Boys will be boys: the trio of brothers behind Toronto’s banh mi revolution prepare for the launch of Lucky Red

There was once a time not so long ago when nobody — nobody — would have paid more than $2 for a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich in Toronto. These days, Torontonians are lining up for tricked out versions of it, filled with marinated short ribs, spice-rubbed pork belly or even duck confit. And they’re paying upwards of $7 a pop. How did this happen?

Will recent shooting slow Yorkdale plans?

When Michael Nguyen’s bullet-riddled body hit the asphalt of a Yorkdale Shopping Centre parking lot on Easter weekend, he became the third person to be shot to death at a Toronto mall in under a year.

The holy ramen empire

Renowned chef David Chang — ever heard of him? — has expanded his Momofuku empire to Toronto. Of course, that’s only news to those who have been living under something decidedly stone-like for the past year. The resultant buzz has turned Toronto’s foodsters into a throng of screaming Bieber girls, but is Momofuku going to revolutionize the city’s restaurant scene? Probably not. It already did that several years ago.

What I Wore: colour-fading greens from Koopdekour and Aldo Rise

Everything in this photo — the background walls, my hair, my outfit — is all about “the fade”. Ombre (fashion-speak for colour gradation) is no new hair trend to talk about (I recently cut off a cool five inches of my bleached out ends) but we are not here to talk about my hair. I only mention it because looking at this photo, I now see ombre everywhere. That wasn’t planned during the shoot — we just liked the colours together.

Weekend Warrior: YTV’s The Next Star, Friday nights at the ROM, Kensington Food Walk, Design on Dundas and Artfest

You could be the next Justin Bieber! Well, if you’re under 15 years old, and have some discernible talent. YTV’s The Next Star, the reality show which pits kids against each other for singer supremacy, is back for its fifth season. This weekend, Toronto will host the Ontario auditions at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Prepare yourself for countless covers of “Call Me Maybe.”

The wicked ’wich of the East: the rise of the gourmet banh mi sandwich in Toronto

Not too long ago, I ate one of the slipperiest, drippiest, messiest sandwiches I’ve ever had. It was at a Financial District nook known as The Gabardine, wherein a fat French baguette was stuffed with pulled pork, raw onions, julienned carrots and kimchi. It was, apparently, an Asian fusion submarine sandwich known as the banh mi. It cost $14, sides included. To anyone planning on taking the plunge: bring a bib. Possibly two.

New players in Kates top 100

’Tis not a kind season for fine dining — in this slightly scary economy, diners are playing their cards close to the vest, only spending where they’re sure of value.

Toronto’s worst restaurant names

When Number Two Restaurant appeared on Spadina a few weeks ago, we wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt. Number Two is “with it,” we thought. By openly admitting its inferiority, it is indulging in that grand hipster ideal known as “irony.” Well, we were wrong. As Now Magazine reports, Number Two has already changed its name. It’s now known as Ivan’s Kitchen Dim Sum Fusion Cuisine.

The Drake Hotel to host a series of seasonally changing pop-up restaurants. First stop: high school!

Move over Antiques Roadshow: there’s a new “tour” in town, and this one promises to be much tastier. The Drake Hotel  has announced its Dining Roadshow, a “restaurant within a restaurant” concept that will see the dining room space changing seasonally in menu, theme, and decor. Executive chef Anthony Rose intends to create stylized menus that highlight the intrinsic attitude of each of The Drake’s restaurant incarnations.