Essential Toronto Magazine 2016 | Page 24

GO and wine are what set a world-class culinary city apart,” says Boulud. For many locals, the arrival of Boulud, an internationally-acclaimed Michelin-starred chef, was a big win. But for those on the outside looking in, for potential visitors to the city, Boulud gave Toronto’s culinary credibility a big level-up. At the same time, New York City chef David Chang also opened the first Canadian location of his Momofuku restaurants, next door to the Shangri-La Toronto, adding even more street cred. A couple of years later in 2014, chef Jonathan Waxman, also from New York City, brought his California-style comfort cuisine to Toronto and opened Montecito in partnership with Toronto native and film director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters). It’s significant events like these that have put Toronto on the map for restaurateurs looking to expand their businesses, while in the background, the city’s multiculturalism and food culture have also created a substantial level of demand, making it an exciting and challenging destination for the ambitious, but an extremely rewarding one, too. Dining scene aside, with the Toronto International Film Festival, sports franchises like the Blue Jays and the Raptors who are winning games and taking names, and of course, Drake, Toronto (rather, the “6ix”) is having its moment and doesn’t seem to show any signs of slowing. Byblos 11 Duncan St., 647-660-0909; byblostoronto.com Café Boulud Four Seasons Toronto, 60 Yorkville Ave., 416-963-6000; cafeboulud.com/Toronto Canoe Toronto-Dominion Centre, 66 Wellington St. W., 54th Floor, 416-364-0054; canoerestaurant.com d|bar Four Seasons Toronto, 60 Yorkville Ave., 416-963-6010; dbartoronto.com Fring’s 455 King St. W., 416-979-9696; fringsrestaurant.com JaBistro 222 Richmond St. W., 647-748-0222; jabistro.com Jamie’s Italian Yorkdale Shopping Centre, 3401 Dufferin St., 416-238-7450; Square One Shopping Centre, 100 City Centre Dr., Mississauga, 905-766-9090; jamieoliver.com/Italian Kinka Izakaya 398 Church St., 416-977-0999; 559 Bloor St. W., 647-343-1101; kinkaizakaya.com Kinton Ramen 51 Baldwin St., 647-748-8900; 668 Bloor St. W., 416-551-8177; 402 Queen St. W., 647-350-8666; 396 Church St., 647-348-8555; kintonramen.com Montecito 299 Adelaide St. W., 416-599-0299; montecitorestaurant.ca Patria 478 King St. W., 416-367-0505; patriatoronto.com FRoM toP: AN OFFeRINg FROM MOMOFUKU ShōTō; The STYLISh INTeRIOR OF JABISTRO; ReSTO -LOUNge FRINg’S FROM CheF SUSUR Lee AND RAppeR DRAKe 24 where.ca / / e s s e n t i a l t o r o n t o 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7 Weslodge Saloon 480 King St. W., 647-660-0999; weslodge.com MoMofuku shoto photo kayla rocca. Momofuku Shōtō 190 University Ave., 647-253-8000; momofuku.com