Todd Perrin to open ‘Mallard Condo’ in Toronto

St. John’s, NFLD — On the heels of his success with Mallard Cottage in the historic fishing village of Quidi Vidi, chef Todd Perrin is embarking on a new venture in a new province.

Mallard Condo will open somewhere on King Street West in Toronto later this year. 

While Mallard Cottage is situated in one of the oldest wooden buildings in North America, Mallard Condo will open in one of the continent’s newest structures made of glass and concrete.

“I wanted to try something different,” Perrin said from the 18th-floor restaurant.

The 540-square-foot restaurant will feature a quintessential view of the 6ix: another condo building.

“It's a little cramped, but I think I can make it work,” Perrin explained, as he perused blacksplash samples with the building's sales rep. 

“I was looking for an intimate venue. And there's no barrier between the kitchen and the dining room, which allows me to really get to know my guests.”

Perrin plans to fuse East Coast cuisine with several seasonal culinary oddities native to the north shore of Lake Ontario, specifically the CNE Food Building. Ingredients will be sourced locally from the Rabba on the ground floor of the condo building.

“I like to prepare food that people like to eat,” Perrin said. “Think line-caught cod corn dogs and chantrelle poutine balls.”

The decor will serve as a tribute to The Big Smoke, with a horseshoe-shaped bar made of reclaimed concrete from the Gardiner Expressway and non-functioning turn signals salvaged from Audis and BMWs.

In keeping with the condominium theme, guests will pay on average 20 per cent over the asking price.

Although the Mallard Condo menu has yet to hit the market, foreign diners were already taking the blame for inflating prices.

“They're bidding on a unique taste of April Fool’s Day,” Perrin noted.