Step into BLUA on a frosty eve, and you’ll be greeted like family. It’s fitting that the new Junction bar is a family affair. Brother and sister Ade and Lea Gashi are game to showcase their Albanian roots in this Balkan-inspired bar they’ve dressed in blonde woods, macramé-wrapped potted plants and a mural centred on a sunrise. Here, summer’s but a breath away. Libations include the Balkan Negroni, which marries honey-infused raki to Campari, Montenegro and lavender vermouth for a sweeter take on the classic sipper. There are also a handful of brews on tap, like Beau’s and Henderson. When it comes to food, the cevapi stands out: the pillowy lepinja bread hugs minced veal kebab with sides of unripened kajmak cheese, onion and ajvar red pepper spread for a satisfying sandwich. If you’re lucky, they’ll have oven-fresh carrot cake studded with walnuts for dessert.
TOP DRINK: Blooming Love
TOP BITE: House-made cevapi
FUN FACT: Blua is a combo of two words — “blooming” and “dua,” which means love in Albanian
By Karolyne Ellacott
Published: February 13, 2019