Southern Accent opens new digs on College Street

What:     New Southern Accent Location
When:    Wednesday January 24, 2017
Where:   839 College St, Toronto, ON M6H 
Contact:  Phone: (416) 536-3211
Website:  http://southernaccent.com/

I was invited to check out the new digs for Southern Accent after they recently had to close up shop on their Mirvish Village location after over 30 years there because developers purchased Honest Ed's and Mirvish Village for Re-development.  It's very sad to see Toronto lose these Icons in the city to replace them with non descript boxes.  My dad loved to go to Honest Ed's to get a lot of things for our home when I was a kid so I find it's like losing a piece of my childhood.  

Francis Wood the Owner of Southern Accent had a great reputation for building a great music and food loving community in her Restaurant with many little nooks and crannies tucked inside the building as well as the lovely patio outside.  It was an institution for all things New Orleans.  

I even used to do makeup for a show called Real to Reel with host Richard Crouse and we would film at the restaurant once in a while.  

The location and the design of the restaurant may be different with the move to College street and it now being in an up and coming foodie destination as other locations run out of room for restaurants they move further north of King and Queen to Dundas and College Streets.

The new location is long and narrow.  It has pretty much mostly the same menu as before but because of the new location they are opening it for more extended hours to serve beignets for breakfast in the mornings and they also have a take-out section at the entrance where you can get Muffaletta sandwiches and other things on the additional menu to go.

There is also a weekend brunch.  You could spend a lot of time in their new digs with all the food and music they plan to serve up.

The other interesting additions are the new Memory wall as you walk in on the left side of the wall up to the bar.  Thirty years of photos and memories in a collage.  

There are also a couple of cosy nooks at the back of the restaurant and an area for live music.

I tried a few things on their menu at the Preview including their hush puppies, blackened chicken fingers, bruchetta, crab cakes, calamari and the new beignets.

 And they made sure to bring this guy with them to greet everyone old and new to Southern Accent.

Southern Accent Restaurant Cookbook Launch

Southern Accent Restaurant in Toronto is one of those hidden gem type of restaurants that is tucked away on Markham road or Mirvish village in the Annex in Toronto,  but has been around for 30 years.  Staying open 5 years in Toronto is a huge accomplishment but let alone a long standing career of 30 years is a miracle in this city where things that were around for a long time and are iconic are all disappearing.  That's why I am so happy that Southern Accent is still around and hasn't changed a thing except maybe adding a few recipes here and there.

 I received a special invite from Toronto Film Critic Richard Crouse to attend a secret Cookbook Launch.  I didn't know who's cookbook it was for but I was game to find out.  I knew it had to be something that Richard had a connection to because he was going out of his way to find the right people to attend the cookbook launch.    I used to do makeup for the Rogers show Real to Reel when Southern Accent.  We had filmed Real to Reel there a few times.   I would squeeze my makeup into some corner of the restaurant and try and put it on in the very darkened restaurant.  But it was always fun being there.  The restaurant has a certain energy.  Richard's connection to Southern Accent goes way back to when he was a bartender/server there.  At that time the now chef/owner was just a bus boy but his partner was still his boss back then.  Frances hired Richard after a 5 minute interview and he has been connected to the restaurant ever since then.
Richard Crouse, Geoff Pevere and Katrina Onstad were the hosts of the show so I have known Richard for a long time.   I have stopped doing makeup and have spent that time working on this blog instead.   I was happy to find out that the Cookbook Launch was for

This was no ordinary book launch.   It was a real fun event.  There were fresh oysters being shucked, a Nawlins  dixieland style band playing on the patio,  Beers on tap, Sangria and very tasty Bourbon Sours which is what I sampled.
Then the food started coming out.  Shrimp Po'boy sandwiches, crab cakes, brisket and mashed potatoes, hush puppies and there was a huge pan of Jambalaya being made just when you walked in through the patio.  Drinks were flowing and everyone was enjoying the food and the music.

Andrea, owner Frances and Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Then came the little desserts,  Bourbon glazed bread pudding and Pecan pies.   MMMM goood.

Like a trip to New Orleans.   And speaking of trips to New Orleans, this whole cookbook started 20 years ago when Richard went to Louisiana with Frances the owner and found some crazy locals including the Mayor that gave them some of the tried and true recipes that went into the restaurant and the end result of this cookbook.   Richard and Frances and the now partner chef owner have lot's of stories of their experiences in Southern Accent over the years.   Maybe Richard will write a book of the stories of working and hanging out at Southern Accent.  Although it sounds like it might be a good documentary.  If I had some cash and a good crew that would be something I would be interested in doing for sure.

And the bonus of the evening for me was a complimentary Tarot Card reading with Kim.  My life sound interesting through those Tarot cards so I will have to wait and see what transpires over the next 12 months.   In the meantime I will be flipping through the pages of the Southern Accent cookbook and reading some of the stories included in the book.

Check out the photos of the Launch.  It was one of the most fun Cookbook launches I have ever attended and the food was great too.

Drop by during Summerlicious and get your Cajun on and sip a nice cool drink and some spicy food.   

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