{ Posts Tagged ‘where to eat in toronto’ }

yummy sweets at nadege

I found myself on the market for some glamorous nibbles recently (as one does), and my photographer friend Jodi Pudge said I absolutely must stop in at Nadege — a hot new patisserie that opened on Queen Street West at Trinity-Bellwoods Park here in Toronto in early July.

Remind me to take Jodi’s advice more often.

Here’s a peek…

n interior2 low yummy sweets at nadege

I don’t know what’s more staggering about Nadege – pastry chef Nadege Nourian’s spectacular sweets, or the refreshingly spare space in which she works her magic. (I’m avoiding the use of the term “pastry shop” because “pastries” don’t even begin to describe her creations.)

n interior4 low1 yummy sweets at nadege

The interior was conceived by Nelson Kwong Architect, who opted for a restrained approach throughout the long, narrow space. The lines running the length of the patisserie are designed to draw Nadege’s guests into the very heart of the kitchen!

n interior3 low yummy sweets at nadege

Nadege herself comes from a long line of pastry chefs (the tradition runs back four generations), having studied at a pastry school in Normandy, then working in top kitchens across France, London and Sweden. Now, with Nadege Patisserie, we get to enjoy her sweet treats here in Canada! Yay!

These little cakes are so deliciously detailed, it seems a shame to eat them. But I will, anyway.

n cakes low copy yummy sweets at nadege

Nadege’s macarons… Highly recommended! I love the colours… They’re like little pastel hamburgers!n macrons low copy2 yummy sweets at nadege

Nadege Patisserie

780 Queen St. W., Toronto

416-368-2009

bloor street diner’s restaurant makeover

Here’s another restaurant makeover that really rocked my socks.

The recent $750,000 refresh of Yorkville’s iconic Bloor Street Diner brought the 28-year-old eatery into full-on cool and contemporary territory, without sacrificing the casual comfort (and surprisingly affordable menu) that originally put it on the map. And the Cobb salad’s just as tremendous as it always was.

I was lunching at the Diner last week, and had the chance to chat with Sebastien Centner, director of Eatertainment — the firm that operates the Diner in addition to some of Toronto’s most celebrated (and celebrity-frequented!) restaurants, including the Panorama Lounge. Sebastien kindly shared the “before” shots, knowing that I absolutely luuuuurve a tasty transformation!

 

Here’s the Dining Room BEFORE the makeover… An late-’90s mix of American diner and French brasserie…

diningroombefore bloor street diners restaurant makeover

 

 

… And after!

diningroomafter bloor street diners restaurant makeover

diningroom2after bloor street diners restaurant makeover

Designed by Mehran Foroughi, the ceiling is solid teak panelling, elegantly lit by 40 spectacular conical pendants. The real standout for me is the textured white wall that lends the dining room a Euro-chic wine cellar vibe.

And I’m a sucker for an achromatic approach done well, which is certainly the case here. “We didn’t want the renovation to look dated in five years,” says Sebastien of the timeless black-and-white scheme (with a few hits of rich bordeaux, primarily in the cafe and billiards areas).

Congrats, and bon appetit! 

 

Bloor Street Diner, Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St. W. (Bay & Bloor), Toronto, 416-928-3105