Eatdrink Waterloo & Wellington #1 June/July 2018

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26 | June/July 2018 — Premiere Issue eatdrink.ca |@eatdrinkmag The BUZZ Culinary Community Notes Compiled by ANDREW COPPOLINO, BRYAN LAVERY and THE EDITORS This column consists of regional culinary information, including a large scoop of local news and inside information. There is no charge to be included here, and we encourage chefs, restaurateurs, brewers, fundraisers, culinary artisans, farmers — and everyone else with information to share — to send us details. Short and sweet! We want to include as many items as possible. See the end of this column for contact details. Kitchener The Berlin, the much-heralded restaurant in downtown Kitchener, has closed. It will re-open as The Rich Uncle Tavern, offering gastropub fare, according to owners The Ignite Restaurant Group. Executive chef Ben Lillico came on board after The Berlin was opened by chef Jonathan Gushue (who recently left for Fogo Island, Newfoundland). He says the menu will focus on shareables and small plates. The plan is to have the new concept open and serving by June. www.richuncletavern.ca A few blocks west of The Uncle on King Street, San Francisco sandwiches has closed. The window is emblazoned with “La Cucina” — but it has nothing to do with the new pizza and pasta place with the red awning in the west end called La Cucina, a sister restaurant to the Guelph Italian upscale casual restaurant. Kitchener’s version has wood-fired pizza, house-made pastas and other simple Italian fare. lacucinakitchener.com The Ignite Restaurant Group is also in the process of construction on Red Circle Brewing Co., Graffiti Market and Red Circle Coffee Co. at Catalyst137 in Kitchener. Co-owner Neil Huber tells us that they have other projects that they’re looking to announce in the near future. Belmont Village, nestled between downtown Kitchener and uptown Waterloo, continues to grow as a self-sustaining food destination — and that quality is only amplified with Arabella Park Beer Bar clocking in at No. 46 among the top 50 bars in Canada, according to canadas100best.com. Chef Byron Hallett combines innovation with classic and modern ideas to create playful and shareable cuisine that pairs well with beer. The cocktail that you should try there is a pint of Cascade Brewery barrel-aged triple ale with marionberry and Meyer lemon. arabellaparkbar.com Other notables in Belmont Village are restaurant landmarks like Café Rugantino and Janet Lynn’s Bistro. Check out The Culinary Studio for cooking classes, Rawlicious for plant-based and gluten-free cuisine. The smartly appointed Wilhelm’s Café + Bar (the name draws inspiration from a mysterious lost bust of Kaiser Wilhelm 1 ) is a stellar spot for a meal and drinks. The Belmont Bistro, located next door to gourmet coffeehouse Berlin Bicycle Café, is where Chef Brandon Gries, a Stratford Chef School alumnus, creates dishes from scratch, taking no shortcuts and changing the menu seasonally. Restaurateur Zafar Quazi was born in Bangladesh, studied civil engineering in Ukraine, and worked six years running restaurants in Great Britain before coming to Canada. In Scotland, he met his Ukrainian wife Olena, and their first Canadian endeavour was in Brantford, followed by the Tandoori Grill in Fergus. Great success came with his celebrated Raja Fine Indian Cuisine in Stratford. Three years ago, Quazi set his sights on Belmont Village. The Raja serves upscale Indian cuisine in sophisticated and elegant surroundings by a knowledgeable, well-trained staff. The service is white linen, deferential and friendly. After being seated, diners are offered crisp, crunchy poppadum served alongside a dazzling selection of vibrantly coloured condiments, ranging from sweet to sour to spicy, to get the taste buds tingling. rajakitchener.ca Mark June 25 on your calendar for a mid-day tasting menu event. It’s the inaugural Signatures: A Taste of Waterloo Region’s Best. The lunchtime taste testing and fundraiser for Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario takes place at Catalyst137 on Glasgow Street, Kitchener, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Waterloo Region restaurants and catering companies share their signature dishes, and participants include B Elegant Catering & Event Planning, Big Jerk, Bobby O’Brien’s Irish Pub, Chef D, Gusto & Beckford Catering, Liaison College of Culinary Arts, Mamma D’s Delicious Eats, McCabe’s Irish Pub, Meals without Madness, Reid’s Chocolates,
Eatdrink: The Local Food & Drink Magazine Shawerma Plus, Taste of Seoul, The Park Hill, The White Rabbit, Watchtower Restaurant, Wooden Boat Food Company and ZOUP. Tickets are only $20 and include food and entry into multiple draws and giveaways. parkinsonsociety.ca/event/signaturestaste-test-waterloo-regions-best From restaurateur Darryl Haus and Grand Trunk Saloon, look for The Grand Surf Lounge to open on Ontario Street near Charles. Haus calls it a bar and lounge “with a focus on rum, big fruit-based drinks and escapism.” While he can’t quite describe the menu yet, he says it’s inspired by Polynesian pop culture. As for the entire concept, he says, “It looks pretty cool. I’m really digging it.” grandsurflounge.com Shinla Korean at King and Scott in downtown has closed. That leaves a dearth of Korean in downtown Kitchener. In the west end, four restaurants on the south side of King Street have closed (due to land appropriation for a major new residential development between Francis and Water streets). However, Rana Taste of Turkish (ranaturkish.com) still has its University Avenue location at Regina Street in Waterloo. Unity Baking (www.unitybaking.com) has moved to 1 Water Street North in Galt, Cambridge, and is scheduled to open again soon. Latina America Grocery and Eatery is now at 1120 Victoria Street North, Kitchener. Check it out for pupusas, tamales, churros and more. americalatinavariety.ca Having built a considerable reputation, the very busy Crazy Canuck (across the street from St. Jacobs Market) has added a new location in downtown Kitchener at 30 Duke Street West (the RBC tower). It often pairs up with its Apollo Cinema neighbour for movie and snack events. thecrazycanuck.ca Look for The Falls Road Pub (thefallsroadpub.ca) to open this May on Victoria Street at Lancaster. A small food and beverage hub is growing in the area. Nearby are the new Public Kitchen and Bar, Jimmy’s Lunch, Sam’s Kitchen, and Descendants Beer and Beverage Co. The cheekily named wine and charcuterie venue Swine and Vine (swineandvine.ca) has taken over the former Public space on Lancaster. The Culinary Studio’s new food venture is now open on the second floor of the Communitech building: The Well Food Co. has taken over kitchen space left behind when Google moved to its magnificent campus across the street. While not open to the public, The Well Food Co. will happily provide its catering services to the community. thewellfoodco.ca Charcoal Group offers unique dining packages. Book a chauffeured luxury stretch limousine for eight people and ride in style to a “progressive dinner” to up to five different Charcoal Group Farm to table award winning hand crafted alpine style cheese Tuesday to Friday 9am–5pm Saturday 9am–4pm Stonetown Artisan Cheese 5021 Perth Line 8 St. Marys ON Gift Baskets & Gift Boxes Cheese Trays Fondue & Raclette 519-229-6856 info@stonetowncheese.com www.stonetowncheese.com growers & creators of fine lavender products DISCOVER Steed & Company Lavender, part of a 45-acre horse farm just outside of Sparta INDULGE in our unique handcrafted lavender products ESCAPE in the wonderful scent and calming powers of lavender 519-494-5525 47589 Sparta Line, Sparta buds@steedandcompany.com Open Wed–Sat 10-5; Sun 12–4 Mother’s Day to Dec. 19 PLUS June–Labour Day: Tues 10-5 www.steedandcompany.com Annual BLOOM CELEBRATION June 16 to July 15
Page 1 and 2: Issue #W1 | June/July 2018 FREE eat
Page 3 and 4: eatdrink The LOCAL Food & Drink Mag
Page 5 and 6: Eatdrink: The Local Food & Drink Ma
Page 9 and 10: Chef Benjamin Lillico of The Rich U
Page 11 and 12: Eatdrink: Executive Chef The Jason
Page 13 and 14: sum A restaurant inspired by local
Page 25: Eatdrink: The Local Food & Drink Ma

Eatdrink Waterloo & Wellington #1 June/July 2018

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