DINNER, DECONSTRUCTED

Forget the stereotype of pretentious independent cafes. At all five Sam James Coffee Bar locations, high quality coffee is served in a fuss-free environment. Exceptionally sourced beans come from Sam James’s own roaster Cut Coffee, a small and focused roa

COFFEE IS THE MOST COMMONLY CONSUMED BEVERAGE IN CANADA (FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY WATER), WITH 71 PER CENT OF CANADIANS AGED 18-70 HAVING DRANK A CUP YESTERDAY, ACCORDING TO THE COFFEE ASSOCIATION OF CANADA.

1 CANADA: LA POUTINE WEEK

Restaurants across Canada and the United States celebrate Canada’s signature street food with limited edition poutine dishes at La Poutine Week. February 1–7. For a list of participating restaurants visit lapoutineweek.com

2 CANADA: MCDONALD’S 2025

In an effort to improve packaging and reduce waste, McDonald’s promises to use packaging made exclusively from renewable and recycled sources by 2025.

3 CANADA: 7REWARDS

7- Eleven expands its 7Rewards loyalty program to include nearly all 7- Eleven transactions. The new points can be used towards free food and drinks.

4 TORONTO: WINTERLICIOUS

Over 200 of Toronto’s top restaurants prepare discounted set menus at the city’s premiere prix fixe food event. Don’t miss the affordable French tasting menus at Café Boulud and Bosk. January 26– February 8.

5 MONTREAL: KRAFT DINNER PARTY

Taverne Cobra hosts a Kraft Dinner Party with unlimited mac and cheese, plus a raffle to win a year’s supply of Kraft Dinner. February 1. 6584 Boul. St. Laurent.

6 YELLOW CARD: FRESHII VS SUBWAY

Canadian Freshii Founder and CEO Matthew Corrin penned his second open letter to Subway restaurants last week. In the latter, Corrin requests to “convert select Subway stores to Freshii restaurants,” claiming that the merger will “allow Freshii and Subway to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.” The sandwich chain closed 900 restaurants in the United States last year, and the store’s traffic has been falling steadily for five years.

Made with equal parts espresso and gently steamed milk, the pintsized Cortado is reminiscent of a mini latte. Featuring a rotation of single origin coffees from Colombia, Rwanda and Ethiopia, drip coffee is brewed with a rigid water- to- bean ratio of 17: 1. The measurement ensures each brew is strong and satisfying without being overpowering. Cut Coffee’s signature Butter Knife Espresso is made from a blend of rich and nutty Brazilian beans and fruity and acidic Guatemalan beans. The resulting espresso explodes with peanut butter and jelly flavour. All good coffee starts with freshly ground beans. At Sam James, an EK43 Coffee Grinder is used to grind each batch of coffee beans. The high-powered grinder separates beans into precisely even particles, allowing for better flavour extraction in every cup. Cappuccinos are served at a warm, sultry temperature that renders them immediately drinkable.