Lucky Dip – Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

In Toronto:

We’re getting closer to the opening of Bellwoods Brewery (124 Ossington Avenue), with the news that chef Guy Rawlings has left Lucien to consult on the menu for the picnic-style offerings the brewery will have to go with their beer. This collaboration has been in the works since last summer, with Rawlings working at various places around town until the project was ready.

The Fairmont Royal York (100 Front Street West) welcomes Chef Collin Thornton as the new Executive Chef. Thornton comes from The Fairmont Orchid in Hawaii and takes over from Chef David Garcelon who is now at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York.

Catch, a sustainable seafood restaurant from the people behind the Rushton has opened on St. Clair West. Apparently they don’t want you to eat there, however, as they’ve not bothered to put the address on their website. (It’s 744 St. Clair Avenue West, by the way, but I shouldn’t have had to go searching for it…)

Ultra Supper Club (314 Queen Street West) has closed its doors and will be replaced by a nightclub called Cube.

You should go:

On Sunday, February 26th, head to Parkdale for lunch/brunch at one of the many Tibetan restaurants on the strip at Queen and Lansdowne. Students for a Free Tibet host their 2nd annual Eat For Tibet event at Shangrila (1600 Queen Street West), Le Tibet (1526 Queen Street West), Tibet Kitchen (1544 Queen Street West), Om Restaurant (1439 Queen Street West), Tsampa Cafe (1528 Queen Street West), and Himalayan Cafe (1500 Queen Street West). There will be fantastic Tibetan food, live music and performances and the chance to learn more about the work done by Students For a Free Tibet. Drop by any of the participating restaurants between 11am – 4pm.

Sadie’s Diner (504 Adelaide Street West) hosts an all-you-can-eat chili night on Tuesday, February 28th. $10 gets you unlimited vegan chili plus chips, with all proceeds donated to the Toronto Vegetarian Association. The fun starts at 6:30pm.

In other food news:

Via Mercanti wins out over Piola in Steven Davey’s reviews this week. [NOW]

Why French chefs don’t get fat. [Bon Appetit]

Deep in the heart of Texas… they’re going vegan and loving it. [The Dallas Morning News]

When “local” delicacies migrate to other parts of the world. [Guardian]

I never got the correlation between peanuts and baseball games but if you’re an allergy sufferer, it must really suck. [Eatocracy]