Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall, the first in the boutique hotel’s Dining Roadshow series
The Drake’s dining room was transformed into summer-school kitsch in the space of one weekend. (Image: Gizelle Lau)
The Drake Hotel has never been afraid of a little shtick, and pop-up and quasi pop-up operations have long been a part of that. There’s the Drake General Store (and its two sister locations across the city), the now-defunct Scoops and Tees and its successor the Drake BBQ , a pop-up shop that, in true pop-up fashion, will serve its last pulled pork sandwiches and whoopie pies this Saturday. This summer, the Drake is launching the Dining Roadshow , a sort of in situ pop-up program that GM Bill Simpson told us is “meant to be an exploration over the next year as we plan to expand The Drake.” The roadshow will feature a series of thematically changing restaurant concepts that will be highly theatrical, whimsical and, yes, pretty darn kitschy. The first stop: Summer School Dining Hall.
Open now through Sept. 4, the Dining Hall is a space completely set apart from the main area (past the sushi bar and stairs going up towards the bathroom) and was redesigned in just three days. Here, communal tables made from old bowling alley wood give the feel of an upscale mess hall, complete with a nostalgia-inducing centerpiece featuring vintage lunch boxes, Rubik’s cube salt grinders (on sale for $28) and daily specials served, yes, on cafeteria trays.
On the back wall, you’ll find black and white team and class photos as well as barn wood shelves of old exercise notebooks, science textbooks, lab equipment, rulers, clocks and the like. Prints by illustrator Gary Taxali brighten up the space with his trademark cartoonish yet complex ideas. New to the space is a mini open kitchen, a concept that The Drake is testing for its expansion next year. Servers don white shirts with school crests and kerchiefs, like a cross between preppy school outfits and scouts’ uniforms. The menus, meanwhile, sit in three-ring binders and Duo-Tangs (yes, Duo-Tangs) and are adorned with textbook figures and notes. During dinner service, you might hear announcements on the P.A. or catch an “impromptu” glee club performance.
On the menu, chef Anthony Rose gets nostalgic with his favourite childhood classics, playing on memories of summer, summer school and comfort cuisine with dishes like the pork ’n’ beans ($26 for a family-style shared plate). “Pork ’n’ beans would always be the first thing we’d eat on the first night when we went camping in the summer,” Rose told us. “You could smell and hear the beans sizzling away over the fire.”
Same goes for the tomato alphabet soup ($9), made with local tomatoes from Cookstown Greens and served tableside from a thermos; the buttermilk fried chicken ($24); and the foot-long (veal) cheese dogs ($17) that Rose hopes will bring you back to baseball games and the Ex. To finish it off, there are lunchbox dessert faves: salted butterscotch pudding ($8) or a homemade passion fruit “passion flaky” ($7).
Next up on the Dining Roadshow circuit, from Sept. 8 to Nov. 19 (just in time for TIFF), will be L.A. Chinatown circa 1940s (we couldn’t help but be reminded of Grant Achatz ’s Next restaurant in Chicago, where the current theme is Escoffier’s Paris 1906). We’ll be on the lookout for Chinese lanterns, fortune cookies and cocked fedoras.
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77488 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The redesign of the dining room all took place over the course of a weekend. Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-1.jpg 624 370 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-inside-1/ drake-summer-school-inside-1 0 0
The redesign of the dining room all took place over the course of a weekend.
77489 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The summer school–themed dining hall complete with Enomatic wine dispenser “pop machine” Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-2.jpg 624 444 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-inside-2/ drake-summer-school-inside-2 0 0
The summer school–themed dining hall complete with Enomatic wine dispenser “pop machine”
77490 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The long, cafeteria-style table Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-3.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-inside-3/ drake-summer-school-inside-3 0 0
The long, cafeteria-style table
77491 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-inside-4.jpg 624 367 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-inside-4/ drake-summer-school-inside-4 0 0
77487 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Someone’s mom is proud. Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-honour-roll.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-honour-roll.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-honour-roll.jpg 624 426 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-honour-roll/ drake-summer-school-honour-roll 0 0
Someone’s mom is proud.
77486 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-exercise-book.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-exercise-book.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-exercise-book.jpg 415 624 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-exercise-book/ drake-summer-school-exercise-book 0 0
77498 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The prints are by Toronto artist Gary Taxali. Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-taxali.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-taxali.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-taxali.jpg 624 450 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-taxali/ drake-summer-school-taxali 0 0
The prints are by Toronto artist Gary Taxali.
77485 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Drake Hotel school letters Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-dh.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-dh.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-dh.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-dh/ drake-summer-school-dh 0 0
Drake Hotel school letters
77484 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-d.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-d.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-d.jpg 488 624 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-d/ drake-summer-school-d 0 0
77495 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Rubik's cube salt shakers ($28), pencils and fill-in-the-blanks menus Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-rubiks.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-rubiks.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-rubiks.jpg 415 624 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-rubiks/ drake-summer-school-rubiks 0 0
Rubik’s cube salt shakers ($28), pencils and fill-in-the-blanks menus
77483 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Drake lunch boxes stand in for table centrepieces Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-cruet.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-cruet.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-cruet.jpg 466 624 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-cruet/ drake-summer-school-cruet 0 0
Drake lunch boxes stand in for table centrepieces
77480 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Chef Anthony Rose putting together the pork ’n’ beans ($26) Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-anthony-rose.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-anthony-rose.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-anthony-rose.jpg 437 624 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-anthony-rose/ drake-summer-school-anthony-rose 0 0
Chef Anthony Rose putting together the pork ’n’ beans ($26)
77493 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Servers wearing “scout” uniforms complete with Dining Road Show patches and scarves Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-outfits.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-outfits.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-outfits.jpg 452 624 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-outfits/ drake-summer-school-outfits 0 0
Servers wearing “scout” uniforms complete with Dining Road Show patches and scarves
77481 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-books.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-books.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-books.jpg 322 624 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-books/ drake-summer-school-books 0 0
77492 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Nurse's Office cocktail ($16): Famous Grouse, Laphroaig scotches with ginger honey syrup, all “administered” tableside via syringe over a two-inch ice cube Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-nurses-office.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-nurses-office.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-nurses-office.jpg 415 624 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-nurses-office/ drake-summer-school-nurses-office 0 0
Nurse’s Office cocktail ($16): Famous Grouse, Laphroaig scotches with ginger honey syrup, all “administered” tableside via syringe over a two-inch ice cube
77497 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Tomato Alphabet Soup ($9), poured tableside Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-soup-before.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-soup-before.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-soup-before.jpg 495 624 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-soup-before/ drake-summer-school-soup-before 0 0
Tomato Alphabet Soup ($9), poured tableside
77496 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Tomato Alphabet Soup ($9) made with ripe tomatoes from Cookstown Greens Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-soup-after.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-soup-after.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-soup-after.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-soup-after/ drake-summer-school-soup-after 0 0
Tomato Alphabet Soup ($9) made with ripe tomatoes from Cookstown Greens
77482 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Crab cocktail with B.C. Dungeness crab ($15) Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-crab.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-crab.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-crab.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-crab/ drake-summer-school-crab 0 0
Crab cocktail with B.C. Dungeness crab ($15)
77494 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Pork ’n’ beans ($26): slow-roasted sliced pork with chipotle-stewed beans topped with pico de gallo Introducing: The Drake Summer School Dining Hall https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-pork.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-pork.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/drake-summer-school-pork.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-drake-summer-school-dining-hall/slide/drake-summer-school-pork/ drake-summer-school-pork 0 0
Pork ’n’ beans ($26): slow-roasted sliced pork with chipotle-stewed beans topped with pico de gallo
The Drake , 1150 Queen St. W., 416-531-5042, thedrakehotel.ca
Cute.
This looks like fun and the idea of revolving concepts is intriguing, but PLEASE DON’T CLOSE THE BBQ THIS WEEKEND! I’ve been out of town (in the southern US, the land of bbq) and can’t wait to get home to Drake bbq. I’ll be devastated if I miss it. mmmm… brisket.
What a great and ambitious concept. Kudos to Chef Anthony Rose for taking on the challenge, and The Drake for pushing the envelope. Planning to check it out next week. Can’t wait!