#FOOD: TORONTO HOLIDAY DINING ROUNDUP -MINAMI, TORA, LUCIE, FICOA, LITTLE SISTER, STEFANO’S DINER, THE CARBON BAR

Some ideas for Holiday Dining as we enter the greatest season of the year! Here are some suggestions for your gatherings over the next few weeks and their holiday menu offerings if you’re in and around the GTA!

Minami is thrilled to announce their 2024 holiday 3-course tasting menu for $110 – featuring their Salmon Crudo with house-made yukke sauce, signature Aburi Oshi Sushi along with other sushi favourites, and your choice of Saikyo Miso Baked Sablefish or 3oz US Wagyu. For just $35, surprise your tastebuds with wine pairings that promise a holiday dinner to remember. 

Minami Holiday Kaiseki – $110 

Beverage pairings – $35

Amuse-Bouche 

Edamame, corn, dumpling skin, brown butter, Hokkaido uni, pickled ginger, soy glaze 

Bread & Butter Prosecco 

Salmon Crudo 

House-made yukke sauce, goma-ae sauce, shiso leaf, binchotan oil, sweet lemon 

Sushi 

7 pieces of chef-selected Aburi Oshi Sushi, Aburi nigiri, and the signature Minami Roll 

Tenuta Orestiadi Catarratto

Entreé

The choice of

Saikyo Miso Baked Sablefish 

Mushroom rice, salted green cabbage, black garlic jus, kizami wasabi, patty pan squash, yuzu miso reduction 

19 Crimes Martha’s Chardonnay 

– or –

3oz US Wagyu 

Peppercorn jus, roasted maitake, gremolata, crispy Jerusalem artichoke, confit eggplant 

Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon

Dessert 

The choice of ice cream flavour 

Black Sesame – or – Taro Root 

Spiced pear compote, cinnamon meringue, pomegranate, mochi balls, kuromitsu

Reservations for Minami can be made HERE.  

Ficoa

IG: @ficoa.to

(pictured: Ficoa’s Classic Mole)

Looking for a happy hour with a jolly twist? Visit Ficoa’s ‘Jolly Time’ in December from 6-8pm with Christmas-inspired cocktails like ‘Christmas Token’, a gin cocktail with foam placed on top, shaped like Santa’s hat. With each drink order, guests enjoy a curated selection of snacks that vary based on their beverage choice. Enjoy snacks like ‘Duck Farce Pintxo’ with flavours of a holiday roast and ‘Ginger Bread Man’ with foie and jelly, and more.

Jolly Time 6-8PM – $18

Cocktails 

Caffizzito 

Naughty List Martini 

Christmas Token 

Gin cocktail with foam shaped like Santa’s hat 

Holidays fashioned 

Duck roast fat-washed rum, cinnamon, and green cherry

Snacks

Duck Farce Pintxos 

Flavours of a holiday roast on toasted

Chorizo in Blanket 

Tallow pastry with chorizo filling 

Brie and Fig Crackers 

Star-shaped crackers with brie and fig

Gingerbread Man 

Foie and jelly 

Ficoa’s warm, hearty Mexican service: ‘Let Us Cook For You’ is transformed with holiday spirit from December 11th-14th. Ficoa will be launching their ‘Taste of Christmas’ menu, a 6-course prix-fixe dinner featuring their signature welcome drink, ‘Ponche’ crafted in the style of executive chef Gerry Quintero’s memory of large Mochaocan family gathering, with classic Mexican fruit punch. 

Indulge in their snacks like Pozole – a classic Mexican soup for the holidays, and their fun twist on chips and dip but elevated with caviar. For hearty options, Pierna Roast and Ensala are a must, so be sure to set aside some space for their delicious desserts. See below for the entire menu. 

Taste of Christmas – $100

Welcome Drink – Ponche

Classic Mexican fruit punch 

Mini Tamal 

Small tamal filled with barbacoa or lentils and cheese 

Pozole 

Bone-broth, hominy, and pozole fixins 

Molote de Picadillo

Sweet and sour Mexican filling with beef, fried fruit, and warm spices

Squash Tamal 

Koginut stew stuffed in a mixed squash corn dough basted with cinnamon and star anise forward tomato salsa

Entreé

Pierna Roast

Slow-roasted and sliced Linton Pasture’s pork leg, marinated in orange and warm spices

Ficoa’s Classic Mole

Served on the best part of a tamal, full husk contact ‘tortilla’ with crispy chicharron and toasted rice

Ensalada Rusa

 Beet, potato fruit salad with mayonnaise style dressing with refried lentils and salsa

Dessert 

Squash en Tacha

Squash cooked in cinnamon and syrup

Tres Leches

Chocolate De Olla-steeped sponge cake with chocolate and decaffeinated coffee 

Reservations for Ficoa can be made HERE.  

Little Sister 

IG: @littlesisterto

(pictured left to right: Hot Girl Winter, Noggi and Nice)

It’s time to get festive, Toronto. The ultimate holiday pop-up bar, Java Jingle at Little Sister, is back for a fourth year – and it’s bigger than ever. 

Little Sister’s little elves are all abuzz with excitement to reveal the return of Toronto’s cult favourite, over-the-top, holiday-themed pop-up bar, Java Jingle. Starting November 15, both Toronto locations at 102 Portland St. and 2031 Yonge St. will transform into winter wonderlands, bursting with festive joy. 

Jingle your night away with playful, cheerfully named cocktails like the tequila-infused Feliz Navi-Zaddy, the warming Hot Girl Winter with gin, brandy, and red wine, and the floral gin and St-Germain creation, Sleigh, Queen, Sleigh. 

Reservations for Java Jingle are highly recommended. 

Guests can reserve time slots HERE for Portland St. and HERE for Yonge St.     

TORA 

IG: @aburitoratoronto

(pictured: TORA Holiday Platter)

For family and friends who spend the holidays in the comfort of their own homes, TORA is thrilled to launch their holiday sushi platter featuring their OG signature flame-seared Aburi Oshi Sushi with a Roll, Hosomaki, and Inari pockets for $72, serving 4 people. 

TORA Holiday Platter – $72

OSHI

Aburi salmon oshi 4pc

Aburi ebi oshi 4pc

Aburi tuna oshi 4pc

Aburi atlantic salmon oshi 4pc

ROLL

Aburi california roll 8pc

MAKI

Salmon maki 6pc

Red tuna maki 6pc

Cucumber maki 6pc

Avocado maki 6pc

INARI

Shrimp inari pocket 4pc

Available for direct Take-out, or order online through Ritual or UberEats. 

 Shop the Carbon Bar 

IG: @thecarbonbar

(pictured: Holiday Dinner Bundle)

Not sure what kind of potluck you should bring? Shop the Carbon Bar has frozen offerings covered for you – introducing the Holiday Dinner bundle for $150, complete with all sides. Receive a $25 The Carbon Bar Restaurant Gift Card with purchase. Simply heat, serve, and savour—this is the ultimate BBQ value for the holiday season.

Holiday Dinner Bundle – $150

St. Louis Style Ribs 

Full Rack

Mac & Cheese 

1300g

Beef Brisket Empanadas 

4 pack

Vegan Empanadas 

4 pack

Sliced Turkey 

454g

Cheddar Jalapeno Sausages 

4 pack

Espresso BBQ Sauce 

350ml glass bottle

Purchase Shop the Carbon Bar’s Holiday Dinner Bundle HERE.

Stefano’s Diner

IG: @stefanosdiner

Sister and brother restaurants MICHELIN-recommended GIA and Stefano’s Diner are thrilled to offer Holiday catering starting today, November 16th to December 24th. Enjoy Italian plant-based dishes like pasta from GIA and Dan Levy’s favourite sandwiches from Stefano’s Diner. 

Holiday Catering Menu Highlights

Gnocchi Gorgonzola – $80 for 4 (Vegetarian)

Ricotta gnocchi with gorgonzola cream, fried walnuts, Parmesan (contains nuts)

Gnocchi Pomodoro – $80 for 4 (Vegetarian)

Ricotta gnocchi with pomodoro, stracciatella, basil

Stefano’s Italian Sub – $16 for 1 (Vegan)

Mortadella, ham, pastrami, provolone, arugula, mustard mayo, Italian dressing 

Stefano’s Smash Burger – $16 for 1 (Vegan) 

Plant-based meat and farro patty, cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, caramelized onions, pickles, Russian dressing, sesame bun

Lemon Cake – $40 for 4 (Vegan) 

Layered lemon cake

View the full menu and order Holiday Catering HERE.

Lucie 

IG: @restaurantlucie

Sneak-peek of New Year’s celebrations: ring in the New Year with French style, at MICHELIN-recommended gem, Lucie Restaurant. Throughout the evening, absorb yourself in “La Nouvelle Anneé” authentic French fashion with a five-course tasting menu with wine or non-alcoholic pairings. 

Award-winning chef Arnaud Bloquel and his talented brigade promise guests an unforgettable New Year’s evening with resident sommelier Thomas Santerre’s leaving tastebuds dancing all evening.

Tickets can be purchased HERE. for $540 including the five-course tasting menu, wine pairings, tax and gratuity (champagne and other beverages are not offered in wine pairing). 

#FOOD: THE CARBON BAR ANNOUNCE “SHOP THE CARBON BAR!”

Toronto’s BBQ mainstay The Carbon Bar is excited to announce the launch of its new e-commerce shopping platform, Shop The Carbon Bar! Featuring over 60 unique and beloved products from The Carbon Bar, customers can shop online and have products shipped right to their door in the GTA and across Southern Ontario. The Carbon Bar’s owner, Yannick Bigourdan, recognized the need for high-quality products and convenience – which is why he decided to create an innovative way to share The Carbon Bar’s products with a wider audience. To celebrate the launch, Shop The Carbon Bar is running a giveaway on Instagram for a $200 spending credit to one lucky winner (see details at the bottom).

When it comes to the ingredients, quality is the cornerstone of everything Shop The Carbon Bar creates. By sourcing the finest ingredients and sharing the origins of the products with customers, each bite is a testament to a commitment to excellence. Shop The Carbon Bar sources and guarantees fresh, premium products, in partnership with The Carbon Bar’s renowned kitchen team. Choosing Shop The Carbon Bar means indulging in top-notch cuisine crafted with premium ingredients and a dedication to excellence. Whether you’re a BBQ aficionado or simply seeking a memorable dining experience, The Carbon Bar promises to exceed expectations with every bite.

How it works

Shop The Carbon Bar’s process is as effortless as it is delicious! Customers can browse the curated selection of Texas-style BBQ, steaks, seafood and more. Once the selections have been made, the preferred delivery options can be chosen at checkout. Shop The Carbon Bar’s team will then carefully prepare the order, ensuring that each item is packed with care and delivered right to customer’s doorsteps. When it’s time to cook, the simple instructions on the label are designed to help customer’s craft a perfect meal every time. From start to finish, the team is there to make everyone’s culinary experience seamless and satisfying.

Shop The Carbon Bar’s delivery service operates Monday through Friday with specific delivery days set based on geographical location. Customers can refer to the delivery map to determine scheduled delivery days for their area.

The sauces and rubs

The Carbon Bar offers three mouth-watering barbecue sauces. The Espresso sauce is a perfect balance between powerful flavour and tender sweetness, and can be used to marinate cuts of beef before cooking. At The Carbon Bar, the chefs serve it as a condiment with the Pit Fired smoked brisket. The South Carolina Mustard pairs best with chicken, but The Carbon Bar team says it complements any poultry, especially their Pit Fired Smoked Turkey. The Sweet N’ Spicy is exactly how it sounds – sweet, with a kick of heat. Served best with pork, the Carbon Bar team uses it on their St. Louis pork ribs as an extra touch of flavour on top of aromas from the smoker. Each sauce is available to buy individually, but they are also offered as a bundled trio (perfect for gifting)!

The flavour doesn’t stop at the sauces – The Carbon Bar’s four spices and rubs are a main fixture in the team’s kitchen. The executive Bar-B-Q blend with its secret spices will elevate any white meat to dinner table stardom. The Butt Rub is legendary for its robust, full-bodied aroma that transforms pork roasts and briskets into extraordinary dishes. Handcrafted by The Carbon Bar’s pit-master, the Ribs Rub and marinade is versatile enough to enhance any meat. The Steak Rub has been meticulously blended for the perfect balance of flavor and spice, and works best with a sprinkle of olive oil on meat before grilling. Just like the sauces, the spices and rubs are also available as a bundle.

The poultry, beef, fish, pork and sides

Aside from sauces and rubs, Shop The Carbon Bar offers high quality and Canadian-sourced poultry, beef, fish and pork delivered right to customers’ doors. Additionally, the various side options available are designed to pair perfectly.

The beef options are aged verified, certified hormone free and graded according to Canadian standards. Similarly, the pork and poultry are hormone free, sourced from local farmers to ensure the highest grade products. The Wild Atlantic salmon is cured with Shop The Carbon Bar’s signature salt.

Shop The Carbon Bar’s sides are a guaranteed way to elevate any meal. Voted one of the best mac and cheese in Toronto by BlogTO, the rich and creamy chipotle mac and cheese is baked to a golden perfection. This vegetarian side is family-sized and mixed with cheddar, mozzarella, onion, garlic, chipotle and breadcrumbs. Other sides available are the BBQ Pit baked beans and two types of empanadas (four pieces in an order): vegetable (vegetarian) and pulled pork.

Family size

For the perfect family BBQ, Shop the Carbon Bar offers a fantastic range of family-sized options that cater to every taste and preference. From succulent pastrami and juicy beef brisket to flavorful pork butt and bacon, their selection ensures that your grill is stocked with delicious, high-quality meats. Whether customers are hosting a casual family get-together or a larger gathering, these generous portions are designed to deliver an exceptional experience that will have everyone coming back for more.

Shop The Carbon Bar giveaway

To celebrate the launch, Shop The Carbon Bar is currently hosting a giveaway on Instagram HERE for a $200 spending credit to one lucky winner! To enter, Instagram users simply must follow @shop.thecarbonbar, share the post to their story and tag three friends in the comments for a chance to win. The deadline to enter the giveaway is Sunday August 18 at 8PM. Terms and conditions apply.