Chef Corbin Tomaszeski.
Thanks to a twist of fate, residents of Birch Cliff and beyond can add scrumptious food prepared by a celebrity chef to their daily take-out and delivery options as they ride through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Corbin Tomaszeski, a former executive chef at Holt Renfrew and consulting chef at Marriott Hotels, also known for appearances on Food Network including Restaurant Makeover, has taken over the kitchen at 1559 Kingston Rd., at Kildonan Dr.
Corbin and his business partner, Helen DeVito, launched their new catering and event company CORBIN in September and moved into their renovated kitchen (formerly occupied by Spice Kings) in late February.
And then COVID-19 hit.
Like many business owners, Tomaszeski and DeVito decided to quickly pivot and transition from high end catering and events to local takeout and delivery service.
Corbin’s Mushroom Soup
“Our intent was to really bring some comfort at an unsettling time for people,” Tomaszeski said. “They can’t necessarily go out and get ingredients to cook, or they can’t cook, or they’re isolated or they’re quarantined and they can’t get out. So as much as it is about providing comfort and a level of great food for the client, it’s also a great way for us to meet them.”
CORBIN features an everyday “Comfort Menu” that includes everything from Beef Bourguignon and Baked Atlantic Salmon to Breaded Chicken Strips, Jambalaya and even Chicken Noodle Soup.
“I think there’s a level of nostalgia that exists with the menu that I think people gravitate to. It’s home-style cooking, but with a twist on everyone’s favourites that they grew up with, where quality, locality, seasonality is put forth and it’s focusing on freshness and really focusing on just delicious food,” Tomaszeski said.
Tomaszeski and DeVito said their menu is competitively priced for what it is and feel that Birch Cliff has a discerning clientele that will appreciate fresh, made-from-scratch, chef-quality food.
Corbin Tomaszeski and Helen DeVito
Partnership story
The story of Tomaszeski and DeVito’s partnership is an interesting one.
They are family friends who were casually chatting as they watched their children play hockey and realized they were both searching for a new direction.
With DeVito coming from the corporate sector, where she focussed on business development and relationships, and Tomaszeski’s background in the operations side of food, it seemed like a natural fit.
They wound up in Birch Cliff because Tomaszeski, who lives in the Upper Beach, is longtime friends with Irene Peters, owner of The House and Garden Co., which anchors the Kingston Road retail strip. Peters’ business includes florals at many downtown hotels and she and Tomaszeski became friends when they both did work at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel.
Easter and Passover menu packages
If you’re keen to try the offerings at CORBIN, there’s no better time to order than this week when the company is offering special Easter and Passover menus. The Easter menu consists of Slow-Roasted, Sliced, Boneless Turkey, Sage Gravy and Citrus Cranberry Sauce, Scalloped Potatoes with cheese & thyme and Broccoli & Cauliflower Medley.
The main course for the Passover menu includes Red Wine, Onion & Sweet Shallot Braised Beef Brisket with Jus or the Sliced, Slow-Roasted Turkey.
Please note that the Passover menu will be “kosher-style” as the kitchen is not fully kosher. Pre-orders for both holiday meals are due April 7.
You can complete your dining experience with florals from The House and Garden Co.
