This week brings with it truly fascinating restaurants and menu options, and a host of news and events.

Here is the very latest:

Open:

Budapest Restaurant
1959 Gerrard St. E.

Part Hungarian restaurant, part ice cream shop, the choices are endless in this cozy spot.

A dizzying array of options includes a Hungarian Style Omelette with Sautéed Onion ($8.50), Chicken Liver Dumpling or Cold Cherry Soup ($4.50), Perogies & Sausage ($8.95), Schnitzels ($13.95-$15.50) and a host of desserts.

Descendant Detroit Style Pizza
1168 Queen St. E.

Detroit–style pizzas land in Leslieville near Jones. A recent pie featured sweet corn, double smoked bacon, Sweetie Drop Peruvian peppers, corn cob bechamel, and chives.

Good luck getting one, though. They’re selling out almost every night.

Neo Coffee Bar
161 Frederick St.

This modern, streamlined coffee shop on a short side street near King and Sherbourne offers coffees, cakes and classic Japanese style roll cakes, filled with fresh Chantilly crème, in a whopping 13 varieties. You’ll also find cookies, granola, sandwiches and cream puffs. 

The Opera House Grill
737 Queen St. E.

Owned by The Opera House next door, this Greek spot offer souvlaki, gyros, burgers and sides. 
Even better? There’s Rock and Roll Hot Sauce, a fully licensed patio and they’re open seven days a week.

Steak & Cheese Factory
50 Gerrard St. E. 

If the name sounds familiar, the new Philly Cheesesteak spot across from Ryerson, also has a location at Yonge Eg, three spots in the CNE Food Building and one of the midway, and will soon set up shop in Union Station.

Trattoria Bacio
1240 Bay St.

This former Italian café is now open for dinner service on weekends. Recent dishes include: Trio di Crostini (Bruschetta, Fava e Pecorino, Vegetariano e Formaggio di Capra); Herb & Citrus Cured Sardines on a bed of arugula and orange slices; and Gnocchi Con Funghi e Pesto.

Events:

Poutineville is celerating their 1-year anniversary today. To thank Toronto for their support and patronage, you can get their Classic Poutine for $1, with the purchase of a beverage, available from 11am to midnight.

George Brown’s First City Ale Trail happens tomorrow.

Starting Friday and lasting all weekend long, take in the sights, sounds and tastes of Waterfront Night Market .

From Friday until Sunday August 23, head to the Estrella Damm Tapas Journey for food and drinks.

Also happening this weekend, Festival of South Asia and the Sweetery Sweets Food Festival.

Want to plan ahead? Check out our August Calendar of Food & Drink Events.

News:

Chef Dave Mottershall raised not only his intended $25K on Kickstarter to open a restaurant in Toronto, he got over $40K. Congratulations, Dave! We can’t wait for it to open.

On Monday night, Le Creuset held a big bash to celebrate its 90th anniversary. Chefs from across Canada served up delicious fare including Connie Desousa of Charcut and David Hawksworth of Hawksworth. Toronto chefs included Jason Bangerter of Langdon Hall and Darby Piquette of ONE Restaurant. Also a feast for the eyes? Le Creuset enameled cast iron cookware in every colour on display. Drool.

Club Monaco, the long-standing clothing store at 157 Bloor St. at Avenue Rd., has opened a farmer’s market open seven days a week until the middle of October. Salads, baked goods, coffee, flowers are currently on offer outside – with new wardrobe items available inside.

And lastly:

This Saturday is Julia Child’s birthday. To celebrate, check out these 5 women chefs who will be at this year’s Eat to the Beat event on Oct 27.

D& Y Sushi, a new Japanese restaurant in The Junction, also happens to be one of the best.

Chef Claudio Aprile dishes on MasterChef Canada, molecular gastronomy and much more in this Q&A.

Chef Corbin offers fab advice this month on how to take your usual produce to the next level.

Get to know the Maha Kitchen chef in this month’s Chef Bites.

This week, cook with global flavours with these Metro recipes.