At The Pass with Emma Bristo-O'Connor

🕒 4.5 min read

At The Pass is a weekly series showcasing Toronto’s best chefs. You won’t find any celebrity chefs featured here. Perhaps you already know these fine cooks, but maybe not. They’re not famous - yet. But it’s time these talented, passionate, hard-working chefs got a bit of the spotlight. 

Currently 

Cook, Barbershop Patisserie

Formerly  

Osteria Rialto, Alimentari, Bar Raval, Quetzal, Bar Isabel, The Healthy Butcher, The Glenerin Inn, Cora, Helen's Fish and Chips

Favourite dish to make right now

Wine braised cabbage with caraway seed - comforting and economical.  

Last cookbook purchase 

To be honest the only cookbooks I own are recipe books from past jobs that I've handwritten myself. 

One dish or ingredient you’d like to see gone from menus

I don’t think it is my place to veto any one dish or ingredient. Food is so subjective, which is one of the things I love about it. Devaluing something another culinary professional has put their heart and soul into just because it doesn't fit my own personal preference seems arrogant to me. What I like and dislike is so rooted in my own personal experience and cultural influences.

And one dish or ingredient that you’re excited about right now and would like to see on more menus

Off the top of my head i cant think of anything specific, I just wish I could sit down at a nice restaurant and look at a menu. Bars and restaurants are such a vital part of the soul of Toronto and they are struggling to survive right now.

Biggest influences

Daria Morgindorfer, Megan Thee Stallion, strong women everywhere!

If you could eat at any restaurant in the world

The Grey in Savanah, Georgia. I thought Mashama Bailey’s culinary journey was really inspiring. It is documented on the most recent season of Chef’s Table. I would really like to try her food. 

Last thing you ate

Kimchi fried rice. 

Three must-have ingredients always in your fridge 

Dill, bacon, full fat sour cream.

Guilty pleasure

Britney Spears. And Popeye’s. Their new chicken sandwich is a favorite of mine at the moment. It is dangerously good,

Top 3 favourite Toronto restaurants

Yummy Korea House, Raps, Casamiento  

Top 3 favourite Toronto bars

The Gem, The Little Jerry, The Beaver (RIP)

Go-to drink  

I love a Paloma.

One habit you have in the kitchen that you should lose, but can’t seem to shake

Taking things too personally.

And one habit you have in the kitchen that will inspire young chefs

Excellent time management skills,. I am really great at multitasking. 

Hidden talent

I have perfected a very entertaining karaoke version of Tina Turner’s "Private Dancer" over the years.

Best career advice you ever received

"You can learn something from everyone if you are willing to listen." - Chef Maxine Knight

Worst career advice you ever received 

"Sorry is for losers." Compassion and self awareness are not weaknesses, they are strengths. 

Your advice for a young cook starting out in the business

Try not to take yourself too seriously - mastering your craft is a lifelong journey. You will burn out pretty quickly if you don’t have fun with it along the way.

___

In order to support chefs during this time, the monthly At The Pass series is now WEEKLY. Know someone in Toronto or GTA who should be featured? Submit their name for consideration. And yes, you can nominate yourself.   

For breaking news, updates, interviews + much more, follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter.