2013 EATER AWARDS— The 2013 Eater Awards winners were announced on Monday November 18. Within the five categories there were close calls and raging battles, but victory was achieved by: Momofuku Shoto for Restaurant of the Year, Bar Isabel's Grant van Gameren for Chef of the Year, Bar Isabel for So Hot Right Now, Cold Tea's Sarah Parniak for Bartender of the Year and The Momofuku Cube for Stone Cold Stunner. In the bonus Best Food Truck category, Gourmet Gringos came out on top. Check out Eater's Hangover Observations too.
HELP WANTED— Attention all web editing foodies, Eater Toronto is looking for a new editor. Is it you? Send your pitches (no resumes, please) to jobs@eater.com.
TORONTO— The Keg Steakhouse & Bar restaurant chain has been sold to Fairfax Financial Holdings, who also sold Prime Restaurants (such as Casey's and East Side Mario's) to Cara Operations (who own Kelsey's and Swiss Chalet).
TORONTO— Celebrity bad boy-turned-good chef Anthony Bourdain has joined in on the laughter pointed Toronto's way with this tweet to Mayor Rob Ford.
DISTILLERY DISTRICT— Vancouver Aquarium's Ocean Wise held a Chowder Chowdown at the Fermenting Cellar on November 19. Participating chefs included Catch Restaurant's Charlotte Langley, EPIC Restaurant's Joshua Dyer, Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill's Travis Cropley and more.
FINANCIAL DISTRICT— Bay Street mogul favourite Hy's Steakhouse has been around since 1955 and continues to draw a suited crowd. This fall they're hoping to attract music lovers too with live jazz bands playing in the lounge on Wednesday through Saturday evenings.
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT— Air Canada Centre's adjacent gargantuan man cave, Real Sports Bar & Grill, once named ESPN Mobile's Best Sports Bar in North America, is serving six chicken wings with the equivalent calories of a three-course meal from The Keg. At 1300cal, these Thai Sweet Chili Wings are going to cost you way more than just the $15 they're priced at.
MISSISSAUGA— Toronto's Pearson Airport has been upping its ante when it comes to food lately, and it's just been confirmed that College Street's beloved deli, Caplansky's, will be opening two airside outposts in 2014.
MONTREAL— Montreal-born wrestler and Quebec City food critic Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon passed away on November 21 in Nebraska. He wrestled for Canada in the 1948 London Olympics and achieved notoriety both in Canada and the States. He believed that "Anyone can be a food critic."