Listed in Fashion Stores
Frank & Oak has finally found a permanent home on West Queen West. The contemporary menswear brand has spent the last three years building a cult fanbase online and through a bricks and mortar location in their hometown of Montreal. After a successful pop-up shop on King West last winter, they've returned to town - this time, for good."Toronto is one of the most culturally vibrant cities in North America," says Frank & Oak co-founder Ethan Song. "When we looked at where in Canada we wanted to open, I think this was the first choice. And this neighbourhood, specifically - we didn't even look elsewhere. We knew for sure we wanted to be on Queen West."
They zeroed in on the former Hoops sportsbar at Queen and Tecumseth, which has now been totally overhauled into a coolly modern hangout that features a cafe in front (complete with Stumptown brews) and a barbershop in back - a nod to their goal of providing an "immersive" experience. (As Song says: "Why shouldn't a store be a place you want to visit multiple times a week, and not just one or twice a year when you want to buy something?")
In the middle is the store floor, which is packed with understated pieces done up in a palette of navys, deep reds and neutrals. True to their lifestyle-oriented focus, there's a healthy mix of natty and casual pieces, with button-downs and slim-cut sweats side by side.
"We don't have big logos, the clothes are simple - but you can see that the thought is there, the details are there," Song says. Many of their pieces are shockingly affordable: A merino sweater is just $55, while a 100% leather messenger bag rings in at $245.
Essentially, the store will stock the full collection of items as found online, but there are a few unique products at the store that you won't find on the webstore, including bulkier pieces like outerwear (a nice peacoat will run you about $265) and some home goods and grooming products. "We have the philosophy that we want to collaborate with local designers and craftsmen, so more and more, you're going to see unique buys offered only in Toronto," Song adds.
Speaking of grooming: The same Ernest Supplies and Baxter of California products are also used at the back of the shop. "A lot of them are very natural, non-heavy. Guys, we know nothing about products - the more simple it is, the better it is," explains barber Simon Chercuitte. Their cuts and shaves (complete with hot towels) take a traditional approach: "We're going to bring back some old school stuff that's been forgotten throughout the years."
While the Frank & Oak brand continues to live (and do 99% of its sales) online, Song says the expansion is not only a new revenue channel, but a way to better get to know their shoppers (and their new neighbours). "A lot of people open stores to build a clientele," he says, "but what if we open stores once we have a clientele, to bring a community together?
"When we got started, I just felt like people from my generation were missing that human contact. And that's the reason why all these young people move in the same neighbourhood, build restaurants and bars and hang out," he says. "We're part of a super-digital story, and we want to be part of a super-localized story, but I don't see that as competitive. You can be both."
Photos by James C. Lee.
Ricci's Pizzeria & Sandwich Shoppe in Woodbridge might look slick, but it's actually an old school joint with a pedigree and reputation earned over 25 years of serving sandwiches at the corner of Weston and Langstaff. Five months ago, the restaurant underwent a major facelift, swallowing up neighbouring storefronts and expanding to offer stylish cafeteria seating.
There's seemingly something for everyone. One table with kids is elbows deep in spaghetti, while pairs of lunching office workers are each eating a salad and splitting a sandwich; a table of construction workers got ready-made slices when they walked in and had sandwiches delivered to the table before they'd eaten to the crust.
First up, the massive veal sandwich ($7.25), a thick stack of thinly pounded, perfectly seasoned, breaded meat layered between soft Italian buns with bright red sauce and exceptionally sweet sautéed onions. 
I've heard the panzos here are not to be missed, so obviously I need assess for myself. The basic with cheese and sauce priced at $9 seems steep initially, though the enormous golden half moon with extra crispy, crimped edges is worth every penny. 
Pasta dishes start with a choice of noodles, lasagna or stuffed pastas topped with meat or tomato sauce ($8.75-$9.50), or can be upgraded for $3 to $4 more with chicken, sausage or meatballs, or sauces like carbonara, primavera or alla vodka. I try the spaghetti upgraded with Matrigiana sauce, a bowl of perfectly cooked noodles tossed in a sweet white wine and tomato sauce and punctuated by onions and chunks of salty bacon. I especially like how thoroughly coated the noodles are.
The pies come in four sizes ranging from 12" to party-sized, and are available with your standard variety of toppings plus delicacies like prosciutto, rapini and bocconcini. The crust is evenly baked, crunchy on the outside and soft and slightly chewy at its centre.
If you're headed up to Vaughan Mills or Wonderland already, I can assure that Ricci's merits a detour. I'd even go so far as to dub it destination-worthy.
Photos by 
Spacing Store is the brand-new retail offshoot of the 
After years of selling back issues and other paraphernalia online, publisher and founder Matthew Blackett says the expansion was born out of necessity. "It got to the point where it was hard, in our office, which was only about 250 square feet, to maintain the stuff that we had, run a magazine - with lots of boxes of magazines, when they come in - and then other people's stuff," Blackett says. "It just became not only a business idea, but also became a logistical thing."
They teamed up with 401 Richmond's ownership, who were looking to convert the sunken, street-level unit from storage space into something that would engage the surrounding community. Now, the industrial-chic, glass-and-concrete space is packed to the gills with prints, clothing, books, and gifts.
Naturally for Spacing, you'll find a far more locally-oriented and design-minded selection of products than at your typical tourist-trap souvenir shop; their menu, Blackett says, is "no moose, no beavers". "The city is much more complex and dynamic than that. There is an iconography to the city that I don't think people necessarily realize."
That's celebrated in everything from the reprinted vintage TTC posters ($25 each) to their selection of neighbourhood and subway buttons to guitar picks made from repurposed Metropasses. Tuck Shop Trading Co.'s Toronto 
The Toronto spirit is further represented in custom-built decks by the student-run Oasis Skateboard Company, as well as oddities like bacon-scented Hogtown Peameal candles from 
The selection also veers into city-friendly pieces that aren't quite so Toronto-themed. An entire shelf is loaded with cycling-themed gear, including 
Though the shop was born out of Spacing's own practical demands, the team also sees the project as tackling a real void in the city's retail scene. The demand among Torontonians for clever, well-designed merchandise celebrating the city is clear - Spacing's presence at events like Word On The Street has grown year over year, culminating in a pop-up shop last fall that brought in over $25,000.
In recent months, Blackett says, the Spacing team has been running tours down to the Detroit area: "They have six stores dedicated to Detroit. I think Detroit's amazing - there's a lot of mythology around it, and that helps. But if Detroit, in its current state, can have six city stores, Toronto can at least have one.
Photos by Morris Lum.
MUJI Toronto is the first location in the Japanese home goods and fashion chain's foray into Canada. Spread over 4,400 square feet (tiny, compared to the megachain's worldwide locations) in the Atrium on Bay, the flagship store will be many Canadians' first introduction to the brand. Others, who have shopped their stores in New York, Japan or Europe, are no doubt thrilled at the prospect of stocking up on no-frills housewares and clothing - without having to lug it all home in a suitcase.
The brown-paper wrapping is a minimalist's dream, the materials tend to be sturdy, and the designs - from a folding eyelash curler to tiny ceramic toothbrush stands - take up as little space and create as little waste as possible. Think IKEA, with half the whimsy (no blobby shapes or neon colours here) and twice the function. 
Their cult appeal has spread the brand's name far and wide into untapped markets, including this one. "We have very enthusiastic MUJI fans," MUJI Canada president Toru Tsunoda told me. "In Japan, they're actually called 'MUJI-ra' - like Godzilla." (On my way home from the media event, two people looked at my MUJI tote bag with wild eyes and asked: "Is it open yet?!")
The materials echo their minimalist aesthetic: Clear or frosted plastic, wood, steel, white ceramic, unbleached fabric and paper. I start my tour in the stationery section, where stacks of blank, brown-paper notebooks are flanked by bins of rainbow pens. (If Kraft-paper notebooks are a little too austere, there's a table by the cash register where you can customize your new notebook with stamps on the way out - including one of the CN Tower.)
The bath section stocks rows and rows of a favourite MUJI offering: Mini empty bottles and jars ($1 and up), ready for you to make travel-size versions of your favourite products. I pause and wonder why racks like these aren't available at Shoppers Drug Marts across the country; then I remember that it's because Shoppers Drug Mart really wants you to pay $2.99 for a one-ounce bottle of Pantene.
There's storage bins in all shapes and sizes, a skincare line packaged in bottles branded with Margiela-like starkness, and glowing scent diffusers (about $80) sold with essential oils in homey scents like lavender and jasmine. Despite MUJI's uber-utilitarian mandate, they maintain an approachable vibe thanks to some cute, cozy touches - glass tumblers that roll and wobble on the tabletop, or paper-craft puzzles in the form of warriors or zoo animals.
That extends to the sheer level of snuggly textures found in the clothing section: Woolly plaid scarves, cashmere sweaters, flannel button-downs, rows on rows of warm socks. Minimalist dressers will want to stock up on their Jack Purcell-style sneakers ($29.95) and thick-knit striped tees ($44.95); price-wise, the clothing offerings top out at $169.95 for hearty wool-blend coats. (Tsunoda, I noticed, attended in a white MUJI button-down shirt, as did several other company reps.)
Though the Atrium store will no doubt sate the cravings of many local MUJI nuts, there are a few holdovers from the Japanese stores; you'll have to go elsewhere for your home appliances, for example, and the store's missing their line of food products (including some truly addictive Japanese snack foods). 
But Tsunoda says they hope to roll in food next year - along with a series of three more Canadian stores. Whether or not you knew about them before, you can bank on MUJI being a household name soon enough.
Photos by Jesse Milns.
Memphis BBQ is a divey roadhouse on Islington - it's the original home of 
The Elvis Platter ($18) is the one of the best ways to sample an array of house specialties. The dinner (presumably meant for one) comes with three side ribs, half a pound of finely shredded, saucy pulled pork, and half a pound of wings (smoked or fried) with baked beans, cornbread, fries, and slaw. 
The ribs are great - the meat peels off the bone, while the Memphis-style BBQ sauce, deeply coloured and sweetened with molasses, is brushed on last minute and finished with a turn on the grill so that the sauce caramelizes and crisps up the edges. 
Skip the fried wings, which are unremarkable (though certainly welcome for variety sake when ordering a party pack). Opt instead for the house smoked wings, which marinate overnight before being smoked for four hours and then glazed and finished on the grill for a little flame-licked flavour.
There's a tempting line-up of sandwiches and burgers too, though we're encouraged to go off menu and try the Fantasy Burger ($10.95) in a combo with onion rings and slaw. It's essentially a banquet burger, with cheese and peameal bacon, plus the entirely unnecessary but heavenly addition of pulled pork. 
The place isn't licensed, so takeout is the best bet if your ideal feast includes a beer or two. Selling out is not unheard of - and neither are line-ups, so calling ahead for big orders is advised, especially during big televised sports events.
Local Hero can be found inside the 
In place of the previous racks are a bunch of comfy chairs and two-top tables for chilling with your coffee and snacks. The businesses function independently, but are happily together.
Speaking of snacks, they've upped the ante, bringing in a revolving selection of mini sandwiches and many types of macarons from 
Biscotti and other baked goods come from 
The coffee beans come via 
With their free Wi-Fi, good coffee and expanded seating section, Local Hero makes for a good spot to get a little work done, but with no buffer between it and the Film Buff (thankfully), expect to take in some entertainment at the same time. 
The steady stream of customers for both the cafe and the Buff create a lively community feel perfectly befitting of Roncesvalles. 
Photos by Jesse Milns.
Fit Factory Fitness just opened its new studio on 
What I learned, first and foremost, from my visit is this: the aptitude test I took in high school could not have gotten it more wrong, and I am not suited to be a military officer. In fact, I suspect any attempt I'd make to enter the military would likely involve my dishonourable discharge on the first day. If you have issues with authority, as I clearly do, this is not going to be a workout for you.
Having arrived just as the class was starting (thanks to having trouble finding parking), my friend was given orders by Austin, who was teaching the class, to come and drag me out of the change room. We were already starting off on the wrong foot. The studio is introducing new technology to track your heart rate and calories burned, etc. which projects your stats on to a monitor. Unfortunately, mine wasn't working.
The class began with stretches, including some static stretches, which is old-school, and generally now accepted as something that should be left to the end of a workout. Next up was laps around the studio of running, heel/butt kicks and lateral gallops to warm up. There is no doubt we were all huffing and puffing by the end. 
Next, Austin put us through a series of drills, such as jumps, sit ups with medicine ball throws, pushups, and a whole bunch of exercises using TRX suspension systems. His schtick is to yell at you and push you to the max - and I mean the max. He also calls all the shots. He tells you where to stand and how much weight to use. He tells you when to take a water break. My friend Nat kept getting yelled at to do a full push-up, even though she prefers to do them from her knees.
At one point I felt like taking a breather, so I stopped what we were doing; he hollered at me for it. When I claimed I had an injury (true, but the lower body exercise we were doing didn't require use of my aching rotator cuff), he called me out of line and gave me a talking to. Apparently I should have let him know about my injury at the beginning, but since I was tardy, I missed that announcement at the beginning of class. The whole experience started to bring back flashbacks of my nasty elementary school gym teacher. 
At the end of the class, having sensed we were less than impressed with the class, he launched into a speech about how his style is all about pushing and, he admits, it is not for everyone. People generally know immediately whether it suits them. I couldn't agree more. Then he claimed that as long as everyone who comes gives it their 100%, whatever that may be, that he's cool with that. Neither Nat nor I felt that truly reflected how he taught the class.
Austin set a bar so high, none of us could really reach it. This might inspire some, but it will certainly frustrate others. We definitely won't be going back as we are clearly in the group for whom this style of class doesn't work. 
Photos by Jesse Milns.
Good Day Hairshop is Kensington's answer to a modern salon and barbershop, where the only thing with attitude is your hair when they're done with it. Even in a bustling city like Toronto, it's tough to find a reliable place to get your hair cut that isn't over-priced or stuffy. Enter Kensington Market's newest barbershop salon, where accessible, street style-influenced dos are the name of the game.
Mierle and Jonathon Burford are co-owners of Good Day, and with backgrounds in tech and fashion, respectively, and both OCAD grads, it's easy to see why their space at 32 St. Andrew Street looks so cool. Formerly 
Although there are only two full-time stylists - Burford and Mierle are in the process of hiring two more - there are six styling stations where you can get everything from a bang trim ($5) to a full head of colour (starting at $60).
Aside from budget-conscious prices and a full range of services, Mierle and Burford's main focus is bringing their own and their client's online inspiration to life. What bloggers and vloggers like 
To fuel that inspiration, Good Day will soon have a new and improved 
Photos by Jesse Milns.
Stylegarage on Ossington is a big step up from their 
You'd think this historic details might be an incongruous backdrop for the contemporary Canadian furniture lines of Stylegarage and 
The new space, run by owner Neil James and manager Andrew Guay, expands on the original idea, born out of a basement in 2002, and must make the original 14 founders of the design line, very proud. 
The main floor features the custom and made-to-order furniture on offer, while upstairs houses the Gus* modern line. 
They occasionally have a rare non-local piece, and many of the accessories are from away, but fundamentally the new Stylegarage highlights those pieces - single sofas ranging from $1850-3250, covered in lush green velvet, flecked rose cotton or tweed gray wools, or sleek wood dining room sets, bed frames, credenzas and media stands, coffee and side tables for which the company is known. 
An impressive piece is the modular Junction sofa on display on the main level. Covered in a variety of fabrics, from wool to leather, as a whole it is grand (and $7560) but you can get a sense of how you could mix and match the parts to suit your home and tastes. 
Many of the accessories have a decidedly Canadiana feel, from pillow with the Great Lakes screen printed on them, to the Douglas fir "Chunks" ($250) that serve as end tables, stools, or just interior inspiration form nature. 
The Faribault Woolen Mill blankets are a nice touch to the beds and couches, as are the Italian staplers ($30), various notebooks, journals and writing papers available for purchase alongside the desks and shelving currently on display. 
The overall feel of the new Stylegarage is one of enlightened domesticity, combining well-executed designs with a respectful sense of the history, and the potential of spaces. And just in time for the holidays. 
Writing by Erinn Beth Langille. Photos by Jesse Milns.
Korean Cowboy opened two months ago in the space formerly occupied by the sports bar Main Event at Yonge and Eglinton, and based on its quirky name alone my interest is piqued. Sam Lee and Janet Yun, the husband-and-wife team behind 
He describes the anju they make as "kooky," and if you read the menu, items like "mocha pork belly" (pork belly infused with coffee and cocoa to remove its game-y flavour, $4.99), "sawdust chicken" (stir-fried chicken rolled in Panko and roasted garlic flakes, $5.99) and "squid and pear" (boiled and sliced squid served on a bed of julienned Asian pear with sesame seeds, sesame oil and chopped green onions served cold, $5.99) confirm this. 
Both he and his wife experimented a lot with different combinations; Yun is the expert on Korean cooking and Lee enjoys coming up with ways to put Western twists on dishes. Of these innovative eats, one of my personal faves is the green-tea-infused pork ($4.99). The actual flavour of the dish doesn't really match the description on the menu (I expect matcha-flavoured pork).
Another fave of mine is the pork belly pepper, a dish of green chili peppers wrapped in thin slices of pork belly with a sprinkling of sweetened cranberries ($3.99). It's spicy, fat, sweet and totally addictive.
There are also some dishes that should already be familiar to fans of Korean fusion, like fried spaghetti ($1), an appetizer of fried spaghetti sticks sprinkled with salt and sugar; skillet corn ($4.99), a satisfying mixture of corn, butter, cheese and parsley; and kimchi fries ($4.99), a carryover from Bi Bim Bap, with house-made kimchi, Korean BBQ sauce, vegan sesame mayo (made with tofu) and green onions over julienned fries.
Most of the anju is priced between $4 and $6, to encourage sampling and sharing amongst a group. For more substantial appetites, there are pre-assembled ssam (lettuce wraps) or tacos (soft shells), with fillings that include Korean beef, whelk (Lee likes to call it "Korean escargot"), spicy pork or chicken (three for $8.99 or mixed for $10.99).
An amusingly named "King Koink Platter" ($13.99) comes with a huge breaded pork cutlet (think katsu or schnitzel) covered in a house-made sour fruit compote, a small salad, some thick-cut fries and a few slices of pickled daikon.
If you're at a Korean bar your drink of choice should be soju. Here, the choices include Chamisul Fresh, Charm and Chum Churum ($13/350-mL bottle), as well as Jinro 24 ($3/2-oz. shot, $11/8-oz. carafe, 430/750-mL bottle). Cocktails are mostly soju-based, like the Lemon Pear ($9.49) that contains organic lemonade, pear liqueur and soju, or the White Frost ($9.99), with Godiva white chocolate liqueur, soju and fresh mint.
Bottles of Korean beer Hite ($5.49) are also available, while offerings on tap include a mix of local and imported ($7.49-8.49): Beau's Lug Tread, Junction City Conductor's Ale, Somersby Cider, Stiegl Radler and Sapporo. There's even local Izumi sake on tap from the Distillery's 
Photos by Jesse Milns.
Kinton Ramen North York opened last month at Yonge and Empress, marking the fourth location in the local ramen chain. The tight, compact interior is much the same as the towering condo units that soar above it. Kinton took over after Jetsun's Juicy Burgers, a long time occupant of the spot closed up shop earlier this summer. 
Although stung by two yellow cards doled out by the 
The Kinton Ball ($4.50) is a deep fried and breaded pork scotch egg slathered in a sweet chilli mayo and makes a decent starter, albeit impossible to share equitably. Tofu Furai, ($5.80), on the other hand, come four to an order: The nuggetlike morsels of tofu, battered and deep fried, come topped with more sweet chilli mayo and finely diced scallions. The outside crispy shell coated the gooey inside, creating a perfect balance of textures. 
The Pork Belly Spicy Garlic comes dressed with hits of chilli pepper, bean sprouts and scallions, with a mound of shredded garlic on top. The garlic is an almost a lethal dose though - definitely enough to kill a vampire, or any chances of a second date. The tender pork belly holds its shape in the salty broth allowing you to pull it apart. The noodles maintain their texture until the bitter end, while the flavours hit you in different folds, first a mild dose of heat, then a wave of garlic and onions followed by a kick from the chilli peppers. 
Bowler-happy ramen fans in North York are packing this place in tighter than a sardine in a tin can, so opt for eating at off times to secure a table. There's not much space inside for lingering while you wait for one to come free.
Soundscapes, nestled in Little Italy between 
Operating as both a music retailer and one of Toronto's main concert ticket outlets, the store is an easy one-stop for music lovers of all kinds. In the past, they've also hosted numerous in-store performances for artists and bands passing through the city, most notably Bon Iver, who played to "about 20 people" between Soundscapes' shelves in 2008. 
Owner Greg Davis, who formerly worked as an accountant, opened Soundscapes in the Summer of 1999, pursuing his passion for music outside of a sterile office environment. "I wanted to start a store that had a lot of classic records, as well as lesser known music," Davis says, citing their initial success in their stocking of harder to track down, "cult" albums that were not as widely available at the time.
Soundscapes' main draw is their excellently curated selection of new CDs, standing in contrast to most of Toronto's record stores, who have either started as vinyl-only, or slowly backed away from the CD format. 
Browsing is a delight, and the knowledgable staff are more than happy to guide you through well-organized sections teeming with current and classic releases, accordingly filed under headers of psychedelic, classical and Independent, among others. Davis estimates that eighty to eighty-five percent of their overall sales comes from CDs.
Not to be outdone, however, Soundscapes began stocking vinyl about five years ago, and has since amassed a modestly "focused" selection of vinyl, keeping up with most new and local releases, as well as the usual essentials. Local cassettes get some shelf space, and they've also been decorating their window display in diorama-tribute to local and Canadian releases for years, most recently 
When asked about the future of selling a physical commodity of music, Davis admits that streaming is starting to squeeze CDs out of the market. "A lot of our crowd is older, and you begin to see fewer and fewer familiar faces," conceding that Soundscapes now employs a third of the staff they did 10 years ago. 
"Packaging is becoming more and more important", Davis states, citing reissues that are as much reading material as they are music. Recent compilations, such as 
As someone who started a business based on their love of music, Davis clearly appreciates the sum creative effort that stocks his shelves, reminding us of the amount of work and people involved in producing a single album. 
"That's the great thing about music stores, or book stores, or video stores," he says, paraphrasing something Doug Paisley observed during one of Soundscapes many in-store shows. "I am in awe of the work that went into all of the art in this store."
Writing by Colin Gillespie, photos by Matt Forsythe
Duggan's Brewery Parkdale isn't owner Mike Duggan's first trip to the rodeo. Having been involved with brewing beer in some form or another since he was in his twenties, Duggan co-founded a little brewery you may have heard of called 
The new space at 1346 Queen Street West was previously home to the Japanese restaurant 
Besides an actual functioning kitchen, not much appears to have changed for the grand opening. The decor is still rather spartan, with a smattering of unstained wood tables available, a bar-height slab of wood furnished with metal stools dividing the middle of the dining room, and a no-nonsense bar servicing the space with a line of draught taps and also, as it happens, a functioning 
The kitchen is being helmed by Rene Chauvin, who has been a friend of Duggan's for over 20 years and who actually served as the executive chef of the original Duggan's. In addition to helping open the kitchens at 
As for the menu's focus, it's a fairly eclectic mix, but attention seems to have been rightly paid to not-too-fancy fare that will complement a few beers. The jerk fried chicken platter ($14) that my guest and I order is nothing short of the ideal accompaniment to a fresh pint. The chicken is ridiculously juicy and the breading is thick, crunchy and spicy. This approaches perfect fried chicken. 
The vegan-friendly spaghetti squash ($12) is also very good and while squash served with black beans and an avocado salsa sounds like a bit of a hodge-podge for a pub, the execution, offered with a healthy dose of curry, really works well. 
Because it's probably municipal bylaw that a restaurant in Parkdale must serve tacos, they're here too. Listed on the menu as "Daily Tacos" ($12) for the grand opening Duggan's was offering up beef brisket tacos, chicken tacos, and black bean tacos. We opt for an assortment of all three and each, served on a grilled tortilla, has its merits--though the execution is perhaps somewhat sloppy with an excess of shredded cabbage. But hey, they're tacos.
Other menu items include the mandatory wings ($12), a Pork Chop served with cranberry blueberry sauce, chilli beans and roast tomato ($14), Miami Style Beef Ribs ($12), grilled veggies ($12), and a mixed grilled plate ($15). 
The other part of the menu, as you might expect, is devoted to beer. Duggan's offers his 100 Mile Ale, 100 Mile Lager, Sorachi Lager, Hefeweizen, IPA, and Parkdale Bomber on tap - all for $6 or $7 each. As you'd expect from a brewer with Duggan's experience, they're generally all excellent examples of their respective styles - though Number 9, a beer that arguably helped kickstart Ontario's IPA obsession, seems ironically tame in its vaguely British, malty execution given the plethora of local hop bombs it helped usher in. 
While it might seem like a lot to take on at once, Duggan makes it clear this brewpub is just the beginning. "We're in the process of buying a farm over the next few years to build a big brewery to do our large scale production," he says. He not only hopes to use that land to grow ingredients for his beer, but "a lot of the food we'll use at the restaurants." 
Ben Johnson also writes about beer over on 
Moo Frites, a new takeout spot in 
Lee, who previously worked in marketing for a non-profit social housing organization, decided it was time for a change, took the plunge and started up his own frites shop. He did intensive and obsessive research on how to make the perfect batch of fries. 
Since bintje potatoes aren't available here, he uses high-starch russets instead. He hand cuts them into thick strips, blanches them, deep-fries and then freezes them overnight before deep-frying them a second time to order in canola oil (or for $1 extra, they can be deep-fried in beef fat, the way it should be done - hence the "Moo" in the name of the shop). They're then tossed with salt and served - golden and crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside, with a strong taste of potato.
Each paper cone ($4 for small, $5.95 for regular and $7.95 for large) comes with the customer's choice of one dipping sauce, and this isn't an easy decision to make, with 18 different house-made sauces to choose from. There's andalouse (bell peppers, onions and tomato), curry ketchup, gochujang, nosy wasabi or samurai (Tunisian chili, caraway seeds, garlic and lemon), to name but five. 
A colour code on the menu indicates which are traditional, spicy or vegan (most are gluten-free as well). Fortunately, Lee will let you sample as many as you want, and if you have trouble deciding, each additional sauce is $1.25, or three for $3. I've tried 17 of the 18 sauces (Lee was reworking the pumpkin spice), and parmesan peppercorn and joppie (ketchup, mayo, curry and onions) are my personal faves.
There are also specialty offerings like japo frites ($7.50), which are fries topped with Japanese and Wasabi Mayo, crushed nori and sesame seeds - a heavenly mix if you're into salty, spicy, sinus-clearing flavours. Then there's the war frites (also $7.50), a Dutch classic: peanut and frite sauce (capers, anchovies and parsley) topped with chopped raw onions. Even though I'm not a fan of raw onions, I can't deny the whole thing is tasty. Lee developing more specialty frites (and will be adding sweet potato fries soon too).
The shop itself is a small, narrow barebones space. The newly installed high bar tables have diamond-shaped cutouts in them that are designed to hold the paper cones of frites perfectly, and there are enough stools to seat seven or eight people. When I'm there, just about every person who enters has a food-gasm when they try their order; two girls enjoying their frites tell Lee they want to live above the shop so they can eat there every day.
For now, the business is a solo operation, and Lee is living and breathing Moo Frites; he tries every batch of fries he makes to ensure the quality stays consistent. He wants to have the best fries in the city, and I'm happy to report they're definitely a strong contender for the title. Lee was recently left a flattering anonymous note written on a napkin that reads, "These fries are better than 
Photos by Jesse Milns.
Iberia-Sur is a new family-run restaurant at College and Ossington that aims to meld Argentinian and Portuguese cuisine into one harmonious (and delicious) whole. The spot represents a lifelong dream for Argentinian chef/owner Miguel Arce, who set up shop in the former 
The restaurant itself features an open grill and a hot table up front, with some Portuguese favourites like round potatoes (with a garlicky twist) and roasted chicken available for takeaway. (You can get piri piri sauce and chimichurri on the side.) In the back is the 50-seat dining room, where the grey-painted walls and glittering chandeliers manage to come off as friendly and cozy.
First out of the kitchen are their empanadas copetin ($10 for four), available in either beef or chicken versions. Arce says the chewy-crusted mini empanadas ("copetin" refers to the Argentinian midday snack) are perennially present at her family's gatherings. Here, they come served with fresh bruschetta tomatoes dredged in olive oil; the shredded, savoury chicken filling is a surprise favourite.
Though it's on the apps menu, the $12 serving of calamari is massive - it's so popular, Arce says, they decided to make it more of an entree. The preparation is simple, as it should be - just fresh calamari, olive oil and a nice char from the grill, with greens and a balsamic vinaigrette as a base. Of course, if you're looking for more of a kick, there's always the house chimichurri (the family recipe calls for extra garlic).
The meats menu spans Argentinian flank steaks and Portuguese versions; we try the New York sirloin ($20), which is flawlessly cooked and smothered in a red wine-based sauce with sautéed mushrooms. On the side: circle-cut Portuguese "pala pala" fries, more roast-potato like in consistency than your usual fried spuds, which stand up nicely to a slab of steak.
The wine list focuses on - unsurprisingly - Portugal and Argentina, with a dozen bottles listed at $25 and up. Their house red - an Argentinian shiraz-malbec - will run you $7 a glass. 
Arce says they've begun offering dine-in and take-away lunch options to appeal to the daytime crowd; their Argentine twist handily sets them apart from the dozens of churrasqueiras in the vicinity. Competition is fierce for Portugese food in this neighbourhood, and Latin American grill houses are on the rise across the city, but Iberia-Sur might just offer the best of both worlds.
Photos by Jesse Milns.
Centro Panini is an Italian sandwich shop located in an anonymous Woodbridge strip mall. Neither the concept, nor the menu are particularly unique in this neck of the woods (
Take-away and catering accounts for the bulk of the business anyway, and I'm told that the family-run kitchen cooks and delivers hot lunches to schools in the neighbourhood.
Italian American standards like breaded chicken cutlets ($6.75), veal scallopini ($6.75) and meatball sandwiches ($6.45) are the house favourites, though the choices don't end there. 
If carb-laden comfort foods aren't your thing then there are grilled selections like thinly pounded, thickly stacked steaks ($6.75), grilled eggplant sandwiches ($6.45) and chicken salads dressed with house-made balsamic vinaigrette.
Sandwiches can be customized to order with slices of provolone cheese (+$0.90) and fresh veggies like lettuce, tomatoes and mayo, or, the Classic Italian sandwich fixin's like sautéed onions (+$0.30), mushrooms, rapini and sweet peppers (+$0.90). Medium or hot peppers can be added for no extra charge.
Lasagna smothered with sweet red sauce and sprinkled with parm proves to be truly delectable, but it's only available as a special on Thursdays for walk-ins. Family-sized tray (meat or spinach ricotta) can be ordered off the catering menu any time for pick-up.
The rest of the week, rice balls ($3.35) are a mighty fine way to get that cheese and sauce fix. Inside each arancini, you'll find mozzarella mingling with green peas and ground meat.
Centro Panini might not have the same name recognition that some of their competition enjoy, but seven years in business is proof they're doing something right... so is that chicken cutlet.
Eulalie's Corner Store is a new spot in 
This clearly is no corner store, nor is there a Eulalie who runs it. Owner Nicole Cheung (no relation to this writer) just liked the name - although she now realizes most people will probably mispronounce it (including me; it's you-la-lee and not you-LAY-lee) - and wanted the place to sound like a friendly neighbourhood hangout. 
Cheung and her husband Alex Bartlett have lived in the area for about a decade, and now that her youngest son has started kindergarten, she has more free time on her hands to pursue new projects. Bartlett owns 
The bar, flanked by two TV screens, has eight beers on tap (pints start at $6.75, with tax), including an eponymous house lager and local craft brews like 
Cheung recruited chef Jenna Rhem, who's had stints working in kitchens at the Pacific Junction Hotel and at 
Rabbit pie ($15) is made with Ontario rabbit, cider, apple and parsnip, and is topped with a flaky, house-made puff pastry. Served with a side of sauteed rapini, it's a tasty plate of food I'm pretty certain 
There's also a daily roast and a daily sandwich, and the evening we visit, the roast is pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto, served with roasted plum and a small salad of baby kale and arugula ($14). The flavours are satisfying all around, and by this point I'm convinced 22-year-old Rhem can do no wrong when it comes to cooking.
Photos by Jesse Milns.
