August is half over, so you’d better embrace the rest of summer while you can. It’s easy, with all that’s going on this week!

But first, today is Julia Child’s birthday. Let’s just take a moment and celebrate that, because without her, we wouldn’t have the appreciation for French food and even cooking at home that we do today, and we certainly wouldn’t have spent hours at the stove working on our Boeuf Bourguignon  either. And of course, she paved the way for women chefs. Something also worth celebrating, hence my Top Women Chefs piece earlier this week. 

Okay, now let’s dig into this week’s resto activity:

Open:

Poutineville
296 Brunswick Ave.

Poutineville opened to the public yesterday, and while you might think you’re already over the trend, perhaps you should take a look at this Montreal chain’s take on the Quebec treat.

First of all, the space is epic. 100 seats? You better believe they’re going to be filled. Secondly, they’re open until 5am on Saturdays, which means you can step up from that streetmeat you’re downing after the club. And of course, the food. While the menu boasts much more than mere fries, gravy and curds (burgers, sandwiches, salads), you’ve simply got to try the poutine. Whether you go with a signature or build-your-own (go ahead and chose sliced pogos!), the portion alone is like something out of Man vs. Food. And the taste? Well, you’re just going to have it try it for yourself. I recommend the classic Poutineville ($12/$15) to start.

Tori & Cate's Cupcakes Bakery Cafe
1592 Bayview Ave. 

Breakfast has become the new dinner. So much so, people are lining up for just ricotta and jam on toast midafternoon at a restaurant in LA, and well, you know how bonkers the brunch scene is here in the city. 

So Tori & Cate’s Cupcakes new Bakery Café, specializing in all-day breakfast, lands aptly in the family-centric Leaside and Davisville area, with their grand opening held yesterday.

All-day breakfasts include your usual roundup – eggs, omelettes, pancakes, waffles and even cereal.

Great. Now there are going to be lineups for cereal...

Wild Burger
709 Mount Pleasant Rd.

Another burger joint? Le sigh, you exclaim!  But wait, this one might just be different. After all, Chef Suman is whipping up sustainable burgers and sliders. And there’s wild boar and the surprisingly original Atlantic Tuna Burger, seasoned with dry roasted spices and stuffed into a marinated portobello mushroom with brie , then fried until golden and topped with artichokes and avocado. Oh my.

Open now, most of the media frenzy will land next week, after WB has their grand opening on Friday August 22nd (yes we’ll be there and promise to share all the juicy details). All profits from the event will benefit FoodShare Toronto in support of healthy food and food education in schools. Now that’s truly awesome.

And hopefully, the burgers will be too. Stay tuned.

Linwood Essentials
930 Queen St. W.

Their soft opening was so soft, it almost went unnoticed by some of us. But with Catalan Fried Chicken ($11) buttermilk fried, served with a sweet plum and brandy sauce, to nibble on and intoxications such as The Troublemaker - peanut butter-infused Wild Turkey, Young's Chocolate Stout, demerara syrup, egg whites, egg yellows and topped with Snickers shavings, we’re taking notice. And notes. 

I can’t wait to try everything on the menu (Fall is on the way, so the extra pounds won’t be as noticeable).

Don’t Miss It:

Mexilicious celebrates Mexican cuisine and ends tomorrow. If you’re looking for an excuse to jam more tacos and margaritas into your weekend, now you’ve got one. Particiapating restaurants include La Mexicana, Margaitas, El Trompo, Los Colibris, Fonda Lola, Pancho’s Bakery, El Caballito, Dos Amigos, El Rincon Mexicano and Milagro Cantina Mexicana.

You can still get in on the Leaside #BurgerBattle.

Events:

The CNE opens today. I got a sneak peek at a few items (check out our Instagram for more) and will have more coming your way throughout the duration of the Ex. I’ll be making my way into the Food Building as well as a look at the food truck rally happening next weekend. 

If you can’t get enough heat, head down to Harbourfront this weekend. Starting today, the Hot and Spicy Food Festival is sure to get your eyes watering and nose running.

Head out to Jonathan Ashbridge Park this Sunday for the third annual Baconfest, where 40 vendors compete to be your fave pick.

Announcements:

Chef Eric Wood has left The Beverley Hotel, saying“Look East, as more than the sun is rising. I can promise you that I’m looking forward to getting back to my roots: locally focused, with a bit of sparkle, and continuing what I started at The Beverley, FABARNAK and Hawthorne, a love affair with the neighbourhoods and flavours of the city that I have grown to love and call my own. We’re just getting started...” Binh An Nguyen has been named executive chef, overseeing the menus of the hotel's dining room and rooftop patio.

Vancouver Aquarium’s national sustainable seafood program, Ocean Wise announced on Monday their new partners in seafood sustainability are Café Boulud and d|bar lounge.  New sustainable seafood offerings (marked with the Ocean Wise symbol) at Café Boulud include potato-wrapped striped bass with pommes purée, glazed leeks, watercress, and sauce meurette; and shellfish paella with Spanish fried rice, mussels, clams, chorizo, shrimp, humboldt squid, garlic and saffron aioli.  d|bar lounge’s new Ocean Wise options include a seared albacore tuna with winter radish, edamame, and yuzu vinaigrette.
 
Closed:

PicNic Wine Bar closed its doors in Leslieville after six years and Ardor Bistro on Ossington, shut down after just one. Craft Dogs on King East is also no more.

p.s. Don't forget to vote for your favourite restaurants around town.

p.p.s. Still looking for fun stuff to do? Grab some sangria, hang out on Baldwin, recapture the flame on date night, or brave the cooler weather on a patio.