Restaurateur Jason Cassis wants you to hang out in his living rooms.

Yes, multiple living rooms. Different sizes and layouts but with the same purpose: group bookings, of varying sizes, for a multitude of events - "anything and everything you can think of."

It's all part of a broader growth strategy for his newly minted umbrella company, Equal Parts Hospitality, announced last week in the airy, French country-style "apartment" that sits atop The Aberdeen and can be booked for special events.

The Equal Parts family also includes The Dundurn Kitchen, just around the corner, The French downtown on King William, and Knollwood Golf Club on Shaver Road in Ancaster.

"We're three years old here, and pretty pumped about this," said Cassis.

The aforementioned living rooms will be built into The Diplomat, a new restaurant, lounge and event space opening on King William this fall in what used to be the Baltimore House. Cassis says it's modelled on The Drake in Toronto and will offer a casual, global vibe in a fun, energetic and colourful setting.

The Diplomat will focus on group reservations, corporate and cultural events with a capacity of more than 200, with a 30-seat patio, seafood bar and open kitchen. The series of living rooms unfolding throughout the space will function as semiprivate group spaces.

Cassis says they've turned the traditional event programming model "inside out."

There will be a minimum spending requirement, and food service rather than bottle service.

"People can program in their own space, but they must be ticketed events."

Cassis saw a niche opportunity and came up with a plan, The Diplomat, to capitalize on it.

"Downtown Hamilton will support five to 10 larger restaurants in the 100-seat range. There are lots on the Mountain already."

But the party doesn't stop there. Another eatery, yet to be named but referred to as The Italian for now, will pop up in the fall of 2018 - once again in the King William area. It will focus on "modern Italian cuisine" and house a commissary kitchen.

The finale for this next act will be the launch of Equal Parts Catering, expected in "the second half of 2018."

In the longer term, Cassis also wants to expand Knollwood by adding a boutique hotel.

Cassis believes in building strong teams and pulling in local talent. He has brought in Jerrett Young, formerly VP of operations at Oliver & Bonacini in Toronto, as his co-CEO. Cory Tower, former GM of Canoe restaurant, is director of operations and NOSH week judge Matt Beasley (One at the Hazelton) is executive chef.

Hamilton's food scene has a strong foundation, says Young, who juggled 11 different restaurant concepts while at Oliver & Bonacini, and it's "starting to get a lot of attention, so in that respect it's different than Toronto because there is a lot of room and potential for new restaurants."

Young says Equal Parts "will be similar to the head office of each restaurant," providing support services such as human resources, financials, training and development, event planning, and marketing and communications.

"This way we can ensure the restaurants are focusing each and every day on the guest experience and food quality."

A recent addition to the team is Brendan Naven, who was born and raised on the east Mountain and has returned to the city to take over from Beasley as chef de cuisine at The Aberdeen. Naven has honed his skills at Langdon Hall in Cambridge and the Redstone Winery in Beamsville.

"Growing up, I never thought that I would have the opportunity to cook in my hometown," said Naven. "I am excited about the food scene here and being a part of it. For someone who loves to cook for people, I can't think of a better place to be right now."

EP now oversees more than 200 staff, and with the two new eateries and the catering arm Cassis says they expect to add 90 more by next year.

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Clearly, Cassis is a strong believer in Hamilton, and says he's grateful for the support for the burgeoning food sector that's been coming from city hall.

"We're seeing customers coming in from Burlington and Oakville, going west instead of east (to Toronto)," he says.

And within Hamilton, "everyone's coming back downtown."