Chorney-Sales space: Monogram Espresso and chef Matthias Fong get comfy with Main Colors

Article content material

One of many extra fascinating meals developments of the previous few years has been high-quality eating cooks making the transfer towards extra informal eating places. For some, this implies shifting out of fancy eating places to begin a burger or fried rooster joint. For others, it’s about simply making good, healthful meals in a extra relaxed setting. Matthias Fong, who acquired large accolades throughout his time heading up the kitchen at River Café, has chosen the latter choice with Main Colors, a brand new restaurant he’s created in partnership with the crew behind Monogram Espresso.

Article content material

Main Colors is in Britannia, within the nook spot beside the present Monogram, beforehand occupied by The Elbow Room. The idea performs up the collective strengths of Fong, the Monogram crew, and celebrity pastry cooks Kevin Yang and Larissa Costella. There’s a espresso counter on the entrance and a big open kitchen in the course of the room, with the aroma of espresso, contemporary cultured butter croissants, and charcoal grilled meats alternately wafting across the comfortably stylish eating space. Nothing comes off as being overly formal and the cheery ambiance and palpable feeling that everybody concerned very a lot needs to be there belies the truth that all of them take what they’re doing severely.

Article content material

“We needed a neighborhood spot the place you can are available and it could really feel extra like a restaurant than a restaurant,” says Jeremy Ho, a associate in each Main Colors and Monogram Espresso. “However every little thing is completed to the extent that Matthias is understood for. We wish to carry folks in to take pleasure in this neighborhood house, however the meals will exceed their expectations as a result of each part is so purposefully made.”

Article content material

Article content material

Fong is among the most gifted cooks within the metropolis and whereas Main Colors provides him an opportunity to be a bit extra relaxed, he places unimaginable care into his kitchen, his plating, and maybe most significantly, his elements, all of that are contemporary, rigorously sourced, or constituted of scratch. Primarily Colors has two service intervals: every day brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. onward, with the espresso counter, grab-and-go, and cafe seating open from opening to five p.m.

The brunch is a showcase of each the bakery aspect of the gleaming open kitchen and Fong’s approach and philosophy – virtually every little thing is do-it-yourself from the home preserves and butter served with sourdough toast constituted of a starter Fong has been nurturing for years ($5) to the ultra-thick contemporary yogurt with sumac honey and cubes of apple ($13). Brunch is rounded out with fantastically introduced dishes like a nori-rolled omelette filled with shrimp ($22) and savoury French toast with a mushroom and brie filling ($21).

Article content material

There’s a gravity to the brunch (Fong doesn’t name it in by any means), however dinner is the place the kitchen actually will get to interrupt out its showpiece charcoal grill, with its fireplace continuously flickering behind the counter. There are some pretty hefty primary proteins, like a 28-day, dry-aged pork with salted shrimp gravy and apple kimchi ($48), koji-marinated half-chicken ($36) and, for a vegetarian choice, lion’s mane mushroom steak with onion cream ($32). It could be simply as rewarding to place collectively a meal of share plates, together with Fong’s signature crispy ginger beets ($13), ember-baked oysters ($7 every) and charred squash ravioli ($15) or to go along with a house-ground burger ($22) or plate of hand-cut linguine ($23). The purpose is, there’s one thing for everybody, be it a espresso and a pastry or an opulent multi-course meal.

Article content material

“High quality eating is about particulars of service, and we needed this to be extra about consolation,” Fong says. “However the meals doesn’t should be easy. We do loads of dry-aging and curing and make issues in-house, which is one thing I’m actually captivated with. You’ll be able to come right here and style all of these high-quality elements with out having to get suited up for an important day.”

Main Colors’ choose-your-own-adventure ethos is prolonged to its drink menu. There may be, after all, glorious espresso (with the choice of a house-made “Baileys”), contemporary seasonal juices made with Okanagan fruit, day-drinking-appropriate cocktails, and a pleasant choice of Canadian beer and wine. And, as a result of this a spot for the entire neighborhood, there’s even a children’ menu for youthful diners.

Article content material

Main Colors is positioned at 802 forty ninth Ave. S.W. and may be reached at 403-764-2607 or via primarycolours.cafe. The restaurant is open every day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

***

In different meals information, clients of native grocery supply service Spud can anticipate to see a unique emblem on their deliveries – the service simply went underwent a rebrand, dropping the “.ca” from its title and going with a cleaner extra trendy look. Spud has, unbelievably, been round for 25 years, and now works with over 600 native farmers and distributors. It’s not nearly getting farm contemporary veg which might truly are available at decrease costs than you’ll discover within the grocery retailer. The corporate additionally sells every little thing from fancy candles to pure magnificence merchandise, all as a licensed B company. If you happen to’re not already on the Spud bandwagon, join supply at spud.ca.

Elizabeth Chorney-Sales space may be reached at [email protected]. Observe her on Instagram at @elizabooth.