The Roundup: This Week in Toronto (February 27-March 5)

Written By

TasteToronto

1 year ago

Check out what's happening in Toronto this week, from highly anticipated openings, closures, events, pop-ups and more -- the round-up is your number one source for staying up to date with Toronto's fast-paced food scene!

1. Honour the Food of Alsace at Le Grande Choucroute Dinner this weekend

If an evening of fine wine and food, covetable cheeses and luxury accommodations sounds like your utopia, you'll want to head to Prince Edward County this weekend. Presented by Charlie's Burgers, in collaboration with Albert Ponzo, of The Royal Hotel, and Afrim Pristine, of The Cheese Boutique, Le Grande Choucroute dinner is a one-night-only celebration of Alsace's most revered dish.

For the March 5th event, the team has crafted an indulgent menu brimming with luxuries. Guests will flit from caviar and escargots, to foie gras, Berkshire pork Grande Choucroute, a selection of French regional cheeses and caramelized apple kugelhopf. From Champagne to Louis XIII Cognac, each pairing promises to wow as it brings every mouthful to life.

For tickets to the event, visit the CB Wine Program website. With Picton's The Royal Hotel offering special rates to attendees, you'll also want to book your accommodations, ASAP.

2. Shore Club presents beverage menu overhaul, with tons of new cocktails

The Shore Club, located just steps from the TIFF Bell Lightbox, is known for being one of the best steak and seafood spots in the city. Now, though, the drink menu has undergone a massive overhaul, offering cocktail-focused offerings like the Purple Rain, a sour cocktail made with Empress Gin, the French Kiss, a strawberry-forward drink with hints of vanilla, elderflower and citrus, and the dessert-style chocolate and caramel martini. The drinks were all unveiled earlier this month.

3. Slayer Burger brings smash burgers and hard rock vibes to Midtown

Metal heads and burger fiends alike will be rocked by the news that Slayer Burger has inaugurated its (prime) third location at 2013 Yonge, just north of Davisville. The heavy metal-themed burger joint is best known for its crisp-crusted smash burgers made from AAA Canadian beef, developed by Brazilian chef and meat aficionado, Lilian Cardoso.

Beef and veggie burgers range in size and ambition from the single patty Slit Burger to the heavy duty double cheese & bacon Slayer Burger and the seriously luxe First Degree Burger, featuring Wagyu topped with prosciutto and truffles, squeezed between a jet black charcoal bun, There are also sandwiches and salads, fries and poutine, and, for dessert, some headbangingly epic ice cream milkshakes. Open 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun-Wed., and 11:30 a.m.-11p.m., Thurs-Sat.

4. Hi Yogurt comes to Chinatown

Things just got brighter (and healthier) for Torontonian fans of fermentation with the launch of Hi Yogurt's second downtown location, at 222 Spadina Ave., (Unit 145 B&C), in the heart of Chinatown. Since opening its first shop, in Mississauga, in late 2021, Hi Yogurt's naturally handcrafted yogurt drinks, made from local farm-fresh ingredients, have proved so popular that a half dozen of stores now exist in the GTA (along with one in California!), with more on the way.

The Chinatown location has all the usual yogurts drinks, mixed with a startling variety of fresh fruits (dragonfruit! durian!). It also offers the more unusual, but still wildly nutritious likes of matcha baked cold-brew yogurt, purple rice yogurt, and green tea lychee yogurt. A little more on the decadent side are the likes of Oreo farm milk and yogurty sweet treats such as cheesecake, macarons and lava buns. Hi Yogurt is open daily from 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

5. Pandoughra's Box gets a permanent home in Mount Pleasant Village

Cookie monsters of the GTA, rejoice and head to 711 Mount Pleasant Rd (just south of Eglinton). That’s where Pandoughra’s Box, the cult cookie bakers, have opened a brick-and-mortar shop after two years of exclusively online and pop-up existence (most recently at Stackt Market).

What sets Pandoughra’s cookies apart from the rest of the batch is that they’re stuffed, sandwich-style, with gooey fillings and coated, cake-style, with textured toppings. Top-selling examples include chocolate chip cookies stuffed with Nutella and sprinkled with sea salt and red velvet cookies filled with cream cheese and crushed Oreos, then drizzled with white chocolate and even more Oreos.

For impatient souls who can’t wait for the next batch to come out of the oven, there’s also ready-to-eat, egg-free cookie dough, available in the form of dainty bites as well as glutton-friendly, dive-in-with-a-spoon jars. Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues-Thurs and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Fri-Sat.

6. Find the city's hottest lunch deal at Piano Piano's newest location

A three-course lunch is always a thrill. When it's available for just $34, it's downright exhilarating. Piano Piano's new Colborne Street location is the city's hottest spot for a lunch special that pushes value alongside exquisite flavours. For just $34 per person, diners can tuck into a choice of appetizer, pizza or pasta, and dessert. Enjoyed in the brand's newest space — a lively, flamboyant restaurant — it's hard to find a better way to nourish body and soul at midday.

Piano Piano's lunch special is available at 55 Colborne Street, every day between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. To reserve, visit the restaurant's website.

7. New coffee shop, Morning Parade, opens near Trinity Bellwoods

After their grand opening this past weekend, Morning Parade Coffee Bar is here to stay at their second location on Crawford Street. Taking over the space of what once was The Tampered Press, Morning Parade announced on their Instagram the shop is “honoured to be following in their footsteps and continue to offer great coffee and community connection to the neighbourhood.”

This is evident through their partnership with @cf__to, a community fridge program which aims to provide access to food for those in need.

Morning Parade also has collaborated with other small businesses in the area such as Sam James Coffee Bar, Wanda’s Pie in the Sky, Blackbird Baking Co. and more to offer a selection of different food, drink and retail items.

Morning Parade Coffee Bar is open at their newest location at 256 Crawford from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekends. Their original location can be found at 1952 Gerrard St. E.

8. Egg Club officially opens its fourth location in Liberty Village

Egg Club has officially opened its fourth location in Liberty Village at 141 Jefferson Avenue. Known for its decadent egg sandwiches on Japanese milk bread, Egg Club is a welcome addition to Liberty Village's breakfast options!

9. Cocktail master and owner of BarChef opens Prequel & Co. Apothecary

Frankie Solarik, the mastermind behind BarChef and expert mixologist has officially opened his second bar, Prequel & Co. Apothecary. Located at 1036 Queen St W, you'll want to check out this immersive and experimental cocktail bar for yourself!