Winter Sale at 120 Modern

120 Ossington Ave. Toronto ON Canada M6J 2Z5 (view map)
info@onetwentymodern.com
T 416 537 4400

Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 to 6

Union Restaurant – OPEN!

At last the much anticipated opening of Union Restaurant has arrived.  Well, almost.  The official public opening is Thursday.  I met chef Teo Paul months ago when our friend Jessica (spicy brunette below), suggested I could help with a few design quarries. 

I was immediately enchanted by Teo and his unabashed, be it boy-like wonder about the place. I’m sure his rugged good looks, great hair and not-so-subtle country boy charm didn’t hurt.

This Toronto boy, ventured off for Europe some years back.  He travelled and paid his keep with blood, sweat and tears – literally.  Working away in basement kitchens with no air conditioning or ventilation.  Morning till night, chopping, prepping but more importantly absorbing the craft.  Drinking several, or many pints at the bar before bed, then doing it all again.  Learning to prepare local, farm-fresh food.  Using only the best ingredients and allowing them to stand alone.

A life long family friend Kate, suggested it may be time to bring those skills home and share what she’s been enjoying for years with his home town.   Show this foodie city how it’s done.  He agreed, they became business partners, and Union was conceived.

Teo is not the first chef to learn the hard way, deciding to open a restaurant, does not a restaurant make.  His love, struggle, near defeat and now triumph was chronicled by Toronto Life on Teo’s Opening Soon blog.   The blog provided readers with a raw honest look into the difficulties that come with a project of this scale.  He’s a talented writer with an open sweet nature about him.  First the readers loved him, but as the time to open came and went several times, the negative and frustrated comments became more the norm.  So too did Teo’s disheartening with the renovation.

At times it was tough to watch, but truly never a doubt entered for anyone close to Teo,  that once opened there would be no looking back.  Everyone in Teo’s life has inspired some small piece of Union;  Be it the mural by family friend, barn board floors collected from a farm near Teo’s families.  His fathers design for a folly in back of the soon to be complete patio, or the front bar that everyone said was impossible but Teo held tight to his vision.  I helped shed our North American obsession with bigger is better, and we created the one tend bar he wanted.  Every piece of Union was methodical, collected and calculated, yet as with Teo, it feels effortless and easy.  Union possesses that rarely achieved, but forever strived for, neighbourhood feel. 

Union will be open at 9am, serving lunch, dinner and open through until the bar stools need emptying.  Based on a bar in Paris Teo frequented, this is to be the stop by spot for an expresso at the bar.  A place to grab an afternoon snack of fresh cheeses and authentic charcuterie plate with a pint or great glass of wine.  Simple soulful foods, unpretentious and satisfying.

Last nights dinner was anticipated by the room, there was a buzz, awaiting the first bites.  Then, there was that brilliant moment of quiet when 30 satisfied mouths can do nothing but taste and wonder how it is they didn’t know food could do that to them.

Food meant to be shared family style was served in casserole dishes one might find in their grandma’s kitchen.  The opening menu is yet to be officially set, but our preview was inclusive of a roast chicken served whole, halved or quartered, beef for 2, fresh fish and sweet pea risotto.  I had the risotto, and it was perfect.  A little crunch, bursts of flavour from the obviously picked fresh sweet peas and somehow a hint of a smoked flavour I’m still trying to figure out.  French fries were served in grannies casserole dish with a proper helping of mayo defying you to not indulge.  Teo hand delivered a massive slice of warm bread pudding topped with his own homemade basil ice cream for dessert.  This was the kinda satisfied that requires the undoing of ones top pants button. 

One of the only spots in the neighbourhood serving lunch and dinner, you’ll have your pick of times to check it out.  The seat to reserve is the chefs bar in back, offering an up close view of Chef Teo in action.  If you squint your eyes you can spot Teo behind our grinning mugs.

Thursday onward, I’ll be hanging out at the front white marble topped bar with my laptop and an espresso.  See you there.

Union Restaurant

72 Ossington Street

416.850.0093

www.union72.ca

Viagra spammers, do you like good design?

First off, I’m sorry.  This week has been a complete write off for the blog….  What an incredibly busy week.

I had a moment two nights ago at 2 something am when I truly felt like a student again.  I remember those long hours in the studio with the 3 or 4 other gals at the drafting tables.  They turned the heat off after 11 so we were all wearing the most hideous pj’s with sweaters.  Sometime between 4 and 5 you might catch us all curled up on the floor catching a snooze under the tables.  The campus security guys knew us well, and I’m not ashamed to say I (all of us) batted our eyes at them to allow us to stay through the night, and if we were lucky borrom their am/fm radio.

So, perhaps sitting at my dining table at 2 am with a glass of  wine and the Lilly Allen cd is not quite as bad – BUT, I am 10 years older and perhaps a bit too informed to think it’s normal.  Needless to say, I’ve been working allot this week…..

We pitched this week to redo a spa.  It’s a prominent Toronto Hotel spa and is an ideal fit for YDF.  Our style and resources fit perfectly together.  We had two meetings this week to talk budget and concept.  I’ll let you know how it goes…..

The loft kitchen was under full renovation this week too.  The cabinets went in, and I found myself running about for hood fans, tile, hardware and such.  It’s looking fantastic and I can’t wait to share some pictures next week.

Union restaurant is on the home stretch.  I blogged about Union a few months back.  Chef Teo is a great friend and incredibly talented chef and writer.  YDF consulted on the interior and is now working on phase 1 of the patio.  I, as some of you know, grew up a poor little gal in the country, and that has formed much of my sensibilities today.  Union, even in it’s unfinished state, seems to encompass all that country simplicity, but with an embrace and richness that comes from Teo’s time in Europe.  I feel at home there and I know you will too.  We all shared a beer there tonight, leaning against the half built chefs table, and I honestly would not have rather been anywhere else.

What else…..the modern ravine house is also coming along fantastically.  I met the architect there Thursday to review a few millwork questions.  The windows are in and insulation is next week.  They will be my primary focus next week as the time for making architectural alterations is now up!

I have my screen test Sunday for the HGTV show.  I bought a new black dress, which Marco tells me will make me look pale on camera…….I really liked it.   He’s the pro, so tomorrow morning is dedicated to wardrobe shopping……again.  I’ll let you know how it all goes.

Ok, I’m heading off to bed, but I wanted to give you an update and will share some of my week’s finds over the weekend. 

I had dinner tonight at Oasi, the new restaurant at 99 Sudbury.  I will give you the scoop on that this weekend too.  Sweet dreams fello design lovers…..and Viagra spammers.

Did I mention I get 20+ spam comments a day now on Viagra……hmmm.

How does Your Designer Friend fill her days…these days

I continue to work on the site completion daily.  I’m admittedly overwhelmed at just how much time is involved in the backend setup.  I’ve had my suppliers for months now, but never imagined that would be the easy part of this process!

The site structure is complete and has been for quite a while.  The site designer is completing the launch page and a few more specialized pages for uploading information to me and such.  As this project has evolved there have been many late night ideas and 2 am note pad scribbles.  The site will be launched in the next 3 weeks, however what is to come over the next year will be pretty remarkable.  The main problem I have right now is too many ideas and not enough time.  Not a bad position to be in and from where I sit nothing but an optimistic future ahead!

I had intended on focusing on the site alone until it’s up and running, however when the phone is ringing and people need a Designer Friend, I must oblidge…

Here is YDF’s Current Project Lineup

Martini Lounge – Belleville, ON     Complete Design and Project Management for an upscale martini lounge.  To meet the needs of Prince Edward County and Belleville’s demand for an urban, chic retreat, this water front lounge in historic downtown Belleville will be opening May 2009.

Park Hyatt Hotel – Toronto, ON   The Park Hyatt is currently completing renovations and leasing improvements in their commercial tower. 

Loft Kitchen – Toronto, ON    A complete kitchen renovation and redesign in a converted residential loft in downtown Toronto

Loft Design – Toronto, ON   Design consultation, finish selection, lighting and furniture coordination in a stunning 3 level downtown residential loft conversion.

Kitchen Design + Design Consultation – Belleville, ON   A complete kitchen design, lighting and finish consultation for a new construction home.

Union Restaurant – Toronto, ON Construction and Design consulting services for an opening soon restaurant on Ossington Street

Corporate Art Consultation – Toronto, ON   Art selection, coordination and installation for a complete corporate rental program in a 2 floor 20,000 sq ft office

Check back over the next few weeks for project photos and progress.

Visit   www.designerfriend.ca   January 2009 for all of your design needs!