CELEBRATING CIDER

Newly opened restaurant boasts more than 100 types of the drink

At Her Father’s Cider, Canada’s first cider restaurant, it’s fun to read the chalkboard.

It contains a long list of cider brands there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of (Twin Pines, Thornbury, Spirit Tree) in flavours (pear, Pinot Noir, Thai ginger) you had no idea could come in a cider.

Ontario is a leader in this fast-growing potable category, though the beverage is still under many drinkers’ radar.

But that won’t be the case for long if Joshua Mott has his way.

His parents bought a 50-acre farm near Kimberley, Ont., 20 years ago, growing apples on seven of those acres. They started making cider, which has a long tradition in this province.

When they launched Beaver Valley Orchard and Cidery four years ago, he helped them out.

But with his parents on top of the nuances of the work, Mott needed more. So the Toronto native, who has also worked in restaurants for years, launched this place.

After a year of hunting, he found this location on Harbord St. near Spadina Ave., formerly Loire. Eighty years ago, the spot was a market called Harbord Fish, and the initials “H.F.” are still embedded in the roughed-up terrazzo floor in the building’s tiny vestibule. Hence, the new name.

Mott brought on chef Ryan Barclay, of The Grove and Splendido, to create a menu that would work well with the 100-plus ciders available here.

One dish, the popular Cod + Cider, features the beverage right in the meal, while the rest simply have a farm-fresh vibe, such as blueberry salad, fried chicken and a devilled egg that’s rumoured to be ridiculously good. (Mott insisted the menu not get too “silly” with cider infusion.)

This range of dishes goes well with cider, which Mott considers “an incredibly versatile beverage.”

Customers are already coming out to this one-of-a-kind spot for brunch, lunch and dinner.

Mott says customers are getting inspired by the food. They may also enjoy the big, bright windows on this always-charming stretch of Harbord.

And they might as well get a taste of what could be Ontario’s emerging beverage trend.

This range of dishes goes well with cider, which Mott considers “an incredibly versatile beverage”

RICHARD LAUTENS/TORONTO STAR Owner Joshua Mott hangs out by his cider fridge. Her Father’s Cider Bar + Kitchen has been open for five weeks on Harbord near Spadina. Many people come for the large selection of ciders but are also impressed by the food.