Slideshow: Claudio Aprile hosts a farewell dinner for Colborne Lane with six of his top alumni
Slideshow: Claudio Aprile hosts a farewell dinner for Colborne Lane with six of his top alumni
By Renée Suen | April 16, 2013
By Renée Suen | 04/16/2013
Claudio Aprile closed Colborne Lane in February with little notice in order to focus on his growing stable of Origin restaurants. Last night, at Origin Liberty Village, Aprile enlisted six of the top chefs who’ve passed through Colborne’s kitchen—Matt Blondin (Momofuku Daishō), Steve Gonzalez (Top Chef Canada ), David Haman (Woodlot), Ben Heaton (The Grove), Jonathan Poon (Chantecler) and Andrew Wilson (Colborne Lane’s final chef de Cuisine)— to join him for a tribute to the pioneering modernist restaurant. Each chef created one hors d’oeuvre and one course, revealing the ways they’ve diverged since their time at Colborne but also betraying debts to Aprile’s style—right down to his idiosyncratic way of describing dishes on the menu.
209151 Dinner started with a flight of seven snacks, one from each of the contributing chefs (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-2.jpg 624 352 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-2/ colbourne-lane-reunion-2 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209146 Appetizer: Andean corn nuts with chicharron and garlic from Steve Gonzalez (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-6.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-6/ colbourne-lane-reunion-6 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209149 Appetizer: Tamworth pork neck with wild mustard, pumpernickel and pickled butter from Matt Blondin (Momofuku Daishō) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-3.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-3/ colbourne-lane-reunion-3 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209148 Appetizer: black walnut gougère with gruyère, balconville vinegar and cocoa from David Haman (Woodlot) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-4.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-4/ colbourne-lane-reunion-4 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209143 Appetizer: cured ocean trout with pickled mustard, sorrel and crème fraîche from Andrew Wilson (Colborne Lane’s final chef de cuisine, Origin North) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-11.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-11/ colbourne-lane-reunion-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209147 Appetizer: mackerel with cucumber, mussel and horseradish from Ben Heaton (The Grove) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-5.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-5/ colbourne-lane-reunion-5 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209144 Appetizer: raw Gaspé shrimp with smoked Sichuan peppercorn oil from Jonathan Poon (Chantecler) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-9.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-9/ colbourne-lane-reunion-9 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209145 Appetizer: puffed lobster cracker with finger limes, herbs and flowers from Claudio Aprile (Colborne Lane, Origin) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-8.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-8/ colbourne-lane-reunion-8 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209156 Grouper ceviche with citrus, tomato, cilantro, onion, chili and plantain from Steve Gonzalez (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-12.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-12/ colbourne-lane-reunion-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209142 Slow cooked egg with mustard, dried oyster and seaweed from Jonathan Poon (Chantecler) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-13.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-13/ colbourne-lane-reunion-13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209141 Overwintered roots with lentils, savoury granola, hazelnut and camelina oil from David Haman (Woodlot) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-14.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-14/ colbourne-lane-reunion-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209140 Pacific Halibut with chorizo, salsify, charred spring onion and black olive from Andrew Wilson (Colborne Lane) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-15.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-15/ colbourne-lane-reunion-15 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209139 Tea-smoked squab with ginger salt, lily bulb and chocolate sauce from Claudio Aprile (Colborne Lane) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-16.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-16/ colbourne-lane-reunion-16 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209155 Rhubarb, fennel and goat cheese Eton mess from Ben Heaton and Shane Harper (The Grove) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-18.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-18/ colbourne-lane-reunion-18 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209138 “Conifers” with condensed buttermilk, honey and melilot from Matt Blondin (Momofuku Daishō) (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-19.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-19/ colbourne-lane-reunion-19 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209157 Quiet Dog: Appleton rum with coconut water, watermelon water and Peychaud’s bitters. This was one of three cocktails brought back from the original Colborne Lane drinks list for the dinner (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-1.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-1/ colbourne-lane-reunion-1 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209152 (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-22.jpg 380 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-22/ colbourne-lane-reunion-22 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
209150 The Colborne Lane alumni along with Origin Liberty chefs and hangers-on, with Claudio Aprile, centre (Image: Renée Suen) Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner Colborne Lane Reunion Dinner https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-24-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-24.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/colbourne-lane-reunion-24.jpg 624 352 [] https://torontolife.com/food/colborne-lane-reunion-dinner/slide/colbourne-lane-reunion-24/ colbourne-lane-reunion-24 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)