Origin North

The newest venture by chef Claudio Aprile is Origin North (Twitter: @originnorth, Facebook: Origin North Restaurant & Bar). Located in Bayview Village near Bayview and Sheppard, Origin North is the third restaurant under Aprile's "Origin empire". The Origin umbrella began with its first location on King Street (2010) followed by a second location in Liberty Village (2012).

This uptown restaurant is massive. With 12,000 sq ft, the space houses 200 seats indoors and 138 seats on its two patios.

Much like the Liberty Village location, an enormous bar in the middle of the room catches your attention right away. The floor-to-ceiling windows allows a lot of light in, highlighting the dark plush leather seats as well as the brown wooden beams. Really spacious and comfortable here.

Right of the bat there were several items on Origin North's menu that I recognize from Origin Liberty like the spicy Spanish fries, truffled popcorn and beet salad (I used to work really close to the Liberty location). I made an exception this time and did not order the spicy Spanish fries - I used to order it every single time 'cause I love them! But this time I resisted...I wanted to save room for new dishes instead.

Round 1 of cocktails:

MAPLE SOUR - Bulleit Bourbon + Maple + Lemon + Bitters ($11)

LA DIABLO - Don Julio Blanco + Cassis + Ginger + Lime ($11)

CNE Toronto 2013 Media Day

CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION

AUG 16 - SEP 2

18 days of fun, food, rides, games and great entertainment at Canada's largest fair

Yup! It's CNE time~ I know it's sorta bittersweet. Whenever CNE (Twitter: @LetsGoToTheEx, Facebook: Canadian National Exhibition) starts it essentially means summer is over :( but to me it also means it's time for GAMES and FOOD! GAMES as in "I don't care how much money I spend I want a MINION!" and FOOD as in "I want to eat everything that will potentially clog my arteries!" Don't believe me? Check out my deep fried adventure at the CNE two years ago.

This year, I was invited to CNE's Media Day. I arrived at Princes' Gate bright and early yesterday morning and whoa was it chilly! I was so glad to see Gourmet Gringos serving hot coffee and breakfast for us :) Gourmet Gringos will be one of the many food trucks participating in CNE's Food Truck Frenzy on August 23, 24 and 25.

Gourmet Gringos' hot breakfast burrito totally warmed me up.

Welcome remarks from CNE General Manager, David Bednar. 

Kicking off our media tour was husband and wife buskers, Mr. Spin & Pandora Pink.

Rose & Sons Revisited

To be honest, my original plan was to hit up Big Crow for dinner, Rose & Sons' new backyard barbecue joint. When my two friends and I arrived at the Big Crow last Thursday around 6:15 pm, we were told the wait would be around an hour and a half. And little did I know, Big Crow actually takes reservations! Gahhhh! If I didn't assume that it didn't take resos (and hence didn't make one) this post would be about Big Crow's barbecue ribs, jerk chicken and s'mores ice cream sandwiches. Major fail on my part. 

We didn't want to venture elsewhere in the pouring rain so we checked whether Rose & Sons (Twitter: @RoseandSons, Facebook: Rose and Sons) had room for us. Lucky enough we snatched the last empty table :)

Dinner began with some draaanks.

DARK & STORMY - Goslings, ginger beer, lime ($11)

PUNCH - Rhubarb, white wine, lillet, lime, seltzer ($11)

MINT JULEP - Mint, 4 roses bourbon, ice ($11)

UNO MOMENTO - Tequila tromba blanco, limeade, elderflower, seltzer ($12) 

Us three girls shared the following four dishes:

TOMATOES - charred onion and avocado salsa, pimento toast ($11)

Mogette Bistro

It was a very nice change of scenery, a much needed one, when I stepped foot into Mogette Bistro (@MogetteBistro) on Mount Pleasant several weeks ago for dinner. A midtown restaurant away from the craziness of downtown Toronto, Mogette Bistro serves classic French bistro cuisine. Not fusion. Not "French-inspired". Not "with French flavours". Classic French cuisine. Almost unheard of nowadays in the city. When was the last time you had classic French food?

The decor at Mogette is clean, simple yet elegant. Framed black and white photographs hung above classic wainscoting, silver table settings on white linens, beautiful wooden floors leading to a small bar at the back....nothing here is over-the-top fancy. Everything feels just right. No loud music. No hipsters. A perfect date night spot.

Started the evening off with a bottle of BenMarco Malbec.

Sabai Sabai

Being a huge supporter of Khao San Road, I knew it was only a matter of time that I would make my way to Sabai Sabai Kitchen and Bar (Twitter: @sabaisabaito, Facebook: Sabai Sabai Kitchen and Bar). Nuit and Jeff Regular, formerly of Khao San Road, parted ways with the restaurant early last year to open Sabai Sabai on 225 Church Street in November. Teaming up with the couple is Jason Jiang and Seng Luong, who became friends with the Regulars after being regulars (ha!) at Sukhothai's original location on Parliament (Nuit and Jeff continues to operate the two Sukhothai locations).

I really like the decor at Sabai Sabai. With colourful paper lanterns hung up high and vintage artwork on the walls, the space feels roomy, bright and festive.

I had dinner with my friends Carmen (@carmenhungry) and Grace (@foodinthecityTO) that evening. I ordered a lychee slushie ('cause I always prefer booze) and it was everything I hoped for: cold, refreshing, slush with a sweet taste of lychee and Soho (the Soho came through a lot more compared to the Vodka and Limoncello). It was wonderful.

Thai iced coffee ($4), Thai iced tea ($4)

Lychee Slushie - 3 oz (Vodka, Soho, Limoncello), lychee ($10)

Sabai Sabai's menu items are all meant to be shared so we ordered eight dishes followed by dessert:

Crispy shrimp chips with tamarind dip ($4)

Bent Revisited

Despite a few minor hiccups, my first visit at Bent earlier this year made a lasting impression on me. It was an excellent meal. So when my friend Nic (@NicCanCook) suggested taking me to Bent (Twitter: @BentRestaurant, Facebook: Bent Restaurant) for my birthday, there was absolutely no hesitation on my part. I was eager to go back!

We had an early seating at 6 pm on a Wednesday night.

I ordered Bent's Asian Caesar because I really enjoyed it last time. Adorned with a more elaborate tomato garnish, the cocktail was just as savoury and tasty as I remembered. Maybe I'll order a different cocktail next time...maybe.

ASIAN CAESAR ($16)

Sobieski, Clamato,chili oil, Sriracha, coriander, hoisin, soya, sesame seed, ginger, house rim, pickled radish

PICKLED VEGETABLES WITH MUSTARD (amuse)

Matt & Steve's - The Extreme Bean

I. ADORE. CAESARS.

LOVEEEEEEE them!

(And no, not the salad...the cocktail)

I guess a lot of people know about my obsession w/ Caesars (not that I was keeping it a secret or anything) 'cause the kind folks at Matt & Steve's (Twitter: @theextremebean, Facebook: The Extreme Bean) sent me these awesome goodies the other day :) Thanks guys!

A bit about Matt and Steve's - The Extreme Bean:

Matt Larochelle and Steve McVicker, co-founders of The Extreme Bean, developed their spicy pickled bean from a small rented apartment over 10 years ago. Met during their bartending days, Matt and Steve both wanted better garnishes for the Caesar cocktail (aside from the plain ol' celery stick) and they finally settled for the spicy pickled bean. Instead of using a typical green bean from a local grocer, Matt and Steve found a unique bean that grows longer, sweeter and crunchier - the Kentucky flat bean. Using “how to pickle” instructions from Matt’s mom, the duo began experimenting with spice combinations and soon after, The Extreme Bean was born. 

Available in Spicy and Garlic Dill flavours, The Extreme Bean is sold at various retail locations across Canada and at Matt and Steve's online store. Check out Matt and Steve's latest variation on the bean: the B'nOlive: a giant olive stuffed with the Extreme Bean. Whhhhaaaaaat!?!? Amazing.

Aside from the very important garnish, a great Caesar also needs a good tasty rim. In comes Matt and Steve's Caesar Rimmer that packs just the right amount of spice and bite.

Hey and what do you know? It's the long weekend coming up and if you're thinking of entertaining guests, having a BBQ, or perhaps going up to the cottage for some nice patio time, stock up on these Extreme Bean products 'cause seriously, any ordinary Caesar will become one kickass Caesar when topped with an Extreme Bean, a B'nOlive and a thick, spicy rim. Your friends and family will LOVE you. YOU will love YOU.

Not sure how to make an Extreme Bean Caesar w/ Clamato (@CanadasCocktail)? Here, I got you covered:

Even if you are not a fan of the Caesar cocktail (and kudos to you for reading this far) these Extreme Bean products also make great accompaniments to any salad, charcuterie board, or even just to nibble on as a snack (okay maybe not the Caesar rimmer..well you can if you want...but it's a little weird).

Brunch Preview at Earls

Starting this Saturday, August 3rd, Earls on 150 King St. W. (Twitter: @earlskingst, Facebook: Earls King Street) will be offering a brand new weekend brunch service (other Earls locations to start brunch service on Saturday, September 14th). Opening a half hour earlier than weekdays, Earls will serve brunch Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays from 11 am until 3 pm alongside their regular menu. Thanks to Jacque from Earls, I was invited to preview their new brunch menu yesterday.

Beautiful day. Perfect weather for a patio brunch.

Earls’ new fresh sourdough bread is really the star of their brunch. Rising slowly and naturally from an in-house grown sourdough starter, the dense, chewy new bread make its début on the brunch menu. Each of Earls restaurants has a starter of their own that they need to nurture and feed twice a day. 

Complimentary house made brioche cinnamon buns brushed with cream cheese icing for each table. 

FRANK - Discovering the Taste of Italy

Back in May, I was invited to Art Gallery of Ontario's (Twitter: @agotoronto, Facebook: AGO - Art Gallery of Toronto) Revealing the Early Renaissance: Stories and Secrets in Florentine Art exhibition which took place from March 16 to June 16. Yeah I know this post is long overdue...so sorry guys!

(Giotto di Bondone,  Italian, about 1266 – 1337, The Peruzzi Altarpiece, The North Carolina Museum of Art)

Presented in partnership with the world renowned J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, Revealing the Early Renaissance: Stories and Secrets in Florentine Art was a large-scale exhibition that brought together an unrivaled collection of more than 90 paintings, including Giotto’s five-panel Peruzzi Altarpiece, two painted and hand-written copies of Dante’s Divine Comedy and Bernardo Daddi’s Virgin Mary with Saints Thomas Aquinas and Paul, along with numerous manuscripts, sculptures and stained glass from the 14th century.

(Left: Bernardo Daddi, Italian (Florentine), about 1280 – 1348, The Virgin Mary with Saints Thomas Aquinas and Paul, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles) 

(Right: Bernardo Daddi, Italian, Triptych with the Crucifixion, National Gallery of Scotland) 

 Subdivided into various themes, the exhibition explored how the Florence's burgeoning economy of the time fostered a unique demand for artworks both religious and civic, the collaborative nature of artistic production, the workshops of artists and a closer look at the stories behind the works and their subjects and insight into conservation research.

(Pacino di Bonaguida Italian, active 1302-1340, Tripytch with the Crucifixion, the Lamentation, and the Ascension of Christ, The ALANA Collection) 

Sasha Suda, the coordinating curator led the tour and provided a lot of insight and anecdotes that we wouldn’t otherwise have known about had we been left on our own. Thanks for the great tour! It was refreshing to hear from someone who is so connected and passionate about the works in the gallery!

A huge thank you goes to Sasha Suda, assistant curator of European art at the AGO, for guiding us through the fascinating exhibit!

(Left: Puccio Capanna, Italian, Madonna and Child with Angels and Female Saints, Musei Vaticani)

(Right: Master of the Dominican Effigies, Italian, Pentecost / Leaf from the Laudario of Sant'Agnese, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles)

El Catrin

Out goes Boiler House, in comes El Catrin, a large scale modern Mexican restaurant in the Distillery District that promises authentic traditional and modern Mexican cuisine. Recruited from Mexico to head El Catrin's kitchen is chef de cuisine Olivier Le Calvez, previously an instructor of Asian cuisine, fusion cuisine, Mexican and French cuisine at the Cordon Bleu Mexico Culinary Institute. A tapas-style menu incorporating chef Olivier's interpretation of both traditional and modern Mexican cuisine and flavours, you can expect staples such as ceviches, tacos, burritos and tostadas at El Catrin. Aside from its large ambitious food menu, another highlight of El Catrin is their impressive list of tequila and mezcal - boasting over 120 brands (some which have never before been offered in Canada) it is currently the country's biggest tequila and mezcal collection.

My first thought when I arrived at El Catrin's grand opening party on Tuesday was "Whoa this place is huge!" then quickly followed by "Whoa this place is beautiful!" The grandeur, the pure gorgeousness of El Catrin (Twitter: @elcatrinca, Facebook: El Catrin) is really something else. Take for example, the stunning forty-foot by twenty-two foot high mural (pictured below) created by Mexican street artist Oscar Flores; the sheer size of it is just mind-blowing. 

Paying homage to Mexican cantinas, El Catrin's decor was inspired by the Mexican traditions of La Loteria Mexicana, Papas Picado paper art and urban street art. The space is designed by Munge Leung, a local firm responsible for designig Gusto 101, La Societe and Weslodge. 

 El Catrin's massive fifty foot long bar constructed from The Distillery’s old whisky racks.  

One of two private dining rooms at El Catrin.

(Photo credit: El Catrin)