🕒 7.5 min read

It’s been a hectic month, to say the least. Knee-deep in the onslaught of newcomers and departures (still reeling from all these and these), it’s difficult to get anything else done.

Areas are transforming in a matter of weeks now. Consider what’s just cropped up in The Junction lately, and all the closures of long-standing businesses this month alone. 

There is a light at the end of this frenzied tunnel, though: White Claaaaaaaaw!

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

In search of authentic Italian fare? Little Italy’s Ballaro Italian Fine Dining (633 College St.) has a sister resto in Rome. And Pescatarians, take note: it also happens to be seafood-centric. Buon appetito.

Introducing your new destination for pizza and cocktails in the west end: Botham's (2869 Dundas St. W.), by the fab folks of The Junction’s The Hole in the Wall (2867A Dundas St. W.).

O&B’s Canoe Restaurant & Bar (66 Wellington St. W., 54th Floor) celebrated their 25th year with an extensive 8-week reno to revamp the space. New dinner items have been also added, including Tamarack Farms Lamb ($50), Baffin Island Turbot ($46), and Ontario Pigeon Pithivier ($70), alongside an eight-course tasting menu ($120).

Carmelita’s (2982 Dundas St. W.) in The Junction specializes in Mexican and Salvadoran delicacies such as Tamales ($4.50), Pupusas ($3.25-$4.75), Cow Leg Soup (lg/$15), and Acapulco Fish ($16), in addition to offering all-day breakfast items ($12-$14) and selections ($7 ea.) for niños.

Chinese chain Dagu Rice Noodle just launched at Empress Walk in North York, but wasted no time in setting up shop at CF Fairview Mall (1800 Sheppard Ave. E.). Stay tuned: A Scarborough location is up next.

Food With A Difference (3315 Danforth Ave.) has got you covered for Caribbean fare in in Scarborough.

New café and event space Junction Yacht Club (2880 Dundas St. W.) joins newcomers Carmelita’s and Botham’s to the area.

Kaboom Chicken in Riverside shuttered last May, but recently resurrected as Kaboom Kitchen. Dig into their Korean street food at Parkdale’s Superfly (5 Brock Ave.) starting Wednesday.

Kung Fu Tea does not know the meaning of slow your roll. In addition to completely renovating a shop, they’ve been pumping out locations left and right With more to come, no less. Their newest outpost (285 Enfield Pl., R102) in Mississauga kicks off Sunday at 2pm. Grand opening celebrations include a free pearl latte with brown sugar for the first 100 guests, and 50 per cent off all drinks all day.

Speaking of bubble tea (this is how I start all sentences now), College Park Food Court (444 Yonge St.) just got its own Royal Tea to Go.

Yin Ji Chang Fen (369 Spadina Ave.), known for its rice noodle rolls and congee, debuted its fourth location earlier this week. The Chinatown spot is also their first right downtown.

The third branch of Euro-Asian bakery 7Baker just landed on the upper level of Scarborough Town Centre (300 Borough Dr.). 

CLOSED

Big Fat Burrito says goodbye to their long-running Kensington Market eatery (285 Augusta Ave.) on Sunday.

Clinton’s (693 Bloor St. W.) closed suddenly on Friday, after a whopping 83 years. To help staff, there’s a fundraiser at Lee’s Palace.

The last day to dine at Sea-Hi Famous Chinese Food (3645 Bathurst St.) is Saturday. They served Toronto and the GTA for almost 60 years.

Westown Chinese Food (2710 Dundas St. W.) in The Junction is all papered up, with condos appearing to soon to take over. Coincidentally, Peking Express (217 Parliament St.) in Regent Park just released a new Westown Chinese takeout and delivery menu.

Strange Love Coffee near Bathurst (627 Queen W.) is done, but head a bit further east to land at their newest spot inside The Beverley Hotel (335 Queen St. West).

EVENTS 

White Claw is coming to Canada! To be one of the folks clamouring to get their hands on this iconic American hard seltzer, head to the Front & Spadina LCBO Saturday at 9am. 

Robin Goodfellow (Bar Raval, PrettyUgly, and soon VELA) and Iain Griffiths (Supernova Ballroom) are whipping up low-waste cocktails in support of Second Harvest at Monday’s Bar Fight at Death & Taxes Free House.

A number of Toronto restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries + cafes are helping to raise money for those affected by the devastating Australian wildfires. Check out the amazing new events happening around town.

And you’ve  got until tomorrow to feast at +100 participating in Markham’s Asialicious.

NEWS

Chef Michael Potters died Friday at age 59.

Long-time food writer and cookbook author Norene Gilletz, 79, passed away Sunday.

Le Sélect Bistro has posted a petition as their property tax has gone up 551 per cent since doors opened in 2005.

Uncle Tony’s on Wellington is under new management, with a revamped menu to go along with it.

Beyond Meat continues to nab the headlines. While it’s bounced from Tim’s, Starbucks will have it next. And Golden Krust just added it to their iconic Jamaican Patty lineup.

Good news for Foodora couriers.

Head’s up Diet Coke and Coke Zero guzzlers. Now might be the time to stock up.

Would you eat cricket bread?

ICYMI

It turns out rappers/siblings Eboshi and Contra of Cartel Madras are just as passionate about food as they are about music. Read the riveting interview now in this month’s At The Table.

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Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Want to get the word out about your business or service to an exclusively food-hungry audience? Shoot me an email -> writerscramp@stephaniedickison.com.

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