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Pizza Gigi shut down; huge drug cache found on premises

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Harbord Street’s popular pizza joint Pizza Gigi has been shut down after police found a plethora of drugs there, including $1-million worth of marijuana, the Star reports.

In addition to pot, police also found MDMA, OxyContin, Oxycocet and a half-ounce of crack cocaine. The owner faces 15 charges for allegedly selling drugs out of the restaurant.

Fans of the pizzeria took to Twitter to vent their concerns (and, inevitably, jokes), even starting the hashtag #WasThatReallyOreganoOnMyPizza? At least one Chowhounder, already wistful for the place, lamented: “The pie was very good – it will be missed by many.”

As for us, we’re a bit confused. We always thought pizza parlours were a good place to hit up after getting high.

[Toronto Star]

Coming Soon: The Primal Grind, a sugar-free café

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By early March, Dundas West will see the opening of a new café that has all of the necessary trappings of indie-ness. Cool name? Check: The Primal Grind. Top notch espresso machine? Check: a Nuova Simonelli. Great roaster? Check: Intelligentsia. But something to make it stand out? Also check: The Primal Grind’s coffee will be solely espresso-based, and there will be no signs of dairy, grains or processed sugar.

"We want to be known for how our coffee stands on its own," says co-owner Freya Ravensbergen, who will be running the place with her partner Clinton Pontes out of the Academy of Lions, a gym near Dundas and Ossington.

That means lots of black coffee, and for those who can’t shake their latte or cappucino fix, those drinks will be made with unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk ("delicious," Ravensbergen claims). And the counter where some patrons, at other coffee shops, inundate their meticulously made drinks with sugar and cream will here feature only almond milk and raw honey.

Currently, the space houses a shop where members of the Academy of Lions can procure Paleolithic diet food items. The new café will continue to sell those items, as well as coffee, tea and pastries. Just don’t expect Wi-Fi, as The Primal Grind is takeout-oriented.

Ravensbergen and Pontes are ex-Montrealers, having spent a few years pulling shots at indie shops there. "The independent coffee scene is amazing here," Ravensbergen says. "It’s way better." A soft opening is scheduled for March 1.

The Primal Grind Espresso Bar, 1245 Dundas West, 647-219-4672

Dancap Productions brings back South Pacific

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What a pleasure to report that Dancap Productions is bringing back South Pacific, which brought a seriousness and power to the American musical stage rarely seen before its 1949 debut.

After becoming one of the best-selling cast albums ever, with classics such as “Some Enchanted Evening” and “Younger Than Springtime,” this story of love, loss and, yes, racism vanished from most stages until it was exquisitely resurrected at Lincoln Centre in New York in 2008.

It swept the Tonys that year, reminding the world of just how inspired Joshua Logan’s book was. And how Oscar Hammerstein II — so often an unimpressive lyricist to his partner Richard Rodgers’s hummable tunes — could write lines that cut to the heart of the American experience.

This nearly flawless production, directed by Bartlett Sher, ran at the Four Seasons last summer and will sing and dance again at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.

South Pacific runs Feb. 15 to April 10 (dancaptickets.com).

Chile out: Tony Aspler chooses five great February buys

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When looking for a great wine that's worth every penny, Chilean wine is a good way to go. Our wine columnist, Tony Aspler, selects five Chilean wines that offer great bang for the buck.

 

 

 



Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2009

This wine comes from the cool coastal region of Leyda Valley. Its colour is pale straw–lime with a bouquet of cut grass, nettles and passion fruit on the palate. It’s fresh and lively with flavours of elderberry and gooseberry and a thread of minerality that lingers long on the palate. Serve it with shellfish or goat cheese. (Vintages # 342857, $14.95)



Concha Y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay 2008

The Limarí Valley is one of the newest growing regions. Cooled by Pacific Ocean fog, it produces wines in a more elegant style. This Chardonnay with its golden straw colour has a nose of ripe pear, toasty oak and fresh citrus acidity. Lots of extract and flavour here with a hazelnut finish. Pair this wine with roast chicken or grilled salmon. (Vintages # 342857, $17.95)



Casa Lapostolle Merlot 2008

Winemaker Andrea Leon adds 15 per cent Carmenère to this variety, giving it a very dense purple colour. The oak is deftly handled, projecting a bouquet of vanilla, blueberry and black fruits with an engaging floral note. There is a juicy, sweet core to this medium- to full-bodied, but it finishes firmly with ripe tannins. Match it with duck breast or lamb cutlets. (Vintages # 405712, $16.95)



Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

This is one of the oldest wineries in Chile, dating back to 1856. Its earliest wines were made by French-trained vintners, and that tradition remains to this day. Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 tastes very much like a red Bordeaux but with New World ripeness. Notes of cedar, blackcurrant and black cherries tantalize the taste buds. The tannins are ripe and supple. Partner it with beef stew or mature cheddar. (LCBO # 212993, $15.45)



Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006

The same winery brings you quality wines from Spain. This Cabernet Sauvignon from Curico, two hours south of Santiago, is dense purple- black in colour with a smoky, blackcurrant and plum bouquet. It’s full- bodied with spicy, oaky tones melded with sweet fruit but well structured. An ideal wine for red meat dishes, especially lamb or braised ribs. (Vintages Essential # 177451, $14.95)

Where to suit up for National Sweater Day

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For anyone who’s ever wanted an excuse to wear a Mr. Rogers-inspired sweater, National Sweater Day is your day. WWF Canada, in partnership with Loblaws, is calling on Canadians to lower their thermostat by three degrees this Thursday and to wear a sweater—new, or old—to symbolize commitment to a greener planet. For those who’d prefer gags over glam, those old sweaters Grandma knitted might do, but for everyone else, we found some chic places (along with a few cheap options) to find sweaters that will help you warm up to the cause.

1. Joe Fresh: Not only is this label owned by National Sweater Day’s partner, Loblaws, but it offers stylish offerings at reasonable prices. Check out the Nordic Zip Front Sweater ($49) or Double-Breasted Cardigan ($59).

2. Lucian Matis: This up-and-coming Toronto designer showcased his knits at WWF’s kickoff fashion show for National Sweater Day on Feb. 2. You can buy his Eva Sweater ($57) and Boyfriend Cardigan ($50) online.

3. Ukamaku Boutique: Try this new Toronto-based online boutique for Canadian fashion designers. Pick up Andy Hall’s Oversized Hoodie ($125) for cozy comfort or Breeyn McCarney’s Pink Knitted Sweater ($250) for winter elegance.

4. Jonathan and Olivia: This Toronto-bred, fashion-forward boutique currently has their knitwear on sale. You can grab a Rag & Bone Hawksley Crew Alpaca Sweater for $252 (originally $450) or a L’Agence Button Cardigan for only $225 (regularly priced at $725).

5. LINE Knitwear: Toronto’s Jennifer Wells and John Muscat provide the best in luxe knitwear. Their signature knitted pieces have been worn by such celebrities as Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner and Taylor Swift.

Chile out: five great February buys

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Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2009

This wine comes from the cool coastal region of Leyda Valley. Its colour is pale straw–lime with a bouquet of cut grass, nettles and passion fruit on the palate. It’s fresh and lively with flavours of elderberry and gooseberry and a thread of minerality that lingers long on the palate. Serve it with shellfish or goat cheese. (Vintages # 342857, $14.95)



Concha Y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay 2008

The Limarí Valley is one of the newest growing regions. Cooled by Pacific Ocean fog, it produces wines in a more elegant style. This Chardonnay with its golden straw colour has a nose of ripe pear, toasty oak and fresh citrus acidity. Lots of extract and flavour here with a hazelnut finish. Pair this wine with roast chicken or grilled salmon. (Vintages # 342857, $17.95)



Casa Lapostolle Merlot 2008

Winemaker Andrea Leon adds 15 per cent Carmenère to this variety, giving it a very dense purple colour. The oak is deftly handled, projecting a bouquet of vanilla, blueberry and black fruits with an engaging floral note. There is a juicy, sweet core to this medium- to full-bodied, but it finishes firmly with ripe tannins. Match it with duck breast or lamb cutlets. (Vintages # 405712, $16.95)



Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

This is one of the oldest wineries in Chile, dating back to 1856. Its earliest wines were made by French-trained vintners, and that tradition remains to this day. Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 tastes very much like a red Bordeaux but with New World ripeness. Notes of cedar, blackcurrant and black cherries tantalize the taste buds. The tannins are ripe and supple. Partner it with beef stew or mature cheddar. (LCBO # 212993, $15.45)



Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006

The same winery brings you quality wines from Spain. This Cabernet Sauvignon from Curico, two hours south of Santiago, is dense purple- black in colour with a smoky, blackcurrant and plum bouquet. It’s full- bodied with spicy, oaky tones melded with sweet fruit but well structured. An ideal wine for red meat dishes, especially lamb or braised ribs. (Vintages Essential # 177451, $14.95)

Oleanna: a near-perfect production of a powerful play

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Oleanna is a strange name for a challenging, savage, and, thanks to Soulpepper’s present production of it, brilliant two-character play by America’s David Mamet, one of the finest dramatists and screenwriters of the past quarter century. The name, based on an 1850s folk song about some kind of future utopia (as lovers of Pete Seeger’s 1960s hit may recall), is comically ironic: in the war between the sexes, there are no utopias.

The plot seems simple: Carol — played well by Sarah Wilson — is a failing university student who visits her decent (if condescending and sardonic) male professor, fearful of flunking out. She is weepy and insecure (“I sit in class! I take notes! I’m doing what I’m told!”) but the middle-aged prof, performed magnificently by one of this nation’s best actors, Diego Matamoros, is helpful and tries to allay her fears. He is wrapped up with trying to buy a house for his family, based on the expectation that he’ll be granted tenure within weeks (the endless phone call interruptions about this deal are both hilarious and symbolically meaningful, making the telephone a dangerous character in the play).

Naturally—as in all good drama—everything goes wrong: the young student is radicalized by a passionate feminist group, and she makes seemingly outrageous accusations against John’s actions and words (which are, on occasion, gently sexist and therefore damning), and it looks as if Carol will destroy John’s career. The last scene is so horrific—the sharply-angled walls of the expressionistic set, superbly designed by Teresa Przybylski, are a visual metaphor for the world closing and collapsing on them both—that you will never forget it.

Is the play fair to either gender? That’s what you’ll be arguing about all the way home. Is the direction by the superb László Marton from Hungary (who was so brilliant with Uncle Vanya and other wonderful productions at Soulpepper over the years) breathtakingly good? There will be little argument about that.

People rave about “the Pinter pause,” but Harold Pinter himself insisted on directing this play in the U.K., and you can see why: David Mamet (who penned Glengarry Glen Ross and many other award-winning plays and movies) has a gift for machine-gun-type dialogue that is both hilarious and rich with depth and power. Oleanna is an unforgettable experience and one more notch on Soulpepper’s belt of greatness.

Oleanna runs at Soulpepper until March 5.

Toronto sucks; rips off NYC’s food scene: BlackBook

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Toronto just got shot down hard by BlackBook, an arts and culture rag from New York. In a new post today, BlackBook accuses Toronto chefs of “biting New York’s style.” To support its thesis, the magazine lists a whopping two examples: Porchetta & Co., which quite openly emulates NYC’s Porchetta, and The Burger’s Priest, because apparently making burgers out of fresh, never-frozen ground beef constitutes plagiarizing the Big Apple.

The magazine doesn’t stop there. It also points out that Toronto is a “vanilla version of New York City,” prone to “wallowing in its own sense of inferiority.” It also takes a rather low blow at Susur Lee for blaming the economy, and not his food, for Shang‘s failure to catch on in the States.

BlackBook may be right on a few points – New York is a great city, worthy of our admiration – but we can’t help but think that it’s come down a little hard. We certainly don’t blame it for only thinking up two solid examples (but really, only one) of Toronto “biting” NYC’s style; it’s Friday, and nobody wants to work hard. Following its lead, we have one example of the greatest, bestest, and most original city on Earth “biting” the style of its neighbour to the north: poutine.

[BlackBook]

Five sense-ible Valentine's Day gifts for your woman

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For an unforgettable Valentine’s Day, we recommend treating your lady to a feast of the senses. Whether it’s an evocative combo of chocolate and tea or the aural inspiration of a practical iPod dock, our suggestions are sensual and sensible. After all, Valentine’s Day is about indulgence, right? Below, our five alluring V-day gifts.

 

 

1. Read My Lips tea & chocolate love tin, $19.50: For the person who infuses your life with sugar and spice and everything nice, David’s Tea’s chocolate and tea love tin is the perfect pick. A beautifully packaged “romantic duo” of tantalizing tea and chocolate, the bottom is filled with 40 grams of Read My Lips tea (a combination of Chinese black tea, vanilla, peppermint, chocolate, peppercorns and little red candy lips) and the top houses four milk chocolates filled with ganache. This tasty treat is sure to arouse the senses and be a huge hit with your honey.

David’s Tea, 2285 Bloor Street West, 416-769-9991

2. Purl-stitch throw, $59: Let your woman feel soft and cozy with a purl-stitch throw from West Elm (at the Shops at King Liberty). A perfect marriage of practicality and aesthetics, it’ll keep her warm even when you aren’t around. Knit by hand, machine washable and available in a palette of sophisticated neutrals, it’s bound to tantalize her sense of touch for years to come.

West Elm, 109 Atlantic Avenue, 416-537-0110

3. Aromachology gift card, $160: Give your girl the opportunity to get creative with the most evocative of senses – the sense of smell – with an Aromachology gift card. The process is quite simple: with a click of a mouse, purchase the card and a beautiful, empty 100ml bottle will be sent right to your Valentine’s doorstep. She can then set up an appointment to fill the bottle with a custom scent (floral if she is elegant, determined and romantic; fresh if she is a soothing, soft, nature lover or woodsy if she is strong-minded, driven and compassionate).

Aromachology, The Bay Yorkdale, 416-256-5066

Valentine’s Day cupcakes, $28: For a visual feast that also satisfies her sweet tooth, nothing says "I love you" like a special cupcake from The Cupcake Shoppe near Yonge and Eglinton. Although it’s no longer taking custom orders, you can head to the store this weekend or on the big day and choose from four different pretty in pink flavors, which will be decorated with heart-shaped candies and sprinkles ($2.65 each, $14.50 for a half dozen or $28 for a dozen).

The Cupcake Shoppe, 2417 Yonge Street, 416-322-6648

IHome iP39 speaker system, $110: For the music-loving mama who regularly channels her inner Martha Stewart, you can’t go wrong with the iHome iP39 speaker system, complete with an alarm clock radio and two independent cooking timers. More than just a high-tech iPod/iPhone dock, it’ll give you an excuse to ask her for a slow dance to your favorite oldie while soup is on the stove. The device can also help you combat your fear of the kitchen – use it to listen to cooking show podcasts or to follow recipe apps, and before you know it, you’ll be impressing her with meals you never dreamed you’d be able to make.

Apple Store, available online, 1-800-MY-APPLE

Oh Boy Burger Market closing, to be replaced with a Boehmer gastropub

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The last Oh Boy burger is being flipped this Sunday at Oh Boy Burger Market on Queen West, with the resto-bar shutting its doors for good. But the news isn’t all bad: by this spring, a new European inspired gastropub with a more varied menu – including burgers – will take its place.

Oh Boy is known for its old fashioned staples with modern twists, including top cut beef and bison burgers, chicken burgers, and veggie burgers. The straightforward menu is complimented with sides including handmade French fries, onion rings, soft drinks and desserts, served in a subtle upscale wooden décor with a lively pub atmosphere.

With Torontonians on a burger bonanza these days, and burger bistros on the upswing, it may be surprising to see a centrally located sirloin sandwich shop close its doors a year after opening. Co-owner Paul Boehmer (of Ossington’s Böhmer), who came on board around six months ago when the burgers weren’t exactly flying out the window, says that the area was a bit oversaturated.

“I think there were just too many burger restaurants, and the area wasn’t quite ready to handle that,” he says. “I think you have to have a packed house every day and burgers aren’t always something that you can do that with.”

He’s currently working on conceptual designs for the location’s next eatery, which will feature more upscale eats and local brews on tap.

“People want variety, and with that concept I can have burgers, like a grass-fed burger or other specialties, but combine it with other menu options.” The restaurant likely won’t undergo a huge physical transformation, but Boehmer would like to see the kitchen moved to the back of the restaurant as well as a repurposing of the interior.

“It will be something more fun, a bit more trendy, sort of like a brassiere,” he says, adding it will likely carry his own namesake above the door.

For Valentine’s Day spice and style, think corsets

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Scarlett O’Hara had one for the practicality. Madonna sported one for the power. This Valentine’s Day, you (or your special someone) can wear one for pure pleasure. “A corset can be a thoughtful and loving gift for that sexy someone,” says Andrea Johnson, owner of Toronto’s Lovesick Corrective Apparel, a boutique so exclusive its address is listed only as “a discreet location on a major street close to downtown.”

Glamorous, vintage details inspired by old Hollywood movies and TV shows like Mad Men are more important than ever this year. The corset epitomizes that sexy charm from an era long ago. And don’t worry about not being the “type” who dons the classic lingerie piece. Johnson adds: “A well fitting corset can reveal a vixen, a cruel teacher, a sweet old fashioned girl, a country pin-up, or a burlesque star. The funny thing is, you never knew she was there until she was wearing the right costume.”

Lounge kings team up for upcoming Briscola restaurant

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What happens when two lounge lizards with an unerring eye for club culture get together to open a restaurant? Intrigued Toronto diners will find out on Feb. 18, when Charles Khabouth (INK Entertainment) and Toufik Sarwa (Amber) open Italian trattoria Briscola.

The 2,500-square-foot restaurant is located at 501 College Street and executive chef Sean Reeve of Via Allegro will helm the kitchen that will turn out traditional Italian fare such as stone-oven pizzas, pasta, antipasti, as well as roasted and grilled dishes.

The space was formerly occupied by Cinq 01, which shuttered in January. Also a Sarwa project, it was the subject of a rather savage review from The Star’s Amy Pataki.

Briscola is also a popular Italian card game, and apparently, the restaurant vibe is all about relaxed and social dining. The design team at Commute Homes is overseeing the new look.

The opening marks what could be a busy 2011 for Khabouth, who has also set his culinary sights on Yorkville for a new French bistro dubbed Le Bistro in the former Dynasty dim sum space on Bloor Street West, and he’s got lots of other projects on the go, too.

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