By Melinda M, on September 2nd, 2010%
 As you are enjoying the last long weekend of this beautiful 2010 summer, you may feel compelled to check out the Ossington strip. If so, we’d like to fill you in on what is closed this weekend due to the holiday.
Crepes and More remains closed for their extended vacation, with the sign in the window saying they’ll return September 8.
The Dakota Tavern’s weekly Sunday bluegrass brunch will not happen this Sunday, September 5.
As per their twitter feed, Pizzeria Libretto will close this Monday for Labour Day. Also as per twitter, Goed Eten will be closed Saturday and Sunday
If you know of any other closings, let us know, and we’ll keep updating via our twitter account.
By Brians, on August 19th, 2010%
 Havana Cultura starts today! and if you like everything Cuban this is the festival for you.
Ossington and the vicinity already has it’s share of Cuban influences from the House of Horvath cigar store, to Julies Cuban over on Dovercourt and Foxley serving Cuban tapas, to Delux, whose Cuban cooking we’ve been enjoying since they opened. And, of course, nothing says Cuba like rum. The festival is sponsored and promoted by Havana Club, so there’ll be lots of rum cocktails served with that brand.
This festival brings music, dance and art from Cuba to the Ossington strip. And the list of events is extensive. (Don’t forget to check the Ossington Village Events Calendar for full listings)
They’ve even come up with a special cocktail for the event called the Cuban Correspondent, created by Brad Gubbins from the Toronto Institute of Bartending, which is a variation on a Daquiri inspired by Hemingway’s time in Toronto in his early writing career (or that’s what they tell us).
There will also be a performance by Gilles Peterson, DJ/producer /musician. Peterson and his band will perform tracks from his just released, remixed album, Havana Cultura: New Cuba Sound at the Great Hall at Dovercourt and Queen.
 In the back of Reposado there will be a cigar lounge with rolling demonstrations and some guests will receive complimentary cigars.
Angel Carrillo, a local graffiti artist and urban designer will be painting a large mural on the wall outside of Levack Block, and Cuban artist Ernesto Villanueva will be showcasing his artworks Friday and Saturday from 3pm until 8pm.
Elmer Ferrer, a super-talented Cuban guitarist, is playing with his band at The Painted Lady at 3 p.m on Saturday.
It’s going to be a very Cuban next couple of days on Ossington, so take the time to enjoy everything this festival has to offer, and of course, buy a few rum drinks to keep the festival coming back next year.
By Melinda M, on August 8th, 2010%
We went to dinner on Saturday night at Salt Wine Bar: it turned out to be the second night they were officially open, and we sampled a few items off the menu and a bottle of wine.
The menu is tapas, some cheeses and charcuterie, of assorted price points which were quite reasonable. From the homemade chips they put on the table soon after we sat down, to the cheese we ended our meal with (a Quebecois Blue and Parmesan Reggiano), every item we tried was fresh and flavourful. We have some photos, so you can see the presentation. We recommend trying for yourself!
 Appetizer  More Tapas The wine list is mainly Portuguese, with a few Spanish and Italian wines to round it out. We like the idea that they are serving Portuguese food and wines with a more updated twist than the other Portuguese spots in the neighborhood.
There is a bar in the front when you walk in, and then what look like bookshelves covering the walls, but they are full of bottles of wine, vinegars, oils, bags of salt and rice, etc. The back wall even has jars of preserves with the Salt label on them. It’s a dimly lit, comfortable atmosphere. The staff is also really gracious, and very helpful when we had questions about the wine list. We have a feeling we’re going to be more educated about Portuguese wines very quickly!
It took a long time for Salt Wine Bar to open, but it’s here, so let’s enjoy it! We’ll be back.
By Melinda M, on August 5th, 2010%
This August 19-22 mark the dates for the Havana Cultura Festival in Toronto, and this festival is really making great use of a variety of venues on Ossington, plus some on Queen West and Dovercourt.
The festival was founded and is sponsored by Havana Club Rum, and it celebrates Cuban culture in all it’s forms, and each venue on Ossington will highlight something different about that culture.
Delux, a well known home for Cuban food, is featuring a special Cuban lunch each day of the festival. On opening night, Reposado hosts a unique cigar lounge in the backyard patio, with a rolling demonstration, and free samples for guests.
On Friday, August 20, Levack Block focuses on the art of Cuba, with a gallery set up in the second floor (who knew they had a second floor?) and graffiti created live and displayed on the wall outside. The Ossington is hosting a rumba party on the same night.
So, along with music, dancing, Cuban food and art, Levack Block, Reposado, Julie’s Cuban on Dovercourt, and Camera Bar on Queen West are all turning Cuban.
Live music performances at The Painted Lady with the Elmer Ferrer Band, Watusi has the Orlando Cardozo Latin Jazz Trio, and The Ossington features The Kevin Barretto Jazz Trio.
After all the partying and dancing, wind it down on Sunday with some Cuban brunch at Delux or a BBQ at Sweaty Betty’s. Full schedule (and it is quite full) is on the website.
By Melinda M, on July 24th, 2010%
As we already mentioned, Salt Wine Bar is having a tasting night tonight. The opening of this restaurant has been long overdue, and much discussed for many months! We heard through the grapevine that issues with permits, etc, caused the long delays. Now, finally, the restaurant seems ready to go with the first event tonight a tasting menu for $65. We photographed the menu, and have it posted here (a little blurry, but legible).
We aren’t attending, so please comment if you do go. We would love to hear if the food tastes as good as it’s described.
By Melinda M, on July 24th, 2010%
Ossington has been mentioned in several news articles of late, so it’s time for our semi-regular press round-up.
The mentions are coming as far off as Ireland, where an article in the Irish Times cites our neighborhood as the “rising area” thanks to our bars and restaurants.
Another recent mention that garnered attention is from the Huffington Post, which calls Toronto “the capital of cool” and mentions Ossington as one of the “once dodgy, but now trendy…neighborhoods” for it’s galleries, shops and restaurants.
This sort of news must come in threes, because Daily Candy, a popular U.S. fashion and lifestyle blog, also visits Toronto and recommends Ossington for its restaurants and shops. Notably highlighted by Daily Candy are Jonathan + Olivia, Delux, Pizzeria Libretto and Camp 4.
So maybe we can expect to hear more Irish and American accents when we shop and eat on Ossington.
Finally, closer to home, new coffee shop Crafted by Te Aro is receiving positive press. We can attest to the quality of their coffees (both hot and cold) and the professionalism and dedication of their staff. If you follow them on Twitter, you would have read about their very high rating from The Coffee Review. Kudos and welcome to the neighborhood!
By Brians, on July 19th, 2010%
As I was walking home tonight I walked by the long awaited Salt Wine Bar. There is a new sign on their door announcing an Iberian Food and Wine pairing next Saturday, July 24th. You can call to make reservations at 416-533-SALT (7258). The sign says the price is $65 for the evening. Their chef Dave Kemp, formerly of the now closed Prego Della Piazza and Splendido is confident that locals will pay to come for the opening. (which we think is quite gutsy to charge for an opening, but if you can do it….why not?)
We are excited to see another place in the neighbourhood opening up. This place has been long awaited (any minute, as of February). We heard they have had issues getting their licenses accepted and all their permits approved. We don’t know whether they will open to the public right after the pairing night, or whether there are further approvals required. Let us know if anyone knows more.
Here’s the sign that’s in their window:
By Melinda M, on June 6th, 2010%
 A couple of cafes are expected to open soon on Ossington. No, I am not talking about Salt Wine Bar, which has surpassed Union as the longest wait for an opening on the strip (hopefully it will be as worth the wait as Union!). Actually, there are two places coming to Ossington between Queen and Dundas which are already known to Torontonians from other neighborhoods.
First we have Te Aro Coffee, which is already serving the coffee-mad masses in Leslieville. Both the Facebook account and the Twitter feed for Te Aro have revealed a new location will be open on Ossington in July, and there are hints it will be in the space once home to Get Real Cafe.
Next, Tasteto revealed today that Goed Eten, formerly of Kensington Market, is taking over the lease once belonging to Semolina Bakery. Now, if they serve the waffles and frites as advertised, Goed Eten will be brilliant if they stay open beyond 5pm on weekdays, and if they are open after midnight on weekends, they’ll pack em in!
By Brians, on May 30th, 2010%
 One of the hidden culinary gems of Ossington is the menu at the Painted Lady.
When you walk into this funky little bordello themed bar, food is not what comes to mind. Empty seats early in the evening, no kitchen or even prep area visible, crumpled plain paper menus, and prices which suggest that food is going to be pulled from a freezer in the basement all tell the unwitting visitor that you won’t want to sit down and eat.
But we suggest you do!
A few weeks ago we sat down at the bar early in the evening, and as time went by we decided it was time to get some food. We were about to head out to one of the many places on the strip, but were convinced to stay and try some food from the small kitchen. The recommended item? – Jess’ Dead Sexy Bad Ass Mother F**** Pulled Pork Sandwich. And was it ever great.
It turns out that The Painted Lady takes their small menu seriously. Put together by Jess, sister of owner Nicky, all the ingredients are prepped well in advance in a home kitchen, so they can be quickly put together in the small space in The Painted Lady. The pulled pork is cooked for hours on end using a tangy, vinegary sauce which makes it perfectly tasty. It is served on a fresh local Portuguese bun with fresh greens on a wooden board. It’s both rustic and delicious.
Other menu items include the One Love Vegetarian Corn Soup, served with cornbread; Gotta Getta Grilled Cheese, with honey and fresh basil; and the more famous White Trash Nachos, with beef chili and Cheez Whiz.
The amazing thing about all the food at The Painted Lady, is that they make everything fresh, with real ingredients. If you order a drink with sour mix at the bar, you can be assured that it wasn’t store-bought, but that the citrus was juiced by the staff. (we’re still not sure about the Cheez Whiz thing). Right now the food is the best deal in town – with the Pulled Pork sandwich being only $7.95. Get one soon, because we’re not the only ones who’ve noticed, and when more people figure this out, the price is sure to go up.
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