Homage to ’80s high on style not substance

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11:04 pm

THIS TOWN IS overrun with burger joints. And you don’t need to be a vegetarian to feel the strain.

Restaurateurs who decide to open up yet another place for patties best have a dedicated, original spin on the theme. Retro Burger approaches the trend with a 1980s angle, and in this way, they succeed. Unfortunately, the ’80s weren’t exactly an era worth remembering in terms of fast-food experiences.

Custom-made comic book-like collages — complete with “OMG I’m so retro!” speech bubbles, coming from blonde damsels in distress and Atari logos — hang on wall sections painted bright orange and yellow. Grey tiles under foot run up to hip height, a colour mirrored in the ceiling above.

Dark wood chairs screech back and forth under marbly topped, woodframed tables. It’s a loud, upbeat space, serenaded by the likes of Madonna and Duran Duran on the speakers.

Despite the moniker, Retro’s menu lists only two kinds of burgers: a veggie patty and a fiveounce beef burger done up in seven different ways — with swiss and mushroom, say, or with tomato, feta and Greek sauce.

There’s more variety in the list of chicken options, with souvlaki, fingers and a crispy chicken sandwich. Also up for grabs: fish (with chips or salad or on a bun), hot dogs, Philly cheese steaks, plus the usual smattering of sides — four kinds of poutine, fries, onion rings, sweet potato fries.

Two salads seem the healthiest of plates, although Retro — embracing a less health-focused food era — may not feel the guilt.

Patrons choose their meals from the wall-mounted menu, place their order with the cashier at the back, then sit down to wait for their number to be called. Orders are announced from the back open-kitchen area, and the hungry line up to direct staff on how to dress their burgers.

The classic burger ($3.79) sees a five-ounce patty on an untoasted and unremarkable white bread bun. The burger’s biggest flavour is char grilling, made interesting with choice of the usual ketchup, mayo, mustard, relish, raw or fried onions and hot peppers (free), plus bacon, various kinds of specialty cheese or mushrooms ($0.50 to $1).

It’s a good meat-to-bun ratio, but the “100% premium burger” (which means what, we’re not sure) is processed tasting and dense and therefore hard to finish.

Elsewhere, the halibut fillet, hand dipped in simple batter, is expertly timed, but the deep-fryer renders the assembly so greasy that even the paper wrapping can’t absorb the excess oil.

A white rectangular cardboard box opens up to reveal a substantial serving of plain-Jane skin-on fries, from frozen[CK frozen].

No little crunchy bits here; these are standard cut and soft ($2.49 on their own or as part of a combo).

Classic poutine (this time in Styrofoam) uses the same fries, but makes a passable choice, with real cheese curds and gravy ($3.99).

The excellent homemade vinaigrette on garden salad ($3.39) refreshes with just enough vinegar and balanced seasonings.

Bottled water, milk, decent milkshakes that stand up to the straw test and help-yourself fountain sodas round out the offerings.

Three sisters of Thanksgiving

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4:46 pm

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Corn, beans and squash are known as the “three sisters” of Thanksgiving.

There are, of course, countless variations of side dishes that contain these ingredients, so this year I have picked recipes that are delicious, comforting, good for our waistlines and easy to prepare.

Acorn squash maple-cinnamon wedges

Herbed chickpea, corn and carrot loaf

Mediterranean bean, olive and artichoke salad

Post City Magazines’ culinary columnist, Rose Reisman, is the author of 17 cookbooks, a TV and radio personality and a health & wellness expert. Visit Rose at www.rosereisman.com.

Better off red

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4:36 pm

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IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a wine experience above the humdrum — that is, a wine of real character that speaks of the soil in which it was grown — have I got a selection for you.

Sandhill Small Lots Viognier 2009 has recently landed on the Vintages’ shelves. This wine is a consistent award winner at national and international competitions.

The wine is a light golden colour with a bouquet of stone fruit preserve and white blossoms. It’s dry and full-bodied, viscous on the palate with a lingering, warm, fruit-saturated finish ($24.95, Vintages #126862).

I have always been a great fan of the village-named Côtes du Rhône reds. These well-priced blends are usually made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, but for Perrin & Fils Peyre Blanche Cairanne Côtes du Rhône 2007, the winemaker has gone heavy on the Grenache with a mere 20 per cent of Syrah added.

The result is a dense purple-coloured wine with a nose of raspberries, violets, white pepper and licorice. It’s full on the palate with ripe flavours of raspberry and black cherry with earthy-herbal notes and a very long finish ($17.95, Vintages #650960).

And here’s another delicious wine from the southern Rhône, part of the Vintages September release: Vignerons de Caractère Les Hauts du Castellas Vacqueyras 2007 has that unmistakable nose of Syrah — blackberries, roasted herbs and a note of the barnyard.

Believe me, this is a compliment. The wine is full-bodied on the palate, rich, but not overblown, with lots of flavour and soft tannins. It’s also a great value ($18.95, Vintages #177634).

In April, Huff Estates South Bay Chardonnay 2007 was named White Wine of the Year at the 2010 Ontario Wine Awards, and this wine has carried off other trophies since.

This medium-bodied dry Chardonnay has a nose of tropical fruits, sweet lemon and vanilla oak. On the palate it has a creamy texture with a spicy note. The fine spine of acidity carries the tropical fruit flavours to a long and satisfying finish ($29.95, Vintages #88955).

Viticcio I Greppi Greppicante Bolgheri 2007 is a wine that uses the three Bordeaux grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. It’s intensely coloured deep ruby with a beet purple core.

The nose is an amalgam of cassis, mint and sweet oak. The seductive palate is rich and full with black fruit flavours tempered by toasty oak and licorice ($23.95, Vintages #170381).

Real-life lessons can be learned from fairy tales

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3:56 pm

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WHEN WADING through the words of pundits and the babble of political posturing, I can’t help but think of some of the simple truths we learned as children.

Remember those stories from Aesop, Hans Christian Andersen, and the Grimm brothers that enthralled us while imparting powerful messages?

I thought of one of these tales while listening to the CBC’s Peter Mansbridge interview Prime Minister Stephen Harper earlier this year.

The prime minister claimed Canadians were only concerned about the economy and that Canada’s possible involvement with torture in Afghanistan was not a serious concern. Mr. Harper ignored the massive public demand for leadership on climate change that preceded Copenhagen. The tale that comes to mind is the story of the emperor who wore no clothes.

Long ago, a vain emperor was overly concerned about his appearance. Two crafty weavers promised to make him a fine outfit from material that could not be seen by those who were stupid or unfit for their position.

When the weavers pretended to display samples, the emperor couldn’t admit he was unable to see them, for that would be an admission of incompetence or stupidity. His courtiers and ministers were likewise unable to admit they saw nothing. When the weavers came with the finished outfit, everyone “oohed” and “aahed.”

Putting on the imaginary clothes, the emperor paraded outside so the public could admire his new attire. Everyone in the crowd, enthralled by the status of the king and bowed by their desire to be seen as clever and fashionable, remained silent. Only a child, innocent of the claims of the weavers, pointed out the obvious: “The emperor has no clothes.”

We are living in a time when ecological degradation is occurring everywhere. B.C.’s northern forests have turned red, victims of mountain pine beetles no longer killed by winters that have become too warm. Farmers know harvest time is later; birders report birds migrating north two weeks earlier and departing weeks later than normal; competitive skiers tell us European meets are being cancelled for lack of snow.

But where the emperor and his sycophantic subjects were blinded by vanity, we are prevented from seeing by the cloak of economics and politics.

Let’s throw off the blinders and see the world as any child can.

Offers pour in for one of T.O.’s hottest young chefs

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3:37 pm

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After nearly five years at Vertical, one of the business district’s busiest restaurants, Chef Tawfik Shehata has parted ways with management.

Shehata, a creative genius in the kitchen, described the split as “amicable.”

“We weren’t really seeing eye-to-eye on some things,” Shehata told PostCity.com.

Shehata, who trained under legendary chef Keith Froggett at Scaramouche and spent time in the kitchens of Auberge du Pommier, Winston’s, Boba and The Rosewater Supperclub, is one of Toronto’s most sought after chefs.

He tells us he’s already fielded calls from some of Toronto’s top restaurateurs (including one who owns several of the city’s best regarded eateries), has an invitation to help open the new Daniel Boulud restaurant in Singapore, and is mulling the possibility of opening his own boîte.

As for his immediate future, he’ll be getting what most chefs who handle a large kitchen can only dream of: a little rest.

Over at Vertical, no plans have been announced as to who will replace the talented Shehata. The loss follows a summer in which Vertical’s outdoor patio became a tough place to dine due to massive construction on the First Canadian Place.

First impressions lunch at Fabbrica, McEwan's new eatery

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3:37 pm

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Celebrity Chef Mark McEwan has created a beautiful modern Italian space with Fabbrica, complete with huge, leather-appointed booth seating and rooms done in dark and light woods with gun metal blue appointments.

The centerpiece of it all is the grand wood-burning oven imported from Italy.

The pizza isn’t as thin as Queen Margherita or Libretto and, at first, it makes you wonder because it doesn’t defy gravity the way pizza aficionados in Toronto are used to.

But, don’t be mistaken, this is authentic Neapolitan-style pizza and, once you start eating it, the slightly thicker crust and quality of the ingredients shines through.

Our favourite was the Capicollo – mozzarella, hot capicollo, basil and tomato – and we couldn’t get enough of the sauce, a real show stopper.

The skirt steak, served over wild arugula, smoked tomato, and pickled onion, isn’t cheap at $19 but it’s a definite winner as well. The steak, served medium rare, comes out on a large wooden plank and is well portioned.

The menu is dominated by pizza, pasta, salads and salumerie and they have their own beer on draft – pricey at $9 but also very solid.

Considering they’ve only been open for two days, staff were fairly competent and attentive.

Fabbrica, 49 Karl Fraser Rd., 416-391-0307.

Locked school gate causes uprising in Midtown area

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2:58 pm

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While a decision last April to permanently lock a gateway on school grounds left locals in the Bathurst Street and St. Clair Avenue West area feeling unwelcome, a recent community meeting has unhinged a solution: keep the gate locked during the day and open at night.

The public meeting was held by local Coun. Mihevc last month and more than 75 people attended. Nancy Lerner, principal of Hillcrest, said the original decision to close off the Nina Street entrance was a safety one. “The gate is very close to Bathurst Street: we’ve had children chasing after balls.… we’ve had intruders,” she said.

However, the closed gate also made some locals feel shut out. While the one entryway was closed, another remained open on the more affluent Hilton Avenue. In addition, the school attached a ‘private property, no trespassing’ sign to the locked gate.

Local Molly Ladd-Taylor said she first noticed something wasn’t right last Victoria Day when a usually busy playground instead was empty. “It used to be a real hub, lots of basketball, soccer games,” she said.

Concerns over the locked gate came to a peak last June when a nearby altercation led to a 16-year-old being murdered. Ladd-Taylor said many believe that had the gate been open, there may have been more people in the area, producing a watchdog affect.

After the murder, a petition against the closed gate was signed by more than 150 locals. Mihevc held a meeting with school and board officials in July and then followed up with the public meeting last month. “There was virtual unanimity that the gate be open at night,” said Mihevc.

According to Ladd-Taylor, community members at the meeting volunteered to work with the school and board officials, to look at how they can make the compromise a reality. Lerner said the group will be meeting this month.

“The gate is still locked right now,” said Ladd-Taylor. “But we’re hopeful for a resolution."

Local public school may be next in line for a condo deal

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2:57 pm

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Accompanying the new North Toronto Collegiate Institute is a neighbouring condo and a controversial deal made between the local school board and a developer. Also accompanying the new building is a question: does the same fate lie ahead for nearby Davisville Junior Public School?

Seven years ago, North Toronto Collegiate Institute was falling apart. With no funds to pay for upgrades, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) sold a portion of the school’s Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue area land to Tridel; the money from the deal covered the cost of building a new school. “I would say that our board is challenged in that we receive limited capital funding,” said Sheila Penny, TDSB head of strategic building and renewal. “Our challenge is can we raise funds by selling the surplus land we have?”

Penny said Davisville is part of a five-year capital building program that includes looking into the redevelopment potential and the selling off of land at five school sites across the board jurisdiction. She said a local school community design team — an amalgam of community, school and board members — will meet to begin discussing development potential.

Josh Matlow, the local school trustee, said he is hesitant about development discussions but is assured that plans for Davisville cannot proceed further without the community giving written agreement as to what type of development occurs.

Rob McCready — a local, involved parent of two Davisville students — said that though parents are open to discussion, they have a number of concerns that will have to be addressed. “How much of the school property would be sold, how much green space would be left for the community?” asked McCready. “The site would be under construction for a couple of years at least. Where are our kids going to be educated?”

In the case of North Toronto Collegiate, classes continued in the 100-year-old building until the new building was completed. The school’s principal, Joel Gorenkoff, said, though there were small challenges, such as not having a field during construction, the gain far outweighs any pain felt. “The kids knew the old school and they see how amazing the new facility is,” he said.

According to Coun. Michael Walker, North Toronto Collegiate was in poor condition. The condo plan was acceptable because the school is in a high-density area designated for apartments. However, Walker does not accept redevelopment for Davisville, which he said is in good shape and resides in a low-density area. “The school board is sounding like a developer, wanting to maximize an asset,” said Walker.

Plans to develop Bathurst Manor plaza loom large

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2:55 pm

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As Mike Feldman steps down as the councillor for Ward 10, he said one of the major issues in the area is the proposed development at Bathurst Manor plaza.

The controversial project has been in the works for about four years now, but the owner recently submitted a revised planning application for the site, located on the northeast corner of Wilmington Avenue and Overbrook Place.

Residents have raised standard development issues, such as height and increased traffic, said Coun. Feldman, but what residents are especially interested in is maintaining access to the local retail the plaza has provided.

“People want their stores because Bathurst Manor is sort of an isolated area geographically, so people have to go out to Dufferin or to Finch or to Sheppard for shopping,” he said.

Anna Ritacca, a resident who has sat on the working group that was established four years ago, said that keeping commercial space was of particular interest to her.

“The site needs to be redeveloped,” she said. “We just have to make sure that we maintain the services. We need to make sure that we get some decent urban design and enough critical mass to revitalize all of Wilmington.”

For Ritacca, the developer’s latest application includes the right amount of retail and represents a good design, but she would like assurance that these elements will be retained. Other residents are still worried about density and the impact it would have on infrastructure, she said. In the meantime, the shopping centre — once a vibrant community hub — has deteriorated.

“The plaza looks like it’s in complete disrepair,” said Ritacca.

The current proposal lays out plans for two mixed-use buildings, the first standing three to six storeys, and the second six storeys. This would include roughly 20,000 square feet of retail and services on the ground floors.

At this stage, the applicant can revise the plans or ask city staff to make recommendations to council based on the current proposal.

From political power to empowering youth and women

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2:54 pm

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Belinda Stronach says life is, at times, a matter of circumstance. Though she has always been extremely active in her 905 community and as a philanthropist, it wasn’t until after she got the opportunity to travel to Africa — where she witnessed the devastating effects of poverty first-hand — that she decided to launch her own foundation.

“I really do appreciate the good fortune that I’ve had in my life, and I think it’s important to be able to give back,” she says.

What began as a vehicle through which to manage Stronach and Rick Mercer’s Spread the Net campaign to fight malaria has become a full-fledged charitable organization with initiatives at home and abroad. The Belinda Stronach Foundation now focuses on three main areas: girls and women, Canadian Aboriginal youth and global initiatives.

The Lifford Wine Agency recently hosted its fourth annual Ladies’ Night event, this year in support of her foundation.

“They wanted to do something that recognizes an organization that empowers girls and women, so we’re really excited about that,” says Stronach.

The funds raised will go toward these efforts and, specifically, future G(irls)20 Summits — meetings designed to take place ahead of annual G20 meetings, to put women’s issues on the global agenda. Stronach’s foundation recently pledged as much as $5 million in the next five years to the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to facilitate this.

The CGI is only one of the many organizations Stronach’s has partnered with. She says she finds her motivation in teaming up with like-minded individuals.

“That’s what inspires me: working with volunteers, creating momentum toward greater change,” she says.

Stronach recalls a 2008 trip to Liberia where she visited hospitals. She couldn’t help but notice the lack of medicine and equipment.

“A $10 net, when you hand it to someone, it’s a life-saving gift,” says Stronach. “You really see it in people’s faces, how much this means to them.”

It’s these interactions that really drive home why she’s doing this, she says.

Last April, the Spread the Net campaign reached its initial goal of distributing 500,000 bed nets.

Stronach’s foundation also recently launched the pilot program One Laptop Per Child, to deliver laptops to Canadian Aboriginal youth, creating educational opportunities.

But Stronach’s tireless efforts aren’t limited to her foundation. After a personal battle with breast cancer, she raised $1 million toward establishing the Belinda Stronach chair in breast cancer reconstructive surgery at the University of Toronto.

As for the future of her foundation?

“Sky’s the limit,” says Stronach. “We don’t really think about where the ceiling is. We try to tackle issues one at a time.”

TTC looks to finalize Hogg’s Hollow lease

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2:53 pm

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The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is poised to finalize a lease agreement for the proposed eight-storey, 450,000-square-foot office building slated for Yonge Street and Wilson Avenue early this month, said TTC chair Adam Giambrone. After the board authorized the move in late August, a 30- to 45-day timeline was established to iron out details with Build Toronto, the city’s arms-length real estate agency.

Giambrone is confident that his organization will sign on as the lead tenant for the future building.

“It was designed effectively for the TTC although it could be changed a little bit for another tenant … but we’re moving in,” he said.

Coun. Karen Stintz said that, even though this has been the assumption, no one has been confirmed as the lead tenant yet.

She maintains her position that the development application has raised a handful of issues that need to be resolved — concerns relating to the size of the proposed building, its proximity to the ravine and loss of public parking are among them.

“Until those issues are addressed, I don’t believe there’s any way to move forward on this file,” she said. “They shouldn’t try to find a tenant and then make a building that may not fit the site.” Bruce Logan, Build Toronto’s director of communications and public affairs, said that his organization would like to have shovels in the ground by next summer. But this depends on having the appropriate approvals in place from the community and tenant by spring.

Build Toronto hopes to hold a workshop for residents next month, in advance of the mandatory public consultation that is expected to begin in December, said Logan.

Giambrone indicated that it would make sense for the proposed $5 million transit museum to be located in the future building, but the project hinges on the TTC’s ability to attract private sector funding.

Thornhill resident wins Rick Hansen award

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2:52 pm

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Thornhill resident Paul Rosen was recently presented with the Rick Hansen Award of Excellence.

“I am honoured to receive this award,” Rosen said. “Just to have my name in the same sentence as Rick Hansen’s is an honour.”

The award is presented periodically to individuals who have made outstanding contributions, or have accomplished noteworthy achievements benefiting persons with physical disabilities.

“It is awarded to select individuals, who, like Paul, best personify the spirit of the award,” said Ruth Kapelus, media and public relations coordinator for the March of Dimes Canada.

Past recipients of the award include the Honourable David C. Onley, Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor, and musician Justin Hines.

A three-time Paralympian, Rosen recently retired from Canada’s sledge hockey team. Over nine seasons as goalie for the team, he recorded 25 shutouts in 72 games.

Rosen now plans to focus his time on his career as a motivational speaker.

“It is now my full time mission to share what I’ve learned and do my best to inspire others to achieve their own level of greatness,” he said.