Open/Closed for the week of November 9-15

espite being the middle of November, the openings are still coming fast and furious.

Between that, fabulous events and lots of new food and drink award winners, there is a lot to celebrate.

Here’s the very latest:

Open:

Ambiance Chocolat 
683 Mount Pleasant Rd.

Ambiance Chocolate has moved from Leslieville to Mount Pleasant. Uptown chocolate lovers unite! Small batch boutique chocolates can now be yours.

The Captain’s Boil 
5313 Yonge St.
 
Boil-in--the-- bag seafood is finally here! If you’ve spent anytime watching TV shows based in Baltimore like The Wire or New Orleans like Treme, you’ll know that seafood boils are awesome.

And finally, it’s not just an American thing.

Pattaya Thai Kitchen 
2326 Queen St. E.

Lucky Beach residents get a new Thai restaurant, complete with curries, noodle and rice dishes, perfectly suited for this weather.

Porchetta & Co.
545 King St. W.

Doors just opened on Tuesday, but the lineups have already started. So if you live, work or are in the King and Portland-ish area in the next while, ditch your usual salad and get there early.

Put A Cone On It
633 Bloor St. W.

Normally an ice cream shop opening in November would be insanity, but with this weather, it’s pretty great.

The Shore Leave
1775 Danforth Ave.
 
Whether you live in the Danforth between Woodbine and Coxwell 'hood or not, meet your new favourite local tiki bar.

With tropical drinks in hand and a menu containing items such as braised chicken on a milk bun, smoked ribs and vegetable and bean stew, winter this year is going to be a breeze.

Events:

There are still tickets available for tonight’s Evening at the Market ($75) at The St. Lawrence Market where celebrity chefs Lynn Crawford and Lora Kirk will be cooking up a storm.

This Saturday, celebrity chefs including Chef Lynn, Chef Corbin, cook to eradicate breast cancer at this year’s KitchenAid Cook for the Cure Culinary Showdown.  We’ll be there capturing all the action on Instagram, so stay tuned.

The booking deadline for Pass The Table events Niagara Beef & Cheese Dinner at Southbrook Vineyards and Plant-Based Ontario Harvest Dinner at Earth + City is tomorrow.

News:

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners of this year’s Ontario Culinary Tourism Awards of Excellence! 

Congrats also to Stephen Perrin, Executive Chef of Toronto's Substance Food Group, who was a winner at this year’s World Food Championships (WFC), taking home awards in the BBQ and pasta categories. 

And kudos to all the finalists and winners of the 2015 Ontario Finest Meat Competition! 

Chef Mark McEwan has joined the Aga Khan Museum and McEwan Group is now the exclusive operator of Diwan Restaurant, Courtyard Café and event catering.

Hemant Bhagwani, owner of Amaya Express and Indian Street Food Co., has announced there is no tipping at the new restaurant on Bayview.

And lastly:

What are fall’s hottest new restaurants? Check out this week’s Best Of to find out!

Chef Elaine Wong of The Omni King Edward opens up in this month’s Chef Bites. 

Dark roast coffee isn’t as strong as you think. Read this month’s coffee article to find out why. 

Canadian whisky gets its own awesome bar with Char No.5. p.s. the food’s fab too.

Modo Mio’s homestyle Italian dishes include secret family recipes.