Two new, but very different, dining experiences this week.

First, earlier this week I had dinner at Toronto Hunt Club. I know someone who’s a member and he’s been trying to get me there forever. Stunning view at that place for sure, good food (we had lamb and oxtail) and a decent wine list (we had a bottle of Australian Cab/Shiraz) but…manoman, am I ever not a private club guy. Pick any of your standard reasons why. But also, I saw an older couple there who sat side by side through dinner and as far as I could tell didn’t utter a single consonant to either other for two-ish hours and MY GOD is that ever my nightmare. Anyway. Seems like a gorgeous spot, and the food wasn’t bad, but…yeah.

Then today, whilst out for a walk, I found myself walking by Maha’s Egyptian Brunch and there was no line (!) so I just ducked in and ate some breakfast: a delicious Egyptian omelette and glass of beet juice. It got me one step closer to a personal 2024 objective: to try all the Michelin-recognized (at least, according to last year’s list) restaurants east of Yonge before the end of the year. More on those objectives in my year-end roundup…which, I guess, I’ll be writing about eleven weeks from now.