top of page

EATING OUTSIDE: LITERALLY

  • Writer: Clarke Wallace
    Clarke Wallace
  • Nov 15, 2020
  • 2 min read

It was a whim that took us into Toronto several Saturday nights ago. We dressed up warm in heavy sweaters and jackets to eat outside. Right outside. Nothing overhead but streetlamps, hydro wires and a dark sky.


We had reservations at a French restaurant on Bedford, a narrow side street off Avenue Road, one of Toronto’s main arteries. There were several canopies over larger tables. Ours, a table for two, beside a low planter with a small tree growing out of it.


A waiter set a propane tank and heating unit to give us much needed warmth. We were a few strides away from the city sidewalk.


With the Covid-19 screwing up everything, restaurants like Le Paradis can only serve customers willing to eat outside, leaving space for pedestrians to pass by and cars parked close to the curb.


It was one of those evenings that sticks with you. What could be better than starting with Vodka martinis, waiters coming the sidewalk to serve food.

I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention what we ate for a dinner. It began with steamy butternut squash soup, beets & goat cheese salad. A side order of cremini & oyster mushrooms covered with fresh herbs & garlic butter. The main course: Roe ordered beef flatiron with peppercorn sauce & frites. I couldn’t resist the ‘Cuisse de canard’ a duck leg confit, smothered in a cherry sauce.


Author’s comment: The two hours plus can only say that sitting outside with cars driving by, the darkness of the night broken by streetlights, waiters hustling food out to neighboring tables made for a delightful evening. Specially these days with the pandemic keeping us off-kilter. It's a welcome relief.






 
 
 

Recent Posts

See All
LOSING SLEEP?

I picked up a back issue of the Toronto Star in my keep for reading' pile under my desk - I don't always get around to attacking it -...

 
 
 
KING OF...CANADA

Are you kidding? King of Canada? We're a sovereign nation according to Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus . A supreme Dominion. Which...

 
 
 
just do it...

While you still can. Friends and family seem to be dying off these days. Not all at once. One at a time. It's unsettling in the least....

 
 
 

Comments


The official website of Author Clarke Wallace

© 2019 Clarke Wallace. All rights reserved.

  • White Twitter Icon
  • White Facebook Icon
  • White Instagram Icon

CW

bottom of page