Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink, a new downtown restaurant with a social mission
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
When the bold new 60 Richmond Street East co-op building was completed in 2010, the builders left open a medium-sized space on the ground floor for a restaurant, hopefully one with a social mission that would complement that of Unite Here, the hospitality industry union that runs the co-up. More than two years later, chef Eric Wood, fresh off launching Fabarnak at the 519 community centre, has opened up Hawthorne in that space. Wood serves an ever-changing menu of dishes with flavours inspired by Toronto’s vast assortment of ethnic cuisines—and runs a three-month paid training program for young cooks fresh out of school and hoping to learn the ropes.
The restaurant, whose name is both a literary (Nathaniel) and botanical (the hawthorn plant) allusion, was designed by Squarefoot and features warm woods, shelves of jarred preserves and floor-to-ceiling windows. The focal point of the menu is the cheekily named #FourSquare meal ($16), a carry-over from Fabarnak’s Square Peg bento box (a one in four chance that something will “blow you away,” Wood quips). When we stopped in, the geometric lunch featured a whole grain salad with toasted squash and black walnuts; chestnut gnocchi with charred kale, onion fondue, bee pollen and vanilla-poached tomato; nam pla barbecue ribs; and chocolate oatmeal torte with dark chocolate gelato. Sandwiches, sharing plates and proper main courses round out the menu. For drinks, there’s an all-Ontario beer list and a short selection of wines; a cocktail menu is still in the works (we’re told their house-made sodas will play a starring role). Though Hawthorne is currently only open for lunch, the New Year will mark the introduction of a dinner menu too.
180821 House-made organic cola ($2) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-14.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-14/ dec12-hawthorne-14 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180818 From the #FourSquare lunch: chocolate oatmeal torte with dark chocolate gelato, dulche de leche and whiskey cherries (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-11/ dec12-hawthorne-11 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180816 From the #FourSquare lunch: lemon grass barbecue ribs, smoked for five hours with a nam pla rub, drizzled with hoisin sauce and served over collard greens and beans ($14 for a full portion) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-09/ dec12-hawthorne-09 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180817 From the #FourSquare lunch: chestnut gnocchi with vanilla-poached tomato, charred quail, onion fondue and bee pollen ($13 for a full portion) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-10/ dec12-hawthorne-10 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180815 From the #FourSquare lunch: whole grain salad with a trio of grains (wheat, rye and quinoa), kale, dates and raisins, roasted squash and black walnuts ($8 for a full portion) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-08/ dec12-hawthorne-08 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180819 The signature #FourSquare lunch ($16) <br />
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-12/ dec12-hawthorne-12 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180814 Fish and chips ($9; sample size shown): crispy smelts, Kennebec fries, malt vinegar dust and preserved lemon aïoli (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-07/ dec12-hawthorne-07 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180813 Buttermilk fried quail, Boxwood honey, za’atar sprinkle ($9; sample size shown) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-06/ dec12-hawthorne-06 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180810 Wok-charred edamame with ponzu molasses and a chili peanut sprinkle ($5) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-03/ dec12-hawthorne-03 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180820 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-13/ dec12-hawthorne-13 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180809 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-02/ dec12-hawthorne-02 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180808 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-01/ dec12-hawthorne-01 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180822 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-15/ dec12-hawthorne-15 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180823 Chef Eric woods chats with patrons (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-intro/ dec12-hawthorne-intro 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180812 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-05/ dec12-hawthorne-05 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
180811 Hawthorne is located on the ground floor of the 60 Richmond Street East building (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink Introducing: Hawthorne Food and Drink https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dec12-Hawthorne-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hawthorne/slide/dec12-hawthorne-04/ dec12-hawthorne-04 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
Hawthorne, 60 Richmond St. E., 647-930-9517 , Facebook page, @HawthorneTO
Hahaha, you captured my backside while I was chatting up Chef Eric Wood! A delicious spot, recommended :)
if they could only retrain the current members of unite here to actually work for the customer instead of the themselves…have you eaten at unionized hotel? service is shit.
I think, In a way, this is what we are all about. Not to agree that the service provided by members of the union is to your observation, but there is definitely a gap in between the restaurant experience, and hotel dining, for a multitude of reasons. the hospitality industry can forget about developing its grass roots sometimes, and we created the training opportunities for this reason.