Hyped-up tipples to make the wallet wince
From $3 caramels to $1,000 cocktails, you can dine like a star during the film fest
To dine like a TIFF celebrity, it helps to be paid like one.
Pricey caviar, rare cognac and a pop-up Champagne bar are among the luxuries downtown hotels and restaurants are offering the public during the 10-day film festival.
The Shangri-La on University Ave. has a $600 cocktail called the Director’s Cut, one of six drinks the hotel designed for TIFF.
The drink is based on Rémy Martin Louis XIII cognac, $4,200 for a 750 mL bottle at the LCBO. It includes a souvenir Baccarat crystal flute that retails online for $365. Champagne, honey, thyme, lemon juice — and a splash of hype — round out the ingredients.
“Hoping some big deals get made at the festival, so people can toast their success with a great cocktail,” a Shangri-La spokeswoman says in an email, noting the drink is $200 without the keepsake red flute.
The hotel expects “high-profile film executives, agents, producers and A-list talent” to order it. Or “anyone who has an appreciation for fine cognac, Baccarat crystal or would like a special memento to remember the festival.”
At $600, the Director’s Cut isn’t even the most expensive TIFF cocktail this year.
That honour goes to the $1,000 extravaganza at Mister C in the Bisha Hotel on Blue Jays Way.
Mister C’s Crown Jewel, as the drink is called, also uses Louis XIII cognac, which mixologist Nishan Nepulongoda blends with truffle-infused Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire, Braulio Amaro Alpinoand house-made bitters. A ma
ple marshmallow garnish is ignited then doused with orangeblossom water for what the hotel calls “a full sensory experience.”
The cocktail also comes with food: foie gras terrine, Osetra caviar, and potato pancakes.
“We hope to have visiting celebrities order our cocktail,” a spokesperson says.
In comparison, the $13 Ruby Slipper at the Thompson Toronto on Wellington St. W. seems like a bargain.
The non-alcoholic Ruby Slipper is one of three drinks the hotel links to specific TIFF films. It’s inspired by the Judy Garland biopic Judy with Renée Zellweger and mixes Seedlip Spice 94 from the U.K. with raspberry syrup, lemon juice, and mint. The Happy Face absinthe martini ($18) is meant to evoke Robert De Niro’s role in Joker, while the Perfect Lap ($18) references the Matt DamonChristian Bale racing film Ford v Ferrari with its mix of American bourbon, Italian bitters and caramel.
At the Ritz-Carlton on Wellington St. W., this year’s TIFF offerings include a $225 Champagne-and-oyster snack on the DEQ patio to let you “eat and drink like an A-list celebrity,” the hotel says.
There is also the year-round Mezcal Mule ($22), a gingery cocktail with a Hollywood connection — it’s made with mescal from Casamigos, the distillery George Clooney co-founded and sold for $700 million US.
(Be warned: The spirit’s characteristic smoky taste and oily mouth feel is like licking the floor of a Mexican auto body shop. In a good way.)
The St. Regis Hotel on Bay St. is bringing its A-list game to its first TIFF with a pop-up Moet & Chandon/Dom Pérignon Champagne bar in the lobby. Drinks like a lemony Kir Royale run $22 to $25.
The hotel, which opened last November, is also home to the Hollywood Reporter celebrity portrait studio. Members of the public can have their portrait taken for free in the lobby daily from 6 to 9 p.m. until Sept. 9. Just don’t be surprised to see a star wander by.
“We have a secret VIP entrance, but (stars) love to engage with fans. Toronto’s not an aggressive city. The talent likes coming here,” says St. Regis marketing manager Alex Marconi, who previously worked at the celebrity destination Four Seasons Hotel.
At vegan restaurant Planta, “a number” of celebrities are making reservations — without aliases.
“Sometimes their agents call in for them, but honestly, our head office concierge/reservation team receives a lot of calls from movie stars and sports celebs themselves. They’re straight in giving their real names. Maybe because it’s Toronto,” spokesperson Laura Schwartz says in an email to the Star.
While the Queen St. W. location doesn’t have specific TIFF offerings, chef David Lee excels at turning plants into delicious Asian fare. Glazed eggplant nicely subs in for barbecued eel in nigiri ($5.25). The mushroom-stuffed inari tofu pockets ($5.25) are amongst the best in town. And who needs chicken when you’ve got General Lee’s spicy cauliflower ($15.25)?
Then there are the star sightings. At Planta Queen, “we’ve seen celebrities sit throughout the entire restaurant,” says Schwartz, who also sees stars at sister restaurants Planta, Kasa Moto and The Chase.
“Honestly, I can’t think of any issues with celebs and guests bothering them. The celebs have been very gracious to pose for photos when asked. We haven’t encountered anything crazy.”
The best TIFF dining option may be the smallest: The $3 salted caramel truffle from French Made.
The ground-floor café inside Bisha Hotel has a “Now Playing” menu that includes a $12 Aperol-and-prosecco cocktail named for TIFF world premiere film Jojo Rabbit.
What should do boffo box office during the festival are French Made’s grab-and-go snacks. (Out of respect for fellow moviegoers, please unwrap the cellophane before entering the theatre.)
Red Carpet Bark ($10) uses ruby chocolate, a newish and naturally pink variety very close in taste to white chocolate. Iconink corporate head chef Morgan Bellis studs it with dried sour cherries and dusts it with sea salt and chili powder for a triple flavour hit.
There are delightfully squishy London Fog marshmallows ($6) infused with Earl Grey tea; the bergamot really comes through. Chocolate-coated corn nuts ($7) are more sophisticated than the usual theatre candy.
But if TIFF had a food category in its People’s Choice award, the fleur de sel caramels would be in contention.
Each dark chocolate shell holds runny caramel tamed by sea salt. Pop them whole into your mouth for a rush of pleasure.
A movie star couldn’t enjoy it more.