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CORE VALUES AS SOME PARACHUTE OUT OF DOWNTOWN CONDO MARKET, A BIG BOUNCE BACK IS PREDICTED
The Joy of Cookies WE SAMPLED 18 OF THE MOST TEMPTING BISCUITS IN TOWN
Tracy Moore TORONTO’S 12 MOST INSPIRING WOMEN
DECEMBER 2020 · VOLUME 1 · ISSUE 10
Y-DEC-2020-IFC_IFC 2020-11-17 1:59 PM Page 1
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THEIR SECRET RECIPE Top Chef Canada star Eden Grinshpan on meeting the man of her dreams
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THE JOY OF COOKIES Macaron mogul Nadège Nourian’s quest to find the city’s best biscuits
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CASHMERE IS KING Jeanne Beker picks the most luxurious items the season has to offer
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DECEMBER 2020
T.O.’S 12 MOST INSPIRING WOMEN Highlighting Toronto’s barrierbreaking Black women of the year
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CITYSCAPE
THE POST INTERVIEW
Deepa Mehta’s new Canadian love story
NEWS
BY THE NUMBERS
We speak with Toronto’s acclaimed filmmaker who recently turned a quarter-centuryold novel, Funny Boy, into a moving film that offers much for the challenging times we are facing. Get the family together for its premiere on CBC Dec. 4. by Ron Johnson
350 The weight, in tons, of the stylish new Cherry Street Bridge designed by Entuitive, along with Londonbased Grimshaw Architects, to sit over the Keating Channel.
2 The episode number of The Mandalorian that includes an appearance by Toronto actor Paul SunHyung Lee of Kim’s Convenience fame.
Are you hoping this film opens up a conversation about what is still considered a taboo in some places?
When was the first time you read Funny Boy, and what were your impressions back then?
You know, I don’t make films because I feel that I have a great message to impart to the world, but I do make films about subjects that arouse my curiosity. But yes, art is a hammer, and I remember Toni Morrison saying that all art is political. I really do believe that, in some form or the other, it is true. When I was making Fire, I wasn't making a film about trying to educate the people of India about the fact that lesbians exist in India. It was about that love can exist and should be able to exist between men and men and women and women. And of course, the fallout was that there are actually no lesbians in India. Can you imagine?
I remember reading it when it first came out, and that was what 24 years ago, and loving it. And thinking, My God, this is going to make a wonderful film. It’s from southeast Asia, from Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka is next door to India. There is so much cross-cultural stuff that happens between south India and northern Sri Lanka that it just felt like the terrain I knew. So I immediately rang up and asked if the option to make the film was available. And it wasn't. It had been scooped up already.
The ones who trashed the movie all had something to prove, which was that their voice was the right voice. What we forget is that discourse is important. And if there is a voice, they have a right to that voice, but when women in droves came out carrying placards saying I'm a lesbian, I’m an Indian, that too is a voice. So then we have a discourse. A one-way discourse is not a discourse.
Oh no, so it took a while then?
I said, OK, well, too bad. And then I forgot about it. I’ve always admired the book, and I was always waiting for the film to be made because I think that maybe it was optioned three or four times by very big directors. But somehow, maybe my name was written on it, as years later, I got a chance to do it. And what was it about this story that moved you?
I think different things moved me earlier. But I think it moved me this time around because it really reflected the world we live in today, which is a very divisive world where things are being changed radically, where we have nationalist populist governments that are bent upon dividing more than building bridges. And for me, the book now feels more about the oppression of minorities, whether it’s sexuality, or whether it's race or culture, and it feels more relevant now.
The distance, in kilometres, between Toronto and Tampa, Florida, which will be the temporary home of the Raptors for the coming season.
But it did change things.
Now, you have called this a quintessentially Canadian story. Could you explain what you mean?
I’m very curious about that. For me, it's as an immigrant who came to Canada as an immigrant and then became a Canadian citizen. You know, what is Canada all about? It belongs to, rightfully, to the Indigenous people. It rightfully belongs to the people who came later whether they were yellow, white or pink or different races. And what I love about Canada is that it has a really solid desire — I don't know if it’s completely fulfilled, but at least it has the desire — and it really does believe in inclusion, you know. We try very hard to embrace diversity. And I think it will take time, and it isn't there completely. But that's what makes it quintessentially Canadian for me, because it reflects a story of a people that have come into this country to make it their own.
100 The number of “yahoos” busted for partying in a commercial storage unit in Etobicoke against COVID-19 regulations.
1872 The year 45 Front St. W. was built. Currently home to a Winners store, the building exterior was seen in a recent episode of Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit.
DECEMBER 2020
I'm actually quite excited. Maybe I’m a sucker for punishment. But I think it’s, like, it feels really good because it’s been such a difficult year. And whether it’s a pandemic, whether it’s American elections or the world falling apart, and suddenly, there’s this film, which is based on a book called Funny Boy, by Shyam Selvadurai, which is about love. And you know, that feels like a good thing. I feel positive about that.
2,150
| POST |
Thank you for the gift of a new movie amidst a pandemic. It's fantastic. How are you feeling about releasing new work in the middle of all this?
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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Turning the page on Deer Park library Local councillor says that a condo tower is not in the cards for Yonge Street site
| POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0
by Clare Shrybman
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Toronto City Council, Executive Committee voted in favour of moving forward with consultations into redeveloping Deer Park Library. According to a report from CreateTO, the property was originally identified for proposed redevelopment back in 2009, but “the continuing interest for retaining a library on the site has posed significant challenges, which have limited the ability to intensify the site.” The action supported by the Toronto Public Library Board enables the board to enter into negotiations with CreateTO and a developer to discuss a potential turnover agreement for the property at 40 St. Clair Ave. E. If approved by council, the agreement for consultation requires development proposals to find a suitable replacement facility and new service delivery model for the library. It also requires proposed resolution of any financial and operational issues arising from the redevelopment, including the cost of relocating library staff. Lastly the agreement is subject to ongoing consultation and communication with the community, councillor and other local stakeholders. According to a project proposal from CreateTO, the plan includes the possibility of moving the current library around the corner to 1485 Yonge St.
Josh Matlow, councillor of the ward that’s home to the library, said the action does not signify there has been any approval, merely that the city is considering options. Before any further progress, Matlow said he wants the next step to be a community consultation process. “One way or another, there will continue to be a library at Yonge and St Clair,” said Matlow. Matlow said the focus of the potential redevelopment should be on “city building.”. “If there are real benefits to the community that are tangible and real, then, yes, let’s discuss, How do you pay for that? What does it look like?,” Matlow said. Matlow said he isn’t interested in strictly commercial development in the area. “If it’s simply a condo tower to make somebody some money, forget it.” CreateTO was also unable to answer what the cost of the proposed project would be but said “a financial evaluation is currently being undertaken,” and the, “goal of the project is to deliver a new, modern and expanded library branch that has a strong community presence and is integrated into a transit-oriented development at no cost to the Toronto Public Library.” The action passed the executive vote on Nov. 18 and was slated to be considered by city council on
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Planetarium development opposed experts was that the development hadn’t been looked at in the context of that corridor, that street, that cultural heritage landscape,� said Layton. “The way typically that applications of this sort are viewed is that the city will ask the applicant to bring forward a heritage study that says it’s appropriate in the context of the surrounding buildings, but in this case there was a desire on the part of city heritage experts, not city staff, but those who we appoint to be on our heritage
“It’s gotten just old enough that people are starting to say, yes we should keep that.� preservation board, to use that lens to look at the project,� he said. The delay is good news to Jeffrey Balmer, a Toronto native who now teaches architecture at the University of North Carolina. Balmer launched an online petition to save McLaughlin Planetarium that has garnered more than 12,000 signatures. The planetarium opened to the public in 1968 and was a beloved place for school field trips and Laser Floyd shows until it was closed in 1995 and sold to the University in 2009. It was
designed by Hugh Allward and George Gouinlock and features a modernist design. “Historical preservation is well understood for Victorian architecture or old architecture,� said Balmer, who hoped that the development’s architects would have been able to adaptively reuse McLaughlin even if its future as a planetarium is out of the question. “Modern architecture is a harder sell with the public and with authorities who are responsible for making decisions about what buildings we want to set aside for the future,� Balmer said. Balmer pointed to a failed effort to save the former Shell Tower at the CNE grounds, which was demolished in 1985 to facilitate the racetrack for the Molson Indy, to note the difficulty in trying to save modernist architecture. “It’s gotten just old enough that people are starting to say, yes, we should keep that, and I think the planetarium building is a magnificent example of midcentury architecture in Toronto. I think it would be a real shame if it disappears.� Layton said he is currently unaware as to when the study might be complete, but he will soon be briefed by staff on the process. “I would hope that any delay would help,� said Balmer. “I think with every passing year the value of a building like the McLaughlin building becomes more evident. We’ll see.�
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DECEMBER 2020
A decision on a zoning bylaw amendment that would pave the way for a controversial ninestorey development in the Queen’s Park area, as well as the destruction of the McLaughlin Planetarium, has been deferred pending a study of the area’s cultural heritage landscape. The University of Toronto has submitted an application to build a nine-storey institutional building at 78–90 Queen’s Park. Although Falconer Hall and the Edward Johnson building are to be retained and integrated into the development, the McLaughlin Planetarium is slated for demolition. The development is opposed by several nearby residents groups, eight of which have united to form the Queen’s Park Coalition. In a letter to councillor Mike Layton, the coalition called the proposed development disruptive and out of place. At a meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council on Oct. 15, Coun. Layton successfully moved a motion that the item be referred back to the director of community planning for Toronto and East York District, who is to report back to community council when a study of the Queen’s Park cultural heritage landscape is complete. “There are some concerns with the proposal in the context of Queen’s Park, particularly in between Bloor and College. This is a historic area of Toronto, and some concern from heritage
by David Olsen
| POST |
McLaughlin site key to U of T proposal
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NEIGHBOURHOOD
© SSTUDIO Samuel Bietenholz/Flickr Commons
NEWS
Loss of recreation source during pandemic caused concern
Beloved Annex ice rink to stay open
| POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0
Neighbourhood petition helps push back repairs to 2021 by David Olsen
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The artificial ice rink at Dufferin Grove Park is to remain open this winter after residents questioned the logic of closing the rink for renovations amidst the pandemic. The city is currently in the process of renovating and improving the northwest corner of the park. This includes replacing the rink slab and refrigeration equipment, which was originally installed in 1993. Work was to begin on the rink after last year’s skating season. After the procurement process and tender was extended due to COVID-19, construction was pushed back and was to begin this fall, with the ice rink scheduled to be reopened in November 2021. The potential loss of a source for recreation and exercise at a time when gyms, restaurants and movie theatres are closed concerned local residents, many of whom voiced their displeasure in a neighbourhood Facebook group. “Covid 19 could make this a bleak winter. Where will people exercise and socialize? There is no good reason to decommission skating rinks that would allow for free, unstructured, accessible outdoor recreation, exercise and social interaction,” wrote one member. “The health and happiness of thousands in the community would be impacted.” A subsequent online petition to keep the rink open for the 2020/2021 skating season garnered over 1,000 signatures.
In a post on her Facebook page, city councillor Ana Bailao said after hearing the community’s concerns, she asked the staff of City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry & Recreation Division to utilize a third-party engineering firm to conduct an assessment to look at the usability and safety of the rink. In a letter to Bailao, dated Oct. 28, the general manager, parks, forestry & recreation, Janie Romoff, said that a technical assessment report on the existing refrigeration system determined it can be operated for one more skating season. Romoff ’s letter notes that the assessment identified a risk of the refrigeration system failing due to its age, which would render it inoperable for the remainder of the season. If this occurs, the parks department will be ready to provide a natural ice rink, if weather conditions permit it. “Our goal is to ensure the community will enjoy skating this season, when the need to access outdoor public spaces is greater than ever, during the COVID-19 pandemic,” writes Romoff. Construction is expected to start following the 2021 skating season. The goal is to complete the project in summer 2022. “We will work with the community to create a natural ice rink for winter 2022 while the renovation continues at the northwest corner of the park,” the letter from Romoff states.
NEIGHBOURHOOD
NEWS
Dr. Shin is North York General Hospital's chief of medicine and medical director of clinical care
Chief of medicine on the second wave NYGH’s Dr. Phil Shin on COVID vaccines & what’s next by Ron Johnson
How is the second wave compared to last spring?
You know, I think, at the present time, the total numbers of patients is less than the first wave for a number of reasons. I think the difference this time around is that the hospital has taken a lot of effort to try to maintain nonCOVID services to patients who really need them. So surgeries and procedures and clinics were cancelled in the first wave. And we've been prioritizing, keeping them open and maintaining them to provide care. And I think that there has certainly been a strain on mental health services due to the adverse effects of social isolation. And I think that’s become magnified over time. And I think we are, as a result, kind of seeing significant strain, even with lower total numbers of COVID patients in our hospital and in the ICU because of the higher numbers of non-COVID patients. How close are you to pushing back elective surgeries?
What have we learned from the first wave in terms of treating the virus?
I think the lessons learned from the first wave is that sticking to the basics is really important. In fact, the impact of new drugs and therapies has been relatively small. Some treatments like steroids have been shown to improve survival in hospital and ICU patients. But many of the studies on antiviral drugs, like hydroxychloroquine or remdesivir, have been disappointing thus far and are not showing clear evidence of benefit. There are other studies that are ongoing related to treatments like convalescent plasma where we don’t have final results yet. And so when I talk about sticking with basics, we really need to treat these patients like any hospitalized or any critically ill patient and focus on best practices for providing mechanical ventilation, nutrition,
physiotherapy and optimizing the types of sedation that they’re getting, for example, to really optimize their chance of having a good outcome. What are your thoughts on the vaccine news from both Pfizer and Moderna?
I think the promising aspects of the vaccine information that we’ve had recently is that the Pfizer, both the Pfizer and the maternal vaccine [for pregnant women] have demonstrated effectiveness. I think they were over 90 per cent effective in the human studies that had been done at this point. The other important piece, the initial safety data, appears to be very reassuring. And in addition, there are reports that they may be available for administration to the public by the new year. And so those things are all very positive. When do you see the vaccine rolling out?
According to what I’ve read, I think the expected time frame would be spring 2021. There may be some available before that, but in terms of being able to organize all the logistical challenges that I mentioned about distribution and storage plus then developing a clear framework of how to fairly distribute it both among different countries but also within countries to various patients, to various groups is going to take some time. So that would be the timeframe that I have in mind.
DECEMBER 2020
The COVID numbers at our hospital have been increasing slowly over the last number of weeks. The non-COVID hospital volumes have been very high. So our in-patient units and emergency departments are near or at full occupancy, which is not unusual for this time. And so the thought of having additional COVID patients certainly increases, I think, our anxiety.
I would say that there are no immediate plans right now. We’ve tried to work with the region and the province to be aware of certain numbers and volumes in total that might necessitate ramping down of services. So there is a ramp down strategy. At the same time, I think a lot of local factors come into play, when hospitals have outbreaks or local increases in volumes, that can be a lot more influential in determining whether our hospital is going to be able to maintain all of our services or not as opposed to total provincial numbers.
| POST |
How is the situation at North York General?
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FEATURE
Residents and local councillor already questioning height of incoming tall towers in rapidly changing Toronto neighbourhood by Eric Stober An application for a new 13storey condo development has recently been submitted to the City of Toronto on a historic site in Rosedale, but some are concerned its height might be too much and could usher in major change in a part of the city that is not yet home to tall towers. The proposal for 1140 Yonge St. at Marlborough Avenue, between Summerhill and Rosedale subway stations, will take the place of a Staples Business Depot outlet. The area is north of newly refurbished Ramsden Park and across from a new cannabis retailer Superette. The neighbourhood is changing. There was another large-scale condo development proposed across from the Summerhill LCBO that residents also battled. It is awaiting final approval from the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. In 2017, Diamond Corp and Tricon Capital Group applied and then revised a development plan for a 21-storey, mixed-use building with 141 units at 5 Scrivener Sq. The site is currently
home to two four-storey office buildings. So it appears change is coming to the area, and it is coming fast. With a 21-storey tower set for approval, it could be that it has already set a precedent for the area. The 1140 Yonge St. site was acquired by developer Devron Developments in late 2018. The property dates back to 1930, when it was a grand showroom for luxury Pierce-Arrow cars displayed in iconic arched windows, the vestiges of which still remain. Since then, the building has been used as a records and phonographs repair shop and as a studio space for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1954 to 1991. The proposed development is also kitty-corner to Rosedale’s iconic Five Thieves, an upscale cluster of gourmet food purveyors such as Harvest Wagon and Pisces Gourmet Seafood Specialty Shop. The proposed condo will consist of 66 units, split between 11 one-bedrooms, 43 twobedrooms and 12 three-bedrooms.
There will also be three townhouses on the ground floor and over 1,300 square meters of retail space, with plans to include a restaurant. The building’s design pays homage to its history, restoring the classic stone arches and original cornice line. However, residents and local councillor Mike Layton have
building compares to the lower mid-rises surrounding it. When it comes to 1140 Yonge, Layton said the developers have asked for too much height and density, to the point that it doesn’t allow smooth transitions, which goes against city planning guidelines. “The developer has asked for more than we recently have identified as being maximum for
“We think this building is about twice as tall as it should be. It sets a dangerous precedent for the neighbourhood.” expressed concern that the 13 storeys proposed is too tall for the location. The building stands higher than most other buildings in the neighbourhood, apart from the other proposed development, the James at Scrivener Square, which will be 21 storeys. Layton said the main concern has to do with “transitions,” meaning how the height of the
the site,” he said. The downtown official secondary plan identified this site as being appropriate for a mid-rise, according to Layton. Layton noted that the height would tower over nearby properties, creating a “dramatic change to the character of the properties.” Gradual transitions are meant to limit the impact on surrounding properties, so one doesn’t “dominate” over the other,
DECEMBER 2020
A 13-storey condo has been proposed on a historic site in Rosedale across from the Five Thieves
Layton said. He hopes that the height will be lowered by the developer to allow better transitions, but said the city is “prepared to fail” in that battle. Ian Carmichael, the copresident of ABC Residents Association, is also not happy with the height. “We think this building is about twice as tall as it should be,” he said. “It sets a dangerous precedent for the neighbourhood.” Carmichael said developers usually just point to what has already been approved as justification for their own plans. “Once you shove a giant building into a small site, all of the problems are magnified,” he said, listing shadows, overlook, traffic and parking as potential issues. “All of those things start to spill out and have a negative effect on the neighbourhood.” He predicts that unless changes are made, Toronto City Council will reject the proposal. Already city staff have identified the lack of “appropriate transitions” in their preliminary report. However, Carmichael said the developer has not been receptive to concerns. Instead, he said the process has been similar to the repeating time loop in the film Groundhog Day, where the developer returns after a month with the “exact same drawings.” “He’s been very slow to adjust his plans to our concerns,” Carmichael said. “There’s been some movement, but it’s been incremental.” Carmichael noted that although the building is technically 13storeys because it is a luxury condo and the units are taller it stands at a total height of 57 metres, which is comparable to other 18- to 20storey buildings. Devron president Pouyan Safapour said he understands the residents’ and Layton’s concerns and that Devron has spent the last year and a half having conversations with involved parties and will continue to speak with them to find an “intersection” amid the different viewpoints. He said possible solutions could include altering the design to make it look less tall, such as with stepping in terracing, but admitted he doesn’t have a “concrete answer” yet as they are about halfway in the process. “We want to create a building that people want in the neighbourhood,” he said. A virtual public consultation was scheduled to take place last month for residents to voice any concerns. 11 | POST |
Rendering of proposed development (grey 13-storey building) at 1140 Yonge St.
NEWS
NEWS
NEIGHBOURHOOD BUSINESS
Two new kids’ centres open in time for winter break Plus a Yorkville restaurateur opens a new spot in Harbord village Code Ninjas (1386 Bayview Ave., Unit 4) just
Y NOT ITALIAN (538 Manning Ave.), at the corner
opened in Leaside and helps kids develop the skills and confidence to become innovators and inventors through computer coding. Seeing a need for education in the technological space, Code Ninjas provides opportunities for children ages seven to 14 to learn how to code in a fun, safe and social learning environment where gaming is celebrated and critical thinking and problem-solving skills are developed.
of Harbord Street and Manning Avenue, is the most recent addition to Harbord village’s dining scene and the newest venture for Peter Catarino, owner of popular restaurant EVOO, which used to call Yorkville home. This hidden neighbourhood gem offers a rich menu of traditional Italian dishes and regional wines.
Nestled in beautiful Lytton Park, the Ivy (2495 Yonge St.) offers children ages four to 14 an enriching camp experience. The Ivy has daily on-site swim instruction as well as sports and arts programs for kids. The camp experience focuses on experiential activities and fosters all key areas of a child’s development. Maison Busatti (136 Avenue Rd.) is a newly opened
| POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0
Maison Busatti offers exclusive top-notch table linens
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shop in Yorkville featuring top-notch table linens, which will be available to the public for the first time exclusively through their boutique. The linens at Maison Busatti can be custom ordered via email, phone or in a personal shopping appointment via Zoom until in-person shopping is once again allowed in Toronto. All linens are customized inhouse and can be monogrammed for the ultimate personalized luxury gift.
The luxury German sports and fashion label Bogner (131 Bloor St. W.) has opened its first retail location in Canada on Bloor Street. While in-person shopping is prohibited, the shop is directing customers to its new e-commerce site BognerCanada.com which just launched in early November. The apparel dubbed “athluxury” is a mix of chic, sporty, timeless and technical apparel that will take you from the slopes to the street. The line was founded in 1932 and features both a men’s and women’s collection. Izibele (1124 College St.) is a new boutique in the
Annex offering handmade contemporary homewares, baby and toddler wares, art, design and natural body care from South Africa and beyond. The shop carries all kinds of goodies from beautiful ceramics to handwoven decor. An online shop is set to launch soon.
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CRIME BRIEFS
is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a man after an assault in north Forest Hill. On Nov. 8, officers responded to a call of an assault in the area of Ridelle Avenue and Newgate Road. It is alleged a male suspect approached a female victim in the area, assaulted her and then fled the area on foot heading south. Police have released images of the suspect. Toronto Police Service
Police would like to make the public aware of a series of vehicle thefts in the area of Lawrence Avenue West and Bathurst Street. Toronto Police Service says it has noticed
an increase of thefts of SUVs in the area since Jan. 1, 2020, specifically the theft of Land Rovers from the driveways of homes in the area. Investigators believe suspects may have access to electronic devices that can compromise an SUV’s security system, and they are urging the public to be vigilant, and using a locked garage or anti-theft device is recommended. Police officers have arrested a male
suspect in relation to a home invasion robbery in the area of Dupont Street and Davenport Road. It is alleged that, on Oct. 28, a male suspect knocked on the door of a sex trade worker, and when she opened the door, he forced his way inside and demanded cash while holding a knife. The suspect took a quantity of cash and fled the area on foot. Toronto Police Service, Hold Up Squad investigators determined the suspect’s identity, and on Nov. 5, arrested a 45-year-old suspect from Toronto and charged him with break and enter and robbery with an offensive weapon.
DECEMBER 2020
to be vigilant when using transport that results in debit or credit card transactions, to not leave their card unattended inside a point of sale terminal at any time, to not make credit or debit card payments for an unknown person for cash and to inspect their card after each transaction. Anyone with any information or who believes they have been a victim of a taxi scam is urged to contact police.
| POST |
Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of an ongoing investigation into a scam involving a fake taxi and passenger. Police report that, as part of the scam, a fake taxi is parked in a high-traffic area, with one suspect posing as the taxi driver and another posing as a customer. The two suspects pretend to have a loud argument where the driver refuses to take cash due to COVID-19. The scam relies on members of the public overhearing the conversation and offering to help by letting the suspect use their debit card to pay the fare in exchange for cash. The victims then put their card and PIN number into a modified point of sale terminal, which records the card data and PIN number. After the transaction is successful, victims are given another bank card that resembles their own and accept cash from the fake customer before leaving, with the suspects now in possession of victims’ actual debit card and PIN number, which they later use to make purchases or cash withdrawals. Police are reminding the public
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| POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0
THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO SOLICIT BUYERS OR SELLERS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACTWITH A BROKERAGE.
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SUMMERHILL 84 WALKER Fabulous 4 bdrm turnkey with garage and deep sunny garden. Gracious interior spaces with walk out to garden and two levels of decks. Steps to best schools.
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REAL ESTATE
SUMMERHILL
NEWS
ST. ANDREWS
A DESIGNER SEMI-DETACHED IN SUMMERHILL
This elegant semi at 46 Shaftesbury Ave. is currently being developed and will be completed in 2021. The three-storey listing shows three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, and it is on offer for $4.188 mil with Milborne Real Estate Inc.
A GRAND AND GEOMETRIC BUILD IN ST. ANDREWS
This two-storey home at 12 Green Gates Crt. in North York was built in 2018. It features 6,000 square feet of living space, four bedrooms and five bathrooms and is listed for $4.1 million with Property.ca Inc.
FOUR VERY MERRY MODERN HOMES Dream a little this holiday season by imagining yourself in one of these beautiful properties on offer currently from Trinity Bellwoods to Thornhill and everything in between
A MODERN GEM IN TRINITY BELLWOODS
A COUNTRY CLUB ESTATE IN THORNHILL
This mansion at 42 Riverside Blvd. is located in one of Thornhill’s sought-after areas backing onto the Uplands Golf Course and Thornhill Country Club. It is on offer for $6.88 mil with HomeLife Frontier Realty Inc.
This boxy two-storey detached home at 270 Euclid Ave. features a sleek interior with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a recreation room and a fully decked backyard. It is on offer for $2.299 million with Royal LePage Terrequity Bespoke Realty.
DECEMBER 2020
TRINITY BELLWOODS
| POST |
THORNHILL
15
NEWS
REAL ESTATE
Scott McGillivray on post-COVID market A Q & A with the insightful podcaster and real estate influencer Scott McGillivray’s podcast Real Estate Rebel kicked off its second season last month with new episodes every Tuesday until Dec. 29. With one of the wildest real estate markets the country has ever seen still unfolding, we checked in with the HGTV star in the hopes that his two decades of experience will help us make sense of it all. How do you navigate this one-of-a-kind market from an investment standpoint?
The best advice I can give is to not chase the trends. For years I’ve been telling young people to invest in the suburbs. If you did, great, the value of your property probably just went up. Now that everyone is doing it, it’s time to take a look at what’s becoming available in the cities. If you can withstand a few years of uncertainty while we all collectively adjust, you’ll probably see the value go back up. Do you see the trend of fleeing the centre of the city continuing or will it adjust?
Obviously I don’t have a crystal ball, but I can make a few educated guesses, and I believe that ultimately the cities will rebound. It’s just a matter of how long it will take. It could be two years, five years or 10 years, but the cities will thrive again. Right now nobody is keen to get in a condo elevator or be in any other small, shared space, so
the suburbs are very appealing. I expect that to last for a little while yet. Where do you see the real estate market going in 2021?
As government subsidies run out, the reality of the numbers — whether it be unemployment rate, debt-to-household ratio or the amount of taxes people owe on income that they no longer have — will hit. At that point I expect we’ll start to see more inventory and more volatility in the markets. And typically, what you see in that type of situation is a drop and then a quick bounce back as people take advantage of some of those opportunities. What keeps you excited about the real estate industry?
There’s always something new and different happening. New properties, new opportunities. No two deals are ever the same, and every time I have a new experience and learn something different. It’s also a unique type of investing because literally anyone can do it. Even if you don’t have a penny to your name you can still do it. As long as you have the knowledge and the ambition, you can find people to invest with you. I love the hustle that’s involved with investing, and I admire people who do it.
FALL LIGHTING SALE Scott McGillivray has hosted numerous shows on HGTV
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Sun. 11:30 am - 5 pm, Mon. - Sat. 9:30 am - 5 pm . To book an appointment please call 416.782.1129
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REAL ESTATE
NEWS
A record 23,000 condo units hit the market this year
As some exit the downtown condo market, a big bounce back is predicted them, but Takhar estimates they consist of about 200 of the 1,969 active condo listings right now or 10 per cent. “The sellers might have bought the property on speculation, thinking values would continue to increase, but then the pandemic hit,” Takhar says. “Their confidence [in the market] is very low.” Adding to the dilemma is the sharp drop in rental prices for downtown condos to the tune of approximately 20 per cent,
“They’re not longterm investors. They’re making a short-term decision.” according to Takhar, due to an increase in supply as some residents have made the move out of the downtown core altogether. With this bleak outlook and perhaps not being able to close on the property due to tight funds and a dismal rental market, buyers are turning to assignment sales. However, those short-selling units are ill-advised, Takhar says. “Real estate is not a get-richquick scheme,” he says. “The way you create wealth in real estate is long-term, by holding on to it.” He is optimistic that demand for Toronto’s real estate will bounce back next year as Canada will likely open immigration again. He notes that over the last 40
years real estate values have gone up about 7.5 per cent in the GTA, and although there are blips of downturns along the way, the trend is still upwards. “You just have to have the fortitude to hold onto real estate,” he says. “Over the long period of time, the trajectory is upwards.” Another real estate agent, John Pasalis, agrees with Takhar that selling early is not the way to go and that, for the most part, it isn’t happening. “Generally you don’t want to overreact to these trends,” Pasalis says. “The majority of investors are holding on to their units. They’re sitting tight right now.” Although prices are “softening,” and some are selling for less than they would have three to four months ago, prices are still higher than they were at the same time last year. This has allowed even those off-loading to still make a profit. As for buying, Takhar thinks there is a six-month window in which buyers should take advantage of the lower prices, greater supply as well as lowinterest rates to get into the market before demand comes back up and prices go up. Takhar is optimistic about the future of the market and doesn’t think buyers should worry about losing money in the long run. “Once immigration opens up again, we’re going to be back into what we have been experiencing for a decade, which is a housing crisis,” he says.
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DECEMBER 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it has begun to impact the real estate market in a negative way, or at least one part of it — condos in downtown Toronto. The downward trend in this sector of the market has led some to sell their condos in a hurry — and in some cases before the building has even been constructed. Jas Takhar, the co-founder of real estate agency REC Canada, says that some are “definitely” offloading their condos as the market heads into an uncertain future. “I think there are people who are fearful right now,” he says. “They’re not long-term investors. They’re making a short-term decision.” Takhar says a mixture of increased supply, including a record 23,000 new units hitting the market this year, according to Urbanation, and low demand has resulted in a flatlining of condo prices compared to the same time last year. By comparison, most other sectors — especially detached homes — are showing double-digit price growth. This has led to a high number of assignment sales, meaning a condo unit bought pre-construction is sold before construction is complete and the deal is registered. Investors buy these units with the assumption of plenty of price growth as well as healthy rental prices, neither of which is happening right now. Assignment sales are not listed on the Toronto MLS, and the building developer must approve
by Eric Stober
| POST |
Expert suggests not acting out of fear
COR
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Paul calls midtown home
Annamie Paul
The Leader
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Annamie Paul is a Princeton-educated lawyer and the leader of the Green Party of Canada — Canada’s first Black federal party leader. Annamie Paul has inspired women and girls across Canada this year — including me. As Canada’s first Black federal leader and the first Jewish woman to lead a federal party, her leadership and dedication serve as an example to all Canadians. Like me, Annamie is a lawyer who decided to use her legal training in a different but complementary way to mine, working on the front lines of the climate movement in the EU and internationally at the By Hon. International Criminal Jody Court. I feel a strong sense Wilsonof self from Annamie and Raybould have an appreciation of the MP FOR importance she places on VANCOUVER family and our interconGRANVILLE nectedness as a society. She is a mother of two, and I know I join many Canadians in seeing how she and how we need to see our country’s top political issues through a generational lens: in essence, what we do now will have a direct impact on our children and those generations to come. Annamie Paul is an activist and advocate who, in her passionate approach to politics, has already been inspiring and lifting up communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast. I look forward to watching what she will do in 2021. I trust her candour, non-partisan approach and thoughtfulness will continue to pave her way. I look forward to working with her as we all continue to work toward our common goal of ultimately improving the qual18 ity of lives for Canadians.
Tracy Moore
The Television Host
I met Tracy shortly after I moved here from the Caribbean. Being new here without a network, it was inspiring to meet a woman who looked like me who went on to host a national daytime show. This level of visibility and acknowledgement of her expertise inspired me and other Black women immensely. Working with Tracy on Cityline is like working with your fairy godmother who also happens to be your friend, who is also silly and fun — I feel incredibly lucky to have that privilege. In the Caribbean, we often use the saying, “What you see is what you get.” That is our way of defining authenticity, and that is Tracy. She embraces all of who she is and is not afraid to share her By Karlyn Percil stumbles and the obstacles CITYLINE LIFESTYLE in her path. By being brave enough to be herself, she has EXPERT given every woman — especially Black women — a huge permission slip to do the same in their own perfectly imperfect way. She is a humble hero who quietly changes the world simply by being who she is. She’s aware of her privilege and trades it every day to lift others as she climbs. She will cheer you on from the sidelines and get in the trenches with you to wipe your tears or cry with you. Then she’ll yell at you to get back up — because she believes in you enough to know that you can. She is a warrior who will fight for what is right, who will trade vulnerability and her emotional discomfort for impactful and lasting change. Her commitment to leave this world much better than she found it inspires us all to do the same. She’s a trailblazer, and this world is a better place because of her.
© Cityline, Rogers Sports & Media
© Rebecca Wood
Inspirational
Moore grew up in Richmond Hill
Marci Ien
The Politician
Ien is the MP for Toronto Centre
Like so many people across Canada, I felt like I knew Marci Ien even before I met her. After all, she had been captivating audiences for decades — first as a bright-eyed young girl on the series Circle Square and then as a news anchor on Canada AM. When she began co-hosting CTV’s The Social, one of the things that immediately captivated me was her ability to focus on others. No matter how busy she was or what was going on in her life, she was always able to make those around her feel as though she had all the time in the world for them. Her focused presence was extended to everyone, from the producers to the security guards to the studio audience and even as far as a group of students at Dene High School in La Loche, By Cynthia Loyst Saskatchewan. Under the CO-HOST, CTV’S critical and often vicious THE SOCIAL public eye (and with the added pressure of being often the first and the only) Marci never became bitter or disenchanted. Instead, she saw everything as an opportunity: to challenge, to enlighten and to uplift. Although many assume that strength is shown through the loudest and most combative, Marci’s calm and quiet strength in the midst of what could often be overwhelming vitriol has always been a reminder of the incredible power of kindness. Marci is a woman who cares deeply. She feels the fear and makes the leap anyway. She shows us that at any age we can make bold life transitions in our relationships, in our careers, in our attitudes and that those transitions are meant to be woven into the rich tapestry of our lives. Canada is lucky to have Marci Ien.
TORONTO’S 12 MOST INSPIRING WOMEN For our annual showcase of the city’s most inspirational women, we are highlighting the outstanding achievements and barrier-breaking accomplishments of Black women in Toronto.
Sasha Exeter
© CNW Group Indigo Books Music Inc.
The Influencer
Mighty won the Polaris Prize in 2019
Oriuwa attended U of T
Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa
Exeter is also an entrepreneur
Haviah Mighty
The Musician
Many moons ago, I met Haviah Mighty at a charity event. She is one of the most beautiful, kind-hearted and down-to-earth womxn I have ever met. She is unabashed in voicing her opinion on political issues regarding race and the mistreatment of artists in the music business, and she would literally put her entire family on a pedestal with her if she could. With a last name like Mighty, Haviah lives up to her name and more. It’s no secret that Black womxn can literally do everything. Haviah is an incredible rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, makeup artist, amongst many other talents I’m sure are hiding under her belt. She spits bars as fast and as precise as By TiKA Simone any male counterpart, pubMUSICIAN licly addresses issues regarding colourism and still manages to bring her community together. I wasn’t surprised when she won the Polaris Prize and that she was the first Black womxn to make it happen. I felt that it was her birthright, considering how loudly she advocated for herself, her family, her Blackness and her community. It was a loud indication of the shift that desperately needed to happen during a very loud Toronto renaissance. So much still needs to shift in terms of Black womxn being at the forefront in Toronto, but with the existence of artists like Haviah, I have high hopes for a better future. She matters so much, and I’m elated to give the queen her flowers — yesterday, today and tomorrow.
We ask many things of doctors. Not only do we expect them to be scholars and scientists, but also to mindfully serve the public interest. Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa’s passionate advocacy and committed humanitarian work do exactly this. When Dr. Oriuwa began her medical studies at U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine in 2016, she was the only Black student in her class. She has spoken about the challenges and stresses this caused her. But rather than be daunted by this, she was determined to help address the chronic under-representation of By Black communities in the Trevor medical profession. Dr. OriYoung uwa used her skills, which inDEAN, clude persuasive leadership, FACULTY OF to help us launch the Black MEDICINE, Student Application ProU of T gram. This year, more than 20 Black students entered the first year of our MD program. When Dr. Oriuwa graduated this spring — with both a medical degree and a master’s degree in health system leadership and innovation — she was elected valedictorian by her classmates. Dr. Oriuwa has ceaseless energy and a gift for poetry. She is involved in many organizations, including the editorial board of Healthy Debate and Indigo’s board of directors, in addition to continuing her training in psychiatry. Dr. Oriuwa brings creativity, compassion and insights to her roles, as well as a commitment to diversity and inclusion. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
DECEMBER 2020
The Doctor
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© Noam Galai - Getty Images
© Yung Yemi
Having been friends with Sasha for over 20 years, I can unequivocally state, “What you see is what you get.” And if I was pressed to sum Sasha up in one word, it would be “genuine.” Always a “we” person, Sasha’s approach, both on and off the camera, is always focused on the collective as opposed to the individual. Her willingness to open her personal world up to everyone is merely a reflection of that. When Sasha speaks, her words resonate in a way few others can. They wake you up, inspire you and open your eyes to things you might otherwise dismiss. In short, when Sasha speaks, By Carly Burnett people listen. FOUNDER, TKEES Sasha is willing to put herself out there without fear of criticism. Sasha’s opinion matters and her friends, family and community have all taken notice. Undaunted by the challenges of being a single, working mother, Sasha meets us all, without fail, every day and inspires us to share our point of view, work harder and to take care of ourselves so we can take care of those around us. I thanked Sasha the other day for something she did, only for her to reply, “We’re in this together.” In that moment it struck me — online or offline with Sasha — we’re all in this together, experiencing things together, with her as our guide.
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TORONTO’S MOST INSPIRING WOMEN OF 2020
Ginella Massa
Danford’s show is called ‘Auntie Jillian’
Jillian Danford
The Reality Star
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When I was around 16 years old, I got the word that my mom wanted to start a YouTube channel about our family. As you can imagine, being in the midst of my teenage life, I had no idea why my mom — who was much older than me — wanted to be a part of what seemed to be a young online media source. I wondered if that would be a good idea for her, especially considering the technology required to start the channel. I mean — did she even know how to use a camera? Editing applications? The simple answer is no, she didn’t. But what surprised me was how quickly she learned. Regardless of how unsure I was about the idea, I could clearly see that By this was something she reMilan ally wanted to do. So we, as Danford a family, got on board. That’s DAUGHTER when the real surprises happened. Shortly after creating the channel, she hit 100,000 subscribers, and that’s when I thought, maybe she’s onto something here. And of course, my mom didn’t stop there. One day she came home and pitched us another big idea — this time it was a reality TV show about our family. Of course, I thought, who would want to watch us on TV? But of course, my mom was onto something yet again. Two years later, we started filming for Bell Fibe’s on-demand channel as the first Black family to have their own reality show in Canada. This is all because of my remarkable mother, Jillian Danford. She has inspired thousands, along with myself, to never think an idea is too far out of reach because, if you really want to make it happen, nothing — and I mean nothing — can stop you.
The inspiration continues
With so many incredible women to feature, here’s a 20 few more we had to mention
Ginella Massa not only tells the headlines but makes the headlines as well. She is Canada’s first hijab-wearing TV news personality. In an industry where you are judged for your appearance, Ginella never let the fact that no one looked like her stop her from pursuing her dream. She made it happen and has become a role model for other little girls in hijab. They now know they too can be whatever they want to be with determination. She started off as a video journalist in Kitchener. Barely over five feet, she was lugging around a 30pound camera plus a tripod, all over the city — interviewing people and putting together stories. Her hard work paid off, as she soon landed a job in Toronto on CityNews — grabBy Maleeha Sheikh bing worldwide attenCITYNEWS REPORTER tion once she anchored her very first newscast in 2016. From local TV to national, Ginella Massa will now have her very own show on the CBC News Network as a prime-time host. Her goal has always been to include diverse voices in her storytelling. Both behind the scenes and on-air, she is often the only one who looks like her in whichever newsroom she works in. She tries to bring in her unique perspective by including different races, religions and people’s voices, which may not otherwise be heard. Yes, Ginella Massa is a Black woman who has broken many barriers, but first and foremost, she is an incredible journalist, a critical thinker, asks the tough questions and cares about every single story that makes it to air. We need her smart voice and perspective at a time when diversity and inclusion are more important than ever.
© David Misener
The Broadcaster
Massa’s new CBC show will air in January 2021
Suzanne Barr
The Chef
Barr is a star on ‘Wall of Chefs’
Idil Abdillahi
Not only is Idil Abdillahi a co-founder of the Black Legal Action Centre and an assistant professor in Ryerson University’s School of Disability Studies, she is also taking on the new role of advisor to the dean on anti-Black racism at Ryerson.
Suzanne and I were both in The Heat, a Netflix documentary that delves into sexism in restaurants and profiles women who are succeeding in spite of the chef-bro culture that works to uphold the patriarchy every single day. The work I’ve watched her do boggles the mind. To give you an idea — the job of a chef/owner is already two full-time gigs in one. To also be an advocate, mentor and human rights activist on top of that, while putting together new menus that change with the seasons and keeping customers happy, is literally impossible. When the pandemic hit and she lost her brand new restaurant — an homage to the original diner sit-ins staged across the South that launched the civil rights By Ivy Knight movement — she had no JOURNALIST idea what a blessing that would be or that a new civil rights movement was about to galvanize the world, and her story of loss by her white business partners leaving her high and dry would prove to be inspiration for a whole new chapter. Suzanne has grown up to be this country’s most recognized Black chef. A star on Wall of Chefs and the author of the soon to be published Homecoming, we need her message right now, far more than her menus. She believes in a brave new world: where cooks and servers are valued and paid a living wage, where everyone is treated with respect and where issues of harassment, racism and mental health are talked about openly. Free of the kitchen, she’s able to tell it like it is, and her former customers turned fans are here for it.
Julie Crooks
Julie Crooks was recently named the curator of the newly created Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora Department at the AGO. Crooks has been integral in bringing works by Black artists into the art gallery’s collection.
Kia Nurse
Kia Nurse has become a household name in Canadian basketball. She made Team Canada at age 16, won two NCAA championships by age 20 and is currently a point guard for the New York Liberty in the WNBA where she’s broken franchise records.
TORONTO’S MOST INSPIRING WOMEN OF 2020
Eternity Martis
The Author
When I first received the proofs of Eternity Martis’s book last year, I excitedly tore open the envelope. I couldn’t wait to read her memoir, They Said This Would be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up. But what stopped me in my tracks, even before I read the manuscript, was the handwritten card inside. Eternity had taken the time to write me a kind and heartfelt note, and this gesture would exemplify everything I would come to know about her as a colleague and friend. Years before we met, I had heard of Eternity’s work through her pieces at Xtra where she was a senior editor. Her talents as a journalist are unparalleled. She had won several awards, including a gold medal for By Minelle Mahtani her work on anti-Black racism from the Canadian ASSOCIATE Online Publishing Awards, PROFESSOR, UBC as well as awards from the Association for LGBTQ Journalists, and has been a finalist for a National Magazine Award. Eternity marries a commitment to telling compelling stories with precision along with her unwavering dedication to social justice. She embodies the generosity of spirit at every turn and offers all of us this generosity with her important and gripping memoir. I firmly believe it should be required reading for all those who are preparing to head to a Canadian university — and to those who head them up. She also made significant contributions as a producer at CBC’s Metro Morning, and did I mention she is an extraordinary university professor in journalism as well? Simply put, she is a star and rightly so.
Nolan is also a singer-songwriter
Faith Nolan
The Activist
© Noam Galai - Getty Images
The Sportscaster
Grey is currently a co-host on CTV’s ‘The Social’
Muluba Habanyama After the massage therapist who sexually assaulted her was found guilty and sentenced to 13 months in jail, Muluba Habanyama requested the judge lift the publication ban on her name so she could take back control of her story.
Kayla Grey is an amazing mother, a talented journalist and a dear friend, but the one word I most often use to describe her is “inspiration.” Kayla has been a positive force and a role model since she began her career in broadcasting by moving to western Canada to work in places where she was always the only Black woman in her newsroom. There is immense pressure that comes with being the “only,” including the responsibility to be a positive representation for women who are like her and the pressure to break stereotypes. In the face of that pressure, Kayla has continued to shatter the glass ceiling. She has cemented herself in the history books at TSN By Brandon Gonez as the first Black woman to REPORTER, CP24 anchor a national sports show in Canada. That is no easy accomplishment. But for Kayla, breaking new ground is her destiny. Even when she was a child, Kayla was never one to fall in line. Instead, she created the line. Despite facing many challenges in her past, Kayla never allowed them to define her. Rather, she used those challenges as motivation to aim higher. Part of that drive means using her platform to speak truth to power. This is at the core of who Kayla is. It’s why her voice resonates not just in the sports world, but far beyond. That’s what makes Kayla Grey so inspiring. Because not only can Black women see themselves in her, but all women can as well.
Ika Wong
Former Big Brother Canada star Ika Wong left her role as a correspondent for ET Canada. This after it refused to cover anti-Black racism. She also shared her story after learning the network underpaid her for her reality segments for three years.
Nana aba Duncan
CBC Radio’s Nana aba Duncan is the host of Fresh Air, a weekend morning program. She also started the Media Girlfriends network and podcast to support and amplify the perspectives of diverse women who work in Toronto’s media industry.
Aurora James
Brother Vellies designer Aurora James created the 15 Percent Pledge, an initiative calling on retailers to dedicate 15 per cent of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses. She also graced the cover of Vogue’s September issue.
DECEMBER 2020
Kayla Grey
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Martis is UBC’s inaugural journalist-in-residence
If you sit quietly and listen to Faith Nolan sing, you will hear a kind and weathered voice. If you listen closer, you will hear the many miles travelled and the life experience that came with every step. It’s not a voice of reconciling with what is and acceptance for less than. It is a voice that speaks to you in the best way with suggestive undercurrents of possibilities for what can be. Faith has been rooted in the idea of possibilities for most of her career. The idea of possibilities is the idea that you can influence change in a situation By or experience through makDalannah ing a statement, subtle inGailfluences or in your face Bowen action with protests. Her MUSICIAN power is that she knows when to do what. It does come with the understanding that this is going to be part of life for the duration…. You can’t care about the human condition some of the time and then just shut it off … at least Faith cannot. Finding the ways and means to support everything, from women’s prisons, Black ideologies and equality to homelessness and being actively cognizant of the many inequalities in the world, is both a passion and a mission for Faith. Her many self-mobilized initiatives are a testament. In thinking of music as a vehicle/tool for communication and change, we are most fortunate that Faith Nolan is one of our artistic leaders as “an ambassador for change.”
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T.O.’S BEST HOLIDAY GIFTS
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
JEWELLERY
Van Rijk
Diamond studs are a timeless expression of love and beauty, and are the perfect gift to show that special someone that you care. Available in many sizes and price ranges, diamond stud earrings are the perfect accessory that will go with everything. Diamond Stud Earrings. Price available on request. 90 Eglinton Ave. E. 416 440 0123 vanrijk.com
HOME FOOD
Izibele
Izibele is a delightful little shop that fairtrades with small makers in South Africa and locally. We specialize in slow-crafted precious objects including décor, kids toys, baby shoes and housewares: perfect for special gifts. Come see us for everyone on your holiday list. Zulu bowl: $130
The Kids’ Table
We’re here for busy families, and a week’s worth of healthy kids’ meals makes a perfect present! Go to “Send A Gift” on our website and choose the gift amount; we send an online gift card; they choose the meals, snacks and delivery date! Meals by McEwan. Sunday delivery to Toronto area. Save 15% with code POST15.
1124 College Street 416 820 1587
Email: info@thekidstable.ca - www.thekidstable.ca
JEWELLERY
Cynthia Findlay Fine Jewellery & Antiques
From our authentic Art Deco Collection... A stunning Art Deco 18kt yellow gold with silver top mill grain ring that features 1 old European cut diamond, est. 0.55ct (VS1 clarity & I-J colour); 28 French single cut diamonds, est 0.57 ct (SI-I1 clarity & I-J colour) and 14 square and straight baguette deep green emeralds, est 0.67 ct. It is currently size 7.25 (7 1/4). Product Code JRD86578. Call for details. 416 260 9057 Shop online at www.cynthiafindlay.com
FASHION
Mad-dasH FASHION
Mad-dasH - a unique, colourful collection of handmade luxurious silk shawls, tunics and kaftans all travelling light and bright. Executed ethically, in a small private studio by skilled old world artisans paying great attention to detail, thus making each an original, a work of art. We also offer the feature of transforming the priceless
Rock ‘N Karma
‘Social Distance in Style’… Shop Local with Canadian Fashion Label Rock ‘N Karma. Known for their ICONIC Miracle Fabric & the best black pants ever; So Comfortable you can live in them. Unique gift ideas – Free pop-art mask with any purchase of a mask-
art of a child into a family treasured customized scarf. Forever Loved!
chain. Shop online 24/7 at www.rocknkarma.com
416 906 2302 mad-dash.ca - @mad_dash_yorkville
789 Queen St. W. - 416 345 8389 www.rocknkarma.com - Instagram @rocknkarma
JEWELLERY
Secrett Jewel Salon
Due to the pandemic, feel free to contact us and we will be happy to discuss your needs and email you pictures from our stock. Our collection of fine jewellery ranges from the latest designs to the most classic with an amazing choice of gemstones and pearls. Season's Greeting to all our clients and friends! 18k white gold ruby and pave diamond ring. Please call for price information.
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162 Cumberland Street, Toronto 416 967 7500 - www.Secrett.ca
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DECOR FASHION
Linea Intima
Linea Intima will make you look good if you shop for yourself or for gifts: the best intimate apparel from the best brands around the world! Our mission is to “improve women’s lives on bra at a time!” Visit us online at www.lineaintima.ca for all locations and online shopping.
William Ashley
For the perfect gift, William Ashley carries the finest selection of world renowned brands. Handcrafted in Poland, the Tower Champagne Glasses by LSA International comes in a set of 10 assorted pastel hues, perfect for entertaining and keeping track of your own glass! LSA Set of 10 Assorted Colours Champagne Saucers $169.50
Sophora black set by Prima Donna bra - $162, brief - $84 416 913 7991 - www.lineaintima.ca
131 Bloor Street West - 416 964 2900 www.WilliamAshley.com
T.O.’S BEST HOLIDAY GIFTS
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Rolex • Patek • Cartier • Omega • Breitling • Audemars Piguet • IWC
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DECEMBER 2020
Sunday delivery to Toronto and area.
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T.O.’S BEST HOLIDAY GIFTS
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Cynthia Findlay
Est. 1978
Fine Jewellery & Antiques Toronto, Canada
Shop early... there is only one! SHOP OUR ONLINE STORE www.cynthiafindlay.com WE ARE ALSO WORKING BY APPOINTMENT BOOK EARLY 416 200 9057 416.260.9057
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T.O.’S BEST HOLIDAY GIFTS
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
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Luxurious Silk Shawls And Masks Unique Handmade Bracelets Happy Holiday!
DECEMBER 2020
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A stunning boutique condominium, with fifteen elegantly appointed private residences starting from 3,000 sq.ft., nestled in the prestigious South Hill neighbourhood at Russell Hill Road and Clarendon Avenue.
ARRIVING SOON F O R A P R I VAT E A P P O I N T M E N T, P L E A S E C O N TA C T 4 16 7 7 5 7 5 0 1
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7 7C L A R E N D O N . C O M
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See sales representative for details. Illustrations are artist’s concept only. E.&O.E.
FASHION
CASHMERE IS KING
JEANNE BEKER
Whether you’re treating yourself to the ultimate luxury fabric or finding the perfect gift for the holidays, cashmere is the season’s hottest trend. We asked Jeanne Beker to pick her favourite cosy yet chic pieces from across the city.
TURNED UP TOQUE
Gravitypope.com, $150, “I love the lushness of this wonderful green toque. It has a hand-knit quality to it, and it’s a beautiful shade of forest green.”
PINK PATCHWORK
AndrewsCo.com, $498, “I always appreciate whimsy, and this is adorable. I love the coloration with the blue patch heart elbows.”
CURRENTS
One of Canada’s most trusted authorities on fashion, Jeanne has covered the industry for more than 30 years. Now watch her on TSC’s Style Matters with Jeanne Beker or tune into her new podcast Beyond Style Matters.
WRAPPED IN LUXURY
SnapdragonDesigns.ca, $225, “This wrap is fantastic. It just looks like the kind of thing you would want to wrap yourself in on the couch.”
COLOURFUL CASHMERE
SportingLife.ca, $869.97, “This Pucci scarf is gorgeous. The colour-blocking is optimistic, and it’s nice and long. A great designer scarf.”
SLEEPY SOCKS
TheCashmereShop.com, $155, “I adore these bed socks. I love the stripes. They remind me of the Wicked Witch of the West. A fabulous gift.”
EYE CARE
Lemonwood.ca, $55, “It’s really pretty and feminine. A great gift or a little stocking stuffer. I think it's very romantic.”
PERFECT PAISLEY
IntermixOnline.com, $4,507.32, “This has a real artisanal feel to it with the fringes. It looks very vintage and cowgirl chic. I really love it.”
MARVELLOUS MIDI
HoltRenfrew.com, $5,190, “This midi cardigan from Akris is really luxurious. I love the modernity of it and the graphic design, and it’s reversible.”
TheBay.com, $1,850, “This is a beautiful cashmere blend. I love the idea of a cashmere skirt paired with a beautiful boot. It’s a classy piece.”
MUST HAVE MUSTARD
BlackGoatCashmere.com, $495, “The mustard colour is really on trend. It’s cosy. It’s got the little hood and a nice drawstring. It’s very chic.”
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TIMELESS TWEED
PINK PANTHER
IntermixOnline.com, $816.39, “These are like cashmere leggings. They’re pull-on, ribbed and in a beautiful colour. Very chic for home entertaining.”
DECEMBER 2020
NORDIC CHIC
SportingLife.ca, $897.94, “I love this Authier jacquard sweater. It has such a nostalgic vibe to it. It looks like those old ski sweaters from the ’40s.”
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CURRENTS
LOCAL GRADUATES
Working with the stars Simon Halls on co-founding Slate PR, one of the world’s top agencies by Jessica Padykula
REPORT CARD STUDENT:
Simon Halls GRADUATED:
North Toronto Collegiate BEST SUBJECTS:
English and History WORST SUBJECT:
Physics CURRENT JOB:
Co-Founder of Slate PR
Halls represents clients such as Ridley Scott and Ryan Murphy
Many people muse that success in entertainment comes down to two things: talent and luck. There’s also the factor of the publicist. Just ask Simon Halls, cofounder of Slate PR, one of the entertainment industry’s leading PR agencies in Los Angeles, and a graduate of North Toronto Collegiate Institute. Halls says he got a knack for PR during his high school days. “I think when you go to a high school as big as North Toronto it teaches you to get along with all kinds of people and manage in a big environment, so I think that was very helpful,” he says.
“We had clients
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that were very up and coming at the time.”
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Prior to North Toronto, Halls attended Crescent School, and after graduating high school, he completed his post-secondary education at the University of Southern California. His first big gig as a publicist came when he landed the position of public relations manager for the first McDonald’s in Moscow, Russia. Following that stint, Halls returned to L.A. and entered the world of entertainment PR because as he puts it, “If you live in L.A., it’s a one industry town, so if you want to succeed on a broad level, it seems like the best way to do that is to be part of the entertainment industry.” Halls and his partners would go on to form Huvane Baum Halls,
which became one of the top boutique agencies in Hollywood. “Forming a company with my partners was a bold thing to do, and we were very fortunate that we had clients that were very up and coming at the time, like Jennifer Aniston, Jude Law and Ang Lee. They were not famous, but it turned out they became household names. When their careers took off, ours took off,” he says. Halls and his team later merged with a larger agency before eventually splitting off again to form Slate PR where clients include Ridley Scott, Ryan Murphy, Sam Mendes, Frances McDormand and many more. As for what his day-to-day job entails, Halls says it starts with determining the most important part of an issue and how to get that out into the media. “It’s learning how to sift through information and decide what is salient and what is not that important,” he says. Although downtime might be scant with his busy career and being the father to three teen boys with his husband (actor Matt Bomer), he does try to get back to Canada whenever he can. “We spent a lot of time in Canada pre-COVID. We usually get a place in Muskoka every summer where my kids go to camp. My kids all consider themselves part Canadian,” he says. In terms of what’s currently on his roster, Halls is working on a movie that Ryan Murphy directed and produced called The Prom, with Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep, as well as Ridley Scott’s Gucci, starring Lady Gaga.
© Aubrie Pick
HOW THEY MET
CURRENTS
together, and then Ido had to go to Israel for a work trip for a week. When he came back, he proposed to me the morning he landed. The proposal
He landed around 6 a.m. and came straight to my apartment. He immediately suggested we go shopping for breakfast ingredients at my favourite grocery store, Essex Market in the lower east side. He wanted to make me shakshuka. When we got to the grocery store he asked me where in the market I do most of my shopping, and after I showed him, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was in complete shock! It was the most amazing, exciting and romantic moment of my life. The wedding and honeymoon
Grinshpan and Nivron met in New York City
From first date to fiancée in three weeks N.Y.C. chef Eden Grinshpan on meeting the love of her life and quarantining with Mom and Dad
We were married at the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City. We went on two honeymoons. The first one was to Jamaica for four days, and the second one was a year later, and we went to Thailand for two weeks. Both were magical. The offspring
We have one kid. Her name is Ayv Rose Nivron, and she is three and a half years old. Balancing work and marriage
I was visiting Israel for a couple weeks, and the last night I was there I went to a birthday party for a friend at a bar in Tel Aviv. These two girls at the bar heard me speaking English, and they started talking to me about a great guy in N.Y.C. After talking to me for a bit they thought we would be a great match, so they messaged him on their phone on Facebook. They sent him my name and he added me as a friend the day after. I flew back to New York the following day, and we met in person for our first date four days later.
We went to this small bar in the lower east side called Marshall Stacks. We both went on this date not thinking it was a date, more of a hangout, so neither one of us really looked at each other’s Facebook profile. I arrived early and already had a glass of wine before he got there. I remember seeing him for the first time. I was
Date nights are so key and so important. I know it sounds predictable, but it is true, and I am not talking about double dates or group hangs. I am talking about just you and your partner, talking, exploring and trying something new or fun together. When we can, we also love to book little weekend trips together. Shared hobbies
“When he came back, he proposed to me the morning he landed.” like, “Oh my God, he’s hot!” The second he walked in it turned into a date that I was not expecting. Ido felt the same. We talked all night and stayed until the bar closed. It was the best night. It was like hanging out with your best friend. The courtship
After that date we were inseparable. We spent two weeks
We love spending quality time as a family, going out for meals, love to cook, going on long walks and window shopping, cuddling and watching movies together, as well as dancing and just having fun and being spontaneous. We bring out the kid in each other, and I love that about our relationship.
Specialized treatment for Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Separation/Divorce Counseling, Eating Disorders, Addictions and Sleep Disorders
Secret of success
Communication, for sure. We never let anything build up and always talk. We make time for our relationship. Even just having a coffee together in the morning, lots of hugs and kisses. We also plan little adventures together, like a spontaneous afternoon of shopping and an early dinner.
For more information, please contact Dr. Randy Katz:
DECEMBER 2020
How they met
The first date
99-101 Dupont Street, Toronto, ON M5R 1V4 416 R 515 R 2649 www.theclinicondupont.com info@theclinicondupont.com 29 | POST |
Top Chef Canada host Eden Grinshpan has a new cookbook, Eating Out Loud, out just in time for the holidays. The Torontoborn chef now calls New York home, and that’s also where she met her husband Ido Nivron. The pair and their daughter are currently back in Grinshpan’s hometown staying with her parents in North York during the pandemic. Here’s the story of how they met.
CURRENTS
DAILY PLANET
Grieving the loss of caribou in Canada Almost every herd is at risk and too little is being done to save them One caribou herd in Jasper National Park is gone. The two remaining are on the brink. Regrettably, the story is not particularly new: almost every caribou herd in Canada has been assessed as being at risk of extinction, and too little is being done to save them. Last year in British Columbia, two caribou herds — the South Selkirk and South Purcell — died out. Caribou along Lake Superior’s north shore are clinging to survival, dislocated from their relatives further north by extensive habitat fragmentation that requires aggressive restoration. Even though Jasper National Park is a protected area, past poor wildlife and access management and disturbed surrounding landscapes have made survival difficult for caribou there. What do we lose when a population or species becomes extirpated, that is locally extinct? Most scientists would argue there’s no absolute answer. Nature
Disturbed landscapes have made survival difficult for caribou
is too complex and species too interdependent for us to comprehend how the loss of a particular plant or animal species will affect the ecosystems of which it is a part. Species extinguishment is not merely an ecological loss, though. Many people are grieving the vast biodiversity decline the planet is facing.
A sense of bereavement was clear in media interviews following B.C. caribou extirpations. Local hog farmer Jim Ross told the Narwhal, “It just saddens the hell out of me. I have two daughters who are 19 and 21, and they’re never going to see a caribou. It’s just not going to happen for them unless they see it in an enclosure.”
Wildlife biologist Leo DeGroot echoed that sentiment: “It’s sad to see these animals go. It’s such an iconic animal. They’ve been on this landscape for thousands and thousands of years. Due to human influences largely, they’re gone now.” The loss of caribou herds is deeply felt by many Indigenous Peoples whose ways of life and sustenance have been connected to caribou for millennia. When the caribou they have lived in relation with for generations no longer show up for seasonal rounds, many people have articulated an intense loneliness. Elders from Doig River and West Moberly First Nations have expressed a longing to eat caribou once again before they die. Chief Patricia Tangie of the Michipicoten First Nation in
Ontario has fought hard for the survival of caribou on Lake Superior’s shores. When they were almost wiped out in 2017, she led efforts for a relocation initiative. As Michipicoten lands and resources consultation coordinator Leo Lepiano said, “We’ve arrived at a time when the rest of the animals on the planet need our help to survive. These are animals that have helped the Ojibwa people survive in the past.” Unwillingness to change the status quo is the biggest barrier to caribou recovery. Extirpation can also turn into a perverse incentive for industrial and commercial operations that degrade critical habitat. Once caribou are gone, so too are requirements to protect and restore their habitat.
DAVID SUZUKI David Suzuki is the host of the CBC’s The Nature of Things and author of more than 30 books on ecology (with files from Rachel Plotkin).
DANIEL PUSTIL
TOP 1% REALTOR IN TORONTO Dollar Sales
Salesperson, Vice-President, Partner
Direct: 416.565.4001 | Office: 416.944.1818 | 192 Davenport Road | danielpustil@gmail.com
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GREAT ESCAPES
CURRENTS
Gorge, the American Falls and, the breathtaking Horseshoe Falls of course. Nighttime zip liners will soar over a fully lit falls, colourful lights dancing and sparkling across the water as riders take in this stunning spectacle. No matter what time you decide to fly, zipping across Niagara Falls will be a holiday adventure that your family will never forget. Ice fishing
From dog sleds to winter zip lines This holiday season, we won’t be travelling from city to city for large family gatherings or heading down south to the Caribbean sun. Instead, we will be celebrating with only our households, the same people we’ve been bubbled with since March. Luckily, to keep things exciting, families can visit different regions within Ontario to try some outdoor winter activities that guarantee good times and good cheer.
through the thick Ontario snow. Since its introduction in 2005, many Canadians are taking to snow-covered trails to explore the beauty of a winter wonderland paired with the fun of fat biking. Muskoka’s stunning forest landscape is an ideal destination for a dazzling holiday ride. Companies such as Algonquin Outfitters are ready to get you and your family on your own fat biking adventure. Winter zip lining
Dog sledding
Although few Canadians use a dogsled for transportation anymore, in Muskoka you can embark on a recreational dogsledding adventure filled with excitement and nostalgia. North Ridge Ranch offers dogsledding excursions for the entire family through scenic private bush trails for one hour. There is also a half-day tour which includes a midday break complete with hot chocolate and granola bars. Participants can explore the twists and turns of the beautiful Muskokan wilderness with some magnificent dogs in the lead. This unforgettable tour is definitely a bucket list experience. Fat biking
Fat bikes have wider than normal tires, making it possible to ride
Once you’ve finished with Niagara’s more traditional holiday attractions like the Festival of Lights, outdoor skating and tasting the region’s icewine, why not grab a few thrills to go with your chills. This holiday season, Niagara is ready to raise your heart rate with winter zip lining. If you’ve ever wanted to fly over a UNESCO world heritage site, now is your time. This Christmas, your family (those aged seven and up) can zip line across the world-famous Niagara Falls. WildPlay Niagara Falls provides fully guided tours that offer unrivaled views of Niagara
Snow kiteboarding
Rice Lake in the Kawarthas is the place for Canadian snow kiteboarding. Ahead of its annual snow kiteboarding weekend in January, Elmhirst Resort can show you and your family why snow kiteboarding is quickly becoming a popular winter sport. As the name suggests, this sport is dependent on good weather and strong winds. Lessons are available for newcomers when the wind is right, and the lake is ready and waiting for experienced boarders. Snow kiteboarding is a fun new way for your family to catch the wind this holiday season. This year, instead of yearning for past holiday traditions, embark on a winter adventure in our unique province. Explore something new and exciting, making magical memories with your closest loved ones.
NATALIE PREDDIE Natalie Preddie is a travel and lifestyle writer, speaker and guest expert on Cityline, Your Morning and Global’s The Morning Show.
DECEMBER 2020
Five day trip adventures to lift your spirits
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Algonquin Outfitters offers fat bike rentals in Muskoka
The Lang-Hastings section of the TransCanada Trail runs right through the Kawarthas, making the region perfect for holiday hikes, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Add a few fully frozen lakes, and the Kawarthas proves to be the perfect escape for you and your family to also experience ice fishing. The Kawarthas is an ice angler’s dream. Grab a fishing hut, bait and drill from a local outfitter and head out onto the ice in search of perch, crappie or bluegills. For those new to ice fishing, join an ice fishing tour to ensure that you are suited and booted, have all the correct gear, and get some tips on how to make the most of your ice excursion. If your family loves sun, ice and fresh air, this is the perfect activity for enjoying some quality time together.
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CURRENTS
THE BIG TICKETS
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Barenaked, operatic and illusionary 5 great must-see shows in Toronto this month by Ron Johnson
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Illusions, just what we need
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The Lighthouse Immersive team behind the popular immersive Van Gogh exhibit has announced a new production dubbed Illusionarium, which is set to open on Dec. 21 and run alongside Van Gogh. The exhibit is said to feature life-size holograms, 3D projections, floor-to-ceiling production design, vanguard special effects within a 300,000square-foot space and live magicians. The Lighthouse team has combined forces with British magician Jamie Allen (iMagician) for the experimental exhibit that, according to a press release, “blends Jamie’s encyclopedic knowledge of the history of magic with state-ofthe-art technology, bringing the illusions of the past into the 21st century.” The Illusionarium will consist of four magical rooms representing different eras beginning with the 17th century. “Illusionarium was in many ways born of my own lifelong love of magic as well as from the circumstances of the pandemic,” says co-producer Corey Ross, Lighthouse Immersive. “Illusionarium is completely unique in seamlessly blending technology and practical magic. I have been combining magic and technology since I was a boy, but this takes that passion to a whole new level,” says Allan, the
magician and creator. “I am so thrilled to debut this new experiential work in Toronto. It is a great launchpad for new productions, and the community of talented performers is so impressive.” The installation will occupy the third gallery space in a historic building that was once home to the Toronto Star printing presses and will run alongside Immersive Van Gogh and Gogh By Car on the first two floors. For more information, go to Illusionarium.ca. World premiere live stream
Opera Atelier will be live streaming the world premiere of the new work: Something Rich & Strange. The opera is based on a famous quote from Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The production features some of Canada's finest artists and is scheduled for Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. The fully staged production will be live streamed from Koerner Hall at the Telus Centre for Performance and Learning. “The COVID-19 protocols Opera Atelier has been working under have acted as a genuine catalyst for creation — pushing us in new directions we would have never otherwise dreamed of. Something Rich & Strange promises to live up to its title, by featuring Baroque arias and dances exploring the themes of sleep, visions and dreams," says Opera Atelier co-artistic director
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TTAKEAWAY A AKEAWAY & D DELIVERY ELIVER RY C OVERED & HEATED HEATED PA PATIO T COVERED PATIO C HRISTMAS TO TO GO CHRISTMAS GIF CARDS GIFTT CARDS
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surprises.” The list of those contributing to the performances is impressive and includes the legendary Jackie Richardson, Tom Wilson, David Wall, Jessica Mitchell and Liam Russell backed up by some fantastic players, including Art of Time artistic director and pianist Andrew Burashko. One-of-a-kind holiday special "To All a Good Night offers us all a chance to Toronto band Born Ruffians is celebrating its third share in some of the best — and perhaps most annual December holiday show spectacular, dubbed unusual -— music of the season,” Burashko says. Shondi Festoon III, on Dec. 11. Shondi Festoon will “Our holiday show is truly different from the typical Christmas concert: five singers from a be virtual this year. broad range of backgrounds perform a “Shondi Festoon is the world’s program of music from a wide oldest holiday (not really), yet it is swath of styles. There’s very little celebrated by only a small holiday schmaltz here. To All A number of people. We hope to Good Night promises fun, change that with our yearly irreverence, warmth and lots Shondi concerts. Onward of laughs. I hope you’ll join (and online) to Shondi 3,” us." says band member Steve Highlights include Tom Hamelin. Waits's “Christmas Card Shondi Festoon is a From a Hooker in fictional, non-denominational Minneapolis,” Steve Earle’s holiday that comes with its “Christmas in Washington” and own unique traditions invented Tom Lehrer’s “(I’m Spending) by the band, including “drinking Hanukkah in Santa Monica” and hot beer, dressing as your best friend, much, much more. placing food cans under the Shondi Tree, Born Ruffians To All A Good Night will be available for decorating your house with Shondi flowers, being good so that the Shondi Clown free streaming at ArtofTimeEnsemble.com. doesn't come for you!” Last year’s Shondi Festoon concert sold out the Barenaked for the holidays Danforth Music Hall, as well as another sold out Toronto’s popular group Barenaked Ladies is show in Ottawa. Now, that Shondi holiday magic is presenting a special live stream holiday concert on going global. Dec. 18 and 19. For more information, go to BornRuffians.ca. Barenaked Ladies Presents: A Very Virtual Christmas will be similar to the band’s favourite It’s about Time variety shows from holidays past and will feature Toronto’s own Art of Time Ensemble is putting sketch comedy written by the band, a few special together a unique and virtual evening of live surprises and performances including holiday fan performance dubbed To All a Good Night, favourites from the popular Barenaked for the featuring song selections from the group’s annual Holidays album. Tickets are US$15. holiday concerts that are “funny, edgy and full of For more information, go to BarenakedLadies.com. Marshall Pynkoski. Something Rich & Strange will include music by Handel, Lully, Locke and Purcell, plus a new creation by Edwin Huizinga for soprano Measha Brueggergosman. For more information, go to OperaAtelier.com.
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HOLIDAY HOMES & INTERIORS
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DECEMBER 2020
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Italian made leather clearance centre
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HOLIDAY HOMES & INTERIORS
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The Group of Seven at 100
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Franz Johnston, ARCA, OSA, CSPWC (1888-1949)
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November 26-December 10, 2020 Celebrating 100 Years since the Group of Seven held their First Show. Our exhibition will include paintings by the Group of Seven, artists that knew and painted with them as well as contemporary art in the traditional style. Libby’s Holiday Show will be held December 15 to 22 John A. Libby, President, Canadian Professional Appraisers
Visit our website for a virtual viewing or call for a gallery appointment.
289-937-1447 www.consiliodesignadvisory.com
TASTE TEST
FOOD
TASTER: NADÈGE NOURIAN The chef and macaron mogul behind Toronto dessert shop Nadège Patisserie.
THE JOY OF COOKIES Santa’s favourite treat is all the rage, with some new cookie purveyors garnering lineups of up to 50 sweet-toothed Torontonians. Our guest taste test judge, macaron mogul Nadège Nourian, puts some of the city’s top cookies to the test. RUNNER-UP
WINNER
l origina
r ic pe
most
class
THE NIGHT BAKER
THE ROLLING PIN
SWEET FLOUR
CRAIG’S COOKIES
Nourian said these cookies stood out for their unique flavours, particularly the purple yam cheesecake cookie with an ube jam filling. She added that the cookies from this Little Italy shop had a great texture, describing them as “fluffy.” 825 College St., $24.30 for 8
Nourian said the cookies from this North York bakery tasted the sweetest of the bunch. She praised the “creative flavours,” describing the varieties, which included a S’more flavour and colourful birthday cookie, as “playful and fun.” 1970 Avenue Rd., $2.75–$2.95 each
Nourian thought these inventive cookies offered a nice balance of savoury and sweet flavours. Her top pick was the Golden Crunch, which features a whimsical combo of milk chocolate paired with golden honeycomb to evoke a Crunchie bar. 130 Cawthra Ave., $23 for 7
With flavours like Cranberry Bliss and White Christmas, Nourian said the cookies from this popular shop were perfect for the holidays. She thought the over-the-top texture and flavour combinations were unconventional and interesting. 1581 Bayview Ave., $16 for 6
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CHOCOLADA Nourian described these sablé-style cookies as “traditional,” noting that they had a “very pleasant taste.” The roasted almond cookie was a standout for Nourian, who said that its flavours were “reminiscent of classic Florentine biscuits.” 180 Steeles Ave. W., Priced by weight
DECEMBER 2020
fection DESSERT LADY “The selection was simple, classic but delicate and well-executed,” said Nourian of her cookies of choice. She appreciated that the flavours of each cookie were “well-balanced” and said “the quality of the ingredients was evident.” 12 Cumberland St., $7.00– $8.50 for 9–12 pieces
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FOOD
NEWS
Sadly, another downtown restaurant closes its doors Hollywood director Ivan Reitman’s eatery says goodbye by Twinkle Ghosh
Montecito is permanently closing after six years
Another Toronto favourite has shuttered its doors on the heels of the city moving into the red zone of Ontario’s COVID-19 response framework, forcing indoor dining to remain closed. Montecito Restaurant, owned by Hollywood director Ivan Reitman and chef Jonathan Waxman, opened in 2014 in a swanky space at the foot of the Daniels Cinema Tower, behind the TIFF Lightbox in the heart of the Entertainment District. The 400-seat restaurant took inspiration from its namesake city in California for its posh decor and farm-to-table menu. “Due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic along with the financial impact that has come with the forced closure on indoor dining, we have made the decision to discontinue our operations at Montecito,” the management team says in a statement on the restaurant’s website. Montecito announced a temporary closure in mid-October via Instagram, noting that it hoped to reopen by November. This short-term closure announcement was followed by a decision to permanently close on Nov. 10 after six years in business. The restaurant was known as a TIFF hot spot and a prime place for spotting celebrities during the annual film festival, hosting famous figures like Sandra Bullock, Gabrielle Union, Margot Robbie and Armie Hammer over the years.
“We would like to offer our thanks and gratitude to all of our customers and staff for the support we have received at our restaurant over the past six plus years. We will miss hosting your corporate events, weddings and TIFF parties along with your date nights, anniversaries, birthday parties or just good times,” reads the restaurant’s statement. Although the restaurant will no longer be operating out of its 299 Adelaide St. W. location, the Montecito Bottle Shop will remain open for the time being. The restaurant’s wine list frequently featured interesting and hard-to-find bottles, so it’s worth snatching these up while you can. A list of their current wines available for purchase can be obtained from Heather Santsche by emailing info@montecitorestaurant.ca, with pickup and delivery within Toronto available. Sadly, Montecito is far from the only Toronto restaurant to close as a result of the devastating financial impacts of the pandemic. Other restaurants that have met with similar fates recently include the Pickle Barrel at Yonge and Dundas, the Walton on College, Wayne Gretzky’s and chef Lynn Crawford’s restaurant Ruby Watchco. The statement on Montecito’s website encourages diners “to continue to support other restaurants in our neighbourhood so they can continue to fight against and navigate through these challenging times and restrictions.”
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Armin Yousefi
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NEWS
FOOD FALL and WINTER COLLECTIONS 0 -12 years
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King Street Food reportedly $34 million in debt According to documents filed at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Toronto’s King Street Food Company (KSFC), the hospitality group behind some of the city’s biggest and best-known fine dining restaurants, including Jacobs & Co., Buca, Bar Buca, La Banane and CXBO, is insolvent and looking to restructure its financial situation in an effort to carry on operations. The court documents reveal that the company has a large debt load of $34 million owed to its creditors and is facing a 98 per cent drop in sales following the pandemic. It also reveals the extent of the company’s ambitious expansion plans, which included over half a dozen new restaurants set to open across the city. According to the court filings, the Buca St. Clair location was “planned to be approximately six thousand and one hundred (6,100) square foot and one hundred twenty (120) seat capacity Italian family-style restaurant. Construction of this restaurant was substantially completed in March of 2020. Although it has not formally opened, this restaurant is currently being used to run part of the KSF Group’s takeout business.” The Buca expansion was planned to continue right up to Vaughan, with a new 5,600square-foot Buca restaurant and Bar Buca “planned to be opened in Vaughan as part of a broader mixed use planned community.”
Man Ray Bar à Vin, was “weeks away from opening” above La Banane restaurant when the pandemic arrived, according to the court documents. The company’s other big plans include a Commissary at the Globe and Mail Centre; and a 13,000-squarefoot restaurant at CIBC square as well as additional restaurants at the Park Hyatt Hotel, the One Bloor West condominium and Brookfield Place.
“KSFC hopes to continue takeout and delivery ‘to stabilize the business operations’.” According to the court documents, KSFC has obtained protection under the Companies’ Creditor Arrangement Act (CCAA), a federal law allowing insolvent corporations that owe their creditors over $5 million to restructure their business and financial affairs. The documents reveal that KSFC hopes to continue to operate its takeout and delivery businesses “to stabilize the business operations to enable the Group to develop a strategy for the reopening of locations when possible.” In the weeks following the announcement that the group had
by Ron Johnson
obtained CCAA protection, it has been reported that a former bartender and server of Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse has filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, claiming she was subjected to “groping,” as well as “misogynistic and degrading comments” during her time working at the restaurant. In a statement to the Toronto Star, KSFC founders Peter Tsebelis and Gus Giazitzidis wrote that they “take these allegations very seriously,” adding, “We had no knowledge of any such complaints, but that does not diminish our responsibility to ensure staff can always obtain assistance or guidance from management.” Chef Rob Gentile, partner and culinary director of King Street Food Company, reportedly posted on his Instagram account that he would “move on from the Buca family of restaurants,” along with a photo of the chef being hoisted up on the shoulders of his restaurant team in celebration. The photo prompted criticism that Gentile is leaving his staff and suppliers in the lurch by resigning while the restaurant group grapples with serious debt and controversy, including from restaurateur Jen Agg who commented on Twitter that she would be “crucified” if she behaved similarly. The complaint from the former Jacobs staff member is reportedly undergoing a review to assess if the case will proceed. With files from Jessica Huras
If you have furniture and home accessories that you would like to sell on consignment, Of Things Past offers a Home Consultation Service. Items of interest include well-crafted, brand-name, and designer furniture, sterling silver/silver-plate, mirrors, table and floor lamps, crystal and fine china. To be considered, items must be in perfect or near-perfect condition. For inquiries please email: homevisit@ofthingspast.com Toronto’s Largest Consignment Showroom for Luxury Home Furnishings and Décor 185 Bridgeland Avenue (5 minutes from Yorkdale Mall) – 7 days a week – 10-5 pm.
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DECEMBER 2020
Buca and Jacobs file for protection
Moving? Redecorating? Clearing an Estate?
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L-R: Chef Rob Gentile and Bar Buca’s now shuttered Yonge and Eglinton location
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CHARITABLE GIVING GUIDE
HOW TO GIVE
North York General Foundation 4001 Leslie Street | 416 756 6944 nyghfoundation.ca/holiday Registered Canadian Charitable Organization #88875 1245 RR0001
Rolando recovering in the dedicated COVID-19 unit at NYGH
Aprile, Daryl, Glenda and Rolando Idolor at their North York home this summer.
“We couldn’t imagine a world without my dad.”- Daryl Idolor Early last March, before anyone fully understood the serious nature of COVID-19, siblings Daryl and Aprile visited the North York home of their parents, Glenda, a nurse, and Rolando, a bank employee. A few days later, both parents had a fever. As a hospital worker, Daryl encouraged his parents to get tested. Their tests were positive so with mild symptoms, they went home to self-isolate. A few days later, Glenda noticed her husband looked pale and his oxygen level was low. Rolando traveled alone to the Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg Emergency. They were about to be separated for the longest time in their marriage. X-ray scans showed the virus was severely attacking Rolando’s lungs. He was admitted to the dedicated COVID-19 unit, where he
was sedated and intubated (a tube inserted to assist with breathing). For the family, everything was happening so fast. Strong in spirit, Rolando asked his wife to tell the kids he loved them, that he was not scared and that it was going to be okay. Rolando’s doctors indicated that it might be weeks or even months before he could go home. His lung condition had worsened, his kidneys weren’t functioning properly, and his blood pressure was low. His doctors put Rolando on dialysis and his kidneys began to recover. Then, his lungs improved, and the family received the miracle they were hoping for; Rolando would be taken out of sedation. On April 24, he was discharged. Today, he’s working from home and walking 5K a day. Rolando doesn’t remember much of his three
weeks in the hospital, but he says he will never forget the amazing care from the hardworking staff in the COVID-19 inpatient unit that saved his life. He’s thrilled to be home. This holiday season, consider a gift to fund urgently needed medical equipment. You’ll help put life-saving tools in the hands of doctors and nurses at North York General, and your donation will make a world of difference for generations of families in our community. Please donate before December 31st to receive your 2020 tax receipt. Visit nyghfoundation.ca/Idolor
HOW TO GIVE
Community Living Toronto 20 Spadina Rd., Toronto, ON M5R 2S7 • 647-588-9465 www.communitylivingtoronto.ca Registered Canadian Charitable Organization | #10769 4143 RR0001
Creating a Caring Community Where Everyone Feels at Home During the Holidays | POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0
There was a time when individuals with an intellectual disability were shut out of society. But now, thanks to the Community Living movement, many of these individuals are active participants in the community, living in ordinary houses and apartments, some with family, others independently or with roommates. All because of this movement’s tireless advocacy. Community Living Toronto (CLTO) is made up of these advocates. Striving to provide a space where people who have an intellectual disability can receive essential services like day programs to learn new skills, employment readiness services, or residential supports. All with the goal of building inclusive and welcoming communities 40 where people can live healthy and happy lives.
However, the current physical distancing rules are hitting this community hard and social isolation can be a real challenge. Many day programs have been closed. Gathering places are locked. And on top of it all, not everyone has reliable access to technology, making this new virtual world inaccessible. All of it is taking its toll. Though, with all the challenges that this pandemic has put forth, our staff, our most valuable resource, have dug deeper and given more of themselves, than ever before. They continue to show up for the people they support every day, in new and engaging ways, determined to keep them safe and involved. Their commitment speaks volume. The resilience and creativity shown by both staff and the children, youth, and adults with an intellectual
disability that we support is a hallmark of how this community weathers difficult challenges. But they can’t do it alone. This holiday season is the time for all of us to show our support. Without it, people who have an intellectual disability will suffer disproportionately during this pandemic, especially now with the holidays just around the corner. Your support could give someone in our community a nutritious hot meal, more connection with their family thanks to an iPad, or aid in keeping our staff safe with a strong supply of PPE. We’ll take care of the details – we just need your help to make it happen. Please donate today at cltoronto.ca/donate.
NEWS
The four new Japanese restaurants have no physical dining rooms by Jessica Huras With the future of indoor dining still in flux amid the pandemic, Toronto restaurants are continuing to pivot their business models to stay afloat. Kinka Family, the hospitality group behind restaurants like Kinton Ramen and Neo Coffee Bar, is expanding its delivery options with the launch of two new virtual restaurants. Also known as “ghost kitchens” or “ghost restaurants,” virtual restaurants have no physical location and therefore rely on dig-
ital ordering and takeout to serve diners. “Prior to the second wave of indoor dining shutdowns, we knew that we needed to better prepare ourselves for another disruption to our business,” says Stella Yu, director of marketing for Kinka Family. During this uncertain time for the dining industry, Yu says that virtual restaurants were a natural way for Kinka to grow their business, allowing the group to leverage their existing spaces and kitchen teams. “Much of the appeal that came with
A top Toronto pizzeria heads east North of Brooklyn pizzeria is set to open a new location by Ron Johnson North of Brooklyn pizzeria, which already has numerous outlets on the west end of the city, is planning on opening a new shop on the other side of the Don River at the corner of Danforth and Greenwood. A new liquor licence application submitted to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario indicated a new opening was imminent for the operation specializing in Brooklyn-style pizza, which was later confirmed by the owner. North of Brooklyn was established by Josh Spatz and Alex Potter in 2012 and continues to be a thriving business concentrated in the city’s west end with outlets on Queen West and Dundas West amongst other locations. The pizza was chosen as one of the top ones in the city by chef Mark McEwan during a re-
cent taste test for Post City. According to the AGCO application, the new outlet will be located at 663 Greenwood Ave., the former location of a local art studio immediately north of Danforth Avenue. Sample specialty pizzas from North of Brooklyn’s current menu include the kale and bacon, which comes topped with mozzarella, kale, double smoked bacon, pecorino and garlic oil, as well as the puttanesca, which features hand-crushed puttanesca sauce containing anchovies, mozzarella, taggiasca and gordal olives, scallions, grana padano and olive oil. In a past interview with Post City, Spatz said the most popular topping at North of Brooklyn is arugula. Word on a firm opening date or any additional details is at least a month away.
Pie from North of Brooklyn
Ottawa’s famous Kettleman’s Bagel Co. is finally coming to Toronto after a slight delay due to COVID-19. Kettleman’s has been a staple in the 613 for years, and Toronto is just a tiny bit excited to finally try out some of the shop’s famous flavours. Kettleman’s expansion to Toronto was first announced in the summer of 2019, and Torotonians have been waiting to get their hands on the brand’s beloved bagels ever since. Some initial delays in the bagel shop’s opening were further complicated by the pandemic, but Kettleman’s has now made its long-awaited debut in the GTA. As with most respected and hailed bagel shops, Kettleman’s makes its Montreal-style bagels fresh each day using traditional techniques. The bagels are hand-rolled and boiled in honey water to seal in moisture, before being baked in a wood-burning oven fired by hand-picked hardwood. The result is bagels with the coveted squishy middle and slightly crispy crust. Kettleman’s offers over a dozen classic bagel flavours, including whole wheat, herb and cheddar and all dressed, all of which are available individually or in half dozen or dozen quantities. The menu expands a bit beyond your average bagel and schmear, with spread options that include inventive flavours like hot pepper cream cheese and olive cream cheese. Kettleman’s also offers bagel sandwiches piled high with fillings like Montreal smoked meat, oven roasted chicken or marinated spicy eggplant. The menu also features baked goods like turnovers and cinnamon buns, as well as salads for those who want to bring a little balance to a full-on carb session. Montrealer first Craig Buckley opened Kettleman’s in 1993, and the brand has spread across Ottawa over the past two decades. Kettleman’s prides itself on its “no-wall experience,” with its shops giving customers a view of bakers hard at work preparing fresh bagels. Kettleman’s first Toronto location is now open at 847 Brown’s Line in Etobicoke, where it joins fellow Ottawabased franchise Farm Boy in the Alderwoods Plaza. Like the brand’s other locations, Kettleman’s Toronto outpost is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week, so that you can get your bagel fix at literally any time. — Harriette Halepis
DECEMBER 2020
Kinton Ramen team launches its first virtual restaurants
New Kettleman's may be the best Montreal-style bagel in T.O.
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The Aburi Bunz ghost kitchen features Japanese-style hotdogs
launching virtual restaurant concepts was that most of the elements needed to operate successfully already existed within our physical restaurants,” she says. “Third-party vendors like DoorDash, Uber Eats and SkipTheDishes were driving a lot of our business, and we recognized the opportunity to lean into these thriving business models and capitalize on the existing audiences who were ready to try new restaurants from the comfort of their homes,” adds Yu. Yu says the Kinka team spent several weeks testing the recipes for their virtual restaurants with a focus on creating dishes that would travel well, to cater to takeout customers. The first two restaurant concepts are centred on unfussy, Japanese sandwiches. Tokyo Sando & Chicken features sandwiches marinated in soy sauce, including karaage fried chicken and deep-fried horse mackerel, whereas JapaSando & Co. aims to appeal to diners looking for a filling but healthier option with its lighter, ovenbaked sandwiches. “Each virtual restaurant pulls inspiration from Japanese culture and cuisine and embodies the goal we have had at the company since day one, which is to revolutionize the Japanese hospitality experience,” says Yu. Tokyo Sando & Chicken and JapaSando & Co. were followed shortly after by two additional rollouts: Aburi Bunz, which focuses on hotdogs prepared ‘’aburi style” with a blowtorch, and Hashiya Japanese Pasta Bar, which introduces diners to Japanese-style pasta, known as wafu pasta, in varieties like uni cream and yuzu kosho pork. All four virtual restaurants are now offering delivery via Uber Eats and DoorDash throughout Ontario and Quebec. Pickup is also available at Kinka’s brickand-mortar restaurants.
FOOD
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OUR LOCAL RESTAURANT DELIVERY GUIDE
AT YORK MILLS
Kwan-dimsum.com 2048 AVENUE ROAD • 416 483 3846
OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT & DELIVERY
OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT & DELIVERY
Pictured: Dim sum
MENU HIGHLIGHTS Dim Sum Kwan favourites such as Har Gow, Siu Mai, BBQ Pork Bun, Crispy Shrimp Rolls & more. All freshly made in house! Crispy Ginger Beef Just the right amount of ginger, stir fried into quality beef with green onions. A winner for the whole family! Szechuan Chicken (white meat) Diced, fresh chicken breast and mixed vegetables stir fried with our signature sauce. Spicy and full of flavour -- one of our customers' top choices!
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Peking Duck The masterpiece, served in two courses. 1: slices of crispy duck skin with cucumber, green onions and steamed pancakes served with signature sauce. Hot and crispy! 2: Lettuce wrapped pouches with stir fried, diced duck meat with mixed vegetables and sauce. Perfection!
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www.karbouzi.com
808 YORK MILLS ROAD, UNIT #8 647 352 0108
Elevating the art of dim sum and chinese cuisine, Kwan offers handmade dumplings and clean, flavorful dishes using fresh ingredients of the highest quality. We welcome our new and returning customers with a revamped menu of all your favourites. Call to order today!
Available on:
Pictured: Pork Souvlaki
TRADITIONAL GREEK DELICACIES Appetizers: Pork, Chicken, Lamb or Beef Souvlaki Stick Spanokopita, Shrimp, Pita Bread Fried Calamari, Dolmades, Greek Salad Tzatziki, Hummus, Taramosalata Entrees: Pork, Chicken, Lamb or Beef Souvlaki Dinnerserved with rice, roast potatoes and tzatziki Moussaka - potato, eggplant, zucchini, ground beef topped with béchamel sauce and served with rice and vegetables Gyros on a Pita topped with marinated tomatoes, onions and tzatziki Check out our full menu on-line!
There is no need to travel to Greece for the authentic cuisine, simply go online to www.karbouzi.com. A Toronto restaurant tradition for over 50 years, Karbouzi Greek Taverna has become a staple on Avenue Road known for the warm atmosphere, the friendly service, and of course, the delicious home cooking! Karbouzi boasts a menu filled with traditional Greek delicacies from Souvlaki to Moussaka to flaming Saganaki. And don’t forget to try our much loved Tzaziki! Call direct or order online at www.karbouzi.com
The Market at 100km Foods
market.100kmfoods.com 416 203 2164
FARM-FRESH LOCAL GROCERY DELIVERY
Pictured: Cherry Tomatoes from Top Tomato Farm
www.sevennumbers.com 516 EGLINTON AVE. • 416 322 5183
OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT & DELIVERY
Pictured: Burrata Fresca
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
MENU HIGHLIGHTS
100km Foods Market Boxes: A selection of curated Market Boxes that showcase some of the best seasonal, local products we carry, changing week to week so there is always something new to try! We offer pre-set small and medium-sized produce boxes, a protein box, a dairy box, and a cheese & charcuterie box.
Burrata Fresca: Fresh local burrata cheese, cherry tomatoes, Tuscan olive oil Linguine con Coda di Aragosta e Gamberi: Linguine with broiled lobster tail, sautéed shrimp, red pepper, asparagus, garlic olive oil Polpette di Rosa: Rosa's stuffed veal meatballs, mozzarella, homemade tomato sauce
A La Carte Grocery: Curate your own Market Boxes by shopping from our 200+ local products including farm-fresh seasonal produce, ethically and locally sourced meats, seafood, eggs and dairy, baked goods, artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and preserves, and a variety of other grocery staples.
Ossobuco di Vitello: Slow-braised veal shank with marrow bone, tomato, carrot, celery, white wine
100km Chef Made Meals: We’re proud to partner with some of the city’s top chefs to offer you gourmet chef prepared meals that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, exclusive to The Market at 100km Foods!
Family Dinner: 4 Appetizers (Arugula salad, Fried Calamari, Caprese Salad, Caprese Salad), 3 Pasta (Linguine Rapini, penne, Lasagne), 2 sides (Grilled zucchini, Green salad)
It's never been more important to know where your food comes from! We source the freshest, highest-quality local foods for contactless delivery, each source-identified by the farmer who grew it or the producer who made it. Toronto & GTA delivery. $45 minimum. Free delivery over $100. Save $25 off first order with code EATLOCAL25.
Some people think "Italian food" means pasta. At 7 Numbers, more than half our menu is pescatarian or vegetarian, gluten-free, and even ¼ vegan! Mama Rosa's traditional southern Italian fare is still lovingly prepared fresh daily and available for you to enjoy with takeout and delivery. Even traditions evolve, and Rosa’s rustic kitchen is adding new dishes all the time.
Scan this code or visit market.100kmfoods.com to order!
To order call direct at 416-322-5183 or order online at www.sevennumbers.com
NEWS
Coast, Oyster Boy and the Chase have stopped serving lobster to show their support by Christine Hogg Several Toronto chefs have removed lobster dishes from their menus in an act of solidarity with Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq fishers, whose right to fish off-season is entangled in a confusing treaty dating back hundreds of years. The Peace and Friendship Treaties, enacted by the British crown in 1760 and 1761, have sparked tension between Nova Scotia’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishing communities for centuries. It reached a boiling point this fall when some
non-Indigenous fishers began sabotaging Indigenous-owned lobster traps that were set off-season. Under legislation put forth by the treaties, Mi’kmaq fishers are not bound by the same rules as non-Indigenous fishers and have the right to fish off-season, so long as the sole purpose of the act supports a “moderate livelihood.” Although all of its lobster was sourced sustainably from northern New Brunswick, rather than Nova Scotia where the conflict is taking place, chef
Locals support restaurant after a fire The campaign has raised over $3,000 by Jessica Huras A fundraising campaign is aiming to help resurrect a beloved Kensington Market business. Neighbourhood staple Jumbo Empanadas shuttered its doors following a three-alarm fire at adjacent grocery store Emporium Latino. Although the fire didn’t enter Jumbo Empanadas, safety inspectors forced the long-running restaurant to close for an indefinite amount of time while the necessary repairs take place, according to the GoFundMe page. Owner Irene Morales first launched Jumbo Empanadas in the 1990s, serving empanadas and humitas out of a hotdog cart in Kensington Market. “Jumbo is a community hub. Irene has promoted and helped to run fundraisers for Chilean earthquake victims, donated generously to meals for the homeless and more,”
reads the GoFundMe page. “Irene and her family are great people and embody the independent spirit that makes Kensington Market special,” it continues. The fundraiser hopes to help cover the income lost by Morales and her team, which had grown to four employees prior to the fire. The GoFundMe page states that any additional money raised will be used to fund repairs that the restaurant’s insurance will not cover, including damage to its ovens. Led by local resident Leyla Razeghi, the Kensington Market community previously organized a fundraiser for Emporium Latino, the primary site for the fire, raising an additional $19,000 over its $10,000 goal. The campaign for Jumbo Empanadas has so far raised over $11,000 of its $12,000 goal.
Kensington Market’s Emporium Latino
Aburi Restaurants, the hospitality group behind Toronto restaurants like Miku and Aburi Hana, is tapping into the city’s collective need for comfort food with its new pop-up. Hosted by Aburi Tora restaurant in North York, Marukatsu is a fun, fusion-style concept that blends Japanese and Mexican culinary influences. The pop-up menu is focused on katsu, a deep-fried Japanese cutlet. Aburi’s take on the Japanese staples sees the katsu made with high-quality tenderloin and breaded with a signature style of panko crumbs. The cutlets are then deep-fried until golden to create a light, crispy texture. The deep-fried katsu slices are combined with fresh, Mexican-inspired ingredients. For example, the Marukatsu bowl features pork loin katsu drizzled with basil onion and tonkatsu sauces, sour cream, pico de gallo, all mixed with Grana Padano cheese, mixed beans, French dressing and steamed rice. The menu also includes more traditional teishoku (meal sets), such as the seafood teishoku, which features golden pieces of Atlantic salmon, Hokkaido scallop and a daily feature fish served over a bed of steamed rice and cabbage with tartar and tonkatsu sauces. The Marukatsu pop-up originally launched at Aburi’s restaurants in Japan and has also had a successful run at their Vancouver locations, leading the dishes to become a permanent part of the menu at Vancouver’s Gyoza Bar, according to Dean Harrison, national director of marketing for Aburi Restaurants Canada. Harrison adds that, with Torontonians mainly eating at home for the foreseeable future, the brand wanted to diversify Tora’s takeout menu, which traditionally focuses on sushi, to inspire diners and their chefs alike. “It’s an interesting kind of comfort food,” says Harrison. “It balances out quite nicely with the fresh and fried components.” The Marakatsu pop-up in Vancouver features a number of dishes not currently available on the Toronto menu, including Japanese curry, katsu bao and tempura-battered green beans. The additional menu items may eventually make their way to Toronto. Marukatsu by Aburi Tora is currently available for order via Uber Eats and Ritual. There’s no official set end date for the pop-up, so get these fresh-meetsfried fusion eats while you still can. — JH
DECEMBER 2020
Toronto chefs remove lobster from their menus
JapaneseMexican pop-up launches in Toronto
| POST |
L-R Chef Matt Dean Pettit; lobster is off the menu at several Toronto restaurants
Matt Dean Pettit, owner of Coast, a delivery-only, “ghost kitchen” restaurant concept that launched earlier in October, has removed all lobster from his seafood-focused menu. “I have always believed in and supported sustainable and ethical seafood. This to me also extends to those who work in the fishing industry,” Pettit said. “We stand in strong support of the Mi’kmaq rights to fish and condemn the violence and racism taking place. We are no longer offering lobster on our menu until further notice.” Coast’s lobster roll, lobster topped surf & turf smash burger and lobster poutine were previously its top three selling items. Although the restaurant has launched a new Ocean Wise shrimp roll to help fill the void, they have seen a noticeable sales decline as a result of taking lobster off the menu. Oyster Boy, a staple for oysters on Queen West, is also boycotting the sale of lobster until an agreement between Indigenous and non-Indigenous parties is reached. “We are working toward sourcing our lobster directly from First Nations fisheries,” a post on Oyster Boy’s Instagram dated Oct. 21 reads. “We do not condone violence of any kind and will always strive for our practice to reflect our ethics and sustainability.” The Chase, a high-end venue known for its raw bar and all things seafood, has pledged to discontinue ordering lobster from Nova Scotia suppliers and instead will source from suppliers in Prince Edward Island. “It is important for us to seize any opportunity to support our Indigenous communities, and this is the least we could do,” said Steven Salm, president and CEO of Chase Hospitality Group. “We are committed to transparency in our supply chain and ensuring ethical practices are followed throughout.”
FOOD
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FOOD
RECIPES
Two apps & a dessert for winter snacking Top Toronto chefs share their favourite recipes to brighten your holiday season
Shook's shakshuka
Shook’s shakshuka "While travelling extensively through the Middle East for work, I often encountered shakshuka in many of the restaurants I visited,” says Shook chef Ben Heaton. “It was a dish that stuck with me. Enjoyed anytime during the day, it packs a punch of flavour. This is our most popular dish at Shook.” INGREDIENTS 2 pc 225 gm 40 gm 2 gm 2 gm 2 gm 10 gm 25 gm 1 pc
whole eggs shakshuka sauce cherry tomatoes, halved basil leaves crispy onions za’atar olive oil toum pita
RED SHAKSHUKA SAUCE
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200 gm 100 gm 20 gm 500 gm 50 gm 250 gm
44
cherry tomatoes red onion, sliced cumin seed, whole red peppers Turkish pepper paste Turkish peeled red pepper
TO MAKE SHAKSHUKA SAUCE 1. On separate trays, place cherry tomatoes, red onion, and red peppers and roast in oven until all ingredients are soft and smoky. 2. Peel the skin off the red peppers and tomatoes. 3. Toast cumin seeds in a large pot until lightly roasted.
4. Add all other ingredients to the pot, and cook down slowly until reduced by one-third. CRISPY ONIONS 1000 gm 5L
shallots, peeled canola oil
3. Scatter cherry tomatoes all over top, and roast in oven until eggs are just cooked. 4. Garnish with olive oil, za’atar, crispy onions and basil. 5. Dot toum all over top. 6. Warm pita and serve on the side.
TO MAKE CRISPY ONIONS 1. Shave shallots on a mandolin to 2 mm thickness. 2. Add to oil, and slowly heat up until oil reaches 285°F. 3. Cook onions until golden brown. 4. Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel. 5. Dehydrate onions in the oven at 135°F for 24 hours.
“We added this dish just after we opened up again after quarantine,” says Leña chef Julie Marteleira. “The clams give the beans so much flavour. One bite of this dish and you’ll experience so many amazing flavours complementing each other. It’s easy to put together but feels luxurious.”
TOUM
INGREDIENTS
400 gm 100 gm 10 gm 40 gm 40 gm
canola oil peeled garlic cloves Kosher salt lemon juice water
TO MAKE TOUM 1. Add all ingredients, except canola oil, into a blender and blend until very smooth. 2. Slowly drizzle in canola oil to emulsify. 3. Pass through a fine chinois sieve and reserve. METHOD 1. In a small cast iron skillet, add shakshouka sauce and heat through. 2. Carefully crack both eggs into center of skillet.
Leña’s garlic shrimp
1 tbsp 1 tsp 1 ⁄4 cup 1 ⁄4 cup 1 tsp 2 tbsp 1 ⁄2 cup 5
1 tsp each 1 lb
8 1 tbsp 1 tbsp
olive oil garlic, finely chopped chorizo, sliced romano beans, cooked smoked paprika dry white wine water baby Yukon potatoes, pre-boiled in salted water lemon juice and zest clams (soaked in water overnight, change the water 2-3 times to purge any sand) shrimp, peeled and deveined unsalted butter cilantro, chopped salt and black pepper, to taste
METHOD 1. In a saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil over medium heat until it starts to lightly brown. 2. Add in the chorizo and cook to warm through. 3. Add romano beans and smoked paprika. 4. Toast paprika for a few seconds and then add the clams and deglaze with white wine and reduce by half. 5. Add the pre-boiled potatoes. Add the water and bring to a simmer. At this point, the clams will have started to open. 6. Add shrimp and poach in liquid. Once shrimp are cooked add lemon zest and juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
Chef Claudio Aprile’s crepe cake with dulce de leche and bananas “Anything with dulce de leche takes me to a very happy place. It reminds me of my mom and also where I was born: Uruguay,” says Aprile. INGREDIENTS 6-8 2 cups pinch 1 tsp 3 cups 2 oz 2-3 cups 4-5
whole eggs all purpose flour salt vanilla extract whole milk unsalted butter, melted store bought dulce de leche bananas, sliced
METHOD 1. Place the first 6 ingredients except the melted butter into a stainless bowl, whisk until all ingredients are combined. 2. Whisk melted butter into batter, strain and allow 1 hour to rest in the fridge. Batter should coat the back of a soup spoon. Tip: if the batter is too thick simply add more milk and whisk together. TO MAKE CREPES 1. Heat more butter in a small nonstick pan over medium heat, add your crepe batter and swirl batter evenly to coat the pan. 2. Cook crepe batter for 2–3 minutes, flip and cook for an additional 1 minute. 3. Repeat with remaining batter. Allow crepes to cool before assembly. TO ASSEMBLE 1. Place dulce de leche into a small saucepan. Heat on medium heat until dulce de leche is the consistency of a light custard. This will allow for easy spreading and crepes will stay intact and not tear. 2. Cut bananas into 1⁄4 inch round pieces. 3. Place one crepe in the centre of a cake pan and evenly spread a generous amount of dulce de leche onto crepe. 4. Randomly place your sliced bananas onto crepe and repeat until you have your 18 layers. 5. Place crepe cake into the fridge for 2–3 hours to set. 6. Finish with a dusting of icing sugar and enjoy.
FEATURE
FOOD
1
2
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SENSATIONAL FOOD SUBSCRIPTIONS Treat your loved ones to the gift of edible surprises year-round and support local businesses this holiday season with these Toronto-based food subscription boxes
2
3
4
PIZZA PIE PER ANNUM
CHEESE CLUB
CHARCUTERIE YEAR-ROUND
CAKE OF THE MONTH
Downtown restaurant General Assembly Pizza launched its pizza subscription service earlier this year, featuring naturally leavened, frozen pizzas that can be cooked at home in about five to seven minutes. Subscriptions come with four, six, eight or 10 pies, and there’s the option to customize your pizza choices. There are plenty of vegetarian and plant-based pies, as well as classics like the Loving Cup with Ezzo natural pepperoni. You can prepay for three, six, nine or 12 months to make it easier to give the deliveries as a gift for your favourite carb lover. gapizza.com
Leslieville Cheese Market delivers two thoughtfully selected cheeses to members each month through its cheese club. The selection at this long-running east end specialty shop typically includes cheeses like creamy applewood smoked cheddar, aged manchego and douanier, a French Canadian washed rind cheese with a line of vegetable ash in its centre. Leslieville Cheese Market’s monthly package also includes a baguette and another surprise sample from the shop, as well as tasting notes for the items included. leslievillecheese.com
Although Carnivore Club now delivers across Canada, the U.S., U.K., E.U. and Australia, this cured meat subscription service is based locally in Toronto. There are several different box options, including snack boxes packed with proteins you can eat on the go and classic boxes filled with artisan meats like bacon, salami and prosciutto. Each month highlights products from a different artisan, introducing subscribers to meat producers around the world over the course of the year, including numerous top-notch Canadian companies. carnivoreclub.com
North York bakery Le Dolci will deliver a sweet treat to the dessert lover in your life each month with its cake of the month club. Le Dolci is known for its artfully designed cakes, with its current selection including a snow-themed Winter Wonderland cake with chocolate buttercream and a Cable Knit Yule Log cake with a sweater-inspired frosting design. The bakery’s cake of the month club is no exception, with subscribers receiving a new flavour and a surprise design each month based on seasonal themes. Subscriptions are available for six or 12 months. ledolci.com
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DECEMBER 2020
416 781 8800
COLLECTOR LOOKING FOR
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December 17
| POST |
Fine Art - Antiques Estate Sales - Appraisals Family Division
SINGING LESSONS!
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2020 ice List N s & y t h r g or ke au
e w t lin Fron ds o n y Hu d n a S Niu Alen escu ndre A a c ia Bian Bhat Nav ilee & Ba e n i Jus t i d er ma n Sne rner ff h Ma y st a Mitc l i v e r k ee ps e D ery & one who ) G r oc in g ery nn ev ( and r cit y r u ou
Our T.O. Nice List
| POST | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0
Shining a light on the city’s most caring, giving and wonderful people
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Toronto’s front line workers are at the top of Santa’s list this year. (Photo of Tammy Hedley-Egas: keeping labour and delivery going at Mount Sinai Hospital)
Black Lives Matter Toronto co-founder Sandy Hudson is a changemaker who continues to expose the inequality in our city and fight for social justice.
A special shout out to 16-year-old Toronto student Alen Niu, who single handedly raised $8,000 to buy medical equipment for a local hospital.
Local tennis star Bianca Andreescu, already an inspiring athlete for young Canadians everywhere, stepped up to raise money for a COVID-19 Response Fund.
Nav Bhatia, the Raptors Superfan, started a food truck to generate donations for front line workers after teaming up with different Toronto restaurants.
Justine and Bailee Sneiderman are creating masks to help battle food insecurity. Profits from mask sales are donated to Food Banks Canada COVID-19 Response Fund.
Mitch Marner teamed up with Hayley Wickenheiser to encourage PPE donations for health-care workers through his #MakeAnAssist campaign.
And a final nod to the grocery store staff, delivery and restaurant workers and all the people who keep Toronto running through the pandemic.
Photo credits: Tammy Hedley-Egas, Sandy Hudson (Credit: Samuel Engelking), Bianca Andreescu (Credit: Mauricio Paiz), Nav Bhatia (Credit: Jason Hargrove, Flickr), Liberty Group
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