Why I Love Oretta: Pretty in millennial pinkThe time Sara Waxman predicted Italian foodI interviewed

Why I Love Oretta: Pretty in millennial pinkThe time Sara Waxman predicted Italian foodI interviewed the iconic Sara Waxman for The Drake Hotel’s blog. During our conversation, she told me a story about the evolution of Toronto’s food scene and spoke about the emergence of Italian restaurants, courtesy of Franco Prevedello, and the debut of pasta.Today, Italian cuisine and restaurants thrive in the city. Most recently, a new establishment entered the scene becoming an influencer, Instagram and Toronto hot spot in less than a month.About an hour…If you translate Oretta it means “about an hour,” but the only thing you’ll be waiting about an hour for is a table if you don’t have reservations. Otherwise the food comes promptly and service is top notch.Located in the 629 King Residences complex, Oretta is owned by Capocaccia’s Salvatore Mele. The restaurant is truly a visual and aesthetically pleasing surprise. Personally, I find glass structures to be void of beauty and therefore my expectations for Oretta’s interior were not high. However, the restaurant proves you can create a beautiful space with character in a seemingly uniform glass structure. With swopping arches, the restaurant beckons to elements found in our disappearing heritage buildings.(Courtesy of @aimeesyl)Not to mention Oretta’s art deco décor is something Daisy Buchanan would have fallen in love with in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. In fact, looking at millennial pink and gold trim wall installation as well as the gold + black panelling gracing staircase and upper level levels, I instantly thought of opening sequence to Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby.(Courtesy of Movies Man Guide)I must also note the eye-catching chandelier above the bar. It reminded me of an abstract solar system model, but with cymbals and lightbulbs.Mamma Mia! That’s some dinner gossip.Lady Like Leopard and I were ready to try the menu upon arrival. We also had a lot to catch up on from work, friends, writing and our love life. We chatted over a drink, which was highly recommended by our super nice and clumsy bartender. It was an Amaretto based drink using egg whites and topped by an orgasmic tasting cherry. I wrote down the name, but as per usual my cursive proved to be indecipherable the next day and there is no drink menu online. For dinner I ordered the Parmigiana (cherry tomato, fior die latte, eggplant, sausage, Parmigiano, basil) from the Pizze Bianche section, while Lady Like Leopard ordered the Risotto al Satto (crispy pan fried squash risotto, mushrooms and castelmango fonduta) from the Paste section. The food was well portioned and absolutely delicious. The pizza is by far one of my favourites in the city and dare I say better than that of Pizza Libretto?Sadly, we were too full to try dessert in the end, but all the more reason to return.  Not to mention we have to go back to try Oretta’s lovely café.| Oretta Instagram | -- source link

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