This Week in Food: Weslodge Saloon, Kanji Sushi, Riverside Public House, Beer Fest, Whole Hog Butchery, Texas vs. Tennessee BBQ Throwdown

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

• Weslodge Saloon is now open for business at 478 King Street West.
• Kanji Sushi at 1346 Queen Street West is now open, offering sushi alongside cocktails in a sleek, wood-heavy space.
• Riverside Public House at 725 Queen Street East is open for dinner now in advance of its August 9th grand opening, when it will roll out a full menu including brunch, lunch and late-night nibbles.
• Smoke BBQ House is hoping to bring traditional southern-style barbeque to 536 Manning Avenue when it opens in September.
• The Burger's Priest is looking to open a west-end location in the King and Spadina area - possibly before the end of this year.

UPCOMING EVENTS


• As previously reported, the 18th Annual Toronto's Festival of Beer takes place this weekend, July 27th-29th at Bandshell Park. The Festival Grilling Tent boasts a pretty awesome line-up including Rodney Bowers (Hey Meatball), Matt Dean Pettit (Rock Lobster Co.) and Noah Goldenberg (The Feasting Room), to name just a few.
• Sausage Partners (1378 Queen Street East) presents a class in Whole Hog Butchery on Saturday, July 28th from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Chef and butcher Kyle Demming demonstrates how to break down the beast from primal cuts to portions, chops and roasts. The class is $95 per person.
• The Stop's Beer Garden presents beer by Muskoka Cottage Brewery and food from Vijaya & Krishna's Indian Cuisine this Sunday, July 29th from 1pm to 5pm at the Green Barn (601 Christie Street).
• Beast Restaurant (96 Tecumseth Street) hosts Eat the City Dinner on Tuesday, 29th inspired by Robin Shulman's book of the same name. Tickets are $50 for this all-Toronto meal, sourced from ingredients foraged, raised and fermented locally.
• Group Of 7 Chefs host a Fish and Beer Dinner at Bellwoods Brewery (124 Ossington Avenue) on Monday, July 30th. Tickets are $75.
• Ese pops-up on Thursday, August 2nd for a screening of Hysteria at the Open Roof Festival held at the Amsterdam Brewery (21 Bathurst Street).
• Reserve your seat now for a Texas vs. Tennessee BBQ Throwdown presented by DK Kitchen and the Rusholme Park Supper Club on Saturday, August 11th at 7:30pm.

OTHER NEWS


• The Depanneur has introduced a Tasting Menu, offering an ever-changing selection of $3 servings. This week, offerings include a spicy carrot salad with feta and grilled Ontario plums with honeyed ricotta.
• Via Norte Restaurant at 938 College Street is closed for renovations until Monday, September 3rd.

Photo courtesy of Kanji Sushi