It takes a little luck and a lot of talent to be able to go the distance in the Top Chef Canada kitchen, and while the former remains to be revealed once the Canadian culinary competition kicks off tonight, Toronto-based chef Martine Bauer has the latter in spades.
After studying French cuisine in her home country of Mauritius, Bauer went on to hone her craft at Michelin-starred restaurants Le Royal Monceau and Le Cuisine Restaurant in Paris, before becoming the head of the French Prime Minister’s kitchen at Matignon.
Chef Bauer later relocated to Toronto and in the spring of 2020, she opened Pompette, where she now serves up an innovative blend of classic French cuisine and contemporary Torontonian fare.
With the new season of Top Chef Canada getting underway tonight, we decided it would be a great time to chat with chef Bauer about her favourite food and drink spots in her home base of Toronto.
Breakfast
I don’t usually eat breakfast, it’s a bad habit I guess. But I will sometimes stop by Hamers Coffee on Dundas Street for a breakfast “sando” and a cortado, or Blackcat Coffee on College Street for their famous eggs and bacon muffin, or sometimes Mildred’s Temple Kitchen for their delicious pancakes.
Lunch
I will go often for Ramen Isshin on College Street. My favourite is the Shoyu Ramen. Or for a faster lunch, I’ll go to PG Cluck's for their fried chicken burger or Rudy’s for their classic cheeseburger. They are both close to my restaurant, so very convenient.
Dinner
For a quick dinner with the kids when I am lazy after a long day at work, I will pick Fonda Balam. It’s delicious Mexican food. My favourite dish is the Quesabiria con consomé. I’ll go to Imanishi or Milou for a dinner with some friends, and if I want to have a girls night with my daughter, we go to Omai for their Temaki. For A fancy dinner, I love going to Yasu or Actinolite.
Drinks
Definitely Civil Liberties. They don’t have a menu, but they are great for classics and more personalized drinks. I also love going to Little Jerry for a late glass of wine and Gift Shop Cocktail Bar for a cute and cozy spot.
Watch: Top Chef Canada Season 10 Trailer
Top Chef Canada X premieres on September 26 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada.
