Lifestyle_NovDec2023_Final _Online

establishment features an inviting ambiance with
live piano on Thursday nights and a semi-private
area which holds up to 40 people . One on York
faces the Thames River, and patrons can request
seating with a view. oneonyork.com
Yasmine’s is the real deal in Lebanese cooking.
Kick off your meal with a tantalizing trifecta
of hummus, beetroot, avocado and classic
creamy with nutty ground sesame paste. Kibbeh
Nayyaeh is a raw beef (They call it pate.) with
basil, onion, mint and bulgur, drizzled with extra
virgin olive oil. Thin slices of salty white grilled
halloumi cheese sprinkled with lemon juice came
with chopped lettuce and tomatoes, making a
fresh and pleasing starter. The outstanding Shish
Tawook plate features charbroiled skewers of succulent
marinated chicken. yasminesrestaurant.com
Sagi of Wortley (pronounced sa-ji) showcases
their interpretation of a repertoire of global
culinary offerings inspired by travels and cultures
that have influenced the owners. The cooking at
Sagi of Wortley is not expressed in or identified
by a single set of flavours but is a melting pot of
Asian cultures. One thing that unites the fusion of
disparate Asian traditions is emphasizing textures
and bold, vibrant flavours. sagiofwortley.com
Pizzeria Madre continues its virtuous legacy of
naturally leavened, bubbly-edged, thin-crust pizza
with seasonally inspired toppings in a new location
on York Street. The owners continue to mesh with
the culinary world’s continuing reverence for all
foods that are authentically and gastronomically
Italian. This is in relatively short supply in London,
despite a plethora of pretenders and knockoffs.
Madre offers walk-in dining and takeout; they do
not take reservations. pizzeriamadre.com
Old East Village
Despite construction, great things continue to
unfold in London’s Old East Village. A pervasive
sense of inclusive community has made the O.E.V.
a prime destination for entrepreneurial innovation.
Just off the beaten path and in and around the
walkable main Dundas Street corridor, the area
is a hotspot for culinary incubation indie startups
and a magnet for arts, culture and a thriving music
scene. Visitors always look for authentic experiences
when they travel, to connect with their surroundings
and live like locals.
Make your way down Dundas Street for one
of the tastiest experiences in town, the O.E.V.
Dumpling Trail. Let Momos at the Market introduce
you to “momos” — the dumplings of Nepal
— or stop in at Unique Food Attitudes (celebrating
10 years in business) for “pierogies,” Polish
dumplings. Tony’s Pizza, a venerable family-run
Italian restaurant since 1961, features Italianinspired
panzerotti. Mexico and Korea also have
their versions of the dumpling for you to continue
to feast around the globe.
The groundbreaking Root Cellar Organic Café
is gone, and in its space is DoughEV, whose decadent
doughnut flavours are seasonal, nostalgic
and made with handmade toppings. They also
feature an exciting coffee program. doughev.com
Across the street, chef Rob Howland, a chef
and pastry chef turned secondary school teacher,
has opened Baker’s Table and Pastry Co.
( bakerstablelondon.ca) in the East Village Market
at 630 Dundas Street. This is also home to the
stalwart Willie’s Café, a staple in the London food
scene for over 30 years. Owner Ian Kennard has
expanded breakfast, lunch and catering operations
with more tables, comfy chairs and a new cozy
dining area at the front of the building previously
occupied by Fire Roasted Coffee. Willie’s continues
to provide catering services focused on office
and corporate lunches. williescafeandcatering.com
Check out The Hungary Butcher, featuring
local grass-fed meat, Halal chicken, ketogenic,
paleo, and gluten-free options. There are over
40 kinds of handmade sausages, traditional
Hungarian salamis and smoked sausages on offer.
At the Chinese bakery So Inviting (876 Dundas
Street), hospitable owners Yamei Min and Youjin
Wang offer a variety of savoury handmade
dumplings (pot stickers) that include beef,
chicken, pork, and vegetable. Another notable Old
East Village hotspot is the ethical scratch Artisan
Bakery. A breakfast and lunch menu is made fresh
in store, but a rich assortment of items are
available for preorder and pickup on specific days.
artisanbakerylondon.com
The Old East Village Libation District features
craft brewers such as Anderson Craft Ales,
London Brewing (still a worker-owned enterprise
despite the shorter name), Powerhouse Brewery,
Dundas & Son’s Brewing, and craft distilleries
Paradigm Spirits Co., which opened their doors
in December 2020 at 100 Kellogg Lane and Union
Ten Distilling Co., on the Dundas Street strip.
The Market at Western Fair District is a vibrant
hub in the heart of Old East Village, bringing
together community, food artisans and indie
startups. Two floors and more than 90 vendors
make up The Market, each with unique product
offerings. The Market operates on Saturdays and
Sundays and features fine retailers such as The
Village Meat Shoppe, Loco Fields, The Butcher’s
Wife, and Stratford’s Downie Street Bakehouse.
Heidi and Bill Vamvalis have served authentic
Greek food and traditional English-style fish
and chips (We love the halibut.) at Mykonos,
their Adelaide Street location, for over 40 years.
Mykonos has an extensive menu of casual Greek
fare, but who can resist the Mykonos platter featuring
many of the house’s signature appetizers?
mykonosrestaurant.ca
16 TH ANNUAL
JANUARY 12–13, 2024
SAMPLE THE FINEST CUISINE,
WINES, BEERS, SPIRITS & ENTERTAINMENT.
Tickets on sale Nov 1 st 2023 at
WE’RE BACK
LONDON!
Recognized as one of Ontario’s
Top 100 Festivals and Events.
The London Wine & Food Show
is thrilled to be back after 4 years.
Cheers to all of our fans
for making this possible.
#LdnWineFood
WESTERNFAIRDISTRICT.COM
56 LifestyLe LIFESTYLE November/December FEATURING EATDRINK 2023 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023