Aloette Preview The Art of Hospitality Food, Wine, and Cocktails - Alo Restaurant

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Aloette Preview The Art of Hospitality Food, Wine, and Cocktails - Alo Restaurant
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                        Aloette Preview
                  The Art of Hospitality
               Food, Wine, and Cocktails
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Aloette Preview The Art of Hospitality Food, Wine, and Cocktails - Alo Restaurant
magazine

                                                                                                  5    The Art of Hospitality   IT’S ALWAYS NICE TO RECEIVE ACCOLADES.
                                                                                                                                And topping Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants was a wonderful
                                                                                                  8    Kitchen Footprint        highlight this spring. Hitting our stride has allowed us to change it
                                                                                                                                up a little in the kitchen, reflected in tweaks in the amuse-bouches,
                                                                                                  12   Terroir: Portugal        adding a course to the menu, altering others. These changes are not
                                                                                                                                only refreshing for the guests, but also keep the staff engaged and
                                                                                                  15   Behind the Bar           excited, and that translates into the experience in the dining room.
                                                                                                                                This year, as we continue to push the envelope of offerings at alo,
                                                                                                  16   Around Town              we will introduce our latest concept—right downstairs—with aloette.
                                                                                                                                Aloette will open soon. It is set up as an American diner, replete
                                                                                                  18   Emerging Toronto         with light rosewood, a 14-seat counter, and camel-coloured
                                                                                                                                banquettes. An arched ceiling implies cosy and tight. An open
                                                                                                                                kitchen invites a creative spin on classic bistro food. Yes, it will be
                                                                                                                                louder in there, with a lower price point and a fun wine and beer
                                                                                                                                list. But the food will be elegant, light, and fresh as we maintain a
                                                                                                                                relationship with the kitchen upstairs. Housed all in one building, we
                                                                                                                                can streamline our operations a little with some shared spaces.
                                                                                                                                In the following pages, you’ll learn about our take on hospitality with
                                                                                                                                our General Manager Amanda Bradley and meet our staff as they
                                                                                                                                share their experiences and programs. Enjoy—we look forward to
                                                                                                                                cooking for you again soon at our restaurants.

                                                                                                                                —Chef Patrick Kriss

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                                                         Visit sanpellegrino.com                                                                                                   alo magazine       3
Aloette Preview The Art of Hospitality Food, Wine, and Cocktails - Alo Restaurant
THE ART OF HOSPITALITY
               WITH AMANDA BRADLEY

             I t’s hard to imagine Amanda
               Bradley getting her feathers
               ruffled in a dining room. But
               she laughs, remembering a
               specific time in her life when
               working in a restaurant was
               anything but easy. “It was
               in France at Michelin-starred La
               Grenouillére. I didn’t have a great
               command of the language, which
               made working there the hardest
               thing I have ever done.” Rather than
               take on a defeatist attitude, Bradley
               embraced mastering the language.
               “You learn a lot about yourself when
               you aren’t in your comfort zone,” she
               admits. In her case, she stretched
               hospitality beyond the language
               barrier, compensating by turning
               up the charm and anticipating her
               guests’ needs. “When you can’t
               verbally express something, your
               smile always has to be there. You
               have to go out of your way to notice
               small details and be proactive,
               instead of waiting to be asked.”

                                alo magazine      5
Aloette Preview The Art of Hospitality Food, Wine, and Cocktails - Alo Restaurant
FRONT-OF-HOUSE
                                                                                                                                    SPOTLIGHT                            Quentin Meloff joined the alo staff when the
                                                                                                                                                                         restaurant first opened. He went to culinary
                                                                                                                                    QUENTIN MELOFF, SERVER’S ASSISTANT   school and worked at several restaurants—
                                                                                                                                                                         including a stint at Michelin-starred
                                                                                                                                                                         Ristorante Andreina in Le Marche, Italy—
                                                                                                                                                                         before having a front-of-house epiphany.
                                                                                                                                                                         “I had always envied the ability of staff to
                                                                                                                                                                         engage with guests, and so I made a change
                                                                                                                                                                         from the kitchen into the dining room.”
                                                                                                                                                                         What’s unique about working at alo?
                                                                                                                                                                         The relationship among our staff. There is
                                                                                                                                                                         no wall between the front of house and the
                                                                                                                                                                         back of house.
Alo is known for its impeccable,           all made sense.” That innate ability       their water, the colour of napkin, and
pre-emptive service, and so it’s easy      to process policies, coupled with a        basically the kind of experience they                                              What is a key personality trait you
to see how Amanda translated this          human interest in making people feel       want. You can have as much or as little                                            need in order to work in hospitality?
life lesson into her current style. She    good about their experiences in a          engagement with us as you prefer.”                                                 Genuine excitement for your job versus a
jokes about getting the staff T-shirts     dining setting, naturally led her down                                                                                        sense of duty. It's the difference between
                                                                                      Defying the industry’s high employee                                               setting a beautiful table and actually wanting
with the slogan “Better proactive than     the hospitality path.
                                                                                      turnover, 95 percent of its current                                                to set that table beautifully.
reactive.” Because she believes that
                                           It was in France, though, where she        front-of-house staff has been with
when someone comes to your house,                                                                                                                                        Favourite part of the workday?
                                           dug deep to best connect with the          alo from Day One. Bradley points
you don’t put them in the position                                                                                                                                       Whenever there's an opportunity to learn
                                           type of hospitality she wanted to          to a well-written cover letter as
of having to ask for something: “It                                                                                                                                      about something new, whether it’s a new
                                           one day present in a place of her          something that catches her eye,
makes guests uncomfortable to be                                                                                                                                         wine, menu item, or hospitality approach.
                                           own. “People think French service is       as well as a winning personality: “I
demanding, so we get ahead of that.”
                                           snooty, with white gloves. But what        can teach you the processes,” she                                                  What do you consider your most
She breaks down the entire dining
                                           I experienced there was completely         smiles, “but I can’t teach you how                                                 important duty?
experience into a simple process: “You
                                           different. It was cool, lively, and fun.   to have a good attitude!” Because                                                  Paying attention to the details, from aligning
require water, a napkin, food and wine,
                                           And what really rubbed off on              the best tool she can give her staff is                                            all the tables to determining which cutlery
and perhaps a toilet break. We have
                                           me was this notion that service            knowledge, alo offers monthly paid                                                 matches which dish—a surprisingly highly
those items covered.”
                                           is not about bringing a plate              wine or bar training for all. “Everyone                                            debated topic! It's cliché, but all those little
She didn’t learn her cordiality A to Zed   to the table—it’s about being              gets a chance to do tastings and                                                   duties are extremely important.
at a fancy training facility, although                                                get the broad strokes on the wine
                                           the person who is the conduit                                                                                                 Favourite dish on the menu?
she did study hospitality and tourism                                                 and cocktail offerings,” she explains.
                                           between the chef and the guest                                                                                                We currently serve a stew-style dish
marketing at Niagara College. In fact,                                                “Educated staffs makes for a better
                                           and learning to manage the                                                                                                    featuring Saltspring Island mussels from
most of her philosophy is grounded                                                    guest experience. There is nothing
                                           expectations of both sides.”                                                                                                  British Columbia, with our pain au lait and
in a basic understanding of the                                                       worse than having to say you don’t
                                                                                                                                                                         cultured butter. It's a bit of a break from a
systems that need to be in place to        Alo very much follows the rules. There     know something.” No matter what
                                                                                                                                                                         “utensils only” dining style. There's no right
work at any job efficiently. She got       is an expected dance in the dining         language it’s in!
                                                                                                                                                                         or wrong way to eat it. Guests get to use
her first taste of this at McDonald's,     room as servers glide in the same fluid    It’s fair to say the art of hospitality has                                        their hands and fully immerse themselves
where she worked at 16 as a cashier,       motion—always on the right—yielding        defined Bradley’s career. She has an                                               in the dish.
moving her way up to training and          to guests, pulling out chairs, and         eye for detail and the bigger picture,
management positions over the next         folding napkins. Even the toilet paper                                                                                        What is your last duty of the day?
                                                                                      as well as a firm grasp of her own role
five years. “What I loved was that         is refolded after each guest exits the                                                                                        Polishing off all the glassware and cutlery,
                                                                                      in it. “My dad’s hobby is fixing small
there was a procedure for everything.      washroom. It rings of haute hotel–                                                                                            ready for the next day.
                                                                                      engines,” she muses. “Perhaps my
From customer service to employee          type service, which makes sense:           fascination with understanding how                                                 If not in hospitality, then …
turnover and food ordering, there          Bradley once interned at the Hilton in     each little part works in connection                                               I would be in the food anthropology or food
was a reason for the way everything        Niagara Falls. But alo breaks the rules    with one another, and tightening                                                   science field. I find it fascinating to trace
went down, almost to a science,            too. “We don’t dictate anything to our     things up to make it better, came from                                             back something as basic as bread or a carrot
and I naturally identified with why it     guests,” Bradley assures. “They choose     that same instinct.”                                                               to its roots.

6   alo magazine                                                                                                                                                                                     alo magazine           7
Aloette Preview The Art of Hospitality Food, Wine, and Cocktails - Alo Restaurant
FROM THE SOURCE                                White Asparagus
KITCHEN FOOTPRINT                               JANSSEN PRODUCE
                                                AND SPECIALTIES
                                                                                               Serrano Ham, Spring Peas,
                                                                                               and Marcona Almonds
COOKING WITH WHITE ASPARAGUS
                                                                                               This delicious white asparagus dish is simple
                                                                                               and easy to prepare.
                                SOUS-CHEF
                                                                                               SERVES 4
                                NICK BENTLEY
                                                                                               Salt to taste
                                                                                               Pinch sugar
                                                                                               2 knobs butter (optional)
                                                                                               10 spears white asparagus
                                                                                               1 cup English spring peas, shelled
                                                                                               150g thinly sliced Serrano ham
                                                                                               50g Marcona almonds, toasted

                                                                                               DRESSING
                                                                                               1 tbsp grainy French mustard
                                                                                               2 tbsp good olive oil
                                                “Ontario is home to many amazing
                                                                                               1 tbsp sherry vinegar
                                                livestock and produce farms that take care
                                                and pride in their products, just the same     Chopped parsley or chives
                                                as a meticulous chef carefully crafting his    Honey or pinch of sugar to taste
                                                or her next tasty dish,” says sous-chef Nick   Salt and pepper to taste
                                                Bentley. He points out Janssen Produce         Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and season to taste.
Cooking with seasonal ingredients is            and Specialties as a prime example.
especially inspiring to the team at alo,                                                       METHOD
                                                Run by husband-and-wife team Peter and
because they get to play with them only a
                                                Leasa Janssen, the Ontario farm has been       Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with a fair
few times a year. “As the seasons change we
                                                growing white asparagus for more than          amount of salt and a pinch of sugar. For extra richness,
see wonderful transformations in nature,
                                                25 years. In fact, Peter was born and raised   add a couple knobs of butter to the cooking water.
and as chefs we like to highlight these once-
                                                in an area of Holland famous for growing       Trim the base of the asparagus by 1 inch to remove the
a-year ingredients to their full potential,”
                                                white asparagus along the German border,       woody part. Peel the asparagus carefully, leaving the
explains sous-chef Nick Bentley. White
                                                and he goes to great lengths to replicate      tip untouched. Be sure to peel twice around the stalk to
asparagus has a short but sturdy season in                                                     remove the woody-textured exterior.
                                                the growing process on his farm.
the later months of spring to early summer.
                                                                                               Blanch the spring peas in the boiling water and cool in
“We like to showcase this rarer spring          “We grow the white asparagus exactly how
                                                                                               ice to retain their colour.
delicacy as a star component to a dish simply   they grow it in Holland,” Peter explains.
with butter, cured pork products, or other      “We import the seed, the root, and all         Drop the asparagus in the water after the peas and
seasonal spring vegetables.”                                                                   reduce the heat. Lower and slower is best for white
                                                of the equipment needed to do it right.”
                                                                                               asparagus. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on how
                                                Even their sandy loam soil is the perfect
White asparagus isn’t genetically different                                                    thick the stocks are, minding the pot so that it doesn’t
                                                complement to Holland’s fields in the          boil. Once tender, cool the asparagus in ice water
from its cousin, green asparagus. In fact, it
                                                south, where all the white asparagus           briefly. Drain on paper towel. Cut the asparagus in half
gets it colour simply from a lack of sunlight
                                                comes from. They hand harvest one spear        or thirds, depending on length.
during the growing process. “Covering the
                                                at a time.
plants in thick layers of mulch and dark
plastic ensures that no sunlight can reach      The Janssen’s keep their asparagus extra       TO PLATE
the spears, preventing photosynthesis           sweet by washing it in their clean, cool       Toss the white asparagus and peas lightly with some
from happening within the vegetable.” This      farm well water. And if the product            of the dressing to coat, adding salt and pepper as
inhibits it from turning green. Woodier         doesn’t stand for itself, their customers      needed. Plate the components, then add your ham
at the base and sweeter than the green,         do. “Many of our German clientele come         and toasted almonds.
Bentley admits that white asparagus does        from all over because of our sweet-tasting     Dress the plate with the remaining dressing.
require different cooking and handling, as      produce. We even had one customer take         Add any greens—arugula, mint, gem lettuces, mizuna—
shown in our white asparagus recipe.            it to Germany in his suitcase so his family    that you may like if you want a more salad-forward
                                                could taste the difference!”                   dish. Enjoy!

8   alo magazine                                                                                                                        alo magazine         9
Aloette Preview The Art of Hospitality Food, Wine, and Cocktails - Alo Restaurant
SUMMER AT ALO

                alo magazine   11
Aloette Preview The Art of Hospitality Food, Wine, and Cocktails - Alo Restaurant
TERROIR                                                                                                                                                                DID YOU KNOW?
                                                                                                                                                                       ŤPortugal is ranked 10th for worldwide
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CHRISTOPHER?                                                                                                                                       wine production.
                                                                                                                                                                       ŤIt is known best for port, Madeira, and
                                                                                                                                                                         now emerging dry table wines.
                                                                                                                                                                       ŤPortuguese wines are named after the
                                                                                                                                                                         region they come from, not always the
                                                                                                                                                                         grape varietal.
                                                                                                                                                                       ŤPort is still handcrafted using ancient
                                                                                                                                                                         artisanal methods.

                                                                                            Portugal is not just defined       yourself in this Provence-
                                                                                            by port. Today it produces         like environment, only much        CURRENTLY ON OUR
                                                                                            world-class wines, both white      quieter and slower, with only      DINING ROOM TASTING MENU
                                                                                            and red, from all corners          the sound of the sea and the
                                                                                                                                                                  These wines are considered benchmark
                                                                                            of the country. Though we          smell of fresh grilled fish and
                                                                                                                                                                  examples of the quality wines of Portugal from
                                                                                            have few reference points          meats to accompany time to         internationally regarded producers.
                                                                                            in relation to France or Italy,    stop and enjoy a bottle.
                                                                                            the Portuguese landscape is
                                                                                                                               Moving through the bustling        2015 ALVARINHO ‘CONTACTO,’
                                                                                            so varied, considering its size.
                                                                                                                               old town of Porto to the Douro     ANSELMO MENDES, VINHO VERDE
                                                                                            Many of the varieties are quite
                                                                                                                               Valley, you feel transported       A charming white wine of subtle yet sweet apple
                                                                                            ancient and exist nowhere else
                                                                                                                               into a sculpted Old World          and pear flavours, though dry and crisp.
                                                                                            in the world. This is the wealth
                                                                                                                               garden of monumental               Pairing: Seafood. Currently paired with a dish
                                                                                            of Portugal—rare, indigenous
                                                                                                                               proportions, filled with golden    composed of madai fish with a toasted bread and
                                                                                            grapes like fine spices that,
                                                                                                                               earth and green vines. The         chorizo crumble, parsley oil, lemon preserve with
                                                                                            when blended, create unique
                                                                                                                               reds can be both full and          Marcona almond, and olives.
                                                                                            wines from region to region.
                                                                                                                               heavy, like those finely aged in
                                                                                            Wines of warmth and body           neighbouring countries, as well
                                                                                                                                                                  2013 MOSCATEL DE SETUBAL,
                                                                                            come from the southeastern         as elegant, crimson-coloured       BARBOSA E FILHOS
                                                                                            Alentejo, the biggest wine         wines that defy the heat and       This is a very fine dessert wine based on the lovely
                                                                                            region in the country. These       intensity of this region. A        and aromatic white moscato grape. Fortified and
                                                                                            are considered the “New            UNESCO World Heritage Zone,        barrel-aged, giving way to caramelised flavours of

                     H
                                                                                            World wines” of Portugal           the Douro is truly remarkable,     apricot and peach.
                                                                                            due to a recent revolution         as are the vistas.
                                                                                                                                                                  Pairing: Banana Parfait with Souffle and Earl
                                                                                            in winemaking techniques                                              Grey dish.
                                                                                                                               Equally dazzling to the north
                                                                                            and knowledge. It’s worth a
                                                                                                                               of Douro, past Portugal’s
                                                                                            drive out to the historic city
                                                                                                                               spiritual city of Guimarães, is
                                     ead Sommelier Christopher Sealy explores               of Evora, and perhaps an
                                     the diverse landscapes of Portugal and the
                                                                                                                               the Minho region, home to          CURRENTLY ON OUR
                                                                                            overnight stay at a winery,
                                                                                                                               vinho verde wines. Providing       MAIN WINE LIST
                                     wines they produce.                                    where the vast landscape of
                                                                                                                               a stark contrast to the heat of
                                     A wine tour last fall took me to Portugal. I happily   rising plains is dotted with                                          2011 DODA, DIRK NIEPOORT
                                                                                                                               Douro, the Minho is a world of
                                     returned for the third time to the blue skies and      vines and olive groves and                                            AND ALVARO DE CASTRO
                                                                                                                               white wines: cool, refreshing,
                                     infinite horizon of the Alentejo in the south; the     mostly volcanic soil.                                                 A collaborative effort from winemakers Dirk
                                                                                                                               and even at times austere and
                                                                                                                                                                  Niepoort of the Douro region and his counterpart,
                                     verdant green region of the Minho to the north;        As you drive north towards         structured. Wines built for        Álvaro de Castro from Dão. Niepoort created this
                                     and the steep, terraced gold and green vineyards       the city of Porto, along the       cellaring. The region is lush,     project in 2000 because he wanted to make a
                                     along the banks of the Douro Valley River. The         windswept western coastline        with plenty of maritime rainfall   great wine of Portugal, combining the power and
                                     Douro, likely Portugal’s most famous wine region,      and beautiful beaches, past        and warm days throughout           weight of the wines of Douro with the finesse of
                                     is a harmonious combination of the monumental          Sintra to the university town      the rolling hills and low-lying    the Dão. The blend is called Doda. For the 2011
                                     forces of man and nature meeting to produce the        of Coimbra, you pass vineyards     mountains. If you love the hills   vintage, they combined 60% of a Douro blend with
                                     much celebrated port wine, and more recently           offering up gently ripened         and forests, this region is well   40% of a Dão blend to produce an exceptional and
                                     some stunning table wine of great quality.             white and red wines. Imagine       worth a visit.                     age-worthy wine.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   alo magazine       13
Aloette Preview The Art of Hospitality Food, Wine, and Cocktails - Alo Restaurant
GIN TRIPTYCH
                                             BY BAR MANAGER JOHN BUNNER

                                             As Toronto moves into more clement weather and our guests’ taste preferences
                                             turn towards lighter spirits, we offer them the chance to celebrate the various ways
                                             in which gin can be enjoyed that won’t knock them out with too much alcohol.

Our latest triptych is a flight of three
mini cocktails that share a common
                                             White                           Duke’s                       Death in
ingredient: gin. We borrow the term          Negroni                         Hotel                        the Gulf
triptych from the medieval art world,        0.5 oz Beefeater Gin            Gibson                       Stream
where it refers to a three-paneled           0.5 blanc vermouth              Dry vermouth to rinse        1 oz By the Dutch
painting or carving, often used as an                                                                     Genever
                                             0.5 Suze Liqueur                1.5 oz No. 3 Gin
altarpiece, whose representations                                                                         0.5 oz lime juice
in some way relate to one another.           In a mixing glass filled with   Slice of lemon peel
                                             ice, add all the ingredients.                                5 dashes Angostura
The term also refers to three related                                        Rinse a frozen 1.5-oz        Bitters
                                             Stir to mix and chill.
pieces that are appreciated together.                                        liqueur glass with dry
                                                                                                          Dash sugar syrup
In this spirit, we present our guests        Pour into a small cocktail      vermouth and fill with
                                             glass and garnish with an       frozen No. 3 Gin.            Fill a small goblet with
with three different gin aperitifs.
                                             orange peel.                                                 cracked ice. Add all the
                                                                             Express lemon oil over the
One is a Gibson made in the fashion                                                                       ingredients. Stir to mix.
                                                                             top and drop in a small
of the Duke’s Hotel in London. The                                           pickled onion.               Chill and top with soda.
Duke’s Hotel’s martini is famous,                                                                         Garnish with a mint sprig.
simply comprising a rinse of vermouth
and freezer-temperature, undiluted
gin. Thus, we rinse a vintage 1.5-oz
liqueur glass with vermouth, pour in
frozen No. 3 London Dry Gin, and drop
in a pickled onion.
Another is a White Negroni. As with
the classic Negroni, a third of this
drink is gin, here Beefeater. What
makes it ‘white’ is the swapping out of
red vermouth and Campari for blanc
vermouth and gentian-flavoured Suze,
respectively. We stir these down with ice
and serve it in a delicate cocktail glass.
The third is a Death in the Gulf
Stream. This cocktail, which is built in a
miniature snifter, is related to the gin
and tonic and includes many purple
lashings of Angostura bitters along
with a touch of lime and soda. What’s
distinctive about this drink is its use of
genever, a malty Dutch precursor to
modern London dry gin.
                                                                                                              alo magazine       15
Aloette Preview The Art of Hospitality Food, Wine, and Cocktails - Alo Restaurant
CHABICHOU                                                                      5
                                                   6
 AROUND                                                                                                                                                                                                                  EVERGREEN BRICKWORKS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            SATURDAY MARKET

 TOWN                                                                        ORD     STREE
                                                                                           T
                                                                                                          3
 Toronto insider and chief concierge                                  HARB
 at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto,
 Liloo Alim weighs in on the best
 places to gather provisions for the
 perfect summer picnic basket.                                                                                                                                                           EET
                                                                                                                                                                                GE STR
                                                                                                                                                                     CO L L E

                                                                                                                                                                                                               YOUN
 With picnic-perfect weather around the            DOUG’S PUBLIC

                                                                                                                                                                                               BAY S
                                                                                                BATH
                                                     KITCHEN

                                                                                                                                            BEVE
 corner, stop in at these local vendors for

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    G
 all your needs. After that, Liloo suggests

                                                                                                                                                                                                TREET

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 STREE
                                                                                                 URST

                                                                                                                                             RLEY
 you catch a ferry from the foot of Bay
 Street and Queen’s Quay and head out to

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   T
                                                                                                                           SPAD

                                                                                                                                              STREE
                                                                                                  STREE
 the Toronto Islands to enjoy your lunch. A
                                                                                          EET
                                                              3                  GE STR
 view of the city skyline is an added bonus!                          CO L L E

                                                                                                                               INA A

                                                                                                                                               T
                                                                                                   T
1. Saks Food Hall by Pusateri’s                                                                                4

                                                                                                                                    VENU

                                                                                                                                                                                UNIV
Hudson’s Bay Queens Street
pusateris.com                                                           KENSINGTON MARKET

                                                                                                                                   E
                                                                                                                                                           EET W

                                                                                                                                                                                 ERSIT
Pusateri’s has been Toronto’s purveyor
                                                                                                                                                  AS STR
of fine foods for a long time, now                                                                                                         DUND
expanding to many locations. This

                                                                                                                                                                                  Y AVE
is one of its most convenient halls.
Prepared fare to market fresh.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1

                                                                                                                                                                                        NUE
                                                                                                                                                                                                        SAKS FOOD HALL
                                                                                                                                                                                                         BY PUSATERI’S
2. St. Lawrence Market South
93 Front Street East
stlawrencemarket.com
A visit to the market is a must for
anyone visiting the city. Stop by for
freshly baked bagels, meats, cheese,                                                                                                                                     TW
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ST. LAWRENCE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              MARKET SOUTH        2
fruit and vegetables, as well as the                                                                                                                      OND      STREE
                                                                                                                                                    RICHM
famous ‘peameal bacon sandwich’ at
the Carousel Bakery.

3. Chabichou                                                                        EET W
                                                                            N STR
                                                                     QUEE
196 Borden StreetŤ774 College Street                                                                                         REET W
                                                                                                                      IDE ST
Fresh breads, French pastries,                                                                                ADELA
charcuterie, pies, and of course
cheese at either location.

4. Kensington Market
West of downtown Toronto, bordered by                                                                         5. Evergreen Brickworks                        6. Doug’s Public Kitchen                         7. Cheese Boutique
Spadina Avenue, Dundas Street, Bathurst                                                                       Saturday Market                                561 Marlee Street                                45 Ripley Street
Street, and College Street                                                                                    550 Bayview Avenue                             dougmcnish.com                                   cheese.boutique.com
kensington-market.ca                                                                                          evergreen.ca                                   A little off the beaten track, well-             A little further afield but worth
Open every day and known for its                                                                              You might have to fight for a parking          known vegan chef and cookbook                    the trek! A 10,000-square-foot
discerning vendors that include                                                                               spot to visit this market, which has           author Doug McNish is known for his              gourmet emporium offering
4Life Natural Foods for grains and                                                                            grown tremendously to now include              organic products. Coconut bacon,                 cheeses from around the globe
nuts and Blackbird Baking Co. for                                                                             such popular staples as pickles,               anyone? Catch his Public Kitchen                 as well as everything from foie
oven-fresh breads.
                                               7   CHEESE BOUTIQUE                                            baked goods, produce, fish and
                                                                                                              meat, and flowers.
                                                                                                                                                             Saturdays at the Evergreen Market.               gras to jams and olive oils.

16   alo magazine                                                                                                                                                                                                                 alo magazine        17
Aloette Preview The Art of Hospitality Food, Wine, and Cocktails - Alo Restaurant
Jake Whilans is
                                                                a local furniture
                                                                maker who              Publisher
                                                                provides services to   MICHAEL GOLDMAN
                                                                residential, retail,   Editor-in-Chief
                                                                and hospitality        PAMELA JOUAN
                                                                sectors. He just       Design Director
                                                                completed a            SETON ROSSINI
                                                                sommelier station      Managing Editor
                                                                and cutlery storage    CHRISTIAN KAPPNER
                                                                unit for alo.          Assistant Editor
                                                                                       STEPHANE HENRION
                                                                                       Senior Copy Editor
                                                                                       KELLY SUZAN WAGGONER

EMERGING TORONTO:                                                                      Contributing Writer
                                                                                       PAMELA JOUAN

JAKE WHILANS                                                                           Photography
                                                                                       NIKKI LEIGH MCKEAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Tell us about the sommelier station.      Overall alo experience? It was a             OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALO
Head sommelier Christopher Sealy          pleasure to work with the alo team;
needed more surface area to properly      I appreciate their commitment to
decant and store bottles of wine.         so passionately perfecting the alo
                                                                                       Advertising Inquiries
                                                                                       718.288.8688
                                                                                                                                                                                 CAVIAR CENTRE INC.
Together, we developed a cabinetry        experience. I tend to obsess over detail     HauteLife Press                                                                           THE ULTIMATE SOURCE FOR FRESH
form that hides an under-counter          in my work, and this project was an          a division of C-BON MEDIA, LLC.                                                           CAVIAR AND FINE FOODS
fridge, custom brass ice cooler, and      incredible opportunity to do so for a        321 Dean Street, Suite 1
integral drainage system, all within a    very practical reason!                       Brooklyn, NY 11217                                                                        Caviar Centre Inc. has been Canada’s main
footprint of 12 square feet so that it                                                 www.hautelifepress.com                                                                    caviar distribution company for over 25
                                          When did you first discover                  info@hautelifepress.com
would not impede the flow of traffic                                                                                                                                             years. Established in June of 1992, the
                                          your interest in woodworking?
or obscure the consummate drama of                                                     Subscription Inquiries                                                                    company has played a pioneering role in
                                          I designed and fabricated my own
the place. A cantilevered soapstone
                                          chair as a student and fell in love with
                                                                                       718.288.8688
                                                                                       subscriptions@hautelifepress.com
                                                                                                                               “We use this caviar because of its                introducing premium quality caviar to the
countertop maximises the usable
surface area and makes the station feel
                                          woodworking. The elements of form            or visit www.hautelifepress.com         clean and rich taste with perfect                 Canadian market and educating Canadians
                                                                                                                                                                                 about this unique and exotic delicacy.
                                          and function are so interconnected,
self-contained.
                                          while the structural and aesthetic           HauteLife Press makes every             texture. It is not overly salty and
You also created a cutlery storage        properties of wood are so varied. I
                                                                                       effort to ensure that the information
                                                                                       it publishes is correct but cannot be   pairs perfectly with the Toro.”                   IMPERIAL OSETRA CAVIAR
                                                                                                                                                                                 Imperial Osetra caviar is a rare sturgeon
unit. Another opportunity to improve      virtually lost myself in the process!        held responsible for any errors
workflow! It features 11 individual                                                    or omissions.                                          —CHEF PATRICK KRISS                caviar which used to be exclusively
                                          Define yourself as an artist in                                                                                                        reserved for the czars of Russia. Known
drawers, each lined with leather in an                                                 Printed and bound in Canada.
                                          five words. Mediator between form                                                                                                      for its delicious nutty and creamy flavour,
effort to both protect and dampen                                                      © 2017 All rights reserved.
                                          and material.                                Reproduction without permission                                                           Imperial Osetra caviar is great for any
the acoustics of the cutlery. A carved
top surface snuggly stores service        Tool of your craft you can’t live            is strictly prohibited.                                                                   occasion or event.
trays that the staff supply with each     without? The romantic answer is my
set. Built entirely out of white oak,     Auriou rasp, a hand tool for shaping the                                                                                               Caviar Centre carries an extensive
ebonised, and finished with a hand-       finishing touches of curved objects. But                                                                                               variety of fresh sustainable caviar. We
rubbed oil, it is a reflection of the     my laptop is my most cherished tool                                                                                                    have the most selection of sturgeon and
delicate attention to detail found        at my disposal to allow me to generate                                                                                                 non-sturgeon caviar to fit your individual
throughout the alo experience.            form, develop prototypes, and operate                                                                                                  taste and budget.
                                          efficiently in a contemporary context.
The two pieces match? Correct.                                                                                                                                                   CONTACT US
They share a similar design, matching     If not an artist... I would be a                                                                                                       ŤLQIR#FDYLDUFHQWUHFRP
custom brass pulls, and both are made     helicopter pilot.
from solid white oak, locally sourced
with Forest Stewardship Council
                                          See Jake’s work and contact him at             163 Spadina Ave, 3rd Floor
(FSC)–certified lumber. The soapstone     jakewhillans.com. Studio visits are             Toronto, Ontario M5V 2L6                                    Toro, imperial osetra
countertop materials are from the         encouraged, as he always has a variety               416.260.2222                                           caviar, preserved lemon,
state of Vermont.                         of pieces on hand.                                 alorestaurant.com
                                                                                                                                                      macadamia nut oil
18   alo magazine
© 2017 Nestle Waters North America Inc.

                                              In the vast Panna Estate, rich in natural                     Naturally filtered over 30 years by the Italian
                                            beauty and situated in the heart of Tuscany,                     Alps and bottled at the source in Bergamo,
                                          lies the source of the pleasingly balanced and                    Italy, S.Pellegrino has been a key ingredient
                                           refreshing Acqua Panna spring water. Acqua                       in exceptional meals since 1899. Chefs trust
                                             Panna boasts a unique smooth and velvety                          their sources. Chefs trust S.Pellegrino.
                                            taste, giving it the rare ability to please all
                                               discerning palates. A Taste of Tuscany.

                                                               THE FINE DINING WATERS                                  THE FINE DINING WATERS
                                                                                                                                     THE FINE DINING WATERS                     THE FINE D
                                                                             Discover the Taste Guide at itinerariesoftaste.com/us                            THE FINE DINING WATERS
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