James Chatto's Best of list for 2005
Some of you were speculating on his list. Got the magazine on Thursday. Chatto did not do a "Top 10" list like he has in previous years. If you get the magazine you can also see the honorable mentions in each category. For everyone's convenience here's the list of winners:
General categories...
Best overall: Splendido
Best tasting menu: Scaramouche
Best new restaurant: Luce, Square, George (3 way tie)
Best for special occasions: Canoe
Best casual: Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar
Specialized categories...
Bistro: Pastis Express
Chinese: City Inn
French: The Fifth
Big Italian: Via Allegro
Little Italian: Il Mulino
Pastry chef: Robert Gonsalves at Luce and Rain
Sommelier: Kim Cyr at George
Japanese: Sushi Kaji
Best-kept secret: Lago
Lunch: Gallery Grill
Portuguese: Chiado
Resturant bar: Starfish
Server: Kerry Dunn at Auberge du Pommier
TexSquared
Mar 19, 2005 10:51AM
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A few weeks ago, a fellow chowhound from San Francisco was asking for Toronto restaurant recommendations. A posting recommending Splendido was rudely rebuked by "Tree" who claimed that the 3 star michelin trained David Lee is no world class chef and that fellow chowhounds should ignore the posting. Well, James Chatto's pick of Splendido for 'Best Overall' should vindicate the aforementioned recommendation posting!!!!!
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Hopefully Chatto can "settle some arguments" with his list! I do miss the old "top 10 rankings" from previous years, but splitting it up into categories makes for a fairer assessment. It was also refreshing to not see the usual Stadtlander butt-kissing he usually includes. (however he continues to kiss Susur's butt...)
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Charles,
This site is only useful if everyone feels comfortable disagreeing with any opinion any time. That's how we draw out a rich spectrum of opinions, and it's also how we keep things honest. If the forum became a place where only one opinion's "right", it would no longer be useful. I try to lead with this. Even though I run the site and am a professional restaurant critic, I invite - even encourage - everyone to disagree with even my most cherished opinions. Lots of opinions, data, and tolerance yield a rich and useful mix.
Moreover, the entire point of this site is that the declarations of food "experts" are no more significant than yours. Anyone who loves food and makes a case for their opinion is as worthy as anyone else. It's silly to think one can be "overruled" or "proven wrong" in an aesthetic opinion. There IS no right/wrong!
This sort of competitive, intolerant approach is unwelcome. If I hate a restaurant you love, my saying so is not a personal affront, it's the best possible way to stock a useful resource - which is something we all want. Toleration and mutual respect are key. Hate the chow, love the chowhound.
We've deleted the equally aggressive, competitive responses to your posting, because they were also out of line. This is NOT a debate. No one on Chowhound is to be "refuted", and there is no "win", "lose", or "draw" because this ain't SEGA Playstation, it's a friendly network of food lovers pooling tips.
Many online forums turn into cliqueish arenas where the most aggressive loudmouths rule the roost. We're not going to go that way. Only a friendly, respectful forum will attract a wide, friendly user base that can offer the deep outpouring of chow tips we'd all like to enjoy. Please, everyone, do your part to tolerantly foster that outcome so we can all enjoy the results and never need to eat anything undelicious no matter where we ever go and no matter what we ever crave, amen.
If you have comments, please post them to the Site Talk board, so we can get back to using this board to suss out delicious chow in Toronto.
ciao
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