you try taking a worthy photo when the chef is sitting right next to you waiting to see what you've done...
Ok. Here it is, the post y’all have been waiting for (that’s a little southern drawl, just for Ethan). I know this, because this dinner was one of the absolute highlights of my trip and I was practically levitating with excitement all day leading up to it.
In fact, I was so excited, that I took a shocking lack of photos for the whole thing!
When Mardi from Eat, Live, Travel, Write heard I was coming to Toronto she sweetly invited me to dinner and how could I possibly refuse? She’s Mardi!! Of course I jumped at the chance – I knew the company would be good and that she’d find somewhere with great food.
Knowing Ethan, from Tastes Better With Friends, wasn’t too far away, we invited him to join us and he willingly obliged.
And ACKK!! We had such a good time. I know you’re all dying to know so I will just tell you now. The two of them are as nice and adorable in person as they come across on-line. And yes, ladies, Ethan is handsome. It’s not an internet mirage. (and don’t pretend you weren’t wondering because I know, for a fact, that several of you were!)
I had to work till 6:30 so Ethan and Mardi entertained themselves by photo prop shopping along Spadina in Chinatown (which I have only just begrudgingly forgiven them for doing without me because they brought me a present, which I will share with you another time).
Mardi chose O&B Canteen as our restaurant and it was a perfect choice: casual but funky, good value and wonderful food. Located on the corner of King and John in the heart of the entertainment district, Canteen adjoins the TIFF Bell Lightbox and sits downstairs from it’s cousin, the fine dining restaurant, Luma. Both are run by executive chef Jason Bangerter and due to a twitter post by Mardi, we had the opportunity to meet him in person! In fact, he personally made our reservation for us 
There it is, the money shot you were all waiting for. Are they not just too cute? And just as lovely as they are adorable.
We wound up with a window seat with a great view of King and John and a very patient waiter who was very tolerant with our… state of distraction at having just met. (What? Oh… you want us to look at the menu… right… ok… in a second. We’re on it.). And then when Chef Jason came out to say hello, well, it was another distraction… but eventually we managed a drink order!
We started out with a sampler of the Thai Coleslaw, Beet Root, Tomato Watermelon and Quinoa salads, which were all delicious but, for me, a non-beet loving girl, the stand out was the Beet Root. I’m now a fan. Hands down my favourite.
We moved on to the main course and Mardi chose wisely (just like Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade) with the Frattau pizza, which I’m sure she’ll tell you about at some point. Ethan and I (and I confess, I chose this before we even got to the restaurant when I perused the menu on-line) both had the Mac & Cheese with smoked ham.
Mac & Cheese. My comfort food. Out of a box or gourmet. I can’t get enough. I’ve never met one I didn’t like. Add some ham and well… I melt. I know that I’ve laid claim to the world’s best mac & cheese recipe ever in the past and I still think mine’s in the top 5, but Chef Jason may have me beat. And that’s saying something. I know my mac & cheese. Rich, creamy but with a sharp cheddar bite and the added texture and dimension of smoky ham. Ethan said it best when he said it was like getting a warm hug from your food. I couldn’t finish mine and so I ate it cold for breakfast the next morning (my hotel room had a fridge) with a stir stick for a fork. (if the chef ever reads this, I’m sure he’ll cringe). And I don’t care. Because it was just as good stone cold as it was warm and ooey and gooey. The cheese was even sharper and gave it a great zing.
After polishing off our mains, Chef Jason wandered over with a glass of wine and sat down with us for a chat about food, his restaurant, and Ethan and Mardi’s prop finds. He was quite charming. Mardi had been eying the rootbeer float on the menu since we walked in the door so he had three miniature ones sent out for us as well as dish of Lemon Posset for me when I told him I couldn’t eat ice cream. And then, I caved and took out the big gun and took a photo of the food, with the chef sitting next to me waiting to see what I came up with. I think I did ok but, you know… no pressure or anything! haha. My old camera could not have taken either of these photos without a lot more gear so I’m pretty pleased.
Not sure what happened to that third float… I have a feeling Ethan took care of it…
Anyway, it was a lovely evening with two kindred spirits who I hope I have the chance to share a meal with again in the not too distant future. I will tell you this… we have a cunning plan in mind. There was plotting. And scheming. And evil laughter. And we hope to share it with you all soon.
Until then… mwahahahahahahahahahah.
Where to begin? Ok, for starters, let’s not omit that you are equally as nice and adorable in person!
Second, I think I need you to write press releases for me, I need to take this post and just hand it to girls:)
The entire evening was a blast. The only disappointment was that we only had a few hours to chat and eat. Chef Jason was beyond gracious with his time not to mention generously starting us off with the perfect spring salads and capping it off with the flashback to our youths with the root beer floats (and yes, I had the extra one, couldn’t let it go to waste).
Can’t wait to do it again and now i’m in the mood for mac & cheese again and more scheming!
yeah, after your nudiefoodie shoot, you’ll probably need a PR person. let me know
Stuff yourself in Mardi’s suitcase this summer and we’ll plot and scheme some more.
So. Much. Fun
Here’s to doing it again in Vancouver this August!!!!! (oh wait, Ethan will have to come too!)
I can’t wait. I will have to think of somewhere equally yummy to take you to!
And just stuff Ethan in your suitcase. Don’t let him argue with you about it.
No photos of the food?? The salads sound amazing.
sorry, just the rootbeer floats. sometimes, I just like to be in the moment with the people I’m with instead of watching it from behind a lens
This sounds like a perfect evening!
And how many times did it happen to me that I forgot to take pictures because of the company!
But it’s usually a good sign, about the quality of the company!
exactly! when the company is great, cameras are not important
I agree with Ethan, you need to take up on some PR work…this is the best written event-review I’ve ever seen!!
Glad you guys had fantabulous time!
well, it was a good restaurant/food! If I hadn’t liked it, I would have said so