Hunter Gutman

Canada

Staff Writer and Digital Coordinator at Twenty Two Media

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Articles

No Vacancy serves sultry sippers on Ossington

3 weeks ago | foodism.to | Hunter Gutman

“I’ve killed myself for this one,” laments industry veteran and No Vacancy bar manager and assistant general manager Troy Gilchrist. When Gilchrist was approached by Connor Gilbert, Joseph Lee, Chris Piron and Michael Swirla to develop an entire cocktail program for the opening of their brainchild, a sexy new Ossington haunt in the old Ghost Chicken digs, he only had two months. But, he was up for the challenge. “This is the eleventh opening I’ve done in my career,” he reveals.
Toronto's best vegan restaurant just announced it's closing

2 months ago | foodism.to | Hunter Gutman

It's been a tough few years for Toronto's vegan restaurants, and things don't seem to be getting any easier in 2025. La Bartola, the only fully plant-based restaurant on the city's Michelin Guide, has announced it will be closing for good in March. La Bartola chef Iván Castro made his mark on Toronto's food scene with his forward-thinking, authentic Mexican cuisine that impressed critics and patrons alike, including us.
These Toronto artists' tasty food illustrations will pique your appetite

2 months ago | foodism.to | Hunter Gutman

Sure, a picture might be worth a thousand words, but an illustration is worth a hundred photos. While we love double-tapping the glossy food shots that pop up on our Instagram feeds, they can never quite capture the same level of nostalgia or adoration that a painter or illustrator can infuse into their work.
This new cocktail bar might be the sexiest spot on Ossington

Jan 27, 2025 | foodism.to | Hunter Gutman

On a late-night romp down the Ossington strip, you could practically close your eyes, point, and you'd stumble into one of the best bars in the city. With such stiff competition, Connor Gilbert, Joseph Lee, Chris Piron and Michael Swirla cranked up the romance when converting the beloved Ghost Chicken into an alluring new cocktail bar. No Vacancy bears no hints of its poultry-packed past. From the moment I walk in, past the neon street sign, the deep red walls invite me to be their Valentine.
The best breakfast sandwiches in Toronto worth getting out of bed for

Nov 6, 2024 | foodism.to | Hunter Gutman

There's a near-fervour when it comes to the quest for the best breakfast sandwiches in Toronto. Our Instagram feed is always flooded with recommendations for hole-in-the-wall bakeries, or grab-n'-go cafés that serve hangover-curing, eggy beauties. We're salivating at the very thought of sinking our teeth into them. We're a city that loves a late breakfast, and we flock to the best brunch spots in Toronto — but if you can't commit to dining in, a breakfast sandwich to-go will satisfy your cravings.
Celebrating Día de los Muertos in Mexico City

Oct 31, 2024 | escapism.to | Hunter Gutman

At the beginning of November, Mexico erupts in the colourful multi-day celebration of Día de los Muertos. Grinning skulls, often decorated in vibrant hues, are ubiquitous, along with elaborate flower-adorned altars and papel picado — but, unlike Halloween, this isn’t a wink at the macabre. Instead, it’s a festival that fondly remembers passed loved ones. Gatherings are often full of humour, food (like pan de muerto, a sweet bread) and lighthearted epitaphs to honour the deceased.
Civil Liberties' stunning new art-deco cocktail bar is a world of whimsy

Oct 22, 2024 | foodism.to | Hunter Gutman

Vaulted ceilings that open up to a gaping skylight; vintage sofas and light fixtures that ooze art-deco glamour; a gleaming bar, backed by ceiling-high shelves; and cartoons and Crocs? These are the happy contradictions of Civil Works, the ambitious new venture by Nick Kennedy, David Huynh and the Civil Liberties team that's already become one of the best bars in Toronto. The Gatsby-esque space radiates charm while remaining playful and mischievous.
Get lost in the magic of Neverland, a bar, bookstore and café on Queen West

Oct 7, 2024 | foodism.to | Hunter Gutman

Stepping past Neverland’s storefront street-to-ceiling windows and weathered stained glass panes, we feel like the boy who never grows up: filled with wonder and primed for an adventure into a good story. Inside, freshly ground coffee aromas greet our nostrils. More than 1,800 eye-catching books line the wall, enticing guests to pluck them from their perches and get lost in their pages.
I'll return to Gia over and over again to try this one standout dish

Sep 30, 2024 | foodism.to | Hunter Gutman

In a city where tartares are the trend and wagyu is suspiciously ubiquitous on menus, Gia marches to the beat of its own drum. The humble-yet-stylish Italian restaurant on Dundas West follows a plant-forward philosophy, with the goal of more sustainable eating. Most plates are entirely vegan or can be veganized, with the exception of an irresistibly plump burrata and a few plates of fresh, made-in-house pasta.
This day-to-night Financial District café is a casual jungle-chic oasis

Aug 19, 2024 | foodism.to | Hunter Gutman

Plenty of cafés and coffee shops around the city offer booze to attract the after-work crowd, but this hidden gem in the Financial District has adopted the day-to-night transition wholeheartedly. Despite being surrounded by many of the best downtown Toronto restaurants, if you blink, you’ll miss 11:59 Bar:Café, a cocktail lounge and café tucked away on a quiet strip of Temperance Street between Bay and York.