Bannock

Bannock (@Oliver_Bonacini), located at the south-east corner of Queen and Bay, is one of six Oliver & Bonacini restaurants in Toronto. Serving a menu that is "eclectic and approachably Canadian", Bannock pays homage to traditional Canadian comfort food while incorporating ingredients that are reflective of Canada's cultural diversity. A form of flat quick bread, bannock can be found integrated throughout the restaurant's menu in sandwiches and pizzas, as well as in the form of garnishes in soups, salads and main courses. Aside from being a dine-in restaurant, Bannock also has a grab-and-go café that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, offering an assortment of house baked pastries, breakfast wraps, salads, soups, stews, artisan sandwiches andddd bannock :) 

I was at Bannock last Tuesday night. Most of the tables were already filled before 6pm (and here I thought I was the only one that eats so early!)

Bannock Caesar - Vodka, Canadian imperial sherry, clamato, salsa, maple bacon ($9)

My friend Julia and I shared the following:

Poutine - Monforte dairy curds, fries, chicken gravy ($10)

Free Run Turkey Burger - Tempura onion, avocado, dill pickle mayo ($16)

Pulled Pork and Cheddar Macaroni Quesadilla - Pasilla chile, corn nuts ($16)

Canoe Fireweed Butter Tart ($8)

Julia and I had dinner at Bannock about a year ago when the restaurant first opened. I remember having the salt cod donuts (double-smoked bacon, preserved lemon, sweet cucumber pickle), the roast duck poutine pizza (curds, fries, duck) and the warm s'mores pie. The duck poutine pizza really made an impression on me, much more so than the turkey burger (which I thought was a bit dry) and the pulled pork cheddar macaroni quesadilla (more cheddar please!) However, when it comes to "making an impression", I guess the duck poutine pizza is pretty hard to beat :P Oh, the warm s'mores pie also got a thumbs-up from us.

Highlights for me this time around was the Bannock Caesar and the butter tart. The salsa, maple bacon and the salted-peppery rimmed Caesar was perfection in a glass; I wish it came double in size...too good! Bannock's butter tart, which I hear many describe as "the best butter tart in the city" was just incredible. I admit, I haven't tried many butter tarts in Toronto but this was honestly really, really tasty. Served warm with a semi-solid filling that's perfect in consistency, I wanted the butter tart all for myself! Yeah, definitely no sharing next time.