Posts by: J.D. Ney
The role of the chef has undergone a significant change in recent years. Perhaps thanks to the advent and proliferation of food television — to name just one zeitgeist shifting force — the chef as public figure dynamic has, for better (countless charitable events food policy influences), or worse (insert insufferable television hosts here), become a mainstay of the culinary [...]
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There's no doubt that whisky, with or with the "e" is making a comeback as Prohibition era cocktails and drinking culture itself stumbles away from the cloying pre-fab cosmos of the early aughts, and towards a fuller appreciation for the spirits themselves.
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It was a both an enthusiastic craft-beer crowd, and a sizable selection of Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery kegs that poured into, and out of the taps at Toronto’s popular Bar Volo last week.
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Last week, several members of the Spotlight team had the opportunity to catch up with Nathan Cameron, national beverage manager for Prime Restaurants. Prime is the large national group that owns and operates popular pint pubs like Fionn Macool’s and Bier Markt.
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Alsatian cuisine would present a challenge for anyone. The region itself proved to be a challenge for any one ruling country to control for centuries. In fact, it’s long been said that for residents of Strasbourg, the region’s largest city, nationality was decided by whichever army was marching down the street that morning.
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So a Roman Catholic Priest, a Rabbi and an Imam walk into a bar. Have you heard this one before? If it ends with the three of them all having a perfectly familiar culinary experience, then they’ve most likely sauntered into Mideastro, Toronto’s gastronomic United Nations.
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A good friend and trusted confidant in all things vinous, once described the new breed of Australian wine flooding Canadian shores as, in his words, “a one night stand.” They were, you see, in his estimation, everything that such an encounter can and should be. Everyone is happy with the outcome, having accomplished what [...]
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“It’s like going to your grandmother’s house for dinner, if… you know… your grandmother really, really knew what she was doing.”
That’s how Grace Restaurant co-owner Chris Hoffman described the menu, as members of Toronto’s food media sipped Meyer-lemon bourbon cocktails prior to Monday’s dinner at the College Street stalwart.
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