COTTAGE INDUSTRY

Platter-sized portions of grilled meats are nothing new at the Carbon Bar, but this August, they’re putting a finer point on the BBQ theme with a Cottage Life Magazine-themed prix-fixe menu. Though the bountiful $59-per-person slate (bring an appetite!) is in essence a marketing exercise for Cottage Life’s new brand of steak spices, the juicy sliders and creamy grilled sweet potatoes are undeniably worth the price of admission. So are the August-only drink specials, which include a watermelon-heavy sangria and a Caesar with a crushed-wasabi pea rim.

MO BRUNCH

Despite our rep as mimosa-crazed zombies, Toronto hasn’t generated a good new brunch joint in a while. (What’s with that, anyway?) That streak has been broken by none other than Momofuku Daisho, who kicked off a brunch service at the beginning of August. On Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 2:30 pm, you can sample Momo’s takes on classic breakfast dishes. (Bonus: they’re also partnering with local producers to create some original brunch cocktails – Steam Whistle is featured this weekend.) Reservations are now open.

JOIN THE CLUB

Everybody’s throwing market-style events these days (even me), but both the office workers and clothes hounds along the Mink Mile will be particularly pleased to hear about this one. The sidewalk outside Club Monaco‘s flagship store at Bloor and Avenue has just been transformed into a mini-farmer’s market – only instead of farmers, there’s a handful of carefully-chosen and appropriately-cool local vendors. Pick up a nostalgic sweet treat (homemade pop tarts or Ruffles marshmallow squares, anyone?) from Bake Shoppe, a whitefish and quinoa salad from Parts & Labour, an Americano from Boxcar Social, a refreshing herb-infused fruit popsicle from Philip’s Ice Pops, or even a fancy bouquet for your desk from Sweet Woodruff. The market runs daily until mid-October.

SOFT (SERVE) BULLETIN

What’s better than soft-serve on a hot summer day? Super-fancy soft-serve from Corktown patisserie Roselle, who have added the swirly stuff to their roster of fussy, flavour-packed French desserts. Flavours include Cream of Earl Grey and Madagascar vanilla they suggest getting them twisted to create a London Fog cone (twist my arm).

food@nowtoronto.com | @nataliamanzocco