Introducing: Elle M’a Dit, Baldwin Village’s modern take on traditional Alsatian food
Outside Elle M’a Dit, the new Baldwin Street Alsatian bistro (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
Elle M’a Dit , a new Alsatian restaurant, is the latest spot to open up on the popular Baldwin Street strip. Husband-and-wife team Gregory Furstoss and Tory Yang opened their doors in early June, and are hoping to put a modern twist on staples from France’s northeastern Alsace region, renowned for its melting pot cuisine.
Furstoss was born and bred in Alsace (“he’s been cooking all of his life,” Yang notes), while Yang–who hails from Seoul–cut her teeth at the George Brown Chef School . The two met working at Bistro and Bakery Thuet , where Furstoss was the sous chef, and planned to eventually find a place to call their own. When the location opened up on Baldwin, which reminded them of a charming village street, they leapt at the chance.
The décor is uncomplicated: white walls with red accents, chalkboards outlining the menu and antique cooking utensils. A patio out front sits beside a playful and eye-catching mural, and inside, the main floor houses a pint-sized bar and a prime seating location, with another set of tables upstairs.
Both Furstoss and Yang agree that the tarte flambé is the most popular—and versatile— item on the menu. The traditional version boasts a thin crust topped with fromage blanc, gruyère, caramelized onions and bacon ($10), while a Mediterranean variant contains pesto, sundried tomatoes, bocconcini and olives ($11). The pair have also put their signature on an obligatory Canuck staple: their extravagant poutine comes with seared foie gras and duck confit, and is topped with both gruyère and queso fresco ($20). To cool off on hot summer days, they recommend their “Basil Bomb” cocktail, made with vodka, fresh basil, wild flower honey and lime.
82082 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Outside the Baldwin Street Alsatian bistro Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-outside-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-outside.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-outside.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-outside/ ellemadit-outside 0 0
Outside the Baldwin Street Alsatian bistro
82081 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) A playful mural sits on the south side of the patio Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-mural-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-mural.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-mural.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-mural/ ellemadit-mural 0 0
A playful mural sits on the south side of the patio
82079 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Husband-and-wife owners Gregory Furstoss and Tory Yang Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-couple-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-couple.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-couple.jpg 624 422 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-couple/ ellemadit-couple 0 0
Husband-and-wife owners Gregory Furstoss and Tory Yang
82080 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Inside the upstairs dining room Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-inside-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-inside.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-inside.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-inside/ ellemadit-inside 0 0
Inside the upstairs dining room
82092 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Looking out on the patio from the dining room Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-view-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-view.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-view.jpg 518 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-view/ ellemadit-view 0 0
Looking out on the patio from the dining room
82091 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The dining room features a variety of old cooking utensils Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tools-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tools.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tools.jpg 1200 1600 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-tools/ ellemadit-tools 0 0
The dining room features a variety of old cooking utensils
82087 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-stand-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-stand.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-stand.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-stand/ ellemadit-stand 0 0
82086 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-scale-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-scale.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-scale.jpg 468 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-scale/ ellemadit-scale 0 0
82085 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-pots-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-pots.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-pots.jpg 468 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-pots/ ellemadit-pots 0 0
82084 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Elle M’a Dit’s patio Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-patio-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-patio.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-patio.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-patio/ ellemadit-patio 0 0
Elle M’a Dit’s patio
82083 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-patio-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-patio-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-patio-2.jpg 468 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-patio-2/ ellemadit-patio-2 0 0
82088 (Image: Tory Yang) Traditional tarte flambé ($10): fromage blanc, gruyère, caramelized onions and bacon Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tarte-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tarte.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tarte.jpg 500 373 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-tarte/ ellemadit-tarte 0 0
Traditional tarte flambé ($10): fromage blanc, gruyère, caramelized onions and bacon
82089 (Image: Tory Yang) Tarte flambé with pesto, sundried tomatoes, bocconcini and olives ($11) Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tartebocconcini-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tartebocconcini.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tartebocconcini.jpg 500 598 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-tartebocconcini/ ellemadit-tartebocconcini 0 0
Tarte flambé with pesto, sundried tomatoes, bocconcini and olives ($11)
82090 (Image: Tory Yang) Smoked pork tenderloin salad ($12) Introducing: Elle M’a Dit https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tenderloin-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tenderloin.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ellemadit-tenderloin.jpg 500 373 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-elle-ma-dit/slide/ellemadit-tenderloin/ ellemadit-tenderloin 0 0
Smoked pork tenderloin salad ($12)
Elle M’a Dit , 35 Baldwin St., 416-546-3448, ellemadit.com .
Had a great lunch here. Tartes flambees were great, thin, crispy bites, killer pike quenelle dumplings and surprising desserts.
Check out the full review here:
http://restosinto.tumblr.com/post/12534512149/ellemadit
Cheers,
RestosinTO.com