It takes a special gift to transform a humble salad into a delicious pile of artery-clogging cream, crunchables and greens. Jon Polubiec has that gift, and he puts it to full use in the Granny Smith chicken caesar salad ($9) at his new pop-up restaurant, Come and Get It. The pale green skin-on apples and crisp romaine are slathered with rich garlic confit dressing and tossed with grana padano cheese, pulled chicken and crunchy fried chickpeas. There’s even a palm-sized shard of chicken skin on top. To push this fast, fun take on a menu cliché from satisfying to delectable, though, we recommend adding a splash of Frank’s hot sauce: the mingling of the sharp, spicy vinegar with the cream left us scraping the bottom of our bowl. Of course, there’s also a special thrill associated with experiencing one of Toronto’s only pop-ups that doesn’t require long waits, special invitations or a second mortgage.
The cost: $10.17 including tax.
The time: 32 minutes, including prep time.
Come and Get It, 170 Spadina Ave., 647-344-3416, @comeandgetit416
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