David Schwartz’s 海角社区官网favourites: Where he goes for superb sourdough, impeccable service and a maple tart that is one of the best things he’s ever eaten
鈥淎nytime I travel elsewhere, I find myself craving what the 海角社区官网culinary landscape has to offer.鈥
He鈥檚 studied and eaten all over the world, but for David Schwartz鈥攖he culinary and creative director behind and 鈥攖here鈥檚 no place like home. 鈥淎nytime I travel elsewhere, I find myself craving what the 海角社区官网culinary landscape has to offer,鈥 Schwartz says of the elevated institutions and tucked-away mom-and-pop shops he frequents.聽
His newest project, , is a deli-inspired steakhouse on the Ossington strip named in honour of his late, hosting-hooked mother. Between the world-class Ontario beef on the menu and the Palm Springs-tinged mid-century-modern room, it鈥檚 destined to satiate local tastes. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e looking for鈥igh quality ingredients in a space that makes you feel something,鈥 Schwartz says of Torontonians鈥 penchant for 鈥渘on-cheesy, experiential鈥 restaurant outings. 鈥淭hey want to feel like it was worth it when they walk out the door.鈥
The comfort food eatery
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, 550 Hwy. 7, Richmond Hill
鈥淣orthern Dumpling Kitchen is my go-to for northern Chinese food. I always get their beef pancake roll and stir-fried lamb with cumin. I鈥檝e been here about 80 times, and they still offer me a fork each visit, which hurts me deeply.鈥
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The new favourite
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,聽962 College St.
鈥淭his restaurant is very unique, and the food here is always tasty. All of my clothes already smell like grilled meat anyway, so the smoke from the grill is not a drawback for me. One of my favourites is soondae, a Korean blood sausage鈥攊t鈥檚 hard to find here. It鈥檚 also a plus that the people who run this spot are especially kind and deserving of all the success!鈥
The romance-inducing dinner
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, 96 Harbord St.
鈥淢y wife and I always enjoy Dreyfus. They make flawless restaurant execution seem effortless. Also, their style of cooking and service is very different from anywhere else in the city. Last time we were there we particularly enjoyed their fresh pasta with matsutake mushroom and their pomme dauphine with salmon roe.鈥
The best bakery
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, 172 Baldwin St.
鈥淏lackbird has some of my favourite sourdough in the world, and I feel lucky that I live steps away from their flagship in Kensington Market.鈥
The fancy fare
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, 944 Queen St. W.
鈥淚鈥檝e never experienced anything but pitch perfect hospitality here. It鈥檚 often the case that a restaurant this precise has a coldness to it, but they manage to do what they do with authenticity and warmth. The maple tart with D茅lice de Bourgogne cheese is one of the best things I鈥檝e ever eaten.鈥
The next-on-his-list spot
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, 1455 Gerrard St. E.
鈥淚 would like to go to Belle Isle from the Lake Inez team. I wish I lived closer to their spots because I always enjoy eating at Lake Inez. I鈥檝e always loved how much soul and personality is built into Lake Inez. Once you meet (co-owner) Zac (Schwartz), who is often in the dining room, you really understand where it comes from.鈥
The elevated experience
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, 20 Victoria St.
鈥淐hris (White), Julie (Hyde) and Declan (Edwards) are absolutely insane, and insane people make for great restaurant operators. They manage to make you feel like you’re the only person in the dining room who matters. They are, of course, making everyone feel this way, which is a great skill. The food is seemingly simple but is very much not simple. And it鈥檚 always delicious.鈥
The cheap & cheerful dish
,聽449 Dundas St. W.
鈥淚 love Tang Homestyle Beef and Lamb for their Xi鈥檃n style lamb with pita soup and pickled garlic. Their original location is deep in Markham, but they just opened a second location in an unsuspecting bubble tea spot in Chinatown, which I鈥檓 very excited about. This place rules.鈥
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