Name: Brickworks Ciderhouse Contact: 709 Queen St. E., 647-341-4500, theciderhouse.ca, @brickworkscider Neighbourhood: South Riverdale Previously: An Sibin Pub Co-founders: Chris Noll and Adam Gerrits Owner: Mill Street (which is owned by Labatt, which is in turn owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev) Chef: Dario Zamora
The drinks
Nine taps devoted to the cidery’s bigger brews (Batch: 1904, Brickworks 501) and their smaller-batch house creations, like mint-basil, the fan favourite so far. Cidermaker Martha Lowry has been experimenting with various apples and yeasts, with plans to produce at least 40 different ciders this year. “Our limit will be space, not ideas,” says Lowry, who just ordered in a batch of different aging barrels, including port, tequila and bourbon. Eventually, she plans to begin introducing Toronto to some of the styles popular in Normandy: ultra-low-sugar and flat options are being discussed.
The single guest cider is currently Spirit Tree’s Winter Bliss, while the remaining five taps are dedicated to Mill Street beers. The cocktails include a few cider-revised classics, like a cider mimosa and a cider mojito.
Pouring a glass of the Great Framboise, a cider made with raspberries.
Testing an almost-ready cider.
Here’s the apple press where Lowry crushes the fresh fruit. It can be rolled straight into the restaurant through the garage-door windows.
There are two 1,500-litre fermentation tanks tucked behind the bar. Downstairs, there are eight 1,000-litre aging tanks (pictured above).
Cidermaker Martha Lowry.
Lowry will be working with Toronto group Not Far From the Tree to use apples from Toronto backyards. “Often people don’t want to eat these apples because they’re ugly, but they’re perfect for cider making,” says Brickworks co-founder Chris Noll (pictured above).
The food
More than half of what’s on the menu incorporates cider. The apple-based beverage is used to braise meats, steam cockles and dress salads. Heck, even the fries get brined in apple cider vinegar before being tossed in the fryer. The seasonal menu will change regularly but always maintain an emphasis on pairing the dishes to the ciders.
The Ciderhouse Salad is a mix of kale, quinoa, bacon, goat cheese and pecans, all tossed in an apple cider–poppy seed dressing. $14.
This (apple-free) tabbouleh hummus plate comes with warm naan. $13.
Iron skillet baked brie, topped with figs, apples, cranberries, pistachio and jalapeño honey. $16.
This (apple-free) rigatoni is tossed in tomato sauce and topped with chorizo, roasted red peppers and shaved parmesan. $18.
These pork belly ribs are brined in a soy–star anise blend before they’re slathered in a sambal-maple-cider glaze and served on top of a kale-apple slaw. $15.
This Ontario-sourced, cider-braised beef short rib is served with a horseradish potato purée, broccolini and red onion marmalade. $27.
The house burger is made with Ontario-ground chuck and topped with cider-braised pork belly, pickled cucumbers and sriracha mayo. $19.
The space
Nova Scotia design firm Breakhouse kept the split-level space (adorned with orchard motif murals by Meaghan C. Kehoe) bright and airy.
The main-floor dining (and drinking) area.
Here’s the second level.
Thanks to the two-storey-high windows, this 156-seat space is drenched in light from morning ’til night.
Here are some apples on their way to the press. There are other pastoral allusions tucked into unexpected places (like a deer in the women’s washroom and a fox peeking around a corner).
Chef: Dario Zamora
The drinks
Nine taps devoted to the cidery’s bigger brews (Batch: 1904, Brickworks 501) and their smaller-batch house creations, like mint-basil, the fan favourite so far. Cidermaker Martha Lowry has been experimenting with various apples and yeasts, with plans to produce at least 40 different ciders this year. "Our limit will be space, not ideas," says Lowry, who just ordered in a batch of different aging barrels, including port, tequila and bourbon. Eventually, she plans to begin introducing Toronto to some of the styles popular in Normandy: ultra-low-sugar and flat options are being discussed.
The single guest cider is currently Spirit Tree’s Winter Bliss, while the remaining five taps are dedicated to Mill Street beers. The cocktails include a few cider-revised classics, like a cider mimosa and a cider mojito.
[caption id="attachment_450386" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Pouring a glass of the Great Framboise, a cider made with raspberries.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450387" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Testing an almost-ready cider.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450370" align="aligncenter" width="853"] Here’s the apple press where Lowry crushes the fresh fruit. It can be rolled straight into the restaurant through the garage-door windows.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450369" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] There are two 1,500-litre fermentation tanks tucked behind the bar. Downstairs, there are eight 1,000-litre aging tanks (pictured above).[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450378" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Cidermaker Martha Lowry.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450385" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Lowry will be working with Toronto group Not Far From the Tree to use apples from Toronto backyards. “Often people don’t want to eat these apples because they’re ugly, but they’re perfect for cider making,” says Brickworks co-founder Chris Noll (pictured above).[/caption]
The food
More than half of what's on the menu incorporates cider. The apple-based beverage is used to braise meats, steam cockles and dress salads. Heck, even the fries get brined in apple cider vinegar before being tossed in the fryer. The seasonal menu will change regularly but always maintain an emphasis on pairing the dishes to the ciders.
[caption id="attachment_450382" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] The Ciderhouse Salad is a mix of kale, quinoa, bacon, goat cheese and pecans, all tossed in an apple cider–poppy seed dressing. $14.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450376" align="aligncenter" width="853"] This (apple-free) tabbouleh hummus plate comes with warm naan. $13.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450373" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Iron skillet baked brie, topped with figs, apples, cranberries, pistachio and jalapeño honey. $16.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450381" align="aligncenter" width="853"] This (apple-free) rigatoni is tossed in tomato sauce and topped with chorizo, roasted red peppers and shaved parmesan. $18.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450380" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] These pork belly ribs are brined in a soy–star anise blend before they’re slathered in a sambal-maple-cider glaze and served on top of a kale-apple slaw. $15.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450372" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] This Ontario-sourced, cider-braised beef short rib is served with a horseradish potato purée, broccolini and red onion marmalade. $27.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450374" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] The house burger is made with Ontario-ground chuck and topped with cider-braised pork belly, pickled cucumbers and sriracha mayo. $19.[/caption]
The space
Nova Scotia design firm Breakhouse kept the split-level space (adorned with orchard motif murals by Meaghan C. Kehoe) bright and airy.
[caption id="attachment_450377" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] The main-floor dining (and drinking) area.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450388" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Here's the second level.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450375" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Thanks to the two-storey-high windows, this 156-seat space is drenched in light from morning ’til night.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450371" align="aligncenter" width="854"] Here are some apples on their way to the press. There are other pastoral allusions tucked into unexpected places (like a deer in the women's washroom and a fox peeking around a corner).[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_450379" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] How do ya like this apple?[/caption]){kind=link}