This Week in Food rounds up the week's food news, restaurants openings and closings, chef movements and upcoming food events in Toronto. Find us here every Friday morning.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

• Chef Justin Cournoyer's new restaurant Actinolite (971 Ossington Avenue) opened to the public earlier this week. He is serving up a menu with Spanish, Portuguese and Italian influences.
• Mabel's Bakery (323 Roncesvalles Avenue) is expanding with a new location coming to 1156 Queen Street West.
• Leaside gets a new French bistro in the form of L'Avenue (1568 Bayview Avenue), run by Otto Zapotocky, formerly of Nota Bene and Malena/L'Unita.
• The Mill Street Airport Pub opened earlier this week at Pearson's Terminal 1.
• Queen and Spadina gets a chippie. The Big Fish has opened at 406 Queen Street West with a variety of fish dishes including chowder, sandwiches and more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Chef Doug McNish launches his new cookbook on Saturday, March 31st at Eco-Existence (766 St. Clair Avenue West). McNish will be signing copies of Eat Raw, Eat Well from noon - 1pm.
• This Saturday, March 31st, Te Aro (983 Queen Street East) and Fidel Gastro's pair up for another espresso/sandwich throwdown. $10 at the door gets you free coffee and beer for the evening and sandwiches will go for $7 each with a portion of the sales going to a kids-related charity.
• Southern Accent (595 Markham Street) hosts a Sugar Bob Hoedown on their patio on Friday, April 6th from 6pm - 10pm where they'll be offering maple-infused food and drinks plus live Cajun music.

CHEFS

• Basilio Pesce of Oliver & Bonacini has left Biff's Bistro (4 Front Street East) to open his own restaurant in Parkdale.
• Matt DeMille will be leaving Enoteca Sociale (1288 Dundas Street West) at the end of April. No word yet on who will replace him.

OTHER NEWS

• Starting April 6th, Beast (96 Tecumseth Street) will be offering a Friday sandwich deal. Chef Scott Vivian will be offering meat or vegetarian sandwiches with a side dish and dessert for $10, with the idea that each week will feature the flavours of a different country. Available as take-out only.
• The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) has revived their annual sugar shack on the Skyyard patio with a maple-infused menu of snacks and cocktails.
• Happy Anniversary to Centro (2472 Yonge Street), the restaurant celebrates 25 years in business this year. Plans are in the works for a blow-out party in November - get yourself on the mailing list.
• Cardinal Rule (5 Roncesvalles Avenue) unveils their new expanded menu today. They're also planning on being open for brunch on Good Friday (April 6th).

Sheryl Kirby is a food writer and editor. Her musings about the Toronto food and restaurant scene can be found on her website SherylKirby.com

Photo by Dan Cronin