Gourmet Gringos Food Truck-Turned-Restaurant Brings More Latino Culture to Toronto
Gourmet Gringos, known exclusively for their touring food truck that distributes Latin cuisine, is opening a new 25-seat restaurant at Bathurst and St. Clair in Toronto, Canada.
The restaurant, like the truck, carries the "street food formula" menu, offering slow-braised pork shoulder tacos; pork pozole soup, and hand-pressed empanadas. Also, huevos rancheros, Colombian calentado, Peruvian tiradito, watermelon mojito salad, Venezuelan arepas, Argentinian burger, the gringos poutine, and tacos with a choice of fillings that include carne asada (barbecue flank steak), carnitas (braised slow cooked pork), cohinita (pork marinated in Mexican spices), barbacoa (mole braised short ribs), chicharron (fried pork belly), reinapepiada (shredded chicken), and grilled cactus. In addition, they'll serve tamales and octopus ceviche. There will also be a secret menu available only at the restaurant.
The restaurant was created for those who desire Gringo's delicious food without wanting to chase the truck as it roamed the streets of Toronto, or stand outside to eat.
"People would always ask where our truck would be next, and sometimes we'd be doing a corporate or catering event so we weren't out as much as we'd like to be," says Gourmet Gringos co-founder, Krystian Catala. "This is a way for us to reach our following in the central or lower Toronto area."
Gourmet Gringos was started by two best friends, Terry Nicolaou and Catala, who saw that Latin food was missing from the food truck industry in their area. Owner Catala is of Argentinian descent and has extensive knowledge about the restaurant industry. Co-owner Nicolaou has experience in owning his own restaurant and ten years working in the food industry under his belt. The Gringos' executive chief is Chef Auturo Gress Cardenas, a greatly respected chief in Toronto, who trained at the Culinary Institute Ambrosia in Barcelona, Spain.
The restaurant opens Nov. 1 in Toronto, but the truck will continue to operate. Patrons will be able to access the restaurant's full menu at the truck, and vice versa. The restaurant will be open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. every day.