LibbyIt’s easy to get overwhelmed at the start of September. It’s positively jam packed with back to everything’s, TFW, TIFF all-nighters and the start of fall. It’s time to get back to basics, remix the routine and start fresh, make the most of the last days of summer. I know, bummer right? Well fear not, September’s openings and food news are brimming with options, so keep your head on a swivel and set your sights on the city’s best. Here’s a look at what September has in store for you.
Events
Mark McEwan’s stylish ONE restaurant in Yorkville is feteing TFW with Christopher Bates, the Canadian menswear designer. Dishes and drinks will be paired up with the designer’s fave looks, look for this install at ONE until TFW runs dry, September 6th.
Admission is free to the Veg Food Fest, setting up shop September 7-9th at Harbourfront. Vendors of all things meat-free will be on-site with their fave finds, ditto for up and coming veg-minded chefs, with demos and samples for even the most fastidious carnivores.
If you’ve always dreamed of a country fete, but have an appetite for ubers, then the 2nd annual Dinner at the Farm may be the ticket. Emma Waverman hosts the September 13th event, with proceeds from ticket sales benefiting the Black Creek Community Farm fund. Grab tickets for this good cause here.
Our fave leading ladies, Chef Julie Marteleira and Sous Chef extraordinaire Laura Petracca are holding court at Leña for the next Open Kitchen, a charity of significant weight to the culinary world, especially pertaining to women. The charity is run by some of TO’s biggest heavyweights in the culinary scene, both FOH and BOH making this a full circle event. Open Kitchen is raising money from each event to send women to George Brown College to advance their culinary careers.
Get your tickets here for this soon to sell out event.
Lena
There’s more to Woodbine Racetrack than just ponies, on September 29th you’ll see a sea Big Green Eggs emerge for a full blown taste extravaganza, with chefs and BBQ enthusiasts cooking up more than just dogs and burgers. The event runs from 2pm-7pm. Find out more here.
Now Open
Yonge and Sheppard has snapped up Full House Desserts, which started out in Hong Kong decades ago, and has now transformed into a mega-franchise with locations across China, and now, branching out to GTA. Set inside the Emerald Towers, Full House Desserts specializes in health-focused
desserts, many of which are low in sugar and made with unique ingredients like Durian fruit.
The wait is over, and the big unveil is here. Yorkville ALO Bar has launched just in time to tempt TIFF hotshots away from the red carpet. Located on Cumberland, tucked into a courtyard away from spying eyes, this new bar, with a full service kitchen will undoubtedly be Yorkville’s newest haunt.
September
Yorkville’s beloved d|bar is remixing the space and relaunching with a completely renovated decor and injecting an LED art display screens to bring in some modern touches to the elegant space. The menu has also been rejigged by the legendary Chef Daniel Boulud, and resident mixologist Darryl Chan has also created some new cocktails to go with the swanky new space.
Daniel Boulud and Sylvain Assié
Yonge and College is home to the new Four Four South Village, Toronto’s newest spot for Taiwanese noodles. The authentic Taiwanese experience is on full display here, with great care taken to keep the recipes and integrity of both the ingredients and methods. We’ll let Chef Devonne be the judge of that!
Cosplayers were curious to see if Storm Crow Manor was going to time warp to be ready for this past fan expo weekend, but alas, they’re still suck ironing out the last details. We wait with bated breath!
Figures brothers Nader and Patrick Marzouk are setting the stage for a TIFF toast like no other. King and Bathurst corner spot Blowfish is now shuttered to make space for Regulars, a new bar that will channel the golden age of Hollywood with notable accents and attention to detail on everything. We’re gushing for this spot!
Coming Soon
Buca at Yonge and Eglinton is in hiring mode, and after announcing they’d be open in spring, we know this it-spot is coming soon!
And more major food news is hitting midtown, this time by way of Byblos taking over the recently vacated North 44 spot right on Yonge Street. Thrilled to see the INK team branch up north!
Ottawa burger joint BFF Burger is opening on Ossington Ave, look for this stupid cute looking restaurant to open this fall.
Hemant Bhagwani
Hemant Bhagwani is opening not one but two restaurants on Sheppard Avenue (woohoo!) with Fairview Mall ready to greet Good Karma and Bayview Village getting a new fast casual eatery by way of Goa.
Nearby in North York, Rally Sports Bar is putting the finishing touches on their Yonge Street space, an overhaul of the old Moxie’s in the Madison Centre. Just south, the reimagined Sheppard Centre is welcoming a flock of new foodie finds. Quite literally, a new Flock Rotisserie + Greens is coming, ditto for IQ Foods, Sweet Jesus, and a Basil Box. Zoinks! Look for all these to open in the coming months.