Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude, a new Roncesvalles restaurant for anyone who loves cheese
Name: The Workshop by Latitude
Contact Info: 331 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-785-2123, workshopbylatitude.ca, @workshop331
Neighbourhood: Roncesvalles
Owners: Latitude Group
Chef: Former Fat Cat Wine Bar executive chef, Mathew Sutherland
The Food: The menu revolves entirely around cheese. Diners can build their own cheese boards from 25 different wedges—including a couple slabs produced exclusively for the Workshop—or choose from the list of snacks and comfort dishes, like a comte-stuffed croque monsieur and a lamb burger topped with goat-milk raita and halloumi. The “workman’s lunch” brings a selection of cheeses and cured meats, plus hard-boiled duck eggs, poached veggies, preserves, nuts and sliced baguette.
The Drinks: European and Canadian wines come by the bottle, the half-litre or the five-ounce glass. Bottles of craft beer are also available.
The Place: This new Roncey business is a spin-off of Latitude Food and Drink, a popular restaurant in Halton Hills. The former Fat Cat Wine Bar space hasn’t changed too much, save for a paint job and some rustic barn-board paneling on one wall. Behind the bar, liquor bottles have been replaced by wheels and wedges of cheese, which are apportioned by a staff of expert fromagophiles.
The Numbers:
• 43.6491 N is the exact latitude of both Latitude restaurants (by pure coincidence)
• 30 seats on the back patio
• 25 cheeses
• 19 cheese boards
• 3 cheese experts on staff
269612 Executive chef <strong>Mathew Sutherland</strong> (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-01/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269613 The open kitchen and cheese bar are the focal points of the restaurant (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-02/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269614 The pine harvest tables were designed by the owners of Latitude Group (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-03/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269615 Decorative birch logs provide a rustic touch (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-04/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269616 The cheese wall, where everything on the menu begins (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-05/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269617 The Workshop stocks a rotating selection of 25 cheeses (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-06/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269618 The “worksman’s lunch” changes daily. The one photographed here includes fior di latte and manchego cheeses served with a walnut and basil pesto, horseradish and beet purée, duck eggs, blanched green beans, capicolla and Spanish Iberico ham ($15) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-07/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269619 Included on this cheese board: a three-year Beemster from Holland, a Bleu Elizabeth from Quebec and a semi-firm Eagles Nest from Quebec ($13) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-08/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269620 The panini changes daily and comes with a bowl of soup ($13) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-09/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269621 Potato-leek soup with Parmesan (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-10/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269622 Butternut squash ravioli in sage brown butter sauce with sliced provolone ($9) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-11/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269623 Frisee salad with double-smoked bacon, stilton and pear ($8) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-12/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269624 Lamb burger with goat raita and halloumi cheese ($9) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-13/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
269626 The Workshop’s caesar is made with basil-infused vodka and comes with a caprese-salad skewer ($10) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Workshop by Latitude https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-15/ the-workshop-by-latitude-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
We went to The Workshop last week – we were already fans of Chef Matthew from his Fat Cat days and love the new incarnation. The cheese monger is excellent and put together a tasty and interesting board for us.
OK for late night snack and wine, but not great for dinner. Also, they don’t carry any spirits; wine and beer only. It is essentially the exact same restaurant as Fat Cat.