> RESTAURANT NEWS
Openings
It lacks vowels, but American steakhouse chain STK promises “a female-friendly” experience when it opens next year at 155 Yorkville Ave. in the Yorkville Plaza condo. The 8,880-square-foot space will have a central bar and live DJ music every night.
Paramount Fine Foods has opened Mideast sandwich shop Fresh East at 334 Yonge St. with chicken shawarma subs ($5.79) and stuffed pitas.
Closings
Bushi Udon Kappo has temporarily closed at 1404 Yonge St. but eight-year-old Cocina Lucero at 523 Yonge St. will permanently shut Sept. 12 as the site is turned into condos. Sister restaurant La Mexi
cana is open at 3337 Bathurst St.
Changes
Chef Chris Kalisperas (ex-The Forth) and pastry chef Cora James (ex-Momofuku Dessert Bar) have joined Mamakas Taverna at 80 Ossington Ave. Kalisperas has introduced grilled octopus with Santorini favas, capers, pickled onion and smoked paprika ($20) while James launches her desserts — including chocolate pâté with goat milk ice cream — next week.
Events
Ernesto Rodriguez named Fonda
Lola in part for his Mexican grandmother. Her recipes will be served August 26 and 27, when Rodriguez’s mother, Virginia, cooks an eightcourse menu. Tickets for the 6 and 8:30 p.m. seatings are $40 on Eventbrite. Meanwhile, partner Andres Marquez has left the restaurant to work on a new project.
Alex Molitz (ex-Geraldine) cooks his final Toronto dinner Aug. 27 at
Café Bar Pasta before he leaves to work in the British Virgin Islands. The 5 p.m. a la carte event at 1588 Dundas St. W. includes melon carpaccio, pounded rib-eye and hamachi crudo, all between $10 and $30.