Just as Spring breathes new life to our urban landscape, so too does it breathe new life into the restaurant industry. New openings, new coats of varnish on weathered patios, new chefs taking over kitchens, and new menus revamping our expectations of favoured purveyors of palatable panache. The latter two being the forthcoming changes at Financial District stalwart Little Anthony’s…
When Andreas Antoniou took over the long-standing Little Anthony’s from his father, he set in motion a similar style of subdued elegance that became the trademark of sister restaurant Estiatorio VOLOS – a beautiful space curated with not-so-stereotypical design elements that mirror the not-so-stereotypical cuisine found exiting the kitchen.
After months of gaining steam amongst even the most critical of diners, the new Little Anthony’s has become a true institution in and of itself, albeit in a modern and Toronto 2.0 fashion. Recently, Chef Garth Legree (most notably of The County General fame) became the new master of kitchen ceremonies, and is embarking on a return-to-form of the tenets of Italian simplicity mixed with the finesse that only modern techniques afford a culinary team.
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Not but a few days ago, we attended a media dinner to get introduced to the new wave of dishes that will be appearing on Little Anthony’s upcoming menu. With a teaser of cheese tortellini with a saffron bechamel, and bacon-wrapped dates with Gorgonzola filling, the following seven courses couldn’t arrive soon enough.
We got to devour a series of dishes that showcased a dizzying array of simplicity mixed with complexity: shrimp scampi with lemon butter sauce; house-made tagliatelle with pancetta and a generous dashing of Parmigiano Reggiano; perfect pan-seared scallops with grilled radicchio; astonishingly rare flat iron steak with cloud-like gnocchi; a filet of branzino with braised fennel and orange; and succulent roasted capon with crispy skin and glazed spring vegetables.
As many know, sometimes the simplest of menus require the highest of attentions, and that is exactly what Chef Garth brings to the table – refined recipes, delicate presentation, and a world of flavour. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the new “new” Little Anthony’s.
Want to check out Little Anthony’s vibe before you head over? Check out their View the Vibe trailer and get ready to indulge in some sensual food porn. Warning: NSFHW (Not Safe for Hungry Workers.)
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