The Bymark Burger – Makes 4 servings.

The Burger

Ingredients

• 2 lb (900 g) prime-grade strip loin (you can also get good quality ground meat from your butcher)
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil
• Generous dash of salt and coarsely ground pepper
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter
• 2 large king oyster mushrooms, sliced
• 4 top-quality hamburger buns
• 1 cup (250 mL) truffle aioli (see recipe)
• 8 leaves red lettuce, preferably lolla rossa
• 7 oz (200 mL) aged brie de meaux, sliced
• 1/4 oz (7 mL) black or summer truffle shavings (optional)
• Dash of truffle oil (optional)
• 4 slices of fresh foie gras, seared (optional)

Directions

Trim (or ask your butcher to trim) the strip loin of any silverskin or connective tissue. Pass it through a meat grinder fitted with a medium blade. Divide into four portions. Slap each portion from hand to hand with a twisting motion; form into thick patties. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Preheat grill on high. Rub burgers with olive oil and then encrust them with salt and pepper. Lightly oil the grill rack. Sear the burgers well on both sides. Relocate them to the more temperate side of the grill, about 8 to 10 minutes for medium rare.

Meanwhile, sauté the mushrooms in half the butter until they have softened, then mark them on the grill. Grill the buns and butter them lightly. Spread about 1 tbsp aioli on the bottom of each bun. Add lettuce, then the patties, cheese, mushrooms and the optional truffle shavings or a few drops of truffle oil. Top the burgers with the top of the buns and allow to rest for 3 minutes so cheese melts slightly. If you are using foie gras, add it immediately before serving. Serve with a ramekin of truffle aioli.

Truffle Aioli

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) truffle paste
• 1 cup (250 mL) vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) rice wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper

Directions

Whisk egg, mustard and truffle paste. Continue whisking, add the oil in a slow, steady stream. Thin with vinegar to taste, season with salt and pepper. Keeps refrigerated for 3 days.

The post The Bymark Burger Recipe by Chef Mark McEwan appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

With locations already established at Shops at Don Mills and down in the PATH, McEwan’s is worth exploring if you haven’t already. This new location is conveniently located at the corner and with easy indoor access to the main Yonge and Bloor lines. It’s also super easy for condo dwellers above who can just saunter down in their pyjamas. We are jealous.

We would take 10 minute drive to Shops at Don Mills where we could pick up our too-lazy-to-cook-but-need-something-yummy dinner. And McEwan’s Chili for football Sunday FTW! It’s also where you can get some unique items. No word of a lie… we were curious about baking with Cricket Flour. They had it.

If you haven’t been to a McEwan’s then you’re in for a treat. It’s two-fold — a freshly prepared food stations with favourite recipes from across McEwan’s restaurants (Bymark, Fabbricca, Diwan, One) for eat-in or take-out and it’s also a well-curated grocery store.

Starting with hot and cold food offerings sold by unit or weight. Dishes are globally represented and many recipes are from Mark McEwan’s restaurants in the city.

The day we were there, we spotted Italian pastas as well as Indian food dishes. We happily devoured on the spot (and took home) pirogies, gyoza, Jamaican patties, Chilean Empanadas.   It also has meal offerings complete with mains and sides. Rotisserie chicken, with varying spices take a popular go-to to the next level like Korean BBQ chicken. The Carving Station offered a succulent house roasted porchetta served with crispy chicarron . What we love is you can just ask them to carve enough for one person and not worry about over indulging yourself.  Not to be missed are their signature Fabbricca pizzas  by the slice and all made in house. Duck Confit pizza is a personal favourite of ours!

The fresh salad bar is there with an excellent selection, of course, but there’s an antipasto bar with a variety of olives and  marinated vegetables perfect for loading up to bring to your next cocktail party.

For those who like still like to cook, McEwan’s on-site butcher has dry aged beef that can be masterfully cut on request as well as other fresh meats available. You’ll also find marinated items ready to cook that will make you look like a rockstar chef in the kitchen. Seafood is certified sustainable with Ocean Wise.

The grocery store is a well-curated selection of fine foods. We found McEwan’s own line of foods including soups, marinades, sauces, and dips  (McEwan’s Mezes Roasted Eggplant Dip is seriously addictive and had us running back for more) amongst familiar Canadian and international brand offerings. It’s  definitely a treasure trove going through the aisles and discovering what’s there. We might have loaded up on savoury  Torros chips from Barcelona.

McEwan is noticeably a big supporter the talented local food community. Step into the fresh baked goods section and you’ll find Blackbird Breads, Robyn’s Cookies, Le Dolci cakes (wee unicorn cakes for two are adorable) and Delysees pastries — check out the sweet cloud-shaped cake. The cheese and deli counter is condensed with some great offerings as they’ve partnered with Cheese Boutique here. Stop by their Lavazza espresso bar for a better cuppa. They even serve Bullet Coffee here.

McEwan at Yonge & Bloor opens daily starting at 7:30 am.

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TD Salsa On St. Clair Street Festival: July 8 & 9. Free admission. It’s always “muy caliente” when you’re at a latin festival! This two-day festival offers food from over 15 countries and even more live music and opportunities to dance that will help you sweat off all the calories consumed. Live entertainment include Carlos Cruz, Changui Havana, El Sol de Cuba, and many more. Make sure you’re there for the lively festival parade each day starting at 2 pm. www.salsaintoronto.com

Night It Up! Market: July 14-16, 2017. Markham Civic Centre (101 Town Centre Blvd). Family friendly. Go early or go late to this incredible night market filled with delicious street food stalls like those you’d find in Hong Kong, Taiwan and other asian hotspots. Dress comfortably and be prepared for your sense to go on overdrive. Don’t know what to eat? Hint, the best food stalls have the line ups. Stinky tofu can be overwhelming but gather your friends and order one to share for your first time. But definitely go for the fresh grilled calamari skewers and Takoyaki balls (octopus). Live music on the main stage. Admission is free. Part proceeds raised on-site go to ALS DoublePlay. www.nightitup.com

Festival of India: July 15-16, 2017. Sherbourne Common at 61 Dockside Drive. Family friendly. This is the 45th year for this vibrant celebration filled with tradition and heritage. The festival kicks off with a parade with three giant floats and lots of singing, chanting, dancing and drumming. Follow the parade and continue the celebration at the Sherbourne Common with music, dance, and drama performances. Enjoy vegetarian foods, outdoor yoga with Yoga Meltdown, and explore the South Asian outdoor Bazaar. Free admission. Organized by the Toronto chapter of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). www.festivalofindia.ca

Rosé Picnic: July 22, 2017 at Garrison Common, Fort York (12 noon to 6pm). 19+ event. Pretty comes in all shades of pink at this inaugural massive outdoor picnic that may feel more like an refined English or South of France outing rather than the concrete jungle. The festival is filled with food & drinks, DJs, live music and other activities  in support of Rethink Breast Cancer. Sip on Rosé sparkling beverages as well as other summer drinks along side great food offerings. Pre-order your delicious special edition picnic baskets from celebrity chef Mark McEwan. Picnic blankets provided to all guests. Pink and/or white dress code in effect. Admission  prices range from general to VIP. www.rosepicnic.com

Ossfest: July 22, 2017, Ossington Avenue between Queen and Dundas Street West. Family and pet friendly. This is the second year for the Ossfest and it’s a great opportunity for the rest of the city to come and experience this neighbourhood that has quickly become a hotspot for urban style and eateries. (Kinda reminds us of charming  Chelsea in New York  before big brands moved in). The stretch of Ossington will start off with the OssCrit urban bike race and then transform into a fun zone filled with  live music, hands-on workshops, basketball training, and a kids zone. www.ossingtonbia.ca

Toronto Caribbean Carnival (aka Caribana): August 3-7th, 2017. Celebrate the culture, food and music of the Caribbean islands at one of the most popular summer festivals in the city. Events lead up to the full weekend of festivities and happen across the city. Junior Carnival and Family Day happens at Neilson Park on July 22 where the youngest revellers have a chance to shine and celebrate Caribbean culture. The Grand Parade on August 5th at Exhibition Place and along Lakeside Blvd.  is where everyone gathers to enjoy the day long parade of floats and Mas Bands…who, by the way prepare all year for this weekend. Thousands in colourful costumes with the all the best moves. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to dance, the music will quickly get you ‘wining’ . Plenty of food vendors with rotis, fresh fruit juices, jerk, doubles, and patties. Some ticketed events and comfortable up-close designated VIP seating also available. www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com

Kultura Filipino Arts Festival: August 10-13, 2017. Daniels Spectrum. With over a decade under its belt, this festival programming offers the best in Filipino arts in the city. Celebrate the country’s rich history and culture with live performances, traditional and modern cuisine and marketplace. Learn how Filipino-Canadians are moving forward through artistic expression. Organized by the Kapisanan Philippine Centre of Arts & Culture — a youth-led charitable community organization. www.kultura.ca

Krinos Taste of the Danforth: August 11-13, 2017. Danforth. Family friendly. Is summer in the city every complete without a visit to Greektown? This festival brings all the restauranteurs and local businesses outside to the thousands who visit. While you’re trying to see how many mouthwatering souvlaki sticks and baklava you can inhale, roam along the street and enjoy live music and entertainment that’s offered all weekend long. www.tasteofthedanforth.com

Habari Africa Festival: August 11-13, 2017. Harbourfront Centre. Discover the rich and diverse cultures of Africa in this music and arts festival. Explore the sounds of  Noumoucounda Cissoko hailed as the Jimi Hendrix of the kora. Experience authentic tastes of Africa. Free admission. www.harbourfrontcentre.com

The Big Feastival: August 18-20. Burl’s Creek, Oro-Medonte. This is the “feel good festival” for the family. You may have heard about this great outdoor camping and music festival from the UK.  Visit for a day or pack your camping equipment and head out to this multi-day festival (yes, with the kids) to enjoy the country-side. Live music entertainment line-up includes Weezer, Strumbellas, Magic!, Dragonette , De La Soul and more. Foodies will also delight as celebrity chefs including Chuck Hughes, Rob Gentile will be on site along with some of Canada’s best street foods, food artisans and local producers with a variety of culinary offerings. Family with little kids will love to visit the kids zones including appearances by Fred Penner, Paw Patrol and Splash’n Boots. There will also be a cooking school, fun fair, farm park, Big Top and more. Free entry for kids ages 12 and under to the Feastival. Tickets range from single day to full weekend. Pitch your own tent. Glamping options also available. www.canada.thebigfeastival.com

What summer festivals are you excited for?

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But right here in the city, we’ve discovered options that are within reach and can be tailored to our desire to unplug and unwind. The Hazelton Hotel, located in the Yorkville area has created an urban retreat that appeals to travellers and locals alike. What? In Toronto? This hectic city that is constantly moving in all directions? Is it possible to relax and unwind? We had a taste of what is offered in their “Meditation and Rejuvenation” escape.

MEDITATION: Tara Good is a renowned Yoga practitioner, Reiki Master (and Lululemon ambassador) who has  calming effect on anyone who meets her. She radiates serenity from the moment you see her. At first she asks if you’ve ever meditated before so to gauge the level of your experience and how to best guide your session. New to meditation? No worries. She explains everything and helps to clear your mind and to find inner peace. Candles lit and sun beaming through the windows during our morning session in the suite is beautiful. I find mornings are the best for meditation to approach the day with a kind heart and will sometimes set aside other times if I’m feeling stressed. Here in the comforts at this quiet hotel, Tara guides you through a series of breathing exercises and offer tips to help disconnect, focus and carry you forward into the day.  She can also lead a couples, family or group session to cater to your stay. Hmmm…my mind is already churning.

FOOD: When I’m yearning for  a rejuvenation and reset getaway I don’t really want to fill myself with heavy, calorie laden meals. Time and a place, right? The hotel’s anchor restaurant, ONE, offers a creative menu for guests who wish for healthier dining options. Executive Chef Mark McEwan and Chef du Cuisine Darby Piquet have designed dishes that are flavourful, fulfilling and beautiful. When guests come wanting this type of stay package, they will be offered a selection of wellness dishes for breakfast. “It’s all about food that makes you feel as good as it looks,” says Piquette. “We want to make food that is really, really healthy but it’s not just the same chopped salad that often have no flavour. It’s all about big, robust flavours.”

Some of the features include house-made overnight oats which Chef Piquette tells us he starts every morning with. By the way, he mentioned that while testing out recipes for this menu, he’s dropped 40 lbs over the past few months. Also on the menu are fresh smoothie bowls (all the rage here in Toronto and elsewhere) that are filled with fresh fruit and inspired by the popular lassi from India…they are beautiful creations. I tried one with dragon fruit, blueberries, coconut and goji berries over an avocado based smoothie bowl. Other options include fresh poke bowls — raw marinated tuna served over quinoa with avocado slices, seaweed (nori), slivers of fresh peppers. There are also “Goddess Sandwiches”, Heirloom tomatoes, and fresh lettuce wraps on the menu. Fresh cold-pressed juices will be made daily at the local Village Juicery with menus created by Chef Piquet.

SPA: Guests can unwind their day at the hotel’s indoor pool and be pampered at the Valmont Spa located discreetly  on the property. The intimate spa houses 5 treatment rooms and a individual mani/pedi stations for a truly VIP treatment. Valmont is a skincare line from France and one I had not heard used at any other spas in the city. The line has been around for 30 years. Valmont draws natural resources from Switzerland for both men and women and known for their anti-aging results using the latest cellular cosmetic research findings. Products are luxurious and after a quick mini facial during this sneak peek morning, my skin was already glowing and continued the following day. I was intrigued with trying and learning about the Deto2x Oxygenating Cream where you skim off the foam of the surface of the cream to use. If you opt for this “Meditation and Rejuvenation” package you can look forward to a signature rejuvenation facial at this exclusive spa.  More info can be found at the hazeltonhotel.com

“We’ve listened to our hotel guests and they’ve expressed interest in these offerings,” said Hani Roustom, General Manager, The Hazelton Hotel. “It’s not a secret that over the past few years there’s more research done into the areas of wellness, mindfulness, and this is why we’re so proud to partner with  Tara Good, ONE Restaurant and the Valmont Spa to bring this experience together….This is not just a package for us. This is part of our philosophy.”

Want other ideas to complete your weekend of zen and fulfillment nearby? Take a leisurely walk along U of T’s Philosopher’s Walk tucked away behind the Royal Ontario Museum. Visit the Gardiner Museum and enrol in one of their hands-on clay workshops. Check out what concerts are happening at The Royal Conservatory Koerner Music Hall. Visit the nearby Japan Foundation of Toronto to explore Japanese arts and culture — exhibitions occurring year round.

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Now that it’s summer, Diwan has opened up it’s terrace and patio for evening enjoyment. Surrounded by tall cedars and a view of the Aga Khan Park it’s pretty easy to forget about our busy lives with picture perfect sunsets here. I had learned that the Museum  was designed by Fumihiko Maki, winner of the Prtizker Architecture Prize. Light was his inspiration on the contemporary design of the space and depending on the time of day and season, the sun’s natural light casts beautiful glowing light everywhere. Needless to say, on a clear night the buildings are very pretty especially when the sun sets reflect on the nearby Ismaili Centre, a crystalline frosted glass dome building and the five infinity pools of water. Instagram worthy indeed!

The Diwan Patio is taking in the summer nights with “mezes” plates perfect for sharing with co-workers, friends or for a date night. It’s a tantalizing menu of old world cooking techniques and flavours blended to create a whole new world of sophistication.

John Kovac (formerly Fabricca) joined McEwan at Diwan as Chef de Cuisine to create a menu for the warmer season on the patio. While he had spent years perfecting hand-made pastas he had mentioned that he was up for the new challenge. Kovacs mentioned while his background wasn’t in Middle Eastern, Persian or North African cooking, he threw himself into learning as much as he can. Discovering how different spices work together while incorporating our love for barbecue during the summer months is met with gusto here. Don’t be surprised when you taste buds (and the rest of your senses) happily find familiarity in the flavours.  Even if you’ve never travelled to foreign places like Turkey, Middle East, or India you’ll feel like you’re on a culinary journey here.

An example is the Paratha Taco ($7) that was an incredible blend in cultural offerings. Chef Kovac’s paratha is perfectly crisp without the oily feel of others I’ve had. As the base or “taco” you could fold the chicken shawarma pieces, which by the way are cooked to offer a deliciously moist tender pieces with a slight crisp outside texture, and served up with Shirazi Sala, iceberg lettuce and garlic sauce. Devour it…or be dainty on a date night and eat it with a knife and fork. But what fun is that? I say go for it! But whatever, no one will judge…just make sure you get it.

The Patio Menu also has other delicious offerings like pressed Labneh rolled in Persian spices, warmed spiced olives, hummus with warm naan that we happily noshed on while watching the sunset the night hubby and I had a date night. (Price range for individual dishes $5 – $11).

For something more substantial, the patio menu also features two popular dishes off their regular lunch menu including the Lamb Burger ($12) with whipped feta, caramelized onion aioli, cucumber pickle, heirloom tomato and lolla rossa, and the skewered marinated Chicken Shish-kebab ($12) with hummus salad, pita and citrus tahini — both grilled to order and served to juicy perfection.

Chef Kovac knows that there’s a right balance between the exotic and familiar in what we eat. Building a foundation of trusted dishes while exploring new ways to push the boundaries is a challenge that loves. What’s been the most popular dishes so far? “So far everything on our lunch menu has done well,” says Chef Kovac, “our kibbeh is pretty popular. The lamb burger and sumac fries are best-sellers too.” said Chef Kovac.

Service was sincere the night we had visited and fitting given the calmness of the setting. There’s not that hustle and bustle vibe we get at the downtown scene but rather an idyllic spot to wind down your day and appreciate great food, surroundings and friends. I’ll be back!

The Diwan Patio opens in the evenings and word is starting to get around now that the warmer weather is cooperating. Walk-ins are most welcome in the space that fits about 80 people. Since the lunch time crowd has gained traction the restaurant felt they were ready to open up after work hours for more people to enjoy. Diwan is also licensed with beer and wine available on the menu, somewhat of a pleasant surprise to learn! The space is also available for private events.

There are a few note-worthy events  coming up that would be fun to tie-in to your visit to to the Patio:

Festival of Flight July 16-17: This family-friendly event that is inspired by flight and skies. Hands-on activities are planned throughout the weekend including arts & crafts and story telling.

Bollywood Classics Film Series Outdoor Screenings happen several times throughout the summer months. The next one is scheduled for July 27.

Diwan during Summerlicious (July 8 – 24): a $28 prix fixed lunch is available with a special menu. Reservations open starting June 23.

Wednesday nights the Aga Khan Museum has extended hours and offers free admission between 4 pm to 8 pm.

For more information on Diwan Restaurant and Patio as well as Museum information, visit www.agakhanmuseum.org

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