Skyflower by Eric Chong: the menu is curated by Master Chef winner and R&D Co-owner, Eric Chong. Here at Skyflower, he channels his love for gourmet comfort food. Their beautiful rooftop patio will re-open in coming weeks but in the meantime, we highly recommend ordering up a few of his (and ours) favourites including Chong’s Chicken Sandwich — a 24 hour brined, double fried, juicy chicken sandwich topped with shredded lettuce and house-made roasted garlic aioli perfectly cushioned between a fluffy brioche bun. The Low ‘n’ Slow Pulled Pork Sandwich is made of a 24 hour braised pork smothered in smokey Jamaican rum BBQ sauce and topped with coleslaw, pickle nestled in a brioche bun. There are also his must-have Meltdown Burger, Wagyu Hotdog and an All Day Breakfast Sandwich. Great choice for the dad who loves a damn fine burger fix. Add on crispy fries (SO GOOD!) and don’t forget dessert, “The Gold Standard” cooke that’s topped with 24K gold. Available for take out and delivery.

Marben: has re-opened for patio dining and will continue for take out. Executive Chef Chris Locke has a new menu featuring a variety of farm-fresh new items including Grilled Fogo Island Squid (smoked chilli miso sauce, shrimp chips, bok choy). Of course favourites are still on the menu including John’s Burger (Beverely Creek dry aged beef, beef fat brioche, aged cheddar, Branston braised brisket, slaw, pickle) and Kojo Popccorn Chicken (Fenwood farms chicken, fermented honey hot, sesame, chive). Weekend brunch offerings include an option to “put an egg on it” on any menu item. The patio space has been extended and tables are socially distanced.

Speducci Mercatto Father’s Day Box: The popular Italian food emporium has partnered with Brooks Brothers this Father’s Day to offer up an unforgettable box kitted out with favourite food items and a gift card for some new threads. Inside the Father’s Day kit includes salumi board with beer cheeses and prosciutto baguette, radicchio & bitter green salad, 4 (8 oz each) Wet Age strip loins steaks, 4 chicken burgers with Focaccia buns, lamb speducci, mixed rhubarb and berry crisp, a four-pack of Moretti beer and more. Pre order for pick up.

Parcheggio Kid’s Cooking Demo with Chef Andrew: Kids can join the chef in a live zoom event as he shows how to make the best Stuffed PB&J French Toast. Each kit comes with all the ingredients to make dad the perfect breakfast in bed. Pre-Order  for pick up or delivery. Details on the O&B at Home Grocery Delivery site.

Minami Dad’s Wagyu Meal Kit for Two: features two 6 oz wagyu striploin steaks (instructions to finish off at home will be included). Includes accompaniments like sansho sauce, wasabi pickles, Japanese potato salad, Brussels sprouts and soy shiitake. Additional featured add on includes the Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky. Pre-order for pick up between June 18 to 20.

GrazeSocial’s Daddy Cool Boxes: grazing boxes are oh so trendy (and practical during pandemic times)! Individual boxes are perfect for picnics. The Daddy Cool Box includes sharp Red Fox Leicester, creamy Boursin, spicy Monterey Jack, Prosciutto, spicy Sopresseta, Mortadella, gourmet mustard w/ pretzel bun, pretzels, nuts, artisan preserve, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cups and  cookie! All beautifully presented. Order in advance. Other options also available. Shown here is the Mini “Daddy Cool” Box.

The post Where to feed Dad in Toronto this Father’s Day appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

What is your business called and what does it do?

Speducci is a destination for elevated food with Italian taste, culture and style. We have been Serving the Toronto community for more than five years, and offer a wide selection of imported and locally sourced artisanal produce, meats, cheeses, hand-crafted pasta, wine and beer for dine-in, take-out, or grocery delivery, including made in Canada Speducci and Paganelli brand products that are exclusively available for delivery from Bottega by Speducci – our new premium Italian grocery delivery service.

What made you want to do this work?

I have always been passionate about hospitality and previously worked at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), where I was instrumental in launching Real Sports Bar and Grill. Prior to joining MLSE, I managed several hospitality concepts across the GTA. When the opportunity to open Speducci presented itself, I immediately knew that with Chef Gabriele’s authentic cuisine, we could offer a true taste of Italy to Torontonians.

What problem does this solve?

The launch of Bottega by Speducci is in direct response to our community’s interest in enjoying the Speducci experience in the comfort and safety of their own homes. Our team prides itself on continually innovating to meet the needs of our customers, offering new products and services to delight and inspire the senses.

Who are your clientele/demographics?

Speducci has a reputation for elevated Italian fare and for offering the highest quality ingredients. Because of this commitment to offering a premium product, we appeal to foodies who prioritize quality and crave authentic Italian food and hospitality. With the launch of Bottega by Speducci, we are excited to bring our elevated Italian food direct from Chef Gabe’s farm to customers’ front door.

How does your business make money? How does it work?

At Speducci we have a full-service product offering, ranging from catering to event design, our Speducci Mercatto restaurant, health and nutrition consultations, and now, online grocery delivery through Bottega by Speducci. GTA residents can order online at Speducci.com to receive our award-winning salumi, cheeses, hand-crafted pasta, wine, beer and locally raised artisan meats delivered directly to their doorstep. Delivery is free on orders over $75 and can be scheduled for next day delivery.

Where in Toronto can we find your profession?

We are a hidden gem located in the Castlefield Design District at 46 Milford Avenue, North York, ON. We are open seven days a week at our location, or you can order online for delivery or pickup through Bottega by Speducci or calling us directly at 416-242- 2777.

What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services?

What makes Speducci’s product offering unique from other Italian restaurants or grocers?

We are obsessed with quality and making every experience personal. We only serve the finest locally sourced and imported products, and our in-house culinary team make all our Speducci and Paganelli brand products on-site. We are so passionate about offering the highest quality to our customers that our Executive Chef, Gabriele Paganelli, raises his own wild boar – which you’ll see featured in his award-winning salumi. We also extend our Italian hospitality to all our customers and treasure the sense of community we have built at our Speducci Mercatto restaurant and through our Bottega by Speducci deliveries to customers.

What differentiates Bottega by Speducci from other online grocery retailers?

We are an award-winning destination for elevated Italian dining and one of the first to offer Torontonians authentic Italian grocery delivery. Our Executive Chef, Gabriele Paganelli, is North America’s only Assagiatore Salumi – the equivalent of a sommelier for cured meats and .his internationally-acclaimed Italian cuisine is exclusively available for delivery through Bottega by Speducci. All orders are processed, hand-packaged and delivered by our in-house team to ensure every item arrives in perfect condition and with the care due to the finest locally sourced and imported Italian food, wine and beer. Orders also come packaged in the iconic Speducci orange box, making every delivery an Instagram-worthy unboxing experience.

What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?

The best part: Seeing our customers enjoying our food and building a community around Italian cuisine.

The worst part: not being able to open our doors to as many of our guests as we would have like this year has been hard. We are so driven by community and hospitality, and our communal table was the focal point of our space. We have adapted this year and opened a new patio space and launched Bottega by Speducci to ensure our loyal guests could continue to enjoy the Speducci experience in comfort.

What is your favourite joke about your own profession?

I am going to open a restaurant called I Don’t Care, that way I can finally go to the place my boyfriend is talking about!

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another Toronto business that you love?

We have been installing a new ‘apartment style’ kitchen for content production and all the countertops were made and installed by Trevisana Kitchens – they are a local success story, and another business that is thriving in the Castlefield design district.

The post Premium Italian Grocery Delivery from Bottega by Speducci appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

What is a Metabolic diet?

The goal of this diet is to help change the way your body metabolizes food. It doesn’t deprive you of the food you love but relearning what foods can help you burn fat faster. So, think of it as a lifestyle change rather than a diet. It’s about longer-term goals and a reset on how your body turns food into fuel and energy. The faster your metabolism, the faster your body can convert food into energy rather than fat.

“Whenever you want to make a lasting change to your health or diet, it’s always most effective to think of it as a lifestyle change – this creates a long-term mindset that produces the results that people crave,” says Sandra Florio, Certified Holistic Nutritionist. “The Metabolic Makeover is a perfect example of this, because it is a truly bespoke plan that considers each individual, their unique metabolism and their health goals – whether it’s adding more lean muscle, building endurance or shifting those last few stubborn pounds. Everyone’s metabolism and goals are unique, and this is mirrored in each health plan I develop.”

If it sounds similar to the Atkins Diet another popular plan you’re not alone in this thinking.  Sandra tells us many people think it’s the same but this is a common misconception. “In reality, the Metabolic Diet is much closer to the Keto Diet than Atkins.” At first glance, Sandra tells us it can appear that there are a number of similarities between the Metabolic Makeover and the Keto Diet when in reality, they are completely different from a nutritional standpoint. “The Metabolic Makeover offers a significantly higher amount of carbs, which act as a buffer neutralizing the acids from the protein in the diet, while the fiber in the diet helps improve overall digestion. There are a high number of vitamins and minerals due to the nutrient-rich vegetables in the diet, which help stimulate natural detoxification processes and relieve the digestive organs (liver, gallbladder, and intestines).”

As a result, she tells us is that the long-term implementation of the Metabolic Makeover is far more tolerable for our bodies and easier to follow than the keto diet. “There is also not as big of a diet change with the Metabolic Makeover when compared to the keto diet. For example, there is no ketosis and the meal plan can be part of a person’s permanent lifestyle.”

Another advantage we’ve learned of the Metabolic Makeover is its variety and versatility since you can gradually add other foods from all food groups into your daily routine.

So, wait…what about Italian food? I was surprised that one of our favourite go-to comfort food regions can be considered for this diet. Known for plates of pasta and sauces along with robust meats and deliciously satisfying dishes, Italian cuisine can be incorporated into a better eating lifestyle.

“The Mediterranean diet has been held up as an example of healthy eating, and Italian food is a perfect example of this. With Italian cuisine’s focus on freshness, seasonal ingredients and healthy fats it’s easy – and delicious – to achieve your health goals while eating Italian food! When my clients are craving a comforting meal, I recommend they swap the carbs like pasta for a satisfying protein-rich meal, such as grass-fed steak or the famous Lamb Speducci,” said Sandra.

Sandra tells us how she fell in love with Speducci, a Toronto-based Italian restaurant that has recently also launched a premium online food delivery service located in North York’s Design District. “The first time I stepped into Speducci, I felt instantly transported to Italy. The premium quality Italian cuisine, the team’s dedication to making everything in-house, from bread to salumi, local grass-fed meats, and organic fare instantly rendered me a loyal customer and brand advocate. I would visit Speducci multiple times a week, buying groceries for meals at home or dining in for business lunches. I would refer all of my clients to Speducci to source the items on their meal plans. After getting to know the team (and putting a few of them on the Metabolic Makeover), and really feeling like part of the family, I felt they aligned with my nutrition services and the quality food Speducci offered was a perfect fit.”

So, where do we start when it comes to this diet and Italian food?

Sandra tells us this is not a one-size-fits-all type of methodology. She tailors the selection of food according to your current metabolism and it all starts with a consultation. From there, she would recommend a customized plan including recipes and meals can also be developed to help you achieve your goals. She suggests also including grass-fed meats sourced from local farms (their dry-aged steaks and premium lamb chops are popular), really good olive oil (they import from Italy), incorporate local and fresh produce and herbs when possible. They also have sauces made in-house with no added preservatives, stocks, bone broths, soups, kombucha and immunity-boosting products all under the watchful eye of award-winning Chef Gabriele Paganelli.

How does she decide what to include in a Metabolic Diet selection?

Sandra tells us her criteria includes: organic ingredients, non-GMO, allergen-free, quality sourced ingredients, no refined or processed ingredients, no artificial flavours or colours, and have ethical practices.

What else should we be paying attention to these days? Sandra tells us to be taking a look at IMMUNITY. Makes sense! “Today, a strengthened immune system is more important than ever, as a healthily nourished body is usually strong in defense. A balanced diet is the most essential step to being healthy and a Metabolic Makeover nutrition plan helps you to take this important step. Eating in line with your unique biochemistry means supplying your body with exactly the right nutrients in the right quantities.”

Also, if you can’t make it into Speducci to shop in-person, check out the Health + Wellness Section on Bottega by Speducci, their premium online Italian grocery delivery service at Speducci.com, where you can shop to your health’s content from the comfort of your home and load up on everything delicious…and yes, that includes your Metabolic Diet.

The post How to enjoy Italian food while on a Metabolic diet appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Restaurants across the city are finding ways to get that food we crave onto our tables and if you’re looking for something special, here are some spectacular options to help make any occasion a little brighter this season. A few of the dinners come with finishing and reheating notes from the chefs. Available for take-out and/or delivery. We plan on celebrating a birthday next week by ordering something special and delivering to family. Maybe even jump on zoom with that dinner.

Cafe Boulud: located at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. I was happy to find that my annual birthday tradition of having Duck Confit from Cafe Boulud was available now for take-out. The very popular restaurant under the creative vision of celebrity Chef Daniel Boulud and Chef de Cuisine Nicholas Trosien, bring Cafe Boulud’s world-class French cuisine home for Torontonians. Fan favourites on the menu include Confit De Canard, Chef Daniel’s famous Whole Rotisserie Chicken, and the Frenchie Burger are just a few that are now available for take-out. Each week there is also a rotating feature. Also available are a few of their amazing house-made desserts and fresh-baked Foccacia. Full cakes are also available. Available Wednesdays through to Saturdays for dinner. Details here.

TOCA Restaurant: located at the Ritz Carlton Toronto. This beautiful restaurant has recently updated their menu with unforgettable Italian fare. Still comfort food but Executive Chef Paul Shewchuk along with Chef Oliver Glowig – one of Italy’s most celebrated chefs, take classic dishes and gives them a modern twist. Ravioli Capresi is highly addictive and the Manzo Affumicato is not to be missed. You can read about last visit here. Take out menu available on their site.

McEwan’s PEI Patio Party Surf & Turf Box: For that big jaw-dropping wow experience this is a serious celebration with everything we love from Prince Edward island. Succulent grass-fed Certified Beef,  East Coast’s world-famous lobster fresh fresh fresh oysters to shuck, mussels, and McEwan’s wildly popular Smashed Potatoes. The box comes with a few extra ingredients, sauces as well as cooking/BBQing instructions. You can see more here.

Speducci: The go-to Italian food purveyors offer up not only grocery items for take out but also freshly prepared meals from their in-house kitchen lead by award-winning Chef Gabriele Paganelli. Their range of artisanal cuisine include delicious mains, soups, and other delights that even cater those on specific health and wellness plans (more to come on this). Chef Paganelli has won international awards including the prestigious Gold and Silver Spoon for Risotto. See menu here.

Leña Restaurant: located near Queen & Yonge. The Argentinian restaurant offers new “Chefs Kits” with options for weekend brunch or dinner boxes that are all prepared and well packaged. We ordered the Piri Piri Chicken dinner for 2 (x2) that was easy enough to reheat. The kit came with a whole juicy chicken (cut up for easy serving), escarole, mushroom empanadas, onion bread fugazzetta, roasted potatoes, and cheesecake. Portions are decent and we had enough leftovers for the next day. Menu found here.

Cucinato Studio Mercato: One year we had a milestone birthday celebration and arranged one of Massimo Bruno’s supper club nights for our family and friends. The chef prepared the rustic Italian meal that we still talk about to this day. Bruno is known in the city for his supper club events that happen several times each month. He continues now with virtual supper clubs (found on his site) where participants can order in the food and join in for his stories and cooking tips in a private online event. Bruno, along with other chefs specializing in Italian fare in the city, have opened up Cucinato Studio Mercato where you can pick up or arrange for delivery (Thursday to Saturday), Each week features seasonal specialties. There are also online classes if you want to celebrate with friends and family and make something delicious together.

The post Our favourite restaurants for special celebrations – take out edition appeared first on Toronto Guardian.