Conejo Negro

Last updated
Conejo Negro
ConejoNegroToronto.jpg
Conejo Negro
Restaurant information
EstablishedNovember 1, 2023 (2023-11-01) [1]
Owner(s)Diego Diaz [2]
Lamine Martindale [2]
Alycia Wahn [2]
ManagerLamine Martindale [2]
Head chefAlycia Wahn [3]
Food type Caribbean
Creole
Latin American
Rating Bib Gourmand
(Michelin Guide)
Location838 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates 43°39′16″N79°25′23″W / 43.6544295°N 79.4230561°W / 43.6544295; -79.4230561
Website conejonegrotoronto.com

Conejo Negro (English: Black Rabbit) is a restaurant located in the Little Italy neighbourhood of Toronto's West End.

Contents

History

The restaurant opened in November 2023, serving a combination of Caribbean, Creole, and Latin American cuisine. [4] [5] It is co-owned by three friends: Alycia Wahn, who runs the kitchen; Diego Diaz, who oversees the bar; and Lamine Martindale, who manages the service. [2]

The business's name, Conejo Negro (Spanish for "black rabbit") references the Chinese Zodiac symbol for the year the restaurant opened, 2023. [5]

Wahn cites her time living in Southern United States cities Memphis, Nashville, and New Orleans as influences in her creations, including the Creole spice mix used in many dishes. [3] The restaurant seeks to make the majority of its dishes from scratch, including house-made butter. [3]

Recognition

The business was named a Bib Gourmand restaurant by the Michelin Guide at Toronto's 2024 Michelin Guide ceremony, one of four new awardees that year. [6] A Bib Gourmand recognition is awarded to restaurants who offer "exceptionally good food at moderate prices." In its review, Michelin commended the restaurant's "generously portioned" Creole, Caribbean and Latin cuisine, including spiced firecracker shrimp, braised beef, and fried chicken. [6] The restaurant's co-owner and general manager, Lamine Martindale, also won Michelin's 'Service Award' at the 2024 Toronto ceremony. [2]

The restaurant also made Toronto Life magazine's annual list of Toronto's best new restaurants in 2024. [3]

References

  1. Leitao, Ramona. "Conejo Negro Review". BlogTO. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Lamine Martindale of Conejo Negro is the MICHELIN Guide Toronto 2024 Service Award Winner". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Liza Agrba, Caroline Aksich and Erin Hershberg (13 May 2024). "Where to Eat Now". Toronto Life. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  4. "Toronto's Michelin Guide was just updated. Here are all of the new starred restaurants". Toronto Life. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  5. 1 2 Vu, Liem (31 May 2024). "Conejo Negro serves up culinary combo of Caribbean, Creole and Latin food". Global News. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Conejo Negro - Toronto". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 8 October 2024.