Haute Junk: Matt Blondin and Ben Heaton team up to serve KD and Slurpees at the latest Charlie’s Burgers dinner
Haute Junk: Matt Blondin and Ben Heaton team up to serve KD and Slurpees at the latest Charlie’s Burgers dinner
By Renée Suen | July 25, 2013
By Renée Suen | 07/25/2013
In Toronto, the trendiest new restaurants ply an almost cultish kind of casualness, where the greatest sin a new eatery can commit—aside from serving bland food—is taking itself too seriously. Chefs dot their dining rooms and plates with ironic winks: mismatched mason jars, pounding rap music and $30 sirloin burgers served drive thru–style in wax paper wrapping. “Junk” was the theme of last weekend’s Charlie’s Burgers pop-up from ex-Daish ō chef Matt Blondin and The Grove’s Ben Heaton, who presented guests, including former Barenaked Ladies member Steven Page , with a meal devoted entirely to upscale fast food. On the menu: a homemade Andouille corndog, a liquid nitrogen–frozen slushie and a flute of Moet Champagne spiked with neon Tang. Here, a slideshow from the $170, 10-course feast.
224317 Guests were sent to a non-descript corner on Dundas West where they were told to “meet a man holding a wine barrel.” The man, who was Mexican chef Andres Marquez, passed out playing cards bearing the address of the venue (which was just across the street at bakery OMG Baked Goodness) (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-01/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224318 The $170 supper was held at bakery OMG Baked Goodness, on Dundas west of Dufferin (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-02/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224319 The aperitif: beer spiked with tequila, lime and agave nectar (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-03.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-03/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224320 Instead of linens, flowers and candles, the table had a runner of loose homemade Chex Mix and jars of crayons for scribbling (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-04/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224325 (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-09/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224322 (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-06/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224321 The first course was homemade Chex Mix, already strewn across the table, and a glass of Moet Champagne, which guests were encouraged to spike with neon Tang (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-05.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-05/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224323 The chefs’ haute take on Alphagetti: tomato gazpacho served in a paper cup with alphabet pasta, Parmesan and basil (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-07/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224347 A fancy pogo made with Andouille-style sausage and topped with cherry-agar catsup and moustarda (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-intro/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-intro 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224326 A McDonalds Filet-o-Fish facsimile made with fried shrimp terrine as the patty, plus homemade tartar sauce and aged cheddar (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-10/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224331 The kitchen assembly line between courses (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-16/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-16 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224328 The room burst into spontaneous applause when Blondin revealed that he spent two weeks trying to source KD-style noodles before giving up and deciding to go with the real thing (he gussied them up with old Beemster instead of fluorescent orange powder, but the mini bottle of Heinz ketchup was legit) (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-12/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224327 In a callback to his own Kraft dinner lyric from the 1990s hit “If I Had a Million Dollars,” Steven Page used the mini ketchup bottle to scrawl the word “Dijon” on his plate (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-11.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-11/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224329 The Moet bottles from the first course reappeared midway through dinner, repurposed as candle holders (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-13.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-13/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224338 The Grove's Ben Heaton and former Colborne Lane chef de cuisine Andrew Wilson (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-23-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-23.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-23.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-23/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-23 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224330 A palate cleanser of liquid nitrogen–frozen, gin-melon slushie mixed with mini melon balls and basil syrup pearls (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-14.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-14/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224333 The KFC Double Down remade into a fried chicken breast sandwich with bacon and fontina, served with fresh peas and diced carrots (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-18.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-18/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-18 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224335 The final savoury course was a mushroom pizza with fontina, tarragon butter and roasted black garlic with a truffle-dressed arugula salad, served in a take out style box (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-20.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-20/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-20 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224336 (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-21-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-21.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-21/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-21 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224342 Page chatted about celeb life, including his influences (John Lennon) and favourite stars (Tom Hanks, who he says is very down to earth) (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-27-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-27.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-27.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-27/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-27 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224332 Matt Blondin at last summer's Charlie Burger dinner pop-up, also called Junk (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-17.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-17/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-17 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224339 The first dessert course was strawberry JELLO served with berries (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-24-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-24.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-24.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-24/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-24 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224343 A homemade Jos Louis made with chocolate sponge cake and vanilla cream (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-28-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-28.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-28.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-28/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-28 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224344 A Twinkie-inspired sheet cake (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-29-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-29.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-29.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-29/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-29 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224346 The "Junk" dinner menu, including a reference to a mysterious new Matt Blondin restaurant to come in 2014 (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-31-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-31.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-31.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-31/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-31 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
224324 (Image: Renée Suen) Charlie's Burgers: Junk Charlie's Burgers: Junk https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/charlies-burgers-matt-blondin-junk/slide/charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-08/ charlies-burger-junk-matt-blondin-food-event-toronto-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
Great photos. But $170 for upscale junk food is not something I would ever pay for.