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| - There was an earlier conversation reel about trends and fads happening in the T.O. foodie scene and I've realized that the advent of the "gastropub" is one of those terminologies that probably can fit in to that conversation reel. With the growing popularity of spots like HOP & the Q&B, the gastropub continues to emerge as part of the dining scene and the latest entry to this, My Place, actually quite surprised me.
Located over by Jane & Bloor, My Place (a former sports bar) puts their focus on "Canadiana" dining, driven by the culinary guidance of Chef Brad Long. Chef Long (Veritas) might be recognizable as one of those chef dudes on the Restaurant Makeover show. I was a bit leery at first but I gotta say, I was won over by this spot and I'm definitely making this one of go to places when I'm looking to kick back. They've got a decent beer selection, wines are not grossly overpriced and they shake a decent cocktail to boot.
There still is a bit of a sports bar feel to this place but it's not in your face. MP offers up nights of live music and even an open mic session a couple times a month. But the real surprise for me was how good the food was. Chef Long has a love affair with the whole local/organic scene and it shows in the menu. This place offers a wide range of food from bar foods to rack of lamb with pricing all over the place.
We had just stopped in for some cocktails and began ordering up the bits and bites to tie us over while we were tippling. Gotta say those french fries I refer to as golden spud nuts are freakin delish. My fav food though was the Maple Red Necks which are chicken drumsticks that have been marinated and then cooked in some sort of sticky maple syprup/bbq sauce. I love food that makes me lick my fingers and then have me asking for a dozen extra napkins because my face looks like a Picasso painting.
My friend ordered a half pound burger with double smoked bacon and aged cheddar sided with a big huge pile of those tasty little fat french fries and a lip smacking sassy coleslaw. This was a steep burger priced at $18.00 but I'd take this burger over a W Burger (in the same price range by the time you add on the sides/toppings) any day of the week.
My Place ain't cheap for gastropub but what I've learned over these past couple of years, when it comes to food, you get what you pay for. Meat, cheese and other major food products on the MP menu are basically Ontario based. I'm committed to supporting this type of menu and price tag. There is even a section on the menu devoted to Vegetarians.
The service was friendly and on top of things. Our waitress saw how quickly I was motoring through the napkins wiping off the maple syrup sauce slathering on my mug. The menu has some interesting slants on it, offering up some family dining suggestions (dinners for four), sharing platters for people watching hockey games, things like this.
I really think MP has slipped in under the foodie radar. I expect it'll develop a very good neighbourhood clientele (it's an upscale area of T.O. between High Park and the cusp of Old Mill). My next trip will be for a dinner outing as a menu that boasts Pickerel and Rack of Lamb is my kind of gobbling spot.
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