Dear reader,

There’s nothing more relaxing than a weekend of wining and dining in Prince Edward County. The problem is making it happen: forking over a month’s rent for somewhere to stay, selling your soul for a reservation at the restaurant of the moment, then sitting through the particular hell that is cottage country traffic. Listen, I love tipsy bike rides through rolling vineyards as much as the next person—but a trip to the county simply isn’t in the cards for me this year.

That’s why I was happy to hear that Martine’s Wine Bar, the latest venture from the Bar Raval team, is bringing a taste of PEC to the city. Each week, Martine’s vegetable-forward menu is curated around whatever’s in season at co-owner Grant van Gameren’s county farm. Whole-roast birds, fresh pasta and a casual wine program round out the experience. Plus, the wood-panelled space (and unmissable rooster statue) will make you feel like you’re in a converted barn. Who needs a view of the lake?

Also in this week’s newsletter: a Kitchen Diaries with Roberto Marotta—the chef at Dova, Ardo and Bar Ardo—and a glimpse at Pia, a monthly Mediterranean and Indian fusion pop-up.

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Martine’s Wine Bar is offering a nostalgic farm-to-table experience in the former Woodlot space on Palmerston. Twice a week, co-owner Grant van Gameren unloads a truck full of seasonal homegrown vegetables. Then he and head chef Luke Haines (of Bar Raval and Buca) come up with a game plan. “If it takes us more than three minutes to think through a dish, we scrap it and start again,” says Van Gameren. “We don’t want anything to be over-thought.” 

Pia is chef Jaydeep Pendse’s new Indian/Italian/Spanish fusion pop-up. Think arancini stuffed with deeply spiced chicken biryani and Basque-inspired French toast. If you haven’t experienced the surprising harmony of Mediterranean and Indian cuisine, stay tuned for the next event.

Roberto Marotta, a connoisseur of Sicilian cuisine, has been cooking since he was a kid in Italy. He stocks his home kitchen like a seasoned pro: a mountain of parmigiano-reggiano, all the makings of a charcuterie board and imported pistachio crema.

In the latest issue: our annual ranking of where to eat now. Plus, the small-town doctor who tore his community apart; confessions of a reformed shoplifter; an eye-popping history of Budweiser Stage; and more. Still not receiving Toronto Life at home? Subscribe today.