Introducing: Hidden Kitchen, a dinner series brought to you by a ghost chef, an ex-chef, a guest chef and a craft brewery
Trying to keep up with the many pop-up food events in Toronto is a challenge, what with their unpredictable locations and irregular timing. And even if the location remains a mystery until the day of the event, Hidden Kitchen, a new collaboration between chef Matt Kantor (Secret Pickle, Ghost Chef), Swallow’ s Ivy Knight (a former chef) and Muskoka Brewery, is at least blessed with a predictable schedule. The series takes places on the last Thursday of each month at non-traditional (yet TTC accessible) venues, and has space for 40 diners. It always starts at 7 p.m. and, unsurprisingly, is reliably stocked with a bounty of beer.
Between the two of them, Kantor and Knight come up with the theme, the menu, the venue and, most importantly, which guest chef to invite. As for the pairings, Muskoka Brewery rep Jason Dawes explains that many don’t associate beer with food: “There are a lot great tasting beers that go well with food. For example, our cream ale goes really well with roasted chicken; Mad Tom’s goes well with flavourful food like curry or lobster.”
We recently checked out the Lobster Dinner that took place at the end of June (the dinners are $100 for six courses with pairings). The meal was a collaboration with Matt Pettit of the Rock Lobster Food Co., and was held at 99 Sudbury, which was decorated like a homey church basement (Knight confessed that finding a real one that would allow alcohol service was too great a challenge). The six-course meal included five savoury lobster-centered plates, from Kantor’s deconstructed lobster salad to Pettit’s signature lobster roll (lobster is basically everywhere now). There was also copious wine from Creekside Estate and Muskoka’s entire line of craft beers. Next month’s theme is Hawaiian Luau (July 26); we’re told to expect pork, pineapples and pupu platters (a.k.a. American Chinese cuisine), all cooked by Steve Gonzalez of Top Chef Canada season one fame. A shore dinner and a hunter’s feast are scheduled to follow in some secret location on the last Thursday of an upcoming month.
149829 Kantor’s final course was a deconstructed strawberry shortcake served with lemon curd (no lobster included) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen19/ jul12hiddenkitchen19 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149828 Pettit served a variation of surf and turf as the fifth course. Beef from Sanagan’s was mixed with cornichon, shallots and Dijon mustard, then topped with a mild brown butter and vanilla–poached lobster. The dish was sided by olive oil–drizzled crostini (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen18.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen18/ jul12hiddenkitchen18 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149827 Kantor’s open ravioli of lobster with eggplant, fennel and hyssop, in a Pernod beurre blanc (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen17.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen17/ jul12hiddenkitchen17 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149826 Pettit’s lobster roll third course: a toasted, duck fat–butter bun stuffed with lobster, chopped chives and fresh mayonnaise. Plate sides included a dulse salad dressed with garlic-rosemary oil and a pickle (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen16/ jul12hiddenkitchen16 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149825 Kantor’s second dish was based on a classic Nova Scotian-style chowder. Here a trio of shellfish (clams, mussels, lobster) was bathed in a lobster-based cream soup with potato, celery, leeks, onions and double-smoked bacon (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen14/ jul12hiddenkitchen14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149824 Kantor’s first course was a lobster grapefruit salad with avocado-cucumber purée, tarragon, sorrel leaves and mint-cucumber granité (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen13/ jul12hiddenkitchen13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149823 At the Pass: Matt Pettit (Rock Lobster Food Co.), Matt Kantor (Little Kitchen) and Ivy Knight (Swallow) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen12/ jul12hiddenkitchen12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149822 Muskoka Brewery’s popular Mad Tom IPA and Summer Weiss beers (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen11.jpg 450 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen11/ jul12hiddenkitchen11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149821 Matt Pettit with his east coast lobsters (from Digby, Nova Scotia) and a bottle of Muskoka Brewery’s “Thank You” cream ale (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen9/ jul12hiddenkitchen9 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149820 The entire line of Muskoka Brewery’s craft beers was available (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen5.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen5/ jul12hiddenkitchen5 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149819 Chefs of the evening: Matt Kantor (Little Kitchen) and Matt Pettit (Rock Lobster Food Co.) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen4/ jul12hiddenkitchen4 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149818 The campy decor that transformed 99 Sudbury into a homey church basement (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen3/ jul12hiddenkitchen3 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149817 All Hidden Kitchen events are TTC accessible, including the Lobster Dinner, which was held at 99 Sudbury (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen2/ jul12hiddenkitchen2 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
149816 This way for the Lobster Dinner (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Hidden Kitchen Introducing: Hidden Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12hiddenkitchen_intro.jpg 656 444 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hidden-kitchen/slide/jul12hiddenkitchen_intro/ jul12hiddenkitchen_intro 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
Hidden Kitchen, muskokabrewery.com/hidden-kitchen.php