Pop-Up Pick: a grown-up Halloween feast on College Street

We’ve previously mentioned Dave Mottershall, the east-coast chef who left his prestigious job at The Chase to start a food business called Loka Snacks, which has made regular appearances at Leslieville bar Hi-Lo and, more recently, John & Sons Oyster House in the Financial District. Later this month, Mottershall will continue his city kitchen tour with a temporary stopover in Little Italy. On Halloween (or rather, the day after Halloween, so it won’t interfere with any night-of party plans), he’ll be the guest chef of honour at a weekly supper club held by The Depanneur, the brunch spot and food pop-up incubator near College and Dufferin. Mottershall’s one-night-only menu is vaguely Halloween-ish in theme—for instance, the meal starts with a mysterious “spooky” amuse bouche—but it doesn’t seem to contain any pumpkin, candy corn or gratuitous gross-out imagery (ahem). Rather, attendees will dine on veal carpaccio with red-eye mayo, maple-glazed pork belly and sticky-toffee pudding. The whole meal costs $40, and it’s B.Y.O.B.—with no corkage fees—which is an exceptional deal for an interesting, artfully prepared dinner. Costumes don’t seem to be mandatory, but we’re sure they wouldn’t be amiss.

Sat. Nov. 1. $40. The Depanneur, 1033 College St., 416-828-1990, thedepanneur.ca