Chef Lynn Crawford

It seems Toronto is not immune the cult of the TV Chef and that’s only been reinforced by the spectacular attention paid to Lynn Crawford’s recently opened place, Ruby Watch Co.

Crawford, of Food TV shows Restaurant Makeover and Pitchin’ In, was most recently executive chef at Four Seasons Hotels in both Toronto and New York City so Ruby is her first free-standing Toronto venture. The local foodie blogosphere (that seems to expand ten-fold every minute) has been a frenzy since Crawford’s new place in the Leslieville neighbourhood was hatched so it will be interesting to see how diners react now that the place is actually open. With a home-style-styled menu, changing daily and featuring local suppliers Ruby’s is going to have work hard to do something different in an already crowded field of Toronto restos turning out food in a similar vein.