Introducing LA's: Not just another "Italian" restaurant
TORONTO, April 17, 2012 /CNW/ - The highly anticipated opening of LA's Italian + Bar is the second restaurant by Andreas Antoniou, owner of Estiatorio VOLOS. Hot off the heels of VOLOS's success, selected in both Toronto Life and the National Post as a Top Ten New Restaurant, the young restaurateur worked with designer Marc Kryiacou on the VOLOS-like overhaul of his family's downtown Toronto landmark Little Anthony's. LA's Italian + Bar is a casual, energetic and affordable downtown osteria serving Executive Chef Aaron Foster's soul-satisfying riffs on Italian cooking.
Claim a sunny table next to the restaurant's grand windows and enjoy a quick lunch; meet friends for a specialty cocktail or Italian beer and a snack or two at the comfortable, convivial bar; host clients in the twelve-seat boardroom or an event in the spacious private dining room; or settle into the banquets and enjoy a leisurely dinner with a bottle of wine from the well-priced, wide-ranging list.
Assembling a talented and driven young team to create a great establishment
Joining Antoniou are Executive Chef Aaron Foster from the Ritz-Carlton and General Manager Matt Roulston from Splendido. "Aaron and Matt are talented and driven young professionals in the hospitality industry that are going to put their stamp on this business" says Antoniou. "We collectively share a vision for creating an everyday neighbourhood Italian restaurant and bar where our warm atmosphere, skillful preparation and attention to detail entice guests to dine with us regularly."
Before joining LA's in December, Executive Chef Aaron Foster spent the last year successfully launching DEQ at the Ritz-Carlton. During the four years prior to the Ritz, Foster held Chef de Cuisine positions at RedSky in Bangkok and Sopra with Massimo Capra. During his tenure in Thailand, RedSky was selected as the Best New Restaurant of 2009 and Foster was selected as the top chef in Bangkok by two major newsprints.
General Manager Matt Roulston is returning to the financial district May 1st after six years at Splendido. There he honed his management skills under industry stalwarts David Lee, Yannick Bigourdan, Victor Barry and Carlo Catallo. Roulston is passionate about wine. In 2007, he attained his sommelier papers with the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, and Roulston regularly visits winemakers and attends wine events to build both the restaurant's list and his personal cellar.
A thoughtfully designed space
The new 150-seat restaurant design by Marc Kryiacou, designer of Estiatorio VOLOS, commands attention to the grand 15-foot windows that surround the perimeter of the building. Glancing inwards, bold oranges and baby blues accent the warm grey undertone of the new dining room. The pièce de résistance is a solid 50-foot beveled grey-granite bar that is lit with layers of ambient light. In the dining room, sequences of beveled mirrors amplify the gold light emanating from clusters of sconces, seamlessly mixing contemporary and classic Italian designs. The space also includes two separate private dining areas, a private room seating 50 guests and a boardroom for twelve. "The restaurant design delivers the essential atmosphere while maintaining the functional configuration necessary to appropriately serve the financial district clientele" explains Kryiacou.
Grand Opening on Wednesday, April 18th
LA's Italian + Bar will light up the corner of Richmond & York on Wednesday, April 18th for its charity grand opening event in support of Second Harvest. "The night is an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for a great cause as well as showcase our new establishment," says Antoniou. "100% of the proceeds from the ticket sales are going to the organization." Second Harvest is the largest food rescue program in Canada. Every day, Second Harvest delivers enough food to provide 18,000 meals to over 200 community agencies in Toronto.
About LA's Italian + Bar
LA's Italian + Bar is a neighbourhood Italian restaurant located in Toronto's Financial District. The original Little Anthony's, founded by Bob Antoniou, was a downtown landmark for over 17 years. Following a three month renovation, the restaurant now reopens under the LA's monogram with a brand-new kitchen, and a fresh new flavour and atmosphere.
Image with caption: "LA's ITALIAN + BAR LIGHTS UP THE CORNER OF RICHMOND & YORK ALONG SIDE SISTER RESTAURANT, ESTIATORIO VOLOS (CNW Group/LA's Italian + Bar)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120417_C6375_PHOTO_EN_12434.jpg
For further information:
visit www.littleanthonys.ca or contact Marketing & Events Director Nicole Horak by phone at (416) 368-2223 or via email [email protected].
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