Exclusive gourmet goods
Stray from basic steak at your neighbourhood Loblaws with the aid of these local outfits
Pickle delivery
Marty Strub uses locally grown pickles that are then cured and hand-packed. Try the sweet and spicy kosher bread ’n’ butter ones. Order online and they’ll deliver to your door.
martyspickles.ca
Ostrich eggs
White Rock Ostrich Farm is the place to head for fresh eggs from the big birds. Email them to reserve your eggs.
whiterockostrichfarm.com
Game meat
Fancy some alpaca and pork pepperoni for your charcuterie platter? Whitehouse Meats has a stellar selection of specialty meats — just confirm the availability in advance.
1523 Bayview Ave.
Five off-menu eats
Luckee
Stray from typical menu fare at Susur Lee’s hot spot. Ask for the de-shelled, wok-fried lobster with house made XO sauce.
328 Wellington St.
Salad King
Although not on the menu, the Thai Islamic noodles are a super culty pick. The legendary dish boasts chicken and veg in a peanutty coconut sauce. Order with five chilies, no more.
340 Yonge St.
Schmaltz Appetizing
Hit up Anthony Rose’s appetizing shop and don’t peer at the regular menu. Instead, request a classic tuna melt with albacore tuna, cheddar and tomato on a sesame seed bagel.
414 Dupont St.
New Sky Restaurant
Ask your server for the Chifa menu, for Peruvian–Chinese items like the camarones saltado con almendras (shrimp with almonds).
353 Spadina Ave.
Libretto
Rocco Agostino’s mom provided the pepper recipe for Mama’s hot pepper pizza, boasting mozza, house-made fennel sausage and sautéed green finger peppers.
550 Danforth Ave.
Covert dining clubs
L.U.S.T. Supper Club
With November’s themes including F***** Up Autumn Classics, and a hawker party, this is one exciting supper club courtesy of chef Luke Hayes-Alexander. Rotating locations mean you’ll never know where you’ll end up.
lukechef.com
Ronica Sajnani’s Divans
Born in Amritsar, India, Ronica learned the ways of dahls, kormas and halwas first-hand. Although not a professional chef, she shows off her knowledge via
supper clubs at her Cabbagetown home or at a venue of your choice.
ronicacooks.com
Rusholme Park Supper Club
Regular gatherings feature guest chefs who whip up their finest creations for family-style dinners where you BYOB. This month, check out Catalonian fare and eats inspired by noted chef Yotam Ottolenghi.
The Depanneur, 1033 College St.
Chef's Secrets
Where NYC’s David Chang eats when he's in town
Famed Momofuku chef Chang has chowed down at local restos including Queen West’s ode to bivalves, Oyster Boy; Crown Princess Fine Dining, which serves up Cantonese food in an ostentatious setting; and Real Sports Bar for — what else? — wings.
Underground bars & cocktails
Squirreled-away bars and secret tipples make imbibing all the more fun
York Station
Who knew that the Royal York had a tiny train-themed bar? Have a manhattan and watch bartender Alina operate a model train that circles the ceiling.
100 Front St. W.
Escobar
Step through a freezer door behind the kitchen at Valdez and behold this hidden speak-easy with Mexican cantina stylings. Tip: dine at the resto and then ask your server for the password.
606 King St. W.
Miss Thing’s
This new retro bar with tropical leanings does some mean tiki drinks. Ask for the off-menu Our Tai cocktail: five ounces of rum packed into a
’70s golden pineapple.
1279 Queen St. W.
One of kind dines
For the food adventurer, snack on these items that stray from your basic dinner party fare
Balut
Kanto, a tiny stall at Market 707, serves up balut. This Filipino delicacy is fertilized duck egg with a semi-developed bird housed in the shell. Bottoms up!
707 Dundas St. W.
Chicken feet
Plastic tablecloths aside, Rol San knows its grub. Hit up the Chinatown mainstay for all-day dim sum including succulent chicken feet. Be sure to suck the toes.
323 Spadina Ave.
Sheep’s head soup
Kaleh pacheh is a trad Persian soup with whole sheep tongue and an entire hoof served at Takht-e Tavoos. Want the eyeballs? Call ahead.
1120 College St.
Private booths and tables
Tired of the same old barnboard table and Edison lights? Hit up these spots for unique environs that will make dinner taste sweeter
Bank vault
Gio Rana’s Really Really Nice Restaurant, perched in a gutted bank in Leslieville, is home to a wine cellar housed in a
former bank vault. Book the hidden room for your gangster-themed party, but bring a sweater, ’cause it gets chilly.
1220 Queen St. E.
Tequila cave
Duck into the Entertainment District’s El Caballito before a show and indulge in a tequila tasting for up to five guests. The weeny cordoned-off room is fuchsia hued and candlelit. Unearth the beauty of a Los Azulejos Anejo with the aid of connoisseur Eder.
220 King St. W.
Cosy nooks
Quirky Mirvish Village restaurant Southern Accent is the place to hit up for a proper date. Request the slightly secluded table for two that comes complete with violet curtains. The non-claustrophobic can head to the boîte by the entrance, which can be closed off from everyone.
595 Markham St.
