The Banana Mafia throwing up deuces (Image: Gizelle Lau)
Last night was the first gathering of the Banana Mafia crew at the Amsterdam Brewery. This alliance of chefs was brought together by the team behind the upcoming GwaiLo, and is made up of Nick Liu (GwaiLo), Robbie Hojilla (Ursa), Jeff Claudio (Yours Truly), Jonathan Poon (Chantecler) and Leemo Han (Swish by Han, Oddseoul ). The idea behind the Banana Mafia started with Liu, who wanted to do a Singapore hawker-style event by bringing together some of the city’s brightest Asian chefs.
At this inaugural night, coordinated by Kristina Chau of Not Your Average Party, a $60 ticket bought you a five-course meal and an Amsterdam beer, with cocktails created by Christina Kuypers and Josh Lindley and served by Sarah Parniak (star of our most recent cocktail video). And, yes, there was plenty of Sriracha on the hawker food-court tables, as well as red plastic solo cups. Highlights included Han’s sweet soy Beretta Farms steak tartare with garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, Korean pear, pine nut and quail yolk; Hojilla’s grilled pork belly in coconut crepe; Claudio’s Szechuan bang bang chicken; Liu’s sambal trout with crispy black bean fiddleheads; and, to finish, almond tofu with Asian pear, osmanthus syrup and tapioca by Poon. At the bar, there was the Foreign Devil (Devil’s Cut bourbon, 416 wheat beer, cilantro, red pepper and lime) and the City of Glass (Citadel Gin with lychee shrub and sauvignon blanc). The next Banana Mafia event will likely take place later this summer (stay tuned on GwaiLo’s Twitter account ). As for when we can expect GwaiLo itself to open, Liu is still not ready to divulge.
137772 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The Banana Mafia throwing up peace signs: Adam McKinlay (soon to be GwaiLo’s chef de cuisine), Jeff Claudio (Yours Truly), Nick Liu (GwaiLo), Jonathan Poon (Chantecler), Robbie Hojilla (Ursa) and Leemo Han (Swish by Han, OddSeoul) Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_introA-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_introA.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_introA.jpg 656 409 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_introa/ may12bananamafia_introa 0 0
The Banana Mafia throwing up peace signs: Adam McKinlay (soon to be GwaiLo’s chef de cuisine), Jeff Claudio (Yours Truly), Nick Liu (GwaiLo), Jonathan Poon (Chantecler), Robbie Hojilla (Ursa) and Leemo Han (Swish by Han, OddSeoul)
137731 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Utensils, food tickets, Asian candies and red solo cups Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_18.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_18/ may12bananamafia_18 0 0
Utensils, food tickets, Asian candies and red solo cups
137723 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_10.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_10/ may12bananamafia_10 0 0
137721 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_8.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_8/ may12bananamafia_8 0 0
137729 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Foreign Devil: Devil’s Cut bourbon, Amsterdam 416 wheat beer, cilantro, red pepper and lime Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_16.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_16/ may12bananamafia_16 0 0
Foreign Devil: Devil’s Cut bourbon, Amsterdam 416 wheat beer, cilantro, red pepper and lime
137730 (Image: Gizelle Lau) City of Glass: Citadel gin with lychee shrub and sauvignon blanc Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_17.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_17/ may12bananamafia_17 0 0
City of Glass: Citadel gin with lychee shrub and sauvignon blanc
137720 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Sarah Parniak making a City of Glass: Citadel gin with lychee shrub and sauvignon blanc Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_7.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_7/ may12bananamafia_7 0 0
Sarah Parniak making a City of Glass: Citadel gin with lychee shrub and sauvignon blanc
137725 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Jon Poon’s dessert of almond tofu, Asian pears, osmanthus syrup and tapioca Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_12.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_12/ may12bananamafia_12 0 0
Jon Poon’s dessert of almond tofu, Asian pears, osmanthus syrup and tapioca
137722 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Jon Poon (Chantecler) prepping Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_9.jpg 624 395 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_9/ may12bananamafia_9 0 0
Jon Poon (Chantecler) prepping
137728 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Robbie Hojilla’s (Ursa) grilled pork belly with fermented ramps and carrots and banana ketchup in a coconut crepe Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_15.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_15/ may12bananamafia_15 0 0
Robbie Hojilla’s (Ursa) grilled pork belly with fermented ramps and carrots and banana ketchup in a coconut crepe
137718 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Robbie Hojilla’s (Ursa) grilled pork belly with fermented ramps and carrots and banana ketchup in a coconut crepe Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_5.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_5/ may12bananamafia_5 0 0
Robbie Hojilla’s (Ursa) grilled pork belly with fermented ramps and carrots and banana ketchup in a coconut crepe
137727 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Leemo Han’s sweet soy Beretta Farms steak tartare with garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, Korean pear, pine nut and quail yolk Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_14.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_14/ may12bananamafia_14 0 0
Leemo Han’s sweet soy Beretta Farms steak tartare with garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, Korean pear, pine nut and quail yolk
137771 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Leemo Han’s (Swish, OddSeoul) sweet soy Beretta Farms steak tartare with garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, Korean pear, pine nut and quail yolk Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_introB-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_introB.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_introB.jpg 624 420 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_introb/ may12bananamafia_introb 0 0
Leemo Han’s (Swish, OddSeoul) sweet soy Beretta Farms steak tartare with garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, Korean pear, pine nut and quail yolk
137726 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Nick Liu’s wild leek sambal trout from Goossens Trout Farm, served with crispy black bean fiddleheads and jellyfish slaw Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_13.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_13/ may12bananamafia_13 0 0
Nick Liu’s wild leek sambal trout from Goossens Trout Farm, served with crispy black bean fiddleheads and jellyfish slaw
137716 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Chef Nick Liu (GwaiLo) with wild leek sambal trout from Goossens Trout Farm, served with crispy black bean fiddleheads and jellyfish slaw Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_3.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_3/ may12bananamafia_3 0 0
Chef Nick Liu (GwaiLo) with wild leek sambal trout from Goossens Trout Farm, served with crispy black bean fiddleheads and jellyfish slaw
137724 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Jeff Claudio’s (Yours Truly) Sichuan bang bang chicken with cucumber, scallion, coriander, Sichuan pepper and chilli oil Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_11.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_11/ may12bananamafia_11 0 0
Jeff Claudio’s (Yours Truly) Sichuan bang bang chicken with cucumber, scallion, coriander, Sichuan pepper and chilli oil
137717 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Jeff Claudio (Yours Truly) and his Sichuan bang bang chicken with cucumber, scallion, coriander, Sichuan pepper and chilli oil Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_4.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_4/ may12bananamafia_4 0 0
Jeff Claudio (Yours Truly) and his Sichuan bang bang chicken with cucumber, scallion, coriander, Sichuan pepper and chilli oil
137719 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Jeff Claudio (Yours Truly) cutting up his bang bang chicken his giant meat cleaver Banana Mafia Inaugural Party https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may12BananaMafia_6.jpg 624 413 [] https://torontolife.com/food/banana-mafia-gallery/slide/may12bananamafia_6/ may12bananamafia_6 0 0
Jeff Claudio (Yours Truly) cutting up his bang bang chicken his giant meat cleaver