Joe Beef Opening Figure John Bil Dies Aged 49

TORONTO — Seafood savant and owner of Toronto restaurant Honest Weight John Bil died yesterday aged 49. After years bouncing around, Bil became fundamentally a Toronto restaurateur but worked closely with two key Montreal dining institutions in the 2000s. Bil worked closely on the opening of Joe Beef in 2005, and later was recruited by Martin Picard to manage the Cabane à Sucre Au Pied de Cochon, the restaurateur’s sugar shack some 45 minutes from Montreal. He also worked closely with Montrealer-turned-New Yorker Hugue Dufour to open NYC’s M. Wells Steakhouse. Bil was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and died peacefully at home. [Toronto Star]

OLD MONTREAL — Slovenian chef Ana Ros, named the top woman chef in the world by the organization behind The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, is hosting a series of events including a talk and a culinary demonstration at Montreal’s Phi Centre in early February. Quebec icon Colombe St-Pierre of restaurant Chez St-Pierre in Rimouski is also involved — more details on the event space’s website.

PLATEAU — Remember last year’s fuss over the Quebec government encouraging customer service staff to not use the bilingual phrase “Bonjour Hi”? Plateau and Mile End café Névé has cheekily inserted itself into the discussion with branded Bonjour Hi coffee mugs.

OUTREMONT — Bernard Avenue Italian restaurant Le Petit Italien is set to be revived under one of its original owners, and two other experienced restaurateurs from the neighbourhood. Not much else can be said right now, but it’s looking promising.

PLATEAU — Nouveau-Jewish spot Fletchers is running a Klezmer brunch once a month, featuring Klezmer musicians alongside Kat Romanow’s brunch dishes, which include shakshuka, a za’atar breakfast sandwich, and chocolate babka french toast. The next two are February 18 and March 11. The café is also running regular brunch on many other Sundays.

• Toronto restaurateur John Bil dies at 49 [The Star]
• Don’t say ‘hi’: Quebec passes motion for French-only shop greeting [CTV]
• En conversation: Ana Roš [Phi Centre]