Is Fine Dining A Dying Breed In Toronto?

The restaurant scene in Toronto is booming. Gastro-gems are popping up on corners across town and formerly neglected neighbourhoods are becoming culinary hubs for the epicurious. The trend of the tartan shirt server has slowed down – somewhat. The restos du jour are accepting reservations – mostly. Bay Streeters are brunching alongside stentorian university students. Dining out five or six nights a week has become an avocation of the everyman. As culinary culture creeps towards the middle, both in access and audience, what has come of the upper echelon of eating out? Is fine dining a dying breed in Toronto?

Find out the answer in my FULL ARTICLE at View the Vibe.

Photo from Hunt Camp at Farmhouse Tavern

One Winery. One Restaurant. One Fine Affair!

Adjusting back to 'the real world' has been quite the adjustment. After 4.5 months away and nearly a decade of frequent moves and gleeful transience I've returned home to Toronto with relative permanence.

With my inhibition-less galavanting on hold and a need to replenish the coffers I've found myself a steady job and re-immersed myself into a city that I do truly love and enjoy. Lucky for me (whether through quality networking skills, the right timing, or a lacklustre background check) I've begun work with a stellar company—View the Vibe (www.ViewtheVibe.com)—headed up by an exceptional and passionate woman (Nicki Laborie)—that allows me to attend awesome events, such as this one:

The Argento Wines event @ One Restaurant in the Hazelton Hotel

Treated to an evening of fine wine by Silvia Corti and a miraculous meal, curated at one of the masterful Mark McEwan restaurants; here is a little taste of the evening's affairs!

Read my View the Vibe event writeup here!

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/40663002?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0&amp;badge=0&amp;color=c39900" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/40663002">Cerca del Cielo (close to the sky)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/argentowine">Argento Wine</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Lamb Empanadas

Beet Salad w/ goats cheese and sweet pea mousse

New Argento Bonarda, 2011

Pan Seared Salmon

L to R: Beef Short Rib w/ thyme frites, Tenderloin w/ chimichuri, Pico de Gallo

L to R: Cabrales Blue Cheese, Running of the Bulls, St. Jorge, Don Panchego