TORONTO RESTAURANTS | THE PODCAST - The Tip Off Edition 1

I've never seen anything like it. In 15+ years of diligently covering the restaurant scene in Toronto/GTA, it's never been more frenzied - endless cycle of breaking news upon breaking news. Just as I begin writing about one item, seven more have occurred.

My OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of restaurant openings (virtual/brick-and-mortar/pop-ups/all the things),closures, and food/drink news Toronto and the GTA. Yep, bigger and better than any other outlet.

But I get it. You’re busy, on-the-go. Who has time to read these days? I’ve got a quick fix for that. Introducing THE TIP OFF, a weekly rundown featuring breaking exclusives, sneak peeks, hot tips on incoming trends, and roundup of the week’s top stories and events like you’ve never seen or heard it before.

While some items will appear in the OPEN/CLOSED, others will be reported here exclusively for the first time. You don't want to miss it. Subscribe now to get in on the action.

The inaugural edition of The Tip Off starts off with a bang: The influx of Ossington arrivals continues - this time with a themed bar, an exciting new bakery debuts in Oakville, Dundas West’s latest destination is inspired by Japanese ‘kissaten’, and the announcement of another long-standing restaurant closing before year’s end.

NO ONE COVERS THE CITY LIKE THIS.

Recorded December 6, 2024. Hosted by Stephanie Dickison with Chris Garbutt.

Website https://bit.ly/TRTorontoRestaurants

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Produced by VQC Media [e-mail]

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Well, the restaurant scene these days is wild, isn't it?

(00:03):
It's like nothing I've ever seen before.
I'm covering over a hundred restaurants a month and it's getting crazier.
I've got so much great information and so much is happening so quickly.
So I've brought what I used to have in the newsletter, the tip-off, to the podcast.
What I'm going to be doing is bringing you the top stories, breaking news, intel, all

(00:24):
my secrets.
Well, most of my secrets.
So what have we got this week?
First up, Badlands opened Saturday nights.
I don't know if you know Brooke Kavanaugh and Lara Roberts.
They're the couple behind their spot next door called Season Six on Ossington.
Around the corner, they've got Sprezzatura Spaghetti Disco.
And then also on Ossington, they've got Tequila Alvaliente, which is the one downstairs.

(00:49):
They really love Ossington.
So they've got a cute new Western-themed saloon, which is part of a new wave of restaurants
that have touched down on Ossington lately.
We've got Andrea's Cookies, Cereal Box Cafe, Chica Sanchen, Fallen Feather, Linny's, and
No Vacancy.
And that's just in the last few weeks and months.

(01:11):
Ossington is back.
Ossington is popping off.
What else have you got?
This is my hot tip from Oakville.
So Tatam Bakery House by Chef Lily Linda and Sheila Wang debuted on Wednesday.
This has been on my watch list for a long time.
I wrote about Chef Linda back in 2021 when she and her mom were doing a dried meat concept,

(01:33):
but she and Sheila have created quite a beautiful and well-crafted place to get baked goods.
Next up, Kensei Bar, which I was the first to report of celebrity chef David Adjie's
modern French restaurant, Booth Closing.
And then I found out Kensei Bar was coming in and boy, love this concept.

(01:55):
It's part listening bar, part restaurant, part cocktail bar on Dundas just around from
Ossington.
So again, part of the Ossington movement and I'm very excited about the menu.
So cool.
And then sad news today, Chef Anthony Rose announced that Fatsun will be closing last
day of service is December 22nd.

(02:17):
It was bar begonia for those of you for back in the day.
But the good news is that Chef Anthony Rose is still the King of DuPont with his fat pasha
and schmaltz appetizing still on the strip.
And we'll have to go and say our goodbyes, but it's not goodbye to Anthony.
And that's just a few of the stories that are happening.

(02:39):
Yes.
The good news is the tip off will be coming to you here on the podcast.
And then of course, the open closed, which is the most comprehensive resource of restaurant
openings, closures, news events, intel trends, all of those things.