When Anthony Bourdain visited Toronto on his show The Layover Season 2 Episode 5, he and his crew picked many restaurants. Here are all the addresses and the dishes showcased on The Layover – Anthony Bourdain Toronto, all in a convenient list:
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DISH – Pea-meal Bacon Sandwich
WHAT IS IT?
A sandwich of a slice of pork loin rolled in pea-meal.
WHERE IS IT?
Carousel Bakery
93 Front St E
Toronto, ON, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
Carousel Bakery in St. Lawrence Market is known for its pea-meal style bacon sandwich. Tony also suggested Chez Vous Catering located in Evergreen Brick Works for sandwiches and The Belleview in Kensington Market for a full English breakfast. However, both Chez Vous and The Belleview are reported to be already closed.
DRINKS – Beer
WHAT IS IT?
Alcoholic brew of cereal grains.
WHERE IS IT?
Ronnie’s Local 069
69 Nassau St
Toronto, ON, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
Ronnie’s Local 069 is a local joint with patio seating.
DISH – Lengua en Pipian, Anita Tostada, Aguachile
WHAT IS IT?
Lengua en Pipian – beef tongue with pumpkin/squash mole sauce, flavored with anchos, pasilla and guajillo chili, jacked with cloves and black pepper, and garnished with sweet plantain; Anita Tostada – pinto beans with chorizo, pecorino fresco, homemade crema fresca and habanero, and puya sauce layered on avocado slices; Aguachile – hollowed out cucumber spiced with pequin peppers, and filled with tomatoes, lime juice and shrimp with chimichurri.
WHERE IS IT?
Agave y Aguacate in El Gordo Fine Foods Latin American Food Court
214 Augusta Ave
Toronto, ON M5T 2L8, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
Agave y Aguacate moved from this location in 2012 to Baldwin Street. In 2015, Agave y Aguacate shuttered its doors for good.
DISH – Koobideh Kabab
WHAT IS IT?
Iranian ground lamb or ground beef kebab, served with parsley and onions.
WHERE IS IT?
Altona Kabob
6099 Yonge St
North York, ON, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
Tony did not visit Altona Kabob in Persian Plaza (Iranian Plaza) on this episode but suggested it for kebabs. He also suggested Bairrada Churrasqueira Grill near Toronto’s Little Italy for grilled meat, like chicken.
DISH – Dirty Duck Fries
WHAT IS IT?
Belgian-style fries cooked in duck fat and piled with sautéed peppers and onions, jalapeños, and a special sauce.
WHERE IS IT?
WVRST
609 King St W
Toronto, ON, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
While Tony did not stop by WVRST on this Toronto trip, he suggested it for locally-made sausages, like duck, elk and venison, and a choice of 32 beers.
DISH – Negroni
WHAT IS IT?
Cocktail of gin, vermouth rosso and Campari with an orange peel garnish.
WHERE IS IT?
Cocktail Bar
923 Dundas St W
Toronto, ON, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
According to Tony, Cocktail Bar is “a perfect place for a pre-dinner Negroni”.
DISH – Liver and Onion, Rosemary Blood Custard, Beef Hearts, Horse Tartare, Beef Tongue Brioche, and Bone Marrow
WHAT IS IT?
Liver and Onion – braised pig’s liver with onions and mushrooms; Rosemary Blood Custard – lightly brûléed blood with rosemary, topped with fresh pear, onions and coriander; Beef Hearts – marinated in mayo and served with mussels and asparagus; Horse Tartare – spicy raw ground horse meat; Beef Tongue Brioche – a play on the deli tongue sandwich; Bone Marrow – roasted bone marrow.
WHERE IS IT?
The Black Hoof
928 Dundas Street W
Toronto, ON, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
The Black Hoof was located right across the Cocktail Bar. It closed in 2018. Tony also suggested Beast if you are looking for dishes with seasonal and local ingredients, as well as Edulis for a fine dining experience in the King West area.
DISH – “Cold Tea”
WHAT IS IT?
Toronto term for beer served after “legal” serving hours.
WHERE IS IT?
Cold Tea
60 Kensington Ave
Toronto, ON, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
Tony describes Cold Tea Bar as “an excellent example of a refined and wonderful bar”. He continued his bar crawl at Thirsty and Miserable in the Kensington-Chinatown neighborhood of Toronto. He also mentioned Sneaky Dee’s on College Street, Horseshoe Tavern and The Dakota Tavern, although he did not stop by these bars.
DISH – Poutine
WHAT IS IT?
Fries topped with cheese curds and brown gravy.
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WHERE IS IT?
Poutini’s
1112 Queen St W
Toronto, ON, Canada
Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
Poutini’s House of Poutine is well known for its poutine. Tony also suggested Spence’s, a bakery that serves jerk chicken, for late-night bites although he did not visit it on this episode.
DISH – Gamjatang
WHAT IS IT?
Also spelled kamjatang, this is a Korean pork bone soup.
WHERE IS IT?
Owl of Minerva
5324 Yonge St
North York, ON, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
Although Tony did not visit The Famous Owl of Minerva on this trip, he suggested it for Korean comfort classics.
DISH – Jerk Chicken Roti – The Layover Toronto
WHAT IS IT?
Jerk chicken wrapped in a roti.
WHERE IS IT?
Bacchus Roti Shop
1376 Queen St W
Toronto, ON, Canada
Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
According to Tony, Bacchus Roti Shop is “an excellent option for roti”. It closed on October 14, 2018. He also suggested The Burger’s Priest for hamburgers, and California Sandwiches for sandwiches. Another suggestion was dimsum at Forestview Chinese Restaurant, but it is now reported to be closed.
DISH – Porchetta Sandwich – The Layover Toronto
WHAT IS IT?
Sandwich of marinated pork shoulder wrapped in prosciutto and cured pork belly with the skin on.
WHERE IS IT?
Porchetta & Co
825 Dundas St W
Toronto, ON, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN TORONTO NOTES
Porchetta & Co specializes in porchetta sandwiches, although they also offer other kinds of sandwiches.
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