Name: Gilead Wine Bar
Contact Info: 4 Gilead Pl., 647-288-0680, jamiekennedy.ca, @ChefJKennedy
Neighbourhood: Corktown
Executive Chef and Owner: Celeb chef Jamie Kennedy, whose daytime operation Gilead Café operates out of the same space
The Food: Gilead marks Kennedy’s first return to wine bar style dinner service since 2010, when the chef sold his popular Church Street restaurant and transformed his haute dining room at the Gardiner Museum into a casual café. The menu reflects Kennedy’s signature brand of simple, hyper-seasonal cuisine made with local ingredients. Entrées include braised short ribs, vegetarian cabbage rolls and various lake fish, which are cured, smoked, sautéed in butter and blended into a creamy chowder. Fans of Kennedy’s previous restaurants will recognize some holdovers, like braised beef poutine topped with gooey aged cheddar.
The Drinks: Kennedy’s locovore philosophy extends to the wine list, which is Ontario-focused. Seasonal cocktails blend local spirits like Dillon’s gin with wild honey, chamomile tea and preserved cherries. Barrel-aged Manhattans and Negronis will be ready to pour in February 2014.
The Place: Gilead Wine Bar operates out of the same pickle and preserve–lined dining room as the Gilead Café. At dinnertime, the lights are dimmed and the retail counter is transformed into a bar.
The Numbers:
• 42 seats
• 5 nights a week (Tuesday through Saturday)
• 3 months to barrel-age Manhattans and Negronis, which will be ready to pour in February 2014
• 2 blackboard menus
253020 The wine bar is located at 4 Gilead Place, in Corktown (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-04/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253017 By day, the space operates as the casual Gilead Café. For dinner service, the lights are dimmed and the retail counter is transformed into a bar (Image: Jamie Kennedy/Facebook) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-01/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Jamie Kennedy/Facebook)
253018 (Image: Jamie Kennedy/Facebook) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-02/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Jamie Kennedy/Facebook)
253019 Chef Jamie Kennedy (Image: Jamie Kennedy/Facebook) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-03/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Jamie Kennedy/Facebook)
253021 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-05/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253022 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-06/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253023 Jamie Kennedy’s signature fries are served in a paper cone ($6) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-07/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253024 Poutine with braised beef and aged cheddar ($13) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-08/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253027 Braised pork with cider-poached apples ($14) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-11/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253028 Smoked whitefish and potato salad ($13) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-12/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253029 Red wine–braised short ribs ($16) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-13/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253030 Beet salad ($10) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-14/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253033 Marinated lake trout ($13) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-17/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-17 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253034 Vegetarian cabbage roll with marinara sauce ($11) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-18/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-18 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253035 Chicken galantine with marinated mushrooms ($12) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-19/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-19 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253026 Gilead Gin Fizz: Dillon’s gin, lemon juice, egg whites, muddled thyme, simple syrup and soda ($12) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-10/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
253025 Bees Knees: Dillon’s gin, elderflower liqueur, raw honey water, citrus bitters and chilled chamomile tea ($12) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar Introducing: Gilead Wine Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurants/slide/gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-09/ gilead-wine-bar-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)