Introducing: Bannock, Oliver and Bonacini’s new café and restaurant at The Bay’s flagship store
Inside Bannock, the new collaboration between Oliver and Bonacini and HBC (Image: Renée Suen)
It’s no secret that Hudson’s Bay Co. has undergone some big changes in recent years. The retailer’s revitalization project at its Queen Street flagship store, in partnership with Compass Group Canada and Oliver and Bonacini, is the first move toward a national conversion of its food services. To that end, it’s opened up two new restaurants aimed at attracting an increasingly food-conscious public: Foodwares Market, a modern food hall on the lower level, and Bannock, a new restaurant and café at the corner of Queen and Bay.
Named after the traditional Scottish flatbread that was adopted by indigenous people and early settlers, Bannock is the latest addition to the O&B Empire. The 4,348-square-foot, Designum- designed space is part grab-and-go café and part dine-in restaurant. The cheery café side of things, open all day, is on the west end of the Queen Street–facing restaurant. Here, ready-made sandwiches, salads and pastries from O&B Artisan fill long glass cases. Hand-crafted chocolates (some house-made, some made by Soma ) are available, as is freshly brewed coffee from the coffee bar. A patio flanking Bay Street comfortably seats 20 and offers a view of Old City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square.
On the east end, Bannock’s clean and modern main dining room is lined with antique pine and concrete panels. A few windows allow diners to peek into The Bay’s men’s department, while interlocking reclaimed hemlock planks form part of the ceiling. In addition to banquettes and wooden chairs surrounding Carrara marble tables, the room also features a long harvest table under a wiry light installation. Orders for the dine-in area’s 68 patrons are filled by chef Paul Brans (Canoe, O&B Canteen ) and chef de cuisine Luke Kennedy (Vancouver’s C Restaurant, London’s The Greenhouse and Oliver and Bonacini Cafe Grill ) from Bannock’s centrally located open kitchen.
Bannock’s menu was designed by a team of O&B chefs—including partner Michael Bonacini and corporate executive chef Anthony Walsh —and is inspired by Canada’s regional and cultural diversity. Lunch and dinner options include crowd favourites like the St-Canut pulled pork tourtière ($16)—complete with a package of Heinz ketchup—and the Arcadian Court chicken pot pie ($16), a nod to the historic restaurant and event space on The Bay’s top floor. A pickerel taco comes with cucumber-apple salad and caviar tartar ($11). A poutine-like pizza is topped with roast duck, curds and fries ($15), while a bannock-based version has house-smoked salmon ($14). The Canadiana theme also makes its way to the cocktail list: expect drinks like the Mighty Canuck (vodka, maple syrup–infused lemonade and candied lemon), the Bannock Caesar topped with a maple-bacon garnish and, inevitably, the HBC (vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, peach purée and fresh lime).
86452 (Image: Renée Suen) Outside Bannock, the new collaboration between Oliver and Bonacini and HBC Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-outside-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-outside.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-outside.jpg 624 402 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-outside/ bannock-outside 0 0
Outside Bannock, the new collaboration between Oliver and Bonacini and HBC
86439 (Image: Renée Suen) Bannock’s grab-and-go café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-cafe-1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-cafe-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-cafe-1.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-cafe-1/ bannock-cafe-1 0 0
Bannock’s grab-and-go café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
86440 (Image: Renée Suen) The café section features stools and high tables. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-cafe-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-cafe-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-cafe-2.jpg 417 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-cafe-2/ bannock-cafe-2 0 0
The café section features stools and high tables.
86441 (Image: Renée Suen) A spread of takeout options from the café Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-cafe-3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-cafe-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-cafe-3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-cafe-3/ bannock-cafe-3 0 0
A spread of takeout options from the café
86454 (Image: Renée Suen) Bannock’s patio has views of Old City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-patio-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-patio.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-patio.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-patio/ bannock-patio 0 0
Bannock’s patio has views of Old City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square.
86446 (Image: Renée Suen) The dine-in side of Bannock Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-dining-room/ bannock-dining-room 0 0
The dine-in side of Bannock
86443 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room-2.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-dining-room-2/ bannock-dining-room-2 0 0
86444 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room-3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room-3.jpg 640 418 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-dining-room-3/ bannock-dining-room-3 0 0
86442 (Image: Renée Suen) Concrete panels line the walls of the Designum-designed dine-in section. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-concrete-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-concrete.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-concrete.jpg 624 617 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-concrete/ bannock-concrete 0 0
Concrete panels line the walls of the Designum-designed dine-in section.
86445 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room-4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dining-room-4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-dining-room-4/ bannock-dining-room-4 0 0
86449 (Image: Renée Suen) The harvest table seats larger parties and is located in the room’s southeast corner under a wiry light installation that’s reminiscent of hay. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-harvest-table-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-harvest-table.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-harvest-table.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-harvest-table/ bannock-harvest-table 0 0
The harvest table seats larger parties and is located in the room’s southeast corner under a wiry light installation that’s reminiscent of hay.
86460 (Image: Renée Suen) Oliver and Bonacini’s corporate executive chef Anthony Walsh with guest Jamie Kennedy, sampling some freshly baked bannock. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-walsh-kennedy-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-walsh-kennedy.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-walsh-kennedy.jpg 624 469 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-walsh-kennedy/ bannock-walsh-kennedy 0 0
Oliver and Bonacini’s corporate executive chef Anthony Walsh with guest Jamie Kennedy, sampling some freshly baked bannock.
86455 (Image: Renée Suen) Chef Paul Brans at Bannock’s bannock-making orientation session held in the Arcadian Court kitchen. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-paul-brans-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-paul-brans.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-paul-brans.jpg 422 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-paul-brans/ bannock-paul-brans 0 0
Chef Paul Brans at Bannock’s bannock-making orientation session held in the Arcadian Court kitchen.
86435 (Image: Renée Suen) Chefs Michael Bonacini and Anthony Walsh explain Bannock’s food philosophy to Toronto media. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-bonacini-walsh-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-bonacini-walsh.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-bonacini-walsh.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-bonacini-walsh/ bannock-bonacini-walsh 0 0
Chefs Michael Bonacini and Anthony Walsh explain Bannock’s food philosophy to Toronto media.
86447 (Image: Renée Suen) Making dried fruit bannock at the company’s inaugural bannock-making orientation session Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dough-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dough.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-dough.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-dough/ bannock-dough 0 0
Making dried fruit bannock at the company’s inaugural bannock-making orientation session
86453 (Image: Renée Suen) Freshly made bannock baking in O&B Artisan’s Cinelli ovens Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-oven-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-oven.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-oven.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-oven/ bannock-oven 0 0
Freshly made bannock baking in O&B Artisan’s Cinelli ovens
86436 (Image: Renée Suen) Anthony Walsh breaks freshly baked bannock. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-breaking-bannock-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-breaking-bannock.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-breaking-bannock.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-breaking-bannock/ bannock-breaking-bannock 0 0
Anthony Walsh breaks freshly baked bannock.
86457 (Image: Renée Suen) A semi-private six-top in Bannock’s dine-in area’s northeast corner. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-round-table-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-round-table.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-round-table.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-round-table/ bannock-round-table 0 0
A semi-private six-top in Bannock’s dine-in area’s northeast corner.
86459 (Image: Renée Suen) A sample-sized version of the classic. The St-Canut pulled-pork tourtière features honeyed root vegetables and greens. It’s served with a package of Heinz ketchup (full size $16). Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-tourtiere-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-tourtiere.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-tourtiere.jpg 624 425 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-tourtiere/ bannock-tourtiere 0 0
A sample-sized version of the classic. The St-Canut pulled-pork tourtière features honeyed root vegetables and greens. It’s served with a package of Heinz ketchup (full size $16).
86458 (Image: Renée Suen) A cross section of Bannock’s pickerel taco and cucumber apple salad (full size $11), which is served in a fluffy steamed bun with a caviar tartar. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-taco-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-taco.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-taco.jpg 624 404 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-taco/ bannock-taco 0 0
A cross section of Bannock’s pickerel taco and cucumber apple salad (full size $11), which is served in a fluffy steamed bun with a caviar tartar.
86461 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-wine-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-wine.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-wine.jpg 624 423 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-wine/ bannock-wine 0 0
86456 (Image: Renée Suen) Miniaturized version of the Arcadian Court chicken pot pie (regularly $16). Requests to keep this beloved item on the new Bannock menu were honoured; however the puff pastry cap is now made by O&B Artisan. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-pot-pie-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-pot-pie.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-pot-pie.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-pot-pie/ bannock-pot-pie 0 0
Miniaturized version of the Arcadian Court chicken pot pie (regularly $16). Requests to keep this beloved item on the new Bannock menu were honoured; however the puff pastry cap is now made by O&B Artisan.
86451 (Image: Renée Suen) Chef de cuisine Luke Kennedy leads his team of new recruits at the company’s inaugural bannock-making orientation session. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-luke-kennedy-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-luke-kennedy.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-luke-kennedy.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-luke-kennedy/ bannock-luke-kennedy 0 0
Chef de cuisine Luke Kennedy leads his team of new recruits at the company’s inaugural bannock-making orientation session.
86450 (Image: Renée Suen) Bannock’s open kitchen is at the heart of the dining room. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-kitchen-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-kitchen.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-kitchen.jpg 640 427 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-kitchen/ bannock-kitchen 0 0
Bannock’s open kitchen is at the heart of the dining room.
86448 (Image: Renée Suen) Bite-sized sample of the whitefish and shrimp cake and chips, served with a dill pickle tartar sauce (full size, $15) Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-fishcake-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-fishcake.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-fishcake.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-fishcake/ bannock-fishcake 0 0
Bite-sized sample of the whitefish and shrimp cake and chips, served with a dill pickle tartar sauce (full size, $15)
86438 (Image: Renée Suen) Five house cocktails are on the drink list, including the Bannock Caesar (full size $9) with vodka, sherry, Clamato, salsa and a maple–bacon chip garnish. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-caesar-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-caesar.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-caesar.jpg 427 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-caesar/ bannock-caesar 0 0
Five house cocktails are on the drink list, including the Bannock Caesar (full size $9) with vodka, sherry, Clamato, salsa and a maple–bacon chip garnish.
86437 (Image: Renée Suen) A slider version of the boneless back-rib burger with smoky tomato jam (full size $15) that’s served with maple-mustard barbecue sauce. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-burger-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-burger.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-burger.jpg 624 409 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-burger/ bannock-burger 0 0
A slider version of the boneless back-rib burger with smoky tomato jam (full size $15) that’s served with maple-mustard barbecue sauce.
86434 (Image: Renée Suen) Sampler-sized pieces of the bannock (full size $14) which features house-smoked salmon, onions, cumin and house-made cream cheese. Introducing: Bannock https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-bannock-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-bannock.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bannock-bannock.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bannock/slide/bannock-bannock/ bannock-bannock 0 0
Sampler-sized pieces of the bannock (full size $14) which features house-smoked salmon, onions, cumin and house-made cream cheese.
Bannock, 401 Bay St., 416-861-6996, bannockrestaurant.ca.
Its good to see how Toronto’s culinary scene evolves into more exciting adventure. The city was craving such attention from the culinary gods. Good for O&B for taking the leadership in this. ‘Bannock’ has also revitalized the otherwise non-exciting yet very central Toronto intersection. And what’s up with ‘the Bay’? Wow-I applaud them. Finally our city emerges from the self-absorbed shyness to the forefront of class and excitement. More work yet to be done, but we are on a right way.
I do hope it is better than the Foodwares market below, where my last lunch was a very banal and expensive experience.
The upgrades at the Bay are fabulous…a return to a classy story which had become a tired old warehouse. I hope the Bay will add the grocery store and restaurants to the Bloor St. location…this would be fabulous.
the food was bland and boring just like canteen…another boring addition to the saturated O&B chain.
Great. Another O&B place that will rake in money and pay their cooks barely minimum wage. I won’t be eating here.
TO COOK, Bingo! U hit the nail…same here…. taking over with way too much hype. Love TO food scene but not the O & B Bunch…… nah!
If you’re going to complaint about the income of cooks in this city then you may as well complaint about all those places that pay below minimum wage (daily salaries). O&B actually pays a decent wage.
Had lunch there yesterday. My friend and I split the BLT Bannock and the Duck Poutine Pizza. Both were pretty good, more so the pizza. I doubt I would be going back unless it is for the pizza.
@ Jared:
Seriously dude? It’s “complain” not complaint.
Yeah what the hell I can’t believe I did that.
Ate there yesterday and it was a typical O&B place, over priced and boring. No thanks, I would rather eat on the 8th floor at Great Cooks. O&B stop saturating this city with your chains.
was not impressed…not even with the bannock itself.
only thing decent was the poutine on the pizza. poutine by itself was a miss.
Somehow the ugly,cheap paint over cement floor and the expensive macaroni&cheese @ $14.00 do not go together,what a turn off!
I stopped by with a friend to grab a latte. The place was a mess. The staff were too busy chatting to clean up. We crossed the street and went to Starbucks where they know how to bus a table.