Eatdrink #42 July/August 2013

16 www.eatdrink.ca
№ 42 | July/August 2013
restaurants
UpFront & Personable
At UpFront Restaurant & Bar in London
By CHRISTIE MASSÉ
Photography by Terri Low
Laughs were shared on the
sunny patio at UpFront
at the Market while
owners Jody and Josh Stall
reminisced over past and present
splendours. “It was the first time
Jody cooked me dinner. I tried to
carve her over-roasted duck, but
I just kept hitting bone. Then I
realized she roasted it upside down!”
The couple has come a long
way since the infamous “upsidedown-duck”
date that sparked
both their personal relationship
and entrepreneurial careers. The
endearing culinary disaster that set
the stage for this duo over 20 years ago is a
far cry from the dozens of ducks Jody now
roasts on a weekly basis for the Chinese
Barbeque Duck Clubhouse Sandwich. This
recent favourite also features their housecured
and smoked bacon, snug between
slices of house-made cranberry pecan
bread. Front of house manager, and chef by
trade, John Gillan swears by the Roasted
The spacious and comfortable sun-drenched patio wraps the
southwest corner of the Covent Garden Market, enhanced by
stylish awnings and umbrellas
Porchetta Sandwich, another highlight of
UpFront’s current menu. Described by Josh
as a “hearty man sandwich,” the sandwich
begins with a herb-dressed pork loin
wrapped in pork belly. It is then roasted,
sliced, and seared. Nothing is wasted as the
pan drippings are transformed into a pan
jus which tops the fresh brioche bearing
the seared pork slices. The owners pride
themselves on their creativity
and emphasis on fresh,
handmade menu items.
The original UpFront Café,
which opened in 2005 in nearby
Strathroy, was a quaint 50-seat
space in an 1867 bank building.
The Stalls were determined to
A warm modern interior offers a welcoming number of seating
options, perfect for an intimate dinner or a large gathering