Introducing: Hudson Kitchen, the Dundas West eatery that hosted Brad and Jen (separately) during TIFF 2013
Name: Hudson Kitchen
Contact Info: 800 Dundas St. W., 416-644-8839, hudsonkitchen.com, @hudsonkitchen
Neighbourhood: Little Portugal
Owners: Borys Chabursky and Vince Antonacci
Executive Chef: Robbie Hojilla, former sous-chef at Woodlot and chef-de-cuisine at Ursa
The Place: The soon-to-open restaurant shot to instant fame during TIFF 2013 thanks to a formidable lineup of A-list customers, including Colin Firth, Jennifer Aniston and reigning Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt, who scarfed a double order of gourmet tater tots during the after-party for 12 Years a Slave . Unlike most celebrity hangouts, the 1,700-square-foot space is decidedly low-key: the walls are exposed brick, the floorboards are distressed and linens of any colour are nonexistent. Despite the square-footage, the restaurant feels intimate with three separate dining areas and a 45-seat, street-facing patio, which was walled off during the film festival to discourage nosy passers-by.
The Food: Contemporary American food with a focus on seasonal produce. Dishes draw on chef Hojilla’s French training and Filipino heritage, like sous-vide chicken adobo and a terrine version of sisig, a Filipino pork dish made from boiling and frying a pig’s head. Beginning in November, Sunday brunches will include eggs Benny, steak tartare and pastries from Thuet.
The Drinks: International wines and classic cocktails. Matcha green tea is whisked tableside.
The Numbers:
• 70 seats, plus 45 on the patio
• 7 months to renovate the space
• 3 separate buildings combined into a single space (the former occupants: a contemporary art gallery, the Palmerson Café and Jamie Kennedy’s now-defunct Provenance Regional Cuisine)
• 1 private dining room (in the wine cellar)
• 1 attempt by a TIFF-obsessed star gazer to gouge a spy hole in the wooden fence erected to shield celebs from exactly that kind of behaviour
236817 During TIFF 2013, wooden barriers were erected to shield the patio from curious passers-by (one of whom tried to gouge a spy hole with a screwdriver) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-03/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236816 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-02/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236818 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-04-e1380029743214-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-04/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236834 Hudson Kitchen’s bar and entranceway (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-20.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-20/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-20 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236833 Prior to renovations, the restaurant used to be three different businesses: a contemporary art gallery, a café and Jamie Kennedy’s Provenance Regional Cuisine (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-19/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-19 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236826 Some design features from the former art gallery were left intact, including the tin ceiling, wood floors and a plaster mural by local artist Harley Valentine (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-12/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236819 Some design features from the former art gallery were left intact, including the tin ceiling, wood floors and a plaster mural by local artist Harley Valentine (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-05-e1380029730293-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-05/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236827 The middle room, which used to be the Palmerston Café, is slightly more formal than the front room (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-13/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236829 The restaurant’s motto appears on a blackboard in the middle space: “Redefine what you love” (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-15/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236828 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-14/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236830 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-16/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-16 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236831 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-17/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-17 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236832 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-18/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-18 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236821 Broccoli salad with serrano ham, manchego and mustard (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-07-e1380029704357-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-07/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236815 Chicken adobo with eggplant, Brussels sprouts, quinoa and fermented garlic scapes (inspired by chef Hojilla’s mother’s take on the traditional Filipino dish) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-01/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236822 Apple cider–braised pork belly with pickled onions, roasted parsnips, smoked onion jus and a parship-onion sauce (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-08-e1380029681886-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-08/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236820 Albacore tuna crudo with radishes, hazelnuts and bagna fredda (a cold version of bagna cauda) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-06-e1380029717236-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-06/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236824 Poached pear with ginger ice cream, candied ginger, cookies and caramel (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-10-e1380029651957-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-10/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236823 Chocolate beetroot cake with hibiscus, beet sorbet, candied beet chips and chocolate mousse (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-09-e1380029668100-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-09/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
236825 Chef Robbie Hojilla (left) with his crew, including sous chef Benny Chateau (front right) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hudson Kitchen Introducing: Hudson Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-11-e1380029634552-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-11/ hudson-kitchen-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
Good luck with the new restaurant when it opens.
Seems like a poor attempt to make Dundas West into the new King West/Yorkville. I give it two years before it closes.