These restaurant discoveries may not always make the headlines, but they’re fascinating nonetheless. 

Check out this month’s unique food and drink news you likely won’t see anywhere else:

1. If you’ve been reading my Open/Closed this last while, you’ll know bubble tea shops, once relegated to the outer edges of the city, have quickly taken over much of the real estate downtown. You may not be aware however, of new trends emerging: from the truly bizarre (DNA Blood Bags and squishy gasoline tanks, for starters) to evolutionary (new arrival The Krys Milktea Bar prides itself on being powder-free, using local milk, and this just in – internet-breaking oat milk). Stay tuned.

2. Cheese cakes. No, not cheesecakes, but cheese cakes. Whether you’re following a Paleo/Keto/Zero Carbs diet, prefer savoury over sweet, or consider yourself a true turophile, wedding cheese cakes might be the best thing to happen to you this year.

Since trying to Google the phrase yields results for mostly the cream cheese and Japanese varieties, start here: Leslieville Cheese Market, Cheese Boutique, and The Pantry Fine Cheese are a few spots around town to place your special order.

And no, you don’t have to be getting hitched to enjoy these cheese towers.

3. Since it’s the holiday season, no doubt you’re looking for great gift ideas for the food-lover on your list. One that’s truly original – and sure to be talked about at family gatherings for years to come -  is a gift certificate from Rodney’s Oyster House.

Not just because Rodney’s is a goddamn institution - around since ye ol’ 1987. Or that you can dig into Oyster Slap Jack Chowder ($11), Adobo Shrimp ($26) or seasonal Periwinkles By The Bowl ($10,) alongside more classic fare of fish and chips, oysters, lobster rolls, etc.

Because they hand draw their gift certificates for any denomination, with even a message if you like, on the inside of oyster shells.

No, you’re crying.

4. Nashville Hot Chicken is fairly easy to come by in the city. In fact, we’ve got actual restaurants dedicated to it (i.e. Chen Chen’s Nashville Hot Chicken, Chica’s Nashville Hot Chicken, Five Points Nashville Hot Chicken, Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken). Even non-poultry-centric eateries offer their take on the spicy sando from Tennessee, including unexpected ones such as: bocce HQ Lob on the eastside, and Earl’s King Street downtown.

Antler’s riff on the traditional preparation, however - Antler Toronto Hot Rabbit ($32) boasting buttermilk fried rabbit dressed with maple syrup and hot sauce, fried nappa cabbage and sliced pickles atop a slab of pullman loaf – might just be the sexiest iteration yet.

5. Speaking of fried chicken, trap trio Migos just partnered with Popeyes and Uber Eats to bring you their favourite menu items.

The holy trinity from Atlanta that brought us the Dab, love the chicken chain so much, they’ve rapped about it (“Stir Fry”), included it in their tour rider (a document outlining items you require backstage and/or in your dressing room), and one member recently tried to sell Popeyes famous sando for a grand a pop.

So the Migos Menu curated by Quavious Keyate Marshall (aka Quavo), Kirshnik Khari Ball (aka Takeoff), and Kiari Kendrell Cephus (aka Offset) isn’t the usual celeb cash grab - they genuinely love the stuff.

Check out the limited-time lineup:

The Takeoff ($14.99)
5 tenders, 2 sauces, 1 regular mashed potatoes, 2 biscuits, 1 apple pie.
The Quavo ($23.99)
10 tenders, 3 sauces, 1 large red beans and rice, 3 biscuits.
The Offset ($29.99)
8 pieces BIC chicken meal, 1 large fries, 1 large mashed potatoes with gravy, 4 biscuits.
Tour Rider ($54.99)
20 tenders, 8 sauces, 1 large mashed potatoes with gravy, 2 large fries, 5 biscuits, 2L drink (Coke).

You’ve got until January 2 to enjoy delivery of these meal options exclusively on Uber Eats Canada in Toronto (including GTA), Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Niagara Region, London, Ottawa, Peterborough, Sault Ste. Marie, and Windsor (Prices and offers vary by location).

Cool fact: Betcha didn’t know the fellas were not only raised together, but are related - It turns out Offset is Quavo's cousin, and Takeoff can legit call Quavo, “Uncle.” Good luck trying to figure out that family tree branch.

p.s. Think you’re above fast food and Popeyes? Chef, TV host, writer, icon, the one and only Anthony Bourdain, who criss-crossed the globe in search of great food, was a devoted fan (to the spicy chicken and mac & cheese, in particular).

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