Introducing: Raca Café & Bar, Parkdale’s new everything place from a Mark McEwan protégé
(Image: Gabby Frank)
Name: Raca Café & Bar
Neighbourhood: Parkdale
Contact: 1704 Queen St. W. , 416-901-9951
Previously: ZeZe Food & Drink
Owner: Ivana Raca
Chef: Ivana Raca (One Restaurant, North 44, McEwan)
The Food: An always-changing menu that currently includes white asparagus soup, pan-seared lake trout and a mushroom and truffle risotto. Weekend brunch features breakfast pizza, baked eggs with chorizo and a hazelnut chocolate–stuffed crêpe.
The Drinks: A selection of wine, by the glass and bottle; two beers on tap (GLB’s Canuck Pale Ale and Gold Horseshoe Lager); and a short list of cocktails, designed by O&B’s mixologist Ed Grim. Non-boozy options include Honest Leaf teas and cold-pressed lychee cactus pear juice. “I came up with that nine years ago at One with Chaser’s Juice and now everybody buys it,” says Raca. “I’ve gotta put a stamp on it.”
The Space: Influenced by a trip to Indonesia, Raca designed the space to be her own little Bali, complete with an imported buddha that reclines in a shrine at the back of the room. (“I could’ve gone to Winners and got one for $40, but it’s not about that,” she says.) Out back is a peaceful patio complete with another buddha, this time in mural form, and strings of twinkle lights overhead for when the sun goes down.
316282 (Image: Gabby Frank) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-02-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-02.jpg 800 1149 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-02/ toronto-restaurants-raca-02 0 0
(Image: Gabby Frank)
316286 Kale salad with smoked almonds, dried blueberries, Manchego cheese and balsamic-shallot vinaigrette ($12). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-06-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-06.jpg 1200 786 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-06/ toronto-restaurants-raca-06 0 0
316287 Steak tartare with preserved Italian chilies, Jerusalem artichoke chips and pea shoots. Served with baguette from Bakery & Co. ($15). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-07-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-07.jpg 1200 791 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-07/ toronto-restaurants-raca-07 0 0
316288 Roasted wild mushroom and truffle risotto topped with parmigiano-reggiano and basil ($21). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-08-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-08.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-08/ toronto-restaurants-raca-08 0 0
316290 Pan-seared bay scallops with wild Ontario ramps, white asparagus, shaved green asparagus, dehydrated tomatoes and chive oil ($21). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-10-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-10.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-10/ toronto-restaurants-raca-10 0 0
316291 A personal Nutella croissant bread pudding ($3.50). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-11-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-11.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-11/ toronto-restaurants-raca-11 0 0
316292 Espresso crème brûlée ($8). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-12-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-12.jpg 800 1084 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-12/ toronto-restaurants-raca-12 0 0
316285 The Raca Cosmo: vodka, triple sec and cold-pressed lychee cactus pear juice ($9). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-05-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-05.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-05/ toronto-restaurants-raca-05 0 0
316289 Spiced Old Fashioned: brown-butter bourbon, house-made spiced orange syrup and orange zest ($10). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-09-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-09.jpg 800 1103 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-09/ toronto-restaurants-raca-09 0 0
316352 Sparkling Berry Sangria: sparkling wine, house-made raspberry purée, lemon juice, house-made soda water ($9). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-15-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-15.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-15/ toronto-restaurants-raca-15 0 0
316293 The buddha mural is courtesy of Toronto artist Jesse Albert. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-13-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-13.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-13/ toronto-restaurants-raca-13 0 0
316281 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-01-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-restaurants-raca-01.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-raca-cafe-bar-parkdales-new-everything-place-from-a-mark-mcewan-protege/slide/toronto-restaurants-raca-01/ toronto-restaurants-raca-01 0 0
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” The Drinks: A selection of wine, by the glass and bottle” – really you dont say. How very interesting.
Ugh, can’t Toronto Life resto/food writers write anything interesting about the wine list? Ever?
congrats Ivana.
Verbena, aloe vera, melisse, lemon-balm, and finally the usual apple; the palate as always is shady and cool, though more overtly mineral than usual, but the finish crescendos into a salty tide that clings and doesn’t quit.
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West: 99
East: 6
West FTW!