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Food & Drink

Here’s what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto

By Toronto Life| Photography by Josh Fee
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Toronto Life Insider members sat down for a one-of-a-kind feast on March 11 at Tanto, one of Ossington’s most popular restaurants. For the latest in Toronto Life’s R&D Nights series, Tanto chef Julian Iliopoulos prepared a 15-course feast incorporating everything that a whole Jersey cow from St. Brigid’s Dairy in Brussels, Ontario, has to offer. Here’s a look at the event, and some of the dishes that were served.

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
Here’s Chef Iliopoulos welcoming everyone to the dinner.

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
A quick peek at the menu gave guests only a hint of the beefy exploits that were to follow.

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
Beef liver mousse with shallot jam on short crust tart, and a croqueta made with braised tail, tendon and cabbage served with celeriac remoulade.

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
Eye-of-round carpaccio served on a rice cake with rosemary aioli and green olive poweder, served with sticks of green radish and carrot dipped in clarified Emerald Grasslands butter.

 

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Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
This is a savoury panna cotta with outside-round machaca, pickled chanterelles and fried parsnip.

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
A sirloin tip tartare with truffled pecorino; in the background, beef fat doughnut sticks with St. Bridgid’s cheddar fonduta.

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
Dig in.

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
Chef Iliopoulos chats with diners seated at the chef’s counter. Meanwhile, behind him...

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
...this is happening.

 

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Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
These lentils are topped with a cotechino sausage made with pig skin and ground dry-aged inside round.

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
All of the dishes were served with wines from Tawse Winery in Vineland, Ontario.

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
This is a suet biscuit served with grilled gem lettuce and Emerald Grasslands butter and a strip of beef navel that’s been cured like bacon.

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
The main event: cuts of striploin and ribeye aged in its own rendered tallow.

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
Of course there were some on-theme desserts to end the meal.

 

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Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
Here they are: a bourbon milk punch served with beef-fat alfajores.

 

Here's what went down at the latest members-only Toronto Life R&D Night dinner at Tanto
After the last dish was served, chef Iliopoulos made the rounds to thank everyone for coming.

Want access to exclusive food experiences like this one? Then get on the list and become a TL Insider today.

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