/
1x
Advertisement
Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!
Food & Drink

Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners

By Renée Suen
Copy link
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners

Today is Australia Day, which celebrates the establishment of the first European colony in New South Wales in 1778 (also: dingoes, babies, Vegemite and Crocodile Dundee). Here in Toronto, three Ontario chefs—Matt Kantor (Secret Pickle Supper Club and Ghost Chef), John Placko (culinary director of Maple Leaf Foods) and Kingston wunderkind Luke Hayes-Alexander (Luke’s Gastronomy)–banded together to host three nights celebrating Australian cuisine, complete with Australian wines, beer and whisky pairings at the Cookbook Store’s kitchen studio, the site of last year’s El Bulli Imitació dinner.

This time round, Kantor took a back seat this time to Placko (an Australian native) and Alexander-Hayes, who recently staged at some of the best restaurants in Sydney. With nothing but a cheeky website (and some social media promotion) to tease ticket-buyer appetites, most of the evening’s attendees came with open minds and empty stomachs. Catering to 12 guests per evening, the trio sent out 15 courses that began with familiar indigenous ingredients used in unfamiliar ways before ebbing into unfamiliar territory—everything from quandong to wattleseed—and finishing off with a glorious Tim Tam Slam. No idea what we’re talking about? Check out the slideshow »

Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners
Three Ontario chefs show off the best of Aussie cooking at the epic Toronto Down Under dinners

NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY

Sign up for Table Talk, our free newsletter with essential food and drink stories.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
You may unsubscribe at any time.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Big Stories

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber
Deep Dives

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

Inside the Latest Issue

The June issue of Toronto Life features our annual ranking of the best new restaurants. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.