Temperatures are dropping by the minute and it's making it harder and harder to head outside, and easier and easier to binge-watch Netflix and wait for Spring to arrive (just us?). Fear not though, we've found six tasty dishes you can get your hands on in the city that will serve as your (metaphoric) lights at the end of the tunnel. Some spicy, some hearty but they all have one thing in common - they are just what the doctor ordered to beat the cold. Tuck in.
If you can convince a few friends to brave the weather with you, head to Barsa Taberna for their paella. This hearty gem is a staple item on the restaurants newly-revamped menu, one focused on elevating itself past traditional Spanish tapas. The paella has Catalonian influence with a daring combination of rabbit, snail and leeks, all served up in large sharing bowl. Come hungry, it's huge.
As far as comfort food goes, you can't go wrong with a healthy serving of mac and cheese. This one from Southern BBQ joint Uncle Smoke blends three cheeses for an extra creamy consistency and is then topped with cornbread crumbs. If you want to turn the heat up a bit, get the mac and cheese on the side of one of their hot sandwiches or add in a dose of one of their speciality hot sauces, created by Uncle Smoke himself.
The cold doesn't quit when the sun comes up, and neither does that headache that is the result of your choices the night before. No matter how bad you feel, or how cold it is outside, your efforts to get to Fonda Lola's, a funky little Mexican cantina on Queen West, will be rewarded in the form of their Hangover Chilaquiles. Hot salsa roja soaked house-made tortilla chips are topped with jalapenos, crema, oaxaca cheese, and a fried egg and served with a side of refried beans. Ah, just what the Doctor ordered.
This low and slow (and cleverly named) lamb shank stew is a new addition to the Taiwanese restaurants menu and will do a fine job of warming you to the core. Served on top of a small flame-heated stove, the seasonal vegetables and mix of ten spices will get your blood flowing like no other. We have a feeling Rev. Run would approve.
Josh Tenn-Yuk, thesix.co
It's hard to have a winter warmers list and not include a classic French Onion Soup. Found everywhere in cafés in Paris to après Ski haunts in Val-d'Isère, the French have always depended on it in the winter. Across the pond, Bloor Street hotspot La Société make one of the best. They use veal and onion broth topped with a healthy portion of Compte cheese. Ooey Gooey and delicious.
The Chase Group's two storey Japanese joint in Yorkville serves up plenty of traditional Japanese sushi and sashimi, but the real winners are their noodle dishes. This one, a blend of spicy braised pork, miso cured cream cheese & dashi atop a bed of udon noodles is a hearty cure for the cold. While the restaurant has an impressive cocktail list (as all Chase Group restaurants do) we suggest grabbing a glass of their Izumi draft sake to pair with it.
