The place to Eat in Toronto, In keeping with “Prime Chef” Judges

Bravo’s award-winning competitors, “Prime Chef,” has launched the world to extraordinary culinary expertise for almost 20 years, launching the careers of celebrated cooks like Stephanie Izard, Richard Blais, and Mei Lin.

In recent times, the present has taken its contestants and viewers across the globe, showcasing not solely the depth and breadth of culinary expertise within the U.S. but additionally the wealthy meals traditions of numerous cultures and communities worldwide.

This time, “Prime Chef” ventured north of the border, filming a big a part of Season 22 in Toronto, Canada’s largest metropolis and one of many world’s most numerous cities. Whereas viewers may assume contestants and judges freely discover their filming areas, the fact is kind of completely different. To keep up the present’s secrecy, members are sometimes sequestered on set, their experiences of the host metropolis rigorously choreographed round filming schedules.

As a Torontonian and longtime “Prime Chef” fan, I had the privilege of watching the magic unfold behind the scenes, from visiting the set to eating on the present’s signature Restaurant Wars episode. Most significantly, I sat down with the present’s revered judges—Kristen Kish, Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons—to find their private Toronto favorites, from hidden gems to must-try experiences. 

(Observe: “Prime Chef” airs on Bravo Thursday nights at 9:00-10:15 p.m. Episodes can be found the following day on Peacock.)

Gail Simmons

Nobody was extra thrilled than Gail Simmons when “Prime Chef” introduced Canada as its Season 22 location. For the Toronto-native, the joy of showcasing her metropolis mingled with the strain of balancing household visits, catching up with outdated buddies, and sustaining her skilled duties as choose. Her intimate information of town’s meals scene proved invaluable, as she supplied insider information of one of the best locations to movie and native tales.

For guests eager to retrace the present’s Toronto journey, Simmons recommends two spectacular areas the place they filmed: the majestic Casa Loma, a Gothic Revival fort within the coronary heart of town, and the picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake, an hour and a half drive away. Her private restaurant suggestions learn like a love letter to town’s numerous eating scene: the delicate Spanish flavors at Casa Paco, the Chinese language delicacies at Sunny’s Chinese language, and the appeal of brodflour bakery.

“What’s particular in Toronto is that there are such a lot of numerous communities that every one co-exist, and people communities are completely different demographically than in New York or LA,” Simmons explains. “All of us have our personal immigrant pathways, and in Toronto, which means the wonderful vastness of the 4 completely different Chinatowns, the Caribbean, Sri Lankan, and Greek neighborhoods,” for instance. And inside these communities, there are countless issues to discover. She additionally suggests guests embrace distinctly Canadian snacks unavailable within the U.S., naming Large Bitter Keys and Espresso Crisp chocolate bars as private favorites that seize the native taste.

Kristen Kish

Kristen Kish, the present’s host and Season 10 winner, radiates the identical enthusiasm for Canada as her fellow choose, Simmons, having constructed her personal connection to Toronto by means of household visits through the years. For guests seeking to expertise town by means of her culinary lens, Kish recommends getting the Aloette burger at Aloette, the well-known lobster tower at Fishman Lobster Clubhouse Restaurant, and pizza from Danny’s Pizza Tavern.

For individuals who actually need to be taught extra about Toronto’s meals tradition, Kish suggests exploring past eating places. She recommends making time for a correct snack-hunting expedition to native supermarkets, similar to Farm Boy, and native pharmacies, the place guests can uncover distinctly Canadian treats. “I like ketchup and all-dressed chips. Any flavour of Miss Vickie’s chips,” she says, is worthy of taking dwelling to household and buddies as a memento, noting these distinctive Canadian flavors cannot be discovered within the States. For dessert lovers, she factors to Summer time’s Ice Cream within the ritzy Yorkville neighborhood as a must-visit vacation spot, the place the campfire marshmallow ice cream taste provides a style of native innovation.

To really admire Toronto’s culinary heritage, Kish recommends diving into town’s meals historical past—together with shocking discoveries just like the Canadian origins of sushi pizza and Hawaiian pizza. Nevertheless, her most enthusiastic advice is to discover town’s numerous meals scene, notably highlighting Jamaican patties as a vital merchandise symbolizing Toronto’s multicultural taste.

Tom Colicchio

Extremely acclaimed chef and restaurateur Tom Colicchio brings a veteran’s discerning eye to Canada’s eating scene. Whereas he usually prefers getting ready easy meals at dwelling throughout filming—a behavior developed over years {of professional} meals judging—his rigorously curated Toronto experiences supply priceless insights for first-time guests.

For these looking for distinctive eating experiences, Colicchio factors to 2 standout eating places he dined at whereas filming Season 22: Prime Seafood Palace, helmed by superstar chef Matty Matheson, and Azhar on the colourful Ossington Avenue strip. The latter, owned by Canadian restaurateur Janet Zuccarini, provides what he considers to be scrumptious Japanese Mediterranean and Center Japanese delicacies. For guests who admire a home-cooked meal or need to expertise Toronto like a neighborhood, he recommends exploring high quality grocers like Longo’s Markets, the place even easy elements shine and the place he purchased objects to make a easy broccoli and pasta dish.

“The St. Lawrence Market is incredible and has some actually nice stuff there,” Colicchio emphasizes, and it’s a vital place for foodies. With its labyrinth of greater than 120 specialty meals distributors, this historic market showcases a few of the metropolis’s best artisanal baked items, recent produce, high quality meats, and seafood. It is a must-visit vacation spot for individuals who need to get to know and style Toronto’s culinary scene.