GALLERY: at this month’s TBD dining series, Acadia’s Matt Blondin let loose
GALLERY: at this month’s TBD dining series, Acadia’s Matt Blondin let loose
By Gizelle Lau | November 14, 2011
By Gizelle Lau | 11/14/2011
Blondin’s tapioca course (Image: Gizelle Lau)
TBD is a monthly dining series that brings some of the city’s top chefs together with one of the foodie world’s current obsessions: the semi-secret pop-up dinner. Concocted by Dan Gutter (Drake Hotel, Auberge du Pommier, Susur) and designer Sukko Stach (Acadia), TBD offers one-time-only intimate dining experiences in a distinctive setting for no more than 12 guests. Past TBD dinners have featured Dustin Gallagher, Steve Gonzales and the guys behind Poutini’s. November’s TBD took place last week in a tucked-away private members’ club at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and featured Acadia chef Matt Blondin. For $150, the diners were exposed to Blondin’s wilder, more modernist side over 15 courses (with wine pairings). Here’s what it looked like »
102530 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Caramelized dairy with maple sugar, ginger frost, fragrant herbs and freeze-dried pineapple TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-15-dairy-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-15-dairy.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-15-dairy.jpg 624 440 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-15-dairy/ tbd-15-dairy 0 0
Caramelized dairy with maple sugar, ginger frost, fragrant herbs and freeze-dried pineapple
102527 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Persimmon with granita of flowers, boreal honey, orgeat and persimmon stock TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-14-granita-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-14-granita.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-14-granita.jpg 624 431 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-14-granita/ tbd-14-granita 0 0
Persimmon with granita of flowers, boreal honey, orgeat and persimmon stock
102525 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Licorice marshmallow with black sugar, vanilla-cured olive and caramelized pear pudding TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-13-marshmallow-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-13-marshmallow.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-13-marshmallow.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-13-marshmallow/ tbd-13-marshmallow 0 0
Licorice marshmallow with black sugar, vanilla-cured olive and caramelized pear pudding
102523 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Egg whites, three ways: cedar meringue (dried), spruce meringue (raw) and vanilla meringue (poached) TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-12-egg-whites-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-12-egg-whites.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-12-egg-whites.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-12-egg-whites/ tbd-12-egg-whites 0 0
Egg whites, three ways: cedar meringue (dried), spruce meringue (raw) and vanilla meringue (poached)
102521 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Ecolait veal cheek braised in raw beet juice with caramelized salsify, burnt leeks and mustard TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-11-veal-cheek-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-11-veal-cheek.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-11-veal-cheek.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-11-veal-cheek/ tbd-11-veal-cheek 0 0
Ecolait veal cheek braised in raw beet juice with caramelized salsify, burnt leeks and mustard
102519 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Ecolait sweetbreads with smoked cheese, black garlic, pickled cauliflower and nasturtium TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-10-sweetbreads-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-10-sweetbreads.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-10-sweetbreads.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-10-sweetbreads/ tbd-10-sweetbreads 0 0
Ecolait sweetbreads with smoked cheese, black garlic, pickled cauliflower and nasturtium
102517 (Image: Gizelle Lau) American cobia with caramelized eggplant, freeze-dried black and green olives and yogurt curd TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-9-cobia-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-9-cobia.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-9-cobia.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-9-cobia/ tbd-9-cobia 0 0
American cobia with caramelized eggplant, freeze-dried black and green olives and yogurt curd
102516 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Crystallized chestnuts with celery juice, salted chestnut cream, lovage and chestnut oil TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-8-chestnuts-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-8-chestnuts.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-8-chestnuts.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-8-chestnuts/ tbd-8-chestnuts 0 0
Crystallized chestnuts with celery juice, salted chestnut cream, lovage and chestnut oil
102515 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Cured foie gras with banana bread, elderberries, peanut and sorrel TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-7-foir-gras-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-7-foir-gras.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-7-foir-gras.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-7-foir-gras/ tbd-7-foir-gras 0 0
Cured foie gras with banana bread, elderberries, peanut and sorrel
102514 (Image: Gizelle Lau) American spot prawn poached in buttermilk whey with buttermilk curd, dill and tosaka TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-6-spot-prawn-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-6-spot-prawn.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-6-spot-prawn.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-6-spot-prawn/ tbd-6-spot-prawn 0 0
American spot prawn poached in buttermilk whey with buttermilk curd, dill and tosaka
102513 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Salted Nunavut char with black plums, raw apples, whipped laurel leaf tea and dried cod’s roe TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-5-char-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-5-char.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-5-char.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-5-char/ tbd-5-char 0 0
Salted Nunavut char with black plums, raw apples, whipped laurel leaf tea and dried cod’s roe
102512 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Congealed Berkshire pork fat with compressed Santa Claus melon, sake-cured char roe and Blis Elixir sherry vinegar TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-4-berkshire-fat-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-4-berkshire-fat.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-4-berkshire-fat.jpg 624 435 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-4-berkshire-fat/ tbd-4-berkshire-fat 0 0
Congealed Berkshire pork fat with compressed Santa Claus melon, sake-cured char roe and Blis Elixir sherry vinegar
102564 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Tapioca with coconut milk, African blue basil blossoms, candied lemon and Thai basil TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-3-tapioca-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-3-tapioca.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-3-tapioca.jpg 656 437 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-3-tapioca/ tbd-3-tapioca 0 0
Tapioca with coconut milk, African blue basil blossoms, candied lemon and Thai basil
102510 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Dehydrated caramelized milk skins with cocoa nibs, truffle essence and freeze-dried apples TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-2-crackers-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-2-crackers.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-2-crackers.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-2-crackers/ tbd-2-crackers 0 0
Dehydrated caramelized milk skins with cocoa nibs, truffle essence and freeze-dried apples
102509 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Ginger beer with hot Buddha’s hand espuma, hydrated chia seeds and spray-dried cane juice TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-1-ginger-beer-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-1-ginger-beer.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-1-ginger-beer.jpg 624 421 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-1-ginger-beer/ tbd-1-ginger-beer 0 0
Ginger beer with hot Buddha’s hand espuma, hydrated chia seeds and spray-dried cane juice
102532 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The expectant diners at the beginning of their feast TBD with Matt Blondin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-diners-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-diners.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tbd-diners.jpg 624 415 {"copyright":"Gizelle Lau"} https://torontolife.com/food/tbd-matt-blondin/slide/tbd-diners/ tbd-diners 0 0
The expectant diners at the beginning of their feast
hollllllllllly hell this food is so beautiful!
You can sign up at tbdtoronto.com to receive their invitations. Make sure to check your spam though because my first one went there. The invites have been awesome!