The best appetizers in Toronto according to a Michelin chef

Is there anything more festive than a room full of finely dressed guests sipping on cocktails and nibbling on finger foods while a playlist of holiday favourites sets the tone? We asked celeb chef Anthony Rose to sample some of the cityโ€™s best appetizers and tell us which two (or three) bite-sized treats takes top prize.

Winner: Charmaine Sweets Studio: Mini Chicken Pot Pies

โ€œThis is very delicate and nice and warm. The pastry is spectacular, and visually it looks nice. I like the addition of the egg wash. These taste homemade, and you can really tell that they were made with care.โ€ 115 Vanderhoof Ave.,$4 each

Runner up: Tiny Market Co. Basil Pesto Knots

โ€œThese are gorgeousand buttery. They look great, and the layer of flavour is good. Theyโ€™re nice and green, which is cool. I would like to see a bit more pesto. I love the way they taste: thereโ€™s a lot of basil, buttery goodness.โ€ 938 Bathurst St., $2.80 each

Pisces Gourmet Seafood: Crab Cakes

โ€œThese crab cakes look perfect. I love crab cakes and these ones are nice and big. When you take a bite you can really taste a lot of crab and thereโ€™s so much of it.โ€ 1097 Yonge St., $7.99/lb

McEwan Fine Foods: Truffle Mushroom Arancini

โ€œI can really taste the truffle oil and mush- rooms. Itโ€™s pretty good. I donโ€™t love the addition of the truffle oil, but itโ€™s well made. I would eat more of this, but it would be nice if they were a bit smaller.โ€ 38 Karl Fraser Rd., $11 (for two)

Pusateri’s Fine Foods: Beef Samosas

โ€œItโ€™s good, but I want it to be stuffed just a little bit more! I like when my beef samosa is filled with a lot of potatoes and peas. Itโ€™s nice and flavourful though and the pastry is golden and flaky.โ€ 57 Yorkville Ave., $2.49 each

Center Street Deli’s Mini Potato Latkes

โ€œIt’s not bad. Itโ€™s got a nice texture, but it doesnโ€™t really taste like potato. I think they taste pretty good and I like that theyโ€™re simple. Theyโ€™ve got a nice scoop of filling, and theyโ€™re deep fried.โ€ 1136 Centre St., $11.25 (12 pieces)

Thobors’ Feuilletรฉ Saucisse (Sausage Rolls)

โ€œGorgeous! I want to love this. Itโ€™s like a hotdog in a blanket but sexy and fancy. Thereโ€™s a lot of pastry โ€” a little too much for my liking. The hotdogโ€™s nice and smoky, but the pastry is mediocre.โ€ 627 Mount Pleasant Rd., $6.80 each

Article exclusive to STREETS OF TORONTO