Toronto has an abundance of award-
winning chefs and stellar restaurants.
Award-winning Chefs
Gold Medal Plates awarded the following chefs on Nov. 19, 2009 for excellence in cuisine:
Nota Bene
Gold medalist chef David Lee opened Nota Bene in 2008. A year later, it was dubbed best new restaurant by Toronto Life and EnRoute.
Signature dish: Few can resist the Nova Scotia Lobster Salad with avocado, maple bacon, blue cheese and buttermilk dressing.
180 Queen Street West | 416-977-6400 | Closed Sundays.
NotaBeneRestaurant.com
Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa
Langdon Halls' executive chef, Jonathan Gushue, is no stranger to awards. He's a Relais & Chateaux Grand Chef and landed a five-diamond rating from the AAA/CAA.
Signature trait: Gushue keeps an extensive chef's vegetable garden and taps nearby maples for syrup. Now that's local!
1 Langdon Drive, Cambridge, Ontario | 519-740-2100
LangdonHall.ca
Frank at the Art Gallery of Ontario
Bronze went to executive chef Anne Yarymowich whose comforting local food reflects contemporary taste. A strictly Ontario wine list featured here.
Signature trait: Yarymowich's menus traverse the province, sourcing delicacies from east (Prince Edward County) to west (Niagara region).
317 Dundas Street West | 416-979-6688 | Open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Closed Mondays.
AGO.net/Frank
Stellar Restaurants
Food grown right in our backyards was featured in April 2009 at the second annual Brewers Plate. For those who missed this local, sustainable spring feast, here's how to fast-track the chefs.
Cowbell
Chef Mark Cutrara and in-house butcher Ryan Donovan offer nose-to-tail dining and homemade butter, too.
Signature dish: Dry-aged beef served with local mushrooms in a demi-glaze
1564 Queen Street West | 416-849-1095 | Closed Sundays and Mondays.
CowbellRestaurant.ca
Rebel House
Chef Karen Vaz has logged nine years at this Rosedale spot where pub food is not grub food.
Signature dish: An addictive little appetizer/biscuit called Spicy Spinach and Cheese Pennies
1068 Yonge Street | 416-927-0704
RebelHouse.ca
Gilead Bistro
Local pioneer Jamie Kennedy's Gilead Café turns into Gilead Bistro most evenings offering delectable à la carte service.
Menu highlight: Cumbrae Farm's seared hangar steak served with mushroom duxelle, consommé and marrow toast points
4 Gilead Place | 416-362-1957 | Café open daily; Bistro dinners Tuesdays thru Saturdays; Sunday brunch.
JamieKennedy.ca
Veritas
Two years ago, Chef Brad Long opened this downtown resto just a stone's throw from Street Lawrence Market, Toronto's first and foremost farmers' market.
Signature dish: "Our ingredients! But Lobser lasagna and four-tier carrot cake with brown butter and mascarpone are a close second."
234 King Street East | 416-363-8447 | Closed Sundays.
LocalFare.ca
La Palette
Chef Brook Kavanaugh sources out artisanal products for the local, seasonal fare he serves at this French bistro tucked inside Kensington Market.
Signature style: Exotic game meats like wild buffalo loin, Nunavut caribou, Quebec venison and bison rib-eye all land on the menu - as does horse tenderloin.
256 Augusta Avenue | 416-929-4900 | Dinner every night, brunch on weekends.
LaPalette.ca
The Chef’s House at George Brown College
215 King Street East | 416-415-2260 | Open to the public for lunch and dinner, Monday to Friday.
The deal: $18 for a prix fixe lunch or $39 for dinner.
TheChefsHouse.com
The Humber Room at Humber Collegiate
205 Humber College Boulevard | 416-675-5012 | Open to the public for lunch Monday to Friday, dinner Tuesday and Wednesdays.
The deal: An appetizer, entrée and dessert will cost no more than $16 to $24.
TheHumberRoom.ca