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Introducing: Gourmet Bitches, a new Toronto food truck that’s a little healthier than most

The Bitches themselves, Shontelle Pinch and Bianka Matchett (Image: Dave Gillespie)

At a sneak preview event at the Boiler House in the Distillery District earlier this month, the Gourmet Bitches unveiled their new matte-black food truck. With the name printed as a mirror image in bold white print and purple neon lighting, it won’t be hard to find when it hits the streets in May. The cheekily named truck is a collaboration between Shontelle Pinch and Bianka Matchett, who decided to buck some of the bigger trends in mobile dining with healthy options that include gluten- and dairy-free menu items.

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The Dish

Opening

April 16, 2012 | 12:56 pm

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Introducing: Bellwoods Brewery, Ossington’s new brewpub and snack bar

The view from the mezzanine, up above the main floor (Image: Gizelle Lau)

After a bit of a lull in new openings, it seems as though Ossington is in the middle of yet another restaurant and bar boom, with the launch of The Saint, Hawker Bar and now Bellwoods Brewery, the first new brewpub in Toronto after the untimely death of Duggan’s. Despite having opened just last Wednesday, the space was packed before 6 p.m. on Saturday night—in other words, the microbrewery is already a hit. Of course, smack dab as it is in the middle of hipster party central, we didn’t expect anything less.

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The Dish

Opening

April 13, 2012 | 1:50 pm

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Introducing: Toucan Taco Bar, Riverside’s new Mexican joint

Toucan Taco Bar takes over the space once occupied by Le Rossignol

“People in this city love burritos,” says Richard Henry, owner of Riverside’s new Toucan Taco Bar. Henry, the owner of two other bird-themed east-end restaurants (Le Canard Mort and Le Rossignol, currently shacking up together), decided to jump on board the city’s current romance with Mexican food and add a third bird to his flock. But why a toucan? Apparently “Budgie Burrito” just didn’t have quite the same ring to it.

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The Dish

Restauran-TO

April 11, 2012 | 11:47 am

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Mark McEwan, Claudio Aprile and others to launch new restaurants at Pearson Airport

Toronto travellers rejoice: your airport dining options are about to expand far, far beyond the crushing indignity of eating a cold cut trio sub while sitting on your suitcase. The Globe reports that some big-name Toronto chefs will descend on Pearson International, opening several bars and restaurants intended to compete with the best spots downtown has to offer (well, that’s the idea at least). Here’s what to expect from the transformation, which will begin this summer and continue into 2013:

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The Dish

Opening

April 9, 2012 | 11:32 am

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Introducing: The Saint, Ossington’s long-awaited and oft-delayed contemporary tavern

(Image: Gizelle Lau)

When we first told you about The Saint back in 2009, we said it would open in April—and it will, albeit three years later than expected. After a long licensing battle with the city, during which time most of the Ossington strip was redeveloped, the restaurant is finally slated to open to the public today. We dropped by to get a look behind windows that have been covered for years.

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The Dish

Opening

April 5, 2012 | 4:16 pm

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Introducing: The Grove, Dundas West’s new spot for modern English cuisine

Owners Fritz Wahl, chef Ben Heaton and Richard Reyes (Image: Renée Suen)

Over the last few years, formerly low-rent areas like Ossington, Parkdale and Dundas West have become culinary destinations, with a spate of new restaurants serving up affordable and inventive cuisine in casual dining rooms. The latest in this line is The Grove, a 50-seat Dundas West restaurant from chef Ben Heaton (One, Colborne Lane, Globe Bistro), Richard Reyes (One) and Fritz Wahl (Senses) that’s aimed at introducing Toronto diners to modern English cuisine.

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The Dish

Opening

April 4, 2012 | 12:08 pm

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Introducing: Actinolite, one couple’s labour of love on a quiet stretch of Ossington

(Image: Gizelle Lau)

Nearly six years in the making, the long-awaited Actinolite opened last week on a quiet strip of Ossington at Hallam, just south of Dupont. Behind the restaurant are husband-and-wife team Justin Cournoyer, a cook with over 15 years of experience (including a four-year stint at Susur) and Claudia Bianchi, a culinary producer for Food Network Canada (Top Chef Canada, Cook Like a Chef) and food stylist. Out of a building that was once home to Our Place Café, the couple has created an approachable yet sophisticated neighbourhood restaurant.

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The Dish

Opening

April 3, 2012 | 4:51 pm

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Introducing: Banh Mi Boys, Queen West’s shiny new Vietnamese sub counter

The view from the front entrance (Image: Gizelle Lau)

When Banh Mi Boys opened—from early December to mid-January—it was an overnight sensation. Cheap and delicious Asian street food served by a band of brothers? It was like catnip to the assorted hipsters, foodies, bloggers and Twitterers, who couldn’t get enough. The place reopened last week after a two-month renovation hiatus, and it saw over 400 customers on its first day. Not surprisingly, there were lineups out the door.

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The Dish

The Month That Was

April 2, 2012 | 5:13 pm

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The Month That Was: the Toronto restaurants and bars that opened and closed in March

The meat mural at Rob Rossi’s new European tavern, Bestellen (Image: Meaghan Binstock)

It can be hard to keep pace with all the new restaurants and bars that open and close in Toronto—which is why every month, we round them all up.

Openings:

• The Federal Reserve—Four friends, mostly with other jobs in the industry, opened this new Dundas West brunch spot, with a late-night menu and cocktails to follow. Read our Introducing post »

• Thirsty and Miserable—A new Kensington Market bar in a storied space, with a fine slate of craft beers (and a menu written on a piece of cardboard). Read our Introducing post »

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The Dish

Opening

April 2, 2012 | 2:05 pm

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Introducing: This End Up, Dundas West’s new sandwich shop and cocktail bar

Co-owners Karen Young and Adam Urquhart (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)

This End Up is the latest in a series of new Dundas West eateries to colonize the once Portuguese-dominated strip. Co-owners Karen Young and Adam Urquhart serve a menu of sandwiches and easy-to-share options, along with a long list of cocktails (“Ever since he was a little boy, he’s dreamed of having a sandwich shop,” Young tells us). The couple met (and starting dating) 16 years ago while working at All the Best Fine Foods, and after dabbling in the film world, they realized they were spending most of their spare time thinking about food.

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The Dish

From the Print Edition

March 30, 2012 | 10:31 am

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New Reviews: Grand Electric, Ascari Enoteca and The Westerly

A trashy taqueria, a civilized trattoria and a cozy neighbourhood bistro

Grand Electric
1330 Queen St. W., 416-627-3459
Colin Tooke and Ian McGrenaghan—both alumni of The Black Hoof—don’t give a rat’s ass if you like their new Parkdale taqueria and bourbon bar. The only decoration in the rundown room is a wall of premium brown booze and a sagging string of Christmas lights. There’s hard-core ’90s rap blaring from a record player, which may bring to mind all the aspiring gangsters you knew in high school who thought pumping Easy-E from their Honda Civics inspired fear and respect. And there’s a no-reservations policy, so securing a table takes about an hour on weeknights. But once you do, the beautifully bedraggled staff treat you like good friends. The tacos are three for $10, and you can mix and match pork belly–pineapple, Baja fish, arbol chicken and beef cheek. Dressed simply with cilantro, onion and lime, they roll up into superb, spicy, chin-dribbling bundles. Other Mexican dishes, like the tuna ceviche and pozole, are a bit too salty but good all the same when paired with a frothy bourbon sour. Wee Mason jars of key lime vaso (graham cracker crumbs, lime curd and a pile of whipped cream) encapsulate the mood of the place—sweet-tart, a little trashy and totally enjoyable.