Deadpool
Parkdale's Cowbell enters the deadpool
The first time I ate at Cowbell was something of a watershed moment--newly emerged from a stint of my intermittent vegetarianism, I feasted on charcuterie and gave nose to tail dining a shot, and found it delicious enough to keep me chowing down on bone marrow for a good long while. So, it's with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to Mark Cutrara's Parkdale restaurant, which closed down this past Saturday.
After six years of carnivore-appropriate dishes marked by locally-sourced ingredients and expert butchery, Cutrara posted the following message on the restaurant's door:
To my valued customers, neighbours and friends,
Over the past six years, it has been a great honour to be part of the Parkdale community. I'm proud to have served you the best of what Ontario has to offer, helping to introduce locally sourced, quality produce, and nose-to-tail dining to the city's tables. However, it is with great sadness that I must announce Cowbell has closed as of February 2.
I would like to give my sincerest thanks to all Cowbell staff past and present. It is because of them that we have earned the loyalty and appreciation of so many wonderful customers. I cherish the legacy that Cowbell leaves behind, and look forward to what they will bring to the food community of this fine city.
Cheers, and eat well,
Mark Cutrara
According to an interview with the Grid, Cowbell has apparently fallen on some hard financial times in recent months, above and beyond Toronto's tendency to forgo dinners out during the deep chill of winter. Cutrara isn't bowing out of the chef game entirely, though, saying he plans to continue his work with The Group of Seven Chefs, although he's no longer involved with the highly-anticipated Samuel J. Moore inside the Great Hall. The Grid says that Cutrara is currently reviewing new tenant applications for the space, so here's hoping he'll continue Cowbell's legacy with another hot dining spot. It's a tough playing field, guys.
Photo courtesy of Cowbell
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This was a great place to eat. One of my favourites! Went there multiple times with guests. Great staff! Excellent food!
But, as the author noted, I'm one those who chooses not to go out as much. Sorry, Cowbell, for not supporting you more.
But, at the end of the day, I have loads more money that I can actually put to better use: purchasing investments that actually make me money.
When I go in a restaruant all I want to do is eat good food, have a drink or 2, pay my bill and leave, hopefully satisfied.
I shouldnt have to worry about what is going on internally that would cause the food and service to decline.
Go back to where you came from! This comment section is only for serious discussions.
Way to get sucked into that huge battle of wits, Moneesha.
I wouldn't play the innocent one here.
I wish I could have the ability to erase any bad comments that people make about the things I agree with.
That I call corruption, favoritism and not playing fare.
Take the BAD comments BlogTO! and do something, BlogTO really sucks! and it represents the sad/unsatisfied portion of the people in Toronto.
..and here I am reading all these stupidity, gosh! go figure.