Weekly Lunch Pick: the $38 Trust the Chef prix fixe at Didier
Didier Leroy, English Canada’s first Maître Cuisinier de France, offers one of Toronto’s more curious lunch experiences: a three-course mystery menu in which the entire table must participate. On this sunny afternoon, our trust in the chef pays off handsomely. A pair of baked eggs coddled with black truffles and foie gras arrive in an irresistibly rich madeira sauce. Next, Atlantic salmon roulade, kissed with briny sturgeon caviar, arrives on a bed of sweet braised leeks and puréed potatoes. The meal finishes with a crème brûlée that’s creamy cool, with hints of Tahitian vanilla and a thick, golden sugar crust.
The time: 68 minutes.
The cost: $61 including tax, tip and a bottle of sparkling water ($7).
Didier, 1496 Yonge St. (at St. Clair Ave. W.), 416-925-8588, restaurantdidier.com.
Read the Toronto Life review of dinner at Didier »
See all Weekly Lunch Picks »
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Didier, 1496 Yonge St. (at St. Clair Ave. W.), 416-925-8588, restaurantdidier.com.
Read the Toronto Life review of dinner at Didier »
See all Weekly Lunch Picks »){kind=link}
$61 for lunch — Are you serious? It doesn’t even look filling. Nice close up shot.
I guess the recession hasn’t hit some people. The better idea is to bring your own lunch and donate your money to a food bank where it can do the most good. Since you’re pissing your money anyway…
I totally disagree with Tam. Yes, we have a responsibility to take care of our fellow citizens who are less fortunate than others, but we also have to take care of ourselves by rewarding some finer things in life…like a nice a lunch at Didier with my love one of course.
By the way, I am just a guy making $40K a year and not rich by any means.
For the calibre of food that Didier prepares, that is a deal. This isn’t the Mandarin that you’re going to; this is a restaurant with the only master chef in the city. Having been there for his prix fixe lunch, I can attest that it is indeed filling, but that’s hardly the point.
For people that appreciate food, this is not pissing your money away any more than buying an iPhone is.
yes, veronica, there will always be rich people.
i’m going for lunch because i’ve had so much mediocre food in this town lately for a much higher price.
…bad red sauce w. mystery meat, things on the plate that taste like nothing…chard stalks, c’mon.
i hope didier can remain professional, receptive and not contemptuous of the new customers this deal attracts.
skip the bordeaux, and this might be the best bargain in town.
I had the best meal and the worst service of my life at this restaurant. The partner/waitress was unbelievably rude to my guest and I when she served the wrong meal, and then advised we were lucky that the chef wasn’t too busy to fix it. Arrogant beyond belief, and we paid for that?
$61 for lunch…..what a bunch of suckers you are.
Well said Fred Smith… While I am a serious foodie, I find it difficult to justify high prices at restaurants; however, your comment is a good reminder that some chefs are committed to ensuring that their craft remains an uncompromised art, and for that dedication and quality, there is a price…
This sounds exciting to have a special dining establishment like Didier in Toronto. The three-course mistery Lunch as well as the excellent photo’s look inviting. I agree with the decent comment by GSM, this should be a happy experience for people who appreciate good and different foods !!
Another comment…..hopefully the unbelievable rude waitress should have been replaced immediately !!
No matter how good Didier’s cooking is/was, the restaurant is flawed to the core. The partner is a complete hag/alcoholic and should be put to the curb. The pricing is high because they have a huge rent to pay and no one filling the seats. For pricing like that you have to provide guests good service and atmosphere, which of course you can’t do because your expenses are too high.
Didier, close shop and go back to catering, alone.
My wife loves Didier’s gastronomic and delightful food… The problem we don’t go there anymore is the hostess supposedly partner and want to ask where she did find that RUDNESS AND FAKE SMILE ESPECIALLY TOWARD LADIES… she should be in a zoo with some chimps and she will learn how to smile correctly with no booze…
Looks amazing but aren’t we in a recession???
Crazy price for lunch!!!
The Italian white truffle is considered the queen of the kitchen, but the black truffle is considered the diamond. Farming the black truffle is new alternate way to make a living as a farmer. Truffle farming was considered snake oil just a few short years ago but all that has changed thanks to science.A Black Truffle Farm
Okay people seriously- if someone wants to spend 61$ on a culinary adventure- who cares, enjoy it!!!!! All of you who are bitter because you think its stupid, get a life and piss on someone else’s parade. Didier is a master chef, and there is a price for that, if you don’t like it then don’t eat there…as for the rudeness….hello people they’re French….dish some back instead of being all sensitive!!!!
Stay home and be miserable. You are not going to save the World. Enjoy life as you wish, don’t write comment like this it shows anger….Why ?
NICE PICTURES, BUT REALLY 61.00 FOR LUNCH?
TOO BAD THE WRITERS CANT FIND PLACES THAT HAVE LUNCH FOR HALF THAT PRICE AND IS JUST AS GOOD, …. BECAUSE THERE ARE PLACES IN TORONTO WERE ….YES YOU CAN GET GREAT FOOD , GREAT SERVICE FOR HALF THAT PRICE ….. BUT THEN AGAIN THE WRITERS DONT PAY FOR THE LUNCH WE DO AS WE SUBSCRIBE TO TORONTO LIFE MAGAZINE AND PAY THERE WAGES ….
ANYWAYS …………………………….
Tory is dreadful and creepy and is ruining Didier’s career.
Thanks for your delicious food here, like here, if you are bored with the noises of phones like me before, recommend highly a website
http://www.jammerall.com