Boasting residents from virtually every country around the globe, Toronto has been described as a cultural mosaic of diversity.
As a result of holding the global record of diverse citizenry, Toronto is home to a robust and eclectic food scene that represents the many cultures present within the urban centre. From Indian fare to niche street trucks, Toronto is indeed a bustling city of flavor.
Chef and Torontonian Jameson Watermulder didn’t always call Toronto home. After growing up on Canada’s prairie, the successful chef moved to the unofficial Canadian capital to broaden his food knowledge and gain further experience in the restaurant sector. In less than a decade, Chef Watermulder has established himself in Toronto’s culinary scene as an innovative chef who is able to elevate ingredients to new levels.
Jameson Watermulder credits his culinary success to his thirst for knowledge. “I am constantly visiting new restaurants and markets looking for inspiration,” explains Watermulder. “Living in Toronto is such an extraordinary opportunity for Canadian chefs and I use it to my advantage whenever I can.”
When asked about his favourite new restaurants, he quickly listed three of his top recommendations.
Café Boulud – 60 Yorkville Ave
French cuisine is considered the grandfather to fine dining and Jameson Watermulder believes chefs wanting success need to gain familiarity with classic French cuisine. Café Boulud features traditional French dishes like Salad Nicoise and Croque Monsieur, Foie Gras and a variety of proteins including rabbit, sea bass and veal. This French Brasserie is sure to become one of Toronto’s most popular French restaurants.
Antler Kitchen Bar – 1454 Dundas Street West
A Canadian experience, Antler Kitchen Bar pays homage to Canadian hunters by offering a wide variety of popular game meats paired with popular sides and accompaniments. From venison to wild boar to duck, the menu at Antler provides unique experiences not often available to big city eaters.
“A lot of the meats they serve at Antler remind me of growing up in Winnipeg,” said Watermulder. “Eating moose or deer meat is common in Manitoba, especially if you live in the country.”
While game meats may be the focus at Antler, nothing is sacrificed in the preparation of dishes, like spice ash crusted rack of deer or the braised rabbit pappardelle.
Miss Things – 1279 Queen Street West
Miss Things is one of the most fun culinary adventures one can embark in Toronto. This Tiki-inspired restaurant is the brainchild of chef Jasper Wu, who has designed a menu featuring quality interpretations of classic Pan Asian and Polynesian dishes. As whimsical as it is niche, Miss Things serves up a robust list of cocktails to pair with their fusion cuisine. Guests will be delighted to see dishes on the menu, like pineapple fried rice served in a half a pineapple or the Shrimp Po’ Bao, which is a clever play on the southern Po’ Boy sandwich. For the indulgent, Miss Things also serves up some classic desserts with a twist.
Chef Watermulder also gave an honourable mention to Toronto’s food truck and street food scene, which has grown exponentially over the last few years.
“Toronto is a fabulous place to discover the cuisine of the world, one restaurant or food truck at a time.”
