Toronto Restaurants by Stephanie Dickison

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At The Pass with Eimear De La Rosa-Brazil

At The Pass is a weekly series showcasing Toronto’s best chefs. You won’t find any celebrity chefs featured here. Perhaps you already know these fine cooks, but maybe not. They’re not famous - yet. But it’s time these talented, passionate, hard-working chefs got a bit of the spotlight. 

🕒 4.5 min read

Currently

Operations Chef, Ascari Hospitality Group (Ascari Enoteca, Ascari King Street, Gare de l'Est Brasserie, Hi-Lo Bar, and newly opened Mercatino E Vini)

Formerly

Waterford Castle in Ireland. I worked at a Jewish catering company for three months when I moved to Canada, but other than that, Waterford Castle was my only other culinary job. I was born and raised in Waterford, Ireland and emigrated to Canada in 2015 when I was 21.

Favourite dish to make right now

Anything with pasta! My all-time favourite pasta is the Amatriciana. Over the last years, I fell in love with hot spicy food, so this dish is perfect because you can add so much heat, and for me, it only gets better!

Last cookbook purchase

The Irish Cookbook by Jp McMahon

Have you read it/tried any recipes

Not yet! Two recipes I'm excited to try are the Rolled Pork Belly with Fennel and Apple Cider and the Waterford Blaa recipe, a bread roll that comes from my home city that I haven't made in years.

One dish or ingredient you’d like to see gone from menus

Any ingredient that is irresponsible or unethically sourced.

And one dish or ingredient that you’re excited about right now and would like to see on more menus

Real honey!

Biggest influences

The people I’m surrounded by at work. They’re all such hard workers that it pushes me to do better

If you could eat at any restaurant in the world

Osteria Francescana

Last thing you ate

Chocolate Walnut Maple Cake. Late night baking is my favourite!

Three must-have ingredients always in your fridge

Butter, milk, and eggs. 

Guilty pleasure 

Neilson chocolate milk.

Top 3 favourite Toronto restaurants

Richmond Station, Mi Mi Restaurant, and Casa Di Giorgio Restaurant 

Top 3 favourite Toronto bars 

Hi-Lo Bar, The Comrade, Chez Nous

Your go-to drink

Charles Baker Riesling.

One habit you have in the kitchen that you should lose, but can’t seem to shake

Snacking. Normally whatever food is in front of me!

And one habit you have in the kitchen that will inspire young chefs

Making lists and always timing yourself so you are always pushing yourself to be faster and more efficient.

Hidden talent

I used to sing. I sang in the Waterford Institute of Technology Youth Choir from the age of 13-18. We travelled to many places in Europe in that time. We won many Ireland national competitions and came third in two internal competitions in Prague and Kraków. It was an incredible experience! 

Best career advice you ever received 

No matter how long you cook, you will never know everything. - Michael Quinn, my first ever Head Chef.

Worst career advice you ever received

I was told not to move to Canada to cook. I recently celebrated six years here and five-and-a-half years with the same company! 

Your advice for a young cook starting out in the business

Find a job in the industry that makes you happy. Surround yourself with an environment you enjoy and people that push you to do better.


In order to support chefs during this time, the monthly At The Pass series is now WEEKLY. Know someone in Toronto or GTA who should be featured? Submit their name for consideration. And yes, you can nominate yourself.    

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