#FOOD: RADICI PROJECT CELEBRATE 1ST ANNIVERSARY WITH GUEST MURAL

One of Toronto’s most serene and compelling dining rooms is marking its first year in a way that feels exactly on brand: intimate, thoughtful, and rooted in community.

Beginning April 23 and leading up to its official anniversary on April 30, Radici Project is inviting guests to become part of the restaurant itself, literally.

Each evening from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, guests can stop by to have their name hand-written in Japanese calligraphy by co-founder and sake sommelier Kayo Ito. Every name will be added to a custom jigsaw puzzle that will live permanently in the restaurant, forming a collective artwork built by the very people who have supported Radici Project since day one. Reservations can be made via OpenTable HERE.

It’s a simple but striking idea that blends Japanese tradition with Italian philosophy – a nod to radici, or “roots,” and the belief that a restaurant is only as meaningful as the community around it.

“Radici has always been about the connection between cultures, ingredients, and people,” says Ito. “This felt like a natural way to honour everyone who has walked through our doors and supported us in our first year.”

The activation runs daily from April 23 to April 29, with guests encouraged to drop in early before dinner service to participate.

The celebration continues online with a one-week Instagram giveaway, also running from April 23 to April 29. Guests can enter to win dinner for four featuring Radici’s Essence Menu by following the restaurant, liking the post, and tagging the friends they’d bring along.

On April 30, Radici Project will mark its official anniversary with understated in-room touches rather than a traditional party. Guests dining that evening will be welcomed with a complimentary sparkling sake toast and a caviar bump, adding a celebratory note to the experience without disrupting the restaurant’s signature atmosphere.

The completed calligraphy puzzle will be unveiled and installed in the space following the anniversary, becoming a permanent fixture and a reminder that Radici Project’s first year was built not just by its team, but by its community.

Radici Project was founded by Chef Emiliano Del Frate and sake sommelier Kayo Ito, who first met while working together in Toronto. Their partnership grew over time, from collaborators to partners in life, shaped by travels across Europe and Japan that continue to influence their work today. The restaurant is a reflection of that shared journey, with its name, Radici (“roots” in Italian), serving as both a tribute to their story and a symbol of the life they’ve built together in the city where it all began.

At its core, Radici’s menu draws from Itameshi — a style of cooking that blends Japanese and Italian traditions — brought to life through high-quality Canadian ingredients and a strong sense of seasonality. The result is a thoughtful, technique-driven approach where both cuisines meet naturally in their shared respect for simplicity and precision.

In a city where restaurant anniversaries often lean loud, Radici’s approach is refreshingly intimate and all the more meaningful for it.

Radici is located on 588 College Street in Toronto. Reservations can be made via OpenTable HERE.

About Radici Project
Radici Project is a contemporary Italian-Japanese restaurant located in Toronto’s Little Italy. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Chef Emiliano Del Frate and Kayo Ito, the restaurant explores the intersection of Italian and Japanese culinary traditions through seasonal menus rooted in sustainability and Canadian ingredients. Radici’s dual-concept space features both a natural wine bar and an intimate chef’s table dining experience, offering thoughtful sake and wine pairings alongside its cuisine.