Where Toronto May June 2018 | Page 10

Where / What / hoW executive Kitchen Q&A Food: Burgers Grill, BaBy, Grill More than a mere patty on a bun, these burgers range from the simple to the gluttonous richmond Station This bustling restaurant steps away from the CF Toronto Eaton Centre serves one of the most talked-about sandwiches in the city: the Station burger. The delicious patty is nestled between a soft milk bun and topped with beet chutney and aged cheddar; a side of rosemary fries makes the perfect accom- paniment. 1 Richmond St. W., richmondstation.ca The Carbon Bar Order the brisket cheeseburger at this upscale casual barbecue venue: a seven-ounce patty topped with juicy smoked brisket, chili gouda, a dill pickle, ballpark mustard, and special sauce. 99 Queen St. E., thecarbonbar.ca Harry’s Char Broiled A Parkdale institution since 1968, Grant Van Gameren, Robin Goodfellow, and Nate Young took over the beloved diner in 2016 and made a few minor updates. Burgers—served in quintessential plastic red baskets—remain a staple offering. Enjoy the Plain-Jane 10 where May-June 2018 with cheese and pickles, or try the Green burger made with green chorizo, cheese, spicy pickled onions, and tomatillo relish. 160 Springhurst Ave., harryscharbroiled.com antler This rustic establishment puts the focus on seasonal ingre- dients and wild and foraged foods. Tuck into chef Michael Hunter’s juicy game burger, which combines wild boar, bison, and venison into a single patty topped with duck egg aioli, hot mustard, and house-smoked cheddar. Make it truly decadent by adding a generous helping of foie gras. 1454 Dundas St. W., antlerkitchenbar.com Planta Burger Who says a vegetarian option can’t be as appetizing as its meaty counterpart? The small but focused menu here features the likes of The Jackpot, comprised of barbecued jack- fruit as the patty, topped with kale slaw; or The California, with avocado, lettuce, and garlic aioli. 4 Temperance St., plantarestaurants.com Julio GuaJardo and Kate Chomyshyn the husband-and-wife team discuss Quetzal, their new restaurant with chef Grant van Gameren, where they’ll cook regional Mexican cuisine over a 28-foot-long open flame. What can we expect at Quetzal? Expect bold flavours inspired by our love of Mexico, using a combination of traditional techniques and our own experience and terroir in Canada. What are you most excited to introduce to Toronto’s dining scene? We’re offering a few different preparations of our house ground masa (nixtamalized corn dough), so we’re excited to expand people’s knowledge beyond the tortilla of what can be prepared using this versatile ingredient. What is one kitchen tool you can’t live without? A molcajete (mortar and pestle). They’re super versatile for grinding spices or making salsas and marinade. Plus, the more you use it, the more it gets seasoned and it makes your salsas taste even better! Quetzal is located at 419 College St. alexa harry’s char Broiled