The Depanneur + The Bentway Communal Table 2023
Family-style dining in a unique urban setting. Communal Tables are seated, family-style meals, served and shared at 10 tables of 6, where you bring your own plates and cutlery.
THU August 31 | Filipino Faves | Maria Polotan
Strachan Gate at The Bentway • 6pm • Pre-order online until TUE August 29
The food of the Philippines is complex: as diverse as the more than 100 ethnic groups that populate its 7600+ islands, and overlaid with centuries of Chinese, Southeast Asian, Spanish, and American influences. Yet some dishes, like adobo, have become beloved classics and are likely to be found in Filipino homes across the country. Tonight long-time Depanneur collaborator Maria Polotan shares some of these traditional Filipino favourites incorporating fresh, local ingredients.
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Suam na Mais
This light, brothy corn soup is flavoured with ginger, lemon grass, garlic and onions, and garnished with thin slices of bok choi.
Bicol Express [pork]
A complex stew of pork belly cooked adobo style, with long green peppers, thai chilies, fermented shrimp and coconut milk; spicy yet highly addictive.
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Ginataang Langka [vegan]
Thin slices of young jackfruit simmered in coconut milk sauce spiced with garlic, ginger, onion, lemon grass and fresh turmeric.
Served with steamed rice and ensaladang manga, a tart and refreshing mango salad.
Bibingkang Balanghoy
This rich, creamy, custard is made from a mix of evaporated and condensed milks thickened with eggs, sugar, coconut and grated cassava. Somewhere between a cheesecake and flan, it has a rich, toothsome texture and an inviting coconut and caramel aroma.
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Meat or Vegetarian
Filipino Faves
$40 pp
Maria Lourdes Polotan grew up in a family where food played a central part on how life was celebrated; the kitchen was where the family congregated and her mother presided. Maria has begun to share sharing her passion for food by cooking for others offering traditional Filipino home cooking with quality local ingredients at pop-up events, catering, and Withrow Park Farmers’ Market in the summer. This passion has evolved into Lami, a one-stop shop for globally-inspired comfort food, located in Mess Hall at 1125 Gerrard Street East, that will be seating diners starting this May.
@mamalindasto | lamitoronto.com
Pay It Forward
At check out, you will be invited to optionally contribute towards our Pay It Forward initiative. Pay it Forward funds go to Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed the People) to support the food security needs of vulnerable persons in Toronto’s Indigenous community.
