The Black Hoof Cocktail Bar to kick off its guest chef series next Wednesday with Colin Tooke

The Black Hoof Cocktail Bar to kick off its guest chef series next Wednesday with Colin Tooke

The former Hoof Café is now home to the Black Hoof Cocktail Bar (Image: Karon Liu)

The Black Hoof has seen a whirlwind of changes in recent months (culminating of course in co-founder and chef Grant van Gameren’s recent departure). Come September 14, Hoof owner Jen Agg tells us, there’ll be another change, this time at the month-old Black Hoof Cocktail Bar: a new guest chef series.

Agg says the yet-to-be-named series will see chefs creating not only their own cocktails but a paired snack as well. The bi-monthly Wednesday night event will run from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. (although the bar’s hours will remain from 5:30 p.m. to last call) and will cost between $12 and $15 for the pairing. “It’s a nice opportunity for [the chefs] to see how the front of house works,” Agg told us over the phone while waiting for her flight from New York back to Toronto. “It gives them the chance to interact with people because they’re always at the back making food.”

The first run of the series, conveniently taking place during TIFF, will have a cocktail and snack menu by ex–Black Hoof chef de cuisine Colin Tooke. Although the debut features a Hoof alumnus, Agg hopes that any chefs interested in participating will approach her to discuss their ideas. “Chefs have a great palate and this is all about them doing that with a liquid.”

The Black Hoof Cocktail Bar, 923 Dundas St. W., 416-792-7511, theblackhoof.com