Eataly Is Coming to Canada

— The Globe and Mail reports today, after months, if not years, of speculation, that Eataly is finally poised to launch its first emporium in Canada. The global Italian food hall and stockist of upmarket goods and merchandise will open a megastore in Toronto next year; a result of a partnership between the billionaire Weston family (Loblaw, Holt Renfrew, Shoppers Drug Mart), and Oscar Farinetti, Eataly’s founder, co-owner, and chairman. "It’s coming for sure," Farinetti recently told an audience at the American University of Rome. The Weston family has yet to comment or elaborate, but it seems likely that the Toronto Eataly will be located in the city's affluent Yorkville neighbourhood, close to Holt Renfrew.

Eataly New York, of course, is famously co-owned by Mario Batali, Lidia Bastianich, and Joe Bastianich. The biggest Eataly outpost is in Rome, and there are others in Chicago, Milan, Munich, São Paulo, Tokyo, and beyond. As for what the move portends for Montreal, it's been rumoured for some time that a smaller Eataly could eventually materialize in the fabled downtown Ogilvy store, which merged with Holt Renfrew in 2014. Time will tell, then, if a successful Eataly Toronto paves the way for an Eataly Montreal.

— Terrasse season is almost upon us, and a bunch of Montreal restaurants with outdoor spaces are gearing up for warmer weather. Case in point, QDC Burger, the back alley burger bar attached to downtown's La Queue de Cheval steakhouse, which opens today.

— After some intense lobbying, Pointe-Saint-Charles pub Chez Dallaire has earned its patio permit from the Sud-Ouest borough. The Wellington street bar hopes to inaugurate its terrasse by early May.

— One of the city's ritziest terrasses returns tomorrow when Griffintown's Le Richmond hosts its first outdoor Thursday 5 à 7 of the year.

— Enjoy 25% off any menu item today at Rosemont's Das Bier, in honour of the 420 cannabis culture holiday.

— How about this late night deal from Mile End's critical darling Lili Co.: after 10 p.m., eat for $17.

— Sommelière Élyse Lambert just wrapped up an impressive showing at the World's Best Sommelier Contest in Mendoza, Argentina. The 2015 winner of the Best Sommelier in Canada competition has been blogging her experience on her official website.

How to Make Lidia Bastianich's Gnocchi at Home