Patricia Noonan gets a sneak peek and decides Eataly Toronto is an extravaganza…
With the success of Eataly, founded by Oscar Farinetti in 2007, it’s no big secret that this Toronto outpost, a few years in the making, will soon open its doors. Toronto is the 40th location in the empire, designed for eating, shopping and learning about the best Italy has to offer, combined with local artisanal producers to seal the vision of diversity in the heart of the city at Bay and Bloor.
Dining, drinking, shopping for food… this is all an elevated experience if you want it to be, and at Eataly, the team has sourced the best local producers in so many areas to marry up with the vision of simple, yet fabulous Italian inspired food and drink. Eataly celebrates food, the people who make it, their stories and shares this in the hub of Bloor-Yorkville, at the Manulife Centre, making it accessible to everyone. All this, over three floors with four restaurants, three bars, seven eateries, (Executive Chef Rob Wing oversees the restaurants) a brewery, a school, production labs and of course, thousands of products to purchase.
I spoke with Matthew Orawski, Senior Project Manager Beverage, who told me one restaurant, La Piazza, will be serving a list of wines that includes six Italian sparkling wines, twelve Italian white selections, three Italian rose selections, and twelve Italian reds. In addition to wine, Orawski explained, “We will be offering a beer that is brewed on site, and a local beer on draft with a selection Italian beers in bottle.” The bar at La Piazza will also be serving eight different Italian style cocktails.
Eataly Toronto is a show of bread and cheese making, Neapolitan, Torino and Roman style pizza, fresh pasta, gelato, cannoli, salumi, cheese, the freshest meat and seafood, the brewery (partnered with The Junction’s Indie Ale House) on the lower level. It’s like a sensory maze of deliciousness.
Opening November 13!
Patricia Noonan is a Toronto based food and drinks writer and educator. Follow her on Twitter at @lovetoeatndrink.
