A Day in the Life

morning coffee, jean shopping and an array of restaurant options with daniel hadida and eric robertson

Filed under: Toronto

Oct 20, 2020

A Day in the Life takes you into the everyday of local creatives and business owners as they show you the best of their city.


Daniel Hadida and Eric Roberstson, co-chefs at famed Restaurant Pearl Morissette, in Jordan, Ontario, share insights behind the brand and an ideal day in Toronto.

Pearl Morissette Overview.

“The restaurant is intended to provide a luxurious and sophisticated public face to a sustainable food system based on community engagement, regenerative growing practices, social responsibility and creativity. The restaurant was founded as a pragmatic response to the state of hospitality and dining, with the intention of exploring alternative means of doing business.” - Daniel

The restaurant has just released the March 2020 instalment of the "Discovery Experience" - an at home dining experience, complete with a tasting menu for two and a rare bottle of Pearl Morissette wine from the winery library. Join Pearl Morissette Ambassador, Svetlana Atcheva virtually with every delivery, as she walks you through the wine selection. The delivery also comes with a special gift highlighting a small business or supplier whose products the Pearl Morissette team has come to love. Reserve your experience here.

The Backstory.

I had heard of Pearl Morissette through the reputation of the winery in the restaurant industry once I moved back to Canada from abroad. Daniel and I met overseas and always kept in touch as Canadian cooks working abroad. Once we had both moved home, we were in different positions but would talk frequently about our troubles finding peace with moving back to Ontario from the restaurant scene we had been exposed to overseas. Daniel was working on opening a restaurant at Pearl Morissette and I was working on opening a restaurant in Prince Edward County, which ended up falling out from under me. Dan and I went out to lunch where he proposed that we work together on Restaurant Pearl Morissette. I agreed and we began to work on putting the finishing touches on the opening of the restaurant.” - Eric

What they are missing from pre-COVID.

“First and foremost, I miss all the people worldwide whose lives have forever been changed by this pandemic, those who have lost jobs, loved ones or had to uproot their lives.  That's much bigger than the minor inconveniences I've had since March. In my personal life, I feel like there's so many answers to this; in the restaurant I miss the guest interaction. During the times when we were operating with minimal staff, I missed the team that we have here. I miss being able to take my son swimming and visiting friends in their restaurants or workplaces and being able to see places operating as they had set out to.  That being said, I feel that Covid has allowed me to refocus my time away from work and helped me to become more efficient in my work time and time at home. All of these come from the privileged position of not having endured the grief that many have had to since March.” - Eric


Read more about their day below or skip to Daniel & Eric’s itinerary

10:00 AM

Daniel stops by Capital Espresso for his morning coffee.

@ajfernando

@ajfernando

@capitalespresso

@capitalespresso

“I enjoy this spot to grab and go. The coffee is really nice.”

- Daniel Hadida

12:00 PM

Midday he heads to Dutil Denim by Trinity Bellwoods Park, to browse for jeans.

IMG_1921+1.jpg

“They sell high quality, bespoke product, created with integrity.”

- Daniel Hadida

Image credit: @dutildenimshop

8:30 PM

Eric doesn’t get to Toronto very often, but when he does, he really likes Dandylion, Pompette and Comal y Canela for dinner. 

“I love these places because they’re doing exactly what they want to be doing. Whether it’s market driven, French, or regional Mexican, it’s all done completely unpretentious and true to the people behind each space.”

— Eric Robertson

Start planning your day in Toronto


Coffee Shop

Capital Espresso | @capitalespresso

“I enjoy this spot to grab and go. The coffee is really nice.” - Daniel Hadida

1349 Queen St W, Toronto

(416) 531-7730

capitalespresso.com

Denim Store

Dutil Denim | @dutildenimshop

“They sell high quality, bespoke product, created with integrity.” - Daniel Hadida

704 Queen St W, Toronto

(647) 352-2560

dutildenim.com

 Wine Bar

Bar Piquette | @barpiquette

"They have great wines and understated service" - Daniel Hadida

1084 Queen St W, Toronto

(416) 533-7745

barpiquette.com


Restaurant

Dandylion | @dandylionrestaurant

1198 Queen St W, Toronto

(647) 464-9100

restaurantdandylion.com

Restaurant

Pompette | @pompette_to

597 College Street, Toronto

(416) 516-1111

pompette.ca

Restaurant

Comal y Canela | @comalycanela

1692B Jane St, York

(647) 689-4694

comalycanela.com


 Thanks for coming along! Explore more Toronto.

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Erin Kleinberg