After Cory Vitiello left his swish neighbourhood restaurants (the Harbord Room and THR & Co.) for a group of fast-casual, daytime counters (Flock) in 2016, his work schedule gave him time to eat at home. “My cooking went from catering to restaurant clients six nights a week to cooking the food I love at home for my family,” he says. “I got very much into dinner parties, no surprise.”
Two years after meeting his partner Martina Sorbara, their son Barlow was born. “We changed our dining habits based around what we know he would eat,” he says. “We’re not making ourselves steaks. He loves fish and pasta.” They also order Uber Eats twice a week when their schedules are busy. “Barlow is a huge fan of green fish curry from Sukhothai.”
Late last year, the family moved into a renovated coach house near High Park with a large open kitchen designed by Sorbara’s sister, Ginger, an interior designer.
When it comes to dining, Sorbara and Vitiello enjoy stand-up meals around their island. When he got old enough, Barlow ditched his high chair for a step stool so he can eat with his parents. “He’s very confident, standing on his little step stool. He likes being part of the real action, eating with us.”
While the addition of Barlow has changed Vitiello and Sorbara’s routine, they still find the flexibility to entertain. “We invite people over a lot more than we’re going out now,” Vitiello explains. “We wait until he goes to bed at seven o’clock, and then as long as we’re being relatively quiet, we have friends over from eight o’clock onwards.”
Cory Vitiello, Martina Sorbara and Barlow
Restaurateur (Flock), singer (Dragonette) and their son
1. Sorbara, an experienced ceramicist, hand- made these bowls and platters at a studio in Chinatown. They use them every day instead of keeping them hidden away.
2. Vitiello is a fan of induction cooking for aesthetics, easy cleanup and accurate control over temperature and hotspots. “A big thing as well with kids is that there aren’t white hot burners so it’s cooler to the touch.”
Gabby Frank
3. The family often dines casually standing around their kitchen island so Barlow uses this step stool to reach counter-height.
4. This panel hides appliances like a toaster and coffee maker. A sliding drawer is soon being delivered to make access easier.
Gabby Frank
5. These built-in cabinets were originally designed as a bar but Sorbara and Vitiello now use them as a pantry.
Gabby Frank
