The Feed Vol 06. In the Pink - Bijou FTW - Say Her Name
Bevy Cafe. Photo by Stephanie Dickison | Toronto Restaurants.
ISO what’s hot, what’s next? The Feed is your trend tracker. More than hot takes, these are considered trends, studied and captured. It’s more than just revealing what’s #TRending, this trendwatch is also reporting on what’s next.
Check out what’s on the TR radar this month.
🕘 8 min read
THE POWER OF PINK
Whether you lean towards the more modern Millennial or Tumblr varieties or veer in the direction of classic soft pastels, one thing is certain: Pink’s remarkable staying power is not only holding strong, it’s gaining steam thanks to a recent surge and ’Barbiecore’ bump, ensuring the trend isn’t going anywhere soon. The rosy shade’s popularity doesn’t extend solely to clothing, cosmetics, or accessories either - Interior design is all about it. And not just as passing fancy either. For a while now, hospitality haunts have been getting in on the fun. And lately, a host of Toronto restaurants, bars, cafes, and other F&B ventures have been adding varying blush tones to their brick-and-mortar businesses.
Long a part of Toronto pizza chain Piano Piano’s brand, including the building’s exterior (Shuttered sibling Cafe Cancan’s identity too - Discover the exact shade), hallmark of pizzeria around town Blondies Pizza and popular brunch destination Aviv Immigrant Kitchen, King West Italian hotspot Oretta, and since doors opened, Daisy nightclub. Recently, newer venues have made the mix of red and white a part of their signature look and branding: LGBTQ-owned ice cream parlour Creamery X, and Toronto’s “first Mexican coffee shop,” La Gloria Mexican Coffee, for instance. Cool indie cafe, event space, and skateboard hang Bevy took it to the streets, giving their facade a fresh update in bright fuchsia, (Pictured above.). And on the approach? Soon-to-open Le Tigre by Cry Baby Gallery, awash in the haute hue, giving it a seductive edge. Swoon.
None however, have ever come close to The Harbord Room’s unforgettable interior (RIP), swathed in a warm, captivating colour that largely defies accurate description - only by being immersed in to could you comprehend its deep allure. TR Pro Tip: The exact shade? Pencil Eraser Pink, should you want to try and replicate it. p.s. Don’t be surprised if it elicits an overpowering craving for a particular stellar burger. #THRforever
All this talk of flushed tones might have you wondering, Should I paint my establishment pink? Despite the devotion to the colour often associated with calm, heart, peace, and for years, femininity, it can look dated, cheap, and yes, even childish if not carefully considered, deftly applied, and curated with other aspects of the space. It’s definitely a vibe and you want to get it right.
TR Trend Watch: The prominent colour of the moment in hospitality interiors I’m tracking is a deep, rich forest green, found largely in finer diner spots in the 6ix. It’s also a common thread in modern Indian eateries, and not specific to a particular vicinity either: I’m chronicling it downtown, in Mississauga, and across the GTA. I foresee this colour trend continuing to be a go-to for industry for the next five to seven years at least. And get this: Green and pink pair obscenely well together… Win-win.
BIGGER ISN’T NECESSARILY BETTER
While sprawling destinations filled with pricey fare frequently nab headlines (these days it’s largely steak and seafood), boîtes and bijou spots across the city are often the most compelling. My recent discoveries of grab-and-go micro concepts Corner Crepe Co. and Cubano Kings, for instance, illustrate the allure a slip of a place can have while keeping the footprint and operations suitably small and manageable.
It’s not just takeout windows and casual eats as outlined above that make the most of their limited square footage either. 416 Snack Bar’s recent addition, Short Turn, is a prime example of how compact concepts can simultaneously fell luxe and intimate when done right. And just wait - more on the way: Think neighbourhood haunts, wine bar rendezvous, and cafe hangs, for starters. Keep your eyes peeled on the OPEN/CLOSED for updates.
Coming out of the pandemic, you might surmise a teeny outpost might feel invasive or claustrophobic. I find it’s the complete opposite. After years spent locked indoors and apart from one another, the propulsion to sit shoulder to shoulder, limbs draped over one another, to lean in close and catch up over dinner and drinks until the staff says it’s closing time, persists.
CALL HER BY HER NAME
#TRending right now: Ladylike names for bars and restaurants around town. Overwhelmingly in newcomers. Within months of another, to boot. See: The Daughter, Evageline, Irene, Isabelle’s, Mademoiselle, Mandy’s, and Miss Likklemore’s. And thanks to restaurant group INK Entertainment, mere weeks as just launched Margo and Daphne can attest.
This is not a new practice. Female names have been a part of the landscape since as long as you can remember. Take Bobbie Sue’s Mac & Cheese, Daisy, Giulietta, Rosalinda, Ruby Soho, Sara, Sofia, and Mrs. Robinson, for instance, not to mention some of the longest in the game: Gabby’s, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, and Sweaty Betty’s.
Call him by his name. Men’s monikers have got in on the fun too. Think longstanding establishments such as George, Frankie’s Italian, Marq’s Chicago Beef, Matt’s Burger Lab, and Uncle Tony’s. New arrivals Benny’s Barbecue, Henry’s, Larry’s Folly and just moved in Larry’s Back Pocket, with soon-to-arrive Milos, prove that men’s given names work just as well.
Psst. It’s not the end of this recent uptick in female energy. Not by a long shot. In fact, the feminine touch on restaurant signs, plates napkins and matchbooks is in full force right now with newly opened Lucie, Maxime’s and Miss Aida, and forthcoming Abrielle, Aleria, Alice and Cafe Renée next in the queue.
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