The months of the beer calendar are marked by a rotating cycle of releases that all seem to use a seasonal ingredient. In the winter it’s high alcohol and warm spices; spring has bocks and hints of maple syrup; summer brings lighter beers, inflected with citrus. And now we’re well into the greatest beer season of all: pumpkin beer time.
Kimchi has been growing in popularity in Toronto for a while now, but that’s not stopping a kimchi-themed bus from spreading its gospel here. The kimchi bus is a project from three young Korean university students who have set out on a kimchi-sharing mission, covering 38 countries in 400 days. Their next stop is at George Brown College’s Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts tomorrow.
It’s harvest season, and the sweet potato crop runneth over. Delicious, packed with vitamins, this is one terrific tuber.
Although the weather is rapidly cooling off, there are still some patio-worthy days remaining. With that in mind, the rooftop lounge at Park Hyatt Toronto is a cozy space, outfitted with tufted leather banquettes, tables nestled closely together and Joe Gomes behind the bar (he’s only been there 53 years). Out on the patio, imbibers can sip on one of his cocktails while taking in the season’s changing colours and peering out at the CN Tower.
Parkdale’s tribute to Aboriginal cuisine, Keriwa Cafe, has just announced that its last a la carte dinner service will be on Oct. 6, after which the restaurant will focus on tasting menus. The restaurant will also act as a venue for private dinners and other special events. Keriwa’s first tasting menu will take place on Oct. 13, then on select evenings afterwards. The tasting menus will change monthly.
Kensington Market will welcome a new bagel shop to its midst later this fall. Showcasing traditional Montreal-style bagels, Nu Bügel will be a sort of hybrid between a takeout shop and a sit down café.
Maclean’s knew it would generate some controversy with its first-ever list of the top 50 restaurants in Canada, and it has indeed caused some commotion amongst critics, chefs and foodies across the country. Now, Anthony Bourdain has thrown his two cents in.
Autumn has always been a favourite season of mine. A time of apple crisp and pea coats with collars turned up, the months preceding the first day of snow are ones that I like to relish at a lazy pace, often from the comfort of my living room window watching the leaves fall. For Chef though — and consequently for me it seems — September and October constitute harvest season, i.e. massive work months.
If you’re looking for a change from Chardonnay, try another Burgundian grape variety called Aligoté. Only this Aligoté is grown in our backyard — at Château des Charmes in Niagara. Its 2010 Aligoté is a pale lemon colour with an earthy, apple and peach bouquet and a citrus note. The wine is medium-bodied, crisply dry, full on the palate and mouth-filling.
The best way to win bar bets with non-Germans this week is probably by making a wager as to which month most of Oktoberfest takes place. The two-week Bavarian beer-fest has already started, having opened on Saturday to take advantage of sunnier days and milder nights. So, to celebrate Oktoberfest, we’re taking a look at the Kristall Weissbier from Weihenstephan, which bills itself as the world’s oldest brewery.
Since leaving his gig as executive chef at Maléna and L’Unità, chef Matthew Sullivan has been focusing his energy on Boxed, his pop-up concept. But we’ve now found out that he’s been appointed as chef at an upcoming Leslieville restaurant called Skin and Bones. Details are scarce, but we do know that it’s going to be a large, wine-focused restaurant set inside of a historic warehouse.
Occupying an unassuming corner lot on Dundas West, Campagnolo is one of the neighbourhood’s go-to joints for Italian fare. Outfitted with wooden accents, terra cotta tiles and a chandelier or two, the restaurant fills tables with folks eager to gobble down goods from the ever-changing menu.
