FOOD Episodes

Former Toronto Star Restaurant Critic Amy Pataki talks about dining incognito [sometimes in disguise], her 1 star to 4 star rating system, why you MUST check those DineSafe inspection reports before dining out, her favourite restaurant signage [‘No Dogs or Food Critics’], dealing with not one but TWO libel lawsuits, the newsroom wall that was dedicated to hate mail, why her readers love the takedowns/bad reviews more than the good reviews, and the fake name she would use to make incognito reserv...

Sable & Rosenfeld's Myra Sable talks about approaching her 55th year running Canada’s pre-eminent gourmet food company, her big business breakthroughs with Eddie Creed/Garfield Weston/Eli Zabar, why she trademarked ‘Tipsy’ as part of her product names, her memorable interactions with Andy Warhol/Gloria Steinem/Flo Kennedy/Dr Henry Morgentaler/Brian Mulroney/Ed Broadbent/John Turner/Dave Nichol, her forays into e-commerce via Amazon & Shopify, taking advantage of the resurgence of the (Spicy) Dir...

Atlas Co-founder Turi Mercuri talks about the benefits of his firm’s hospitality management platform, why tip management is such a pain point for restaurants, how ‘growing up around the fryers’ led to 30+ years in hospitality, his interactions with ARod/Wayne Gretzky/Alex Lifeson/Chantal Kreviazuk, and the importance of mastering the Art of Hospitality!


For more on Turi and Atlas, please visit https://atlasrms.com/
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at andrew.applebaum@gmail.com
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Chef Guy Rubino talks about Toronto’s 'fraternal foodies' The Rubino Brothers [along with past podcast guest Michael], starring in/producing 39 episodes of Made To Order on The Food Network [24hrs of footage shot got trimmed to 24min on TV], working out on a treadmill alongside Madonna, his first proper kitchen job at Nobu in NYC, his interactions with Sir Richard Branson/David Bowie/Natalie Portman/Sting/Oasis’ Gallagher brothers, an ugly misunderstanding with Nelly Furtado’s posse [you did NOT...

Grill On!! BBQ Master Steven Raichlen talks about the 25th anniversary of his landmark book The Barbecue Bible [and how it can stand in for the actual Bible], his new PBS show Steven Raichlen’s Planet Barbecue, why grilling is the world’s most universal cooking method, his newfound love for Planchas & Griddles, why his favourite form of live fire cooking is Cave Man grilling, why he employs not one but two Fire Wranglers on set, how he avoids packing on the pounds with all that food lying around...

Dine Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Sara Waxman talks about meeting her husband Al three days after arriving in Toronto from Winnipeg, his worldwide popularity from the television shows King of Kensington, Cagney & Lacey and Twice in a Lifetime, her 25 year run as the Toronto Sun’s restaurant critic, her renowned cookbooks & house parties, Al’s statue in Kensington Market, her appointment to the Order of Ontario, and the joy she gets from working on her multimedia empire with her son Adam!


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Zane Caplansky from Caplansky’s Delicatessen talks about the titans of Jewish Deli [Yitz’s, Centre Street Deli, Pancer's, Shopsy’s, Switzer’s], his origins at the Monarch Tavern [T.O.’s first pop-up], the role of Thunderin’ Thelma [T.O.’s first modern day food truck], opening his eponymous restaurant on College St, collecting Geddy Lee’s email address & naming a meal after him, why Adam Sandler couldn’t resist bussing tables, the legacy of the Caplan name in local/provincial/national politics, r...

Restaurateur/Entrepreneur Chef Joe Friday talks about cooking for ‘Spicy P’ Pascal Siakam and hanging with Kobe Bryant, his awareness of the fictional Detective Joe Friday, his Okinawa/Japan upbringing and transition to North Carolina, applying his martial arts skills to wrestling dominance, why DISNEY is the world’s #1 Food & Beverage program if you want a broad education, why he has conquered ALL the Disney theme park rides, applying the underground rap battle scene to his Chef Collective prog...

Chef Rob Rainford talks about choosing between cooking and basketball camp, how the Food Network ‘changed everything,’ whether you should wash your chicken [spoiler: does more harm than good], shooting 18 hours of content for 22 minutes of a TV show, what the 'Rainford Method' encourages, how his skill set allows him to ‘hit for the cycle in cooking,’ his embrace of Tik Tok and Instagram, being Rob vs Robert, why you always wait for the first cheque to clear before promoting a project, some hint...

Writer & Journalist Ivy Knight talks about pivoting from 10 years in restaurant kitchens to writing, her realization that the pressure had turned her into a ‘dickless man’ and a ‘rage machine,’ the wonderful mentorship of James Chatto, her role in the documentary “The Heat: A Kitchen [R]evolution,” getting published in The New Yorker, enjoying her neighbourhood’s transition from 'Crackdale' to Parkdale, her distaste for Mayor John Tory but love for memes, and THREE awesome hidden gems in Toronto...

Cheese Boutique’s Maitre Fromager Afrim Pristine talks about his food emporium, his cookbook, his food/travel docuseries, his new wine, the ‘cheese shot’ heard around the world, why the lactose intolerant can rejoice, grilled cheese tips, great places to eat in Toronto NOW, and where to picnic with the best views of the city!

TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum.

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Godfather of the Grill Ted Reader talks about cooking at SkyDome, President’s Choice product development with Dave Nichol, re-opening his golf + bbq + beer restaurant ‘The Joint’, and why Kelly Ripa loves her some S’mores Quesadillas!

TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum.

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Legendary Retailer Tap Phong’s Lili Tran talks about 3 generations of the family business, why there are so many types of vegetable peelers, and the importance of a rice cooker!

TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum.

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Restaurant Pioneer and Entrepreneur Chef Susur Lee talks about his Hong Kong upbringing and how Toronto’s diversity influences the creativity in his cooking!

TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum.

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Restaurateur Michael Rubino talks about his numerous restaurants, brother power with Guy, his ‘Made to Order’ TV experience, and his foray into indoor vertical farming!


TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum.




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Chef Matt Basile talks about his "shape shifting" entrepreneurial ventures in Toronto’s food industry!


TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at andrew.applebaum@gmail.com


All episodes available at www.podpage.com/toronto-legends/episodes/


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