Your weekly digest of Toronto food news
YOUR WEEKLY DIGEST OF TORONTO FOOD NEWS |
Dear reader, In last week’s newsletter, I professed my love for breakfast sandwiches. This week, I’m bringing you the second half of my two-part sandwich series: the Italian edition. That’s because all sorts of Italian sandwich stallions are taking over Toronto, and I have nothing to say about the delicious invasion except grazie. When I was in Florence a couple of years ago, I stood in a line that was at least 75-people long under the hot Tuscan sun for a sandwich from All’ Antico Vinaio. The legendary lunch counter is famous for their sandwiches made on schiaciatta, a type of Tuscan flatbread that’s thinner and crispier than focaccia, its chonkier cousin. Between the heat, the men whose job it was to keep the line moving, the shouting of orders and the almost violent slicing and dicing happening in the kitchen, it was the most stressed out I’ve ever been about a sandwich. But it was worth it, and by the time I left Italy, I was almost made of mortadella; more pig than person. And now I don’t need to pay for a plane ticket to get to the land of panini. Toronto has never been short on Italian deli-style sandwiches, but recently there’s been an almost embarrassing abbondanza. (Not that I’m complaining.) In the last year alone, Crudo, Ariete E Toro, Alfie’s, AiFam and Dispotino have all started slinging some version of Italian sandwiches. The newest place on the scene, which just opened last weekend is Tutto Panino, a cute little spot on Sorauren Avenue with an interesting origin story. Also in this week’s newsletter: even more Italian content, dim sum lessons from a top chef, Burdock Brewery’s new Kensington Market bar, patio season arrives at Waterworks, and more. |
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| —Rebecca Fleming
Food-and-drink editor |
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In 2024, musician Charlotte Day Wilson wanted to open a restaurant to bring together good food and an even better community. She teamed up with a few friends and they started Tutto Panino, a pop-up series at Burdock Brewery in Kensington Market specializing in classic Italian sandwiches and treats. One year later, they now have a stand-alone shop on Sorauren Avenue, in the previous home of Mitzi’s Café. We spoke to Wilson and her Tutto Panino team members to find out how it all happened. |
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| And guess what? They’ll be serving panuozzi, sandwiches that use pizza dough in place of bread. San Vito—a bakery, hot table and licensed trattoria—will bring a taste of Italy to Etobicoke’s waterfront this July. |
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| Did you think I was done with Italian content? Think again! Not content with three permanent locations in Toronto, Eataly has opened a summer pop-up in the Distillery District. It’s a piccolo version of the Italian emporium, but you can bet they’re serving sandwiches. |
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| For the month of June, chef Eric Chong will be teaching people how to make siu mai, har gow and more dim sum staples every Monday night. The one-hour, hands-on lesson is followed by a three-course dinner with drinks. We could think of worse ways to start the week. |
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| After turning the former Sasmart department store in Kensington Market into their production space in 2023, the Burdock Brewery team has opened a full-service restaurant right next door, on the former site of an iconic market eatery and watering hole. |
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| Just in time for the (more than fashionably late) arrival of summer, Waterworks now has two patio situations—one courtesy of the Civil Works cocktail geniuses, the other from the wine experts of Grape Witches. |
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