🕒 8.5 min read 

It’s finally warmed up, spring is coming early, holidays galore are on the approach (Super Bowl, Lunar New Year, Valentine’s) and this week’s 23 arrivals offer countless mouth-watering options for takeaway and delivery across the GTA this week.

THINGS ARE DEF LOOKING UP!

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Pro tip: Shop The Abibiman Online Marketplace by The Abibiman Project - a non-profit African Culinary Education Initiative by Rachel Adjei, in support of The Afri-Can FoodBasket, which debuted earlier this week.

Kinka Family (JaBistro, Kinka Izayaka, Kinton Ramen, Kintori Yakitori, Neo Coffee Bar) launched two virtual kitchens in November. Two more quickly followed: Japanese torched sando spot Aburi Bunz (51 Baldwin St.) and Hashiya Japanese Pasta Bar. 

Back to the Pasta feeds your need for noods with elevated options – e.g. Bronze Die-Extruded Linguine ($9), Braised Beef Ravioli ($15), Rapini Pesto & Sausage ($15/$28) – and a pasta kit to end all pasta kits: Blueberry Fettuccine with King Cole Duck Ragu for Two ($35). Oomph.

Beefing With 7’s new Richmond Hill outpost (9021 Leslie St., Unit 4) is the sixth for the Hong Kong style chain in the GTA.

Live out all your chocolate dreams with Belgian waffles, fondue, dessert pizza, and 20 varieties of hot chocolate at the first Ontario branch of Quebec-based chocolaterie and ice cream shop Chocolato in Oakville (236 Lakeshore Rd. E.).

Fried (241 Richmond St. W.) kicks off today with halal fried chicken every which way – sandos, Nashville hot, wings, bites, poutine – and classic sides.

Fruitomann at Square One (100 City Centre Dr.) goes beyond the usual smoothie offerings with additional selections of lassi, fruit and bubble tea.

Carbo-loading just got a lot easier, thanks to the assortment of pasta and panini at Golosità (3187 Yonge St.) in Lawrence Park. 

Bring back the days of summer with Good Behaviour Ice Cream by Michael Lam, CDC at Ascari King, and industry vet Eric Chow. Psst. Find them on my ever-expanding Ultimate Guide to Ice Cream + Frozen Treats in Toronto/GTA.

It seems only yesterday Isaan Der landed in The Junction (I checked my notes. It was actually 2017). The third outpost of Northeastern Thai eatery - launches tomorrow at 5pm in Ruby Watchco’s old digs (730 Queen St. E.) at Queen and Broadview. 

The advent of the first overseas location of Michelin bib gourmand listed Konjiki Ramen back in 2017 caused quite a frenzy – lineups for days. While excitement for the third satellite - Markham (115 Times Ave.) - remains, contending with crowds is a thing of the past.

La Latina (150 Eglinton Ave. E.) debuted Midtown on December 3  between Yonge and Mount Pleasant, with a tantalizing menu: Salt Cod Fritters ($14), Cubano on housemade bread ($16), Beef and Cassava ($21), Taco Kits ($23-$30), Smoked Half Chicken ($23), Pineapple Parfait ($7), Guava Cheesecake ($13). Their Valentine’s Menu doesn’t disappoint either.

Macho Fried Rice - founded in Hangzhou, China in 2015 - speedily built an empire with +300 locations across the globe, including the recent addition in North York (5418 Yonge St., Unit 3).

Mandi Afandi (64 Overlea Blvd., Unit 10) in East York’s Thorncliffe Park specializes in Arabian cuisine. Dig into specialties such as Emirati delicacy Madfoon ($8.99-$14.99), Sayadiyah ($17.99), and Zurbian ($20.99).

Saturday marked the first day for Montreal Style BBQ at Pape and Danforth, where Astoria (679 Danforth Ave.) once stood. Many more are in the works.

Munch Okashi has got you when it comes to daifukumochi ($17/6, $30/12) and ichigo daifuku ($3.50/1, $20/6, $36/12).

ISO halal certified meat? The second Paramount Butcher Shop by Paramount Fine Foods debuts today at Mississauga’s Meadowvale Town Centre (6720 Meadowvale Town Centre Circle) at 1pm. 

How cool is this? Local musicians Dave Barnes and Meghan Parnell just launched their own small batch coffee roastery, Parkside Grind Coffee Roasters.

Can’t stop, won’t stop. Just two weeks ago, I caught you up on all that Rico Burrito has been up to lately (it’s a LOT). They just added Yonge & Rosedale to the list. 

Deciding between smash burgers and fried chicken is like trying to pick a favourite child. Sammy’s (1087 Queen St. W.) by Otto’s Bierhalle means never having to choose. 

Tommy Cafe, Montreal’s all-day brunch and coffee destination, found a home in downtown Oakville (236 Lakeshore Rd. E.).

Toro Toro Sushi (3175 Rutherford Rd., Unit 40, Building H) in Vaughan hasn’t quite opened doors yet, but pre-orders for their stunning Valentine’s sushi boxes has begun. 

CLOSED

Godiva is shuttering all 128 stores in North America, including 11 in Canada, by the end of March.

EVENTS

You’ve got until Sunday to get in on La Poutine Week.

This year’s National Chowder Chowdown Festival features a number of Toronto chefs.

NEWS

A recipe by Yasmen De Leon, owner of Toronto’s Comal y Camela has been included in Taste from Home, a free digital cookbook by The UN Refugee Agency Canada to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

#SupportLocal. Riverside BIA and Queen Street West BIA created #LoveonQueen, a month-long celebration of Queen Street businesses with 28 days of giveaways.

Get a sneak peek of 160-room hotel ANDAZ TORONTO, slated to open 2023.

Does food stick to your non-stick pan? It’s not just you (phew) and Czech scientists are on the case.

Places across the U.S. are easing restrictions on restaurant dining: D.C. is allowing 25% indoor capacity; outdoor dining permitted in California. New York City is set to reopen indoor dining at reduced capacity (25%) on Valentine’s Day if case numbers hold. In Canada, Quebec residents can dine indoors at restaurants located in oranges zones, with various restrictions in place.  

Dun-Dunn.

ICYMI

Ordering breakfast in used to be an indulgence - or guilty expense after a night of indulgence. Now that we’re stuck indoors, it’s taken on a more significant role.

Chef Anya Zaporozhchenko of Burdock shares many details, including her guilty pleasure - “I’m not above a chain pizza shop Hawaiian slice with garlic dip” - In this week’s At The Pass.

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