrowers around the globe.

The event being “girls’ night in” themed with a dress code of “anything and everything,” I assumed that the general attire would tip towards the casual side of the scale — a dark denim paired with heels sort of get-together, like something you might see in a commercial for Bailey’s or probiotic yogurt. Myself, I opted for a little dress and sweater combo, because anything appropriate for Sunday brunch with your new boyfriend’s parents should work well enough for this.

It was a good thing that the evening was casual because by the time I got home and looked at the clock, I was running behind. The event had already started, leaving me with less than half an hour to get ready if I were to make it there within the hour. (In my head, I’m not technically late if I can make it to any given event by the end of its first hour — after all, these things go from anywhere between 3-5 hours.) Then came forth the dilemma: facing day-to-day time constraints — perhaps the closest thing to a ritual I will ever know.

Girls’ night in (Images: Talia Shipman)

While I had time to shower, change and fix myself up a bit, there were not enough minutes in the fixing-up stage to allot for blow-drying my long, thick and unruly mane. Wanting to avoid going out with a pulled back wet hairdo that resembled one of Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love girls, I was forced to resort to beauty’s dirtiest secret: dry shampoo.

Tried tested and true, this little bottle of powder is virtual fairy dust and the Old Faithful of my beauty arsenal. It’s been there for me through camping trips, film festivals and long summer days when having bangs was as logical as toting salt packets in the desert. My current brand of choice: 7 Seconds Dry by Unite, available at Pop Hair, a spray-on version that absorbs oiliness without leaving any white powdery residue; a legitimate concern for brunettes like me who would prefer not to look like they were auditioning for the part of Miss Havisham in the community theatre production of Great Expectations.

I arrived at the party feeling less than two degrees from a Pantene commercial – not bad, considering. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t read the invite thoroughly, specifically the part that stated all guests would be filmed on camera saying a few words about dbotales while wearing the hair bands. My hair might have been two degrees from Pantene to the naked eye, but perhaps not quite worthy of close-ups. Could that too be a ritual? Trying to pass for a manicured fashion maven while frazzled and half-ready? Maybe, if I thought I was fooling anyone.

For me, rituals might have to remain a fairytale that normal people get together to discuss over a well-balanced dinner at 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday, after the gym, and before finishing the next chapter in that month’s novel. Or who knows, maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks. I’ll wager a bag of apples on it.

Toronto-based writer Jennifer Lee is the Editorial Director of FILLER magazine, an online fashion & culture journal. She is also the Co-Editor of Hardly magazine, an arts-centric online teen publication for Canadian girls. Her column, The Dressing Room, appears weekly.

Just in time for Toronto’s LG Fashion Week, the Shopping Channel highlights top Canadian designers

10:50 am

If you ever needed a good reason to watch The Shopping Channel, this might be it. In anticipation of Toronto’s LG Fashion Week (which kicks off on Monday), the channel is highlighting five cutting-edge Canadian fashion designers, both emerging and established, and all of whom have a history with the event. Below, we break down the looks of each designer and where to find their gorgeous garb once the television is turned off.

Monika Schnarre: This Toronto native is easily the most recognizable of the group. Though Schnarre has modeled fashion for years, her career as a designer is a new development. Her clothing line is for taller women, and is fittingly titled TALL.
Where to buy: exclusively available on The Shopping Channel

Lucian Matis: You might recognize the Romanian-born designer – educated at Ryerson University – from his stint on Project Runway Canada. His look embodies rich textures and colours with unexpected elements.
Where to Buy: 290 Ion Fashion, 380 Queen Street East, 647-283-5321

David Dixon: Born and raised in Toronto and also a Ryerson graduate, Dixon was apprenticed by Alfred Sung and is considered a leader in women’s fashion. Dixon’s overriding theme is simplified elegance.
Where to buy: The Room at the Bay, 176 Yonge Street, 416-861-9111

Wayne Clark: Known as the “king of gowns,” this Calgary native has been a strong presence in the industry for thirty years. A former student of Sheridan College, Clark’s gowns have been worn by the rich and famous, including Rihanna and Sarah Polley.
Where to buy: Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor Street West, 416-922-2333

Brian Bailey: The first Canadian designer to create collections in both regular and plus sizes, Bailey is acclaimed for his versatility as he designs both sophisticated sportswear collections and fabulous eveningwear with ease. Maybe that’s why he’s also the ‘mentor’ on Project Runway Canada.
Where to buy: Brian Bailey, 875 Queen Street West, 416-516-7188

Rumour mill: Daniel Boulud coming to Toronto?

12:36 pm

It’s happening again. It wasn’t even a month ago when everyone went gaga at the prospect of David Chang setting up shop in Toronto, and now we’ve caught wind that Daniel Boulud – a multiple Michelin-starred chef from NYC – has his sights on Toronto, too, but nothing is confirmed as of yet.

Our interest was first piqued by a Chowhound forum post, in which a user claimed to have met someone who witnessed the chef sign on to bring a restaurant to the Four Seasons Hotel in Yorkville.

We spoke to an individual at Four Seasons media relations who said “I can’t comment on anything,” but we were told that someone else could contact us with more details and are waiting on that.

We also contacted Georgette Farkas, a spokesperson for the chef. “He’s looking at a project in Toronto,” she told us. “Nothing’s signed, nothing’s confirmed.” Farkas did not disclose whether the project was related to The Four Seasons, but did say she would provide more information as it became available.

An interesting prospect, and who knows, maybe he actually has two restaurants in the works.

UPDATE: Alex Filiatrault, director of marketing at the Four Seasons Hotel, got back to us with the following: “We have not identified or entered any agreement just yet with any restaurateur regarding the new hotel, so no announcement has been made.”

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