In Toronto:
Remember the sad, tired cafeteria on the 8th floor of the Bay Queen Street? Now it looks like this. The Arcadian Loft is a new event space run by Oliver & Bonacini set to open soon.
Annona in the Park Hyatt Toronto (4 Avenue Road) has introduced a spring sharing menu, featuring dishes suitable for 3-4 people and including lobster grilled cheese, seafood risotto, rack of lamb, and filet mignon.
Tomorrow is FoodShare‘s Great Big Crunch. Register with them and then eat an apple. Yeah, it’s mostly for schoolkids, but apples are tasty and it sets a good example for the kids in your life.
You should go:
Canoe (66 Wellington Street West) teams up with Montreal’s Chef Martin Picard for the Canoe Shack-Up to launch the Au Pied du Cochon Sugar Shack cookbook on March 17th. Tickets are $185, all inclusive, and that’ll get you 5 courses with wine pairings. I’d expect some foie gras.
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) hosts the world’s weirdest dinner on March 26th. TV personality Bob Blumer hosts a dinner featuring some elements of the world’s weirdest restaurants, to launch his new TV series about the same. Apparently there will be toilet-shaped hot pots. Tickets are $38, not including tax and grat.
In other restaurant news:
Dear cinema operators – we will continue to smuggle our own snacks in until you lower your prices and/or offer a better selection. Seriously. [The Guardian]
Drink lots and don’t be a fusspot – how to get fantastic service at a restaurant. [Grub Street]
In case you needed another reason to adore actor Wendell Pierce – he’s opened a chain of supermarkets in New Orleans geared to low income communities. (There’s even a free shuttle bus for customers who spend more than $50 so people living in food deserts can get their groceries home easily. Brilliant!) [New York Times]
I love seeing awesome places like South Indian Dosa Mahal getting some love. This lady is fabulous and the food is fantastic. [Spice City Toronto]