November 7, 2024

Dear reader,

Because I can’t get away with making this week’s newsletter one run-on string of expletives, it is instead a collection of stories about soothing, comforting things that will always be there for you in times like these—things like high-caloric food, alcohol and T-Swift. For the next few minutes, set your brain to sleep mode and take a brief break from reality. This is the Love Is Blind of newsletters. In it, you’ll enjoy how we tried our best to pair Toronto restaurants with Taylor Swift lyrics, learn where to find new (actually good) takes on once-vile cocktails from the ’80s, snoop through Jacob’s and Co. chef Danny McCallum’s home fridge, and be reminded of all the restaurants in the city that are open really late (for when it’s 3 a.m. but you still have feelings to eat).

For more of our food-and-drink coverage, visit torontolife.com or subscribe to our print edition.

—Rebecca Fleming, food and drink editor

For the hordes of Swifties about to descend upon our city, we came up with a list of tailored (Taylor’d?) recommendations for when hunger strikes. Here, 10 cafés and restaurants within walking distance of the Rogers Centre, all inspired by the singer’s lyrics, likes and looks.

First, the dirty martini made a comeback. Then, the caffeine-spiked espresso martini held pride of place on just about every drink menu in the city. Now, Toronto bars are experimenting with other nostalgic takes on the classic cocktail—including a few that got off on the wrong foot in the ’80s and ’90s. Say hello to the new lychee martini (this time, it doesn’t taste like perfume).

The next time you find yourself out and about at 2 a.m. and hungry for something substantial—instead of grabbing some sad street meat or going home to eat a sandwich over the sink—look to this list of Toronto bars and restaurants serving food until the wee hours of the morning. And these aren’t just snacks masquerading as meals, they’re things like jerk chicken, al pastor tacos, charbroiled burgers and even hot pot. 

The inside of chef Danny McCallum’s home fridge is unlike any other we’ve shot for our Kitchen Diaries series. As you can see here, actual food (albeit so-perfect-it-looks-fake produce and cuts of meat) shares shelf space with his favourite cookbooks and *checks notes* records. Click here to find out why.

In the latest issue: 20 Torontonians doing big things with small footprints. Plus, the ugly truth about Ontario’s reform schools, a Q&A with the city’s traffic czar, vintage cars retrofitted for the electric age and more. Still not receiving Toronto Life at home? Subscribe today.

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