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Grace Burdi , Owner,
Fiamma Ristorante,
5555 Eglinton Ave, West Etobicoke, ON
By Gary Lipovetsky, President of MenuPalace.com
Grace Burdi is the owner of Fiamma Ristorante, which has been serving Italian cuisine inspired by Grace's passion for family-prepared meals since it first opened its doors at 5555 Eglinton Ave in 2009. Growing up with a passion for food, Grace has created an Italian experience that is among the very best in the city, making Fiamma a must try for any Toronto foodie worth their salt. This understated location has become one of Toronto's most sought after late night destinations. Whether customers are sitting in the intimate dining room or enjoying a meal on the beautifully decorated patio, the warm, elegant ambiance and amazing food are an absolute treat for the senses. Fiamma is the perfect place to enjoy an incredible evening with friends and family that patrons won't soon forget.
MP: What year was fiamma opened?
GB: Fiamma Ristorante officially opened its doors in 2009
MP: How did you come up with the name Fiamma and what does it mean?
GB: Fiamma means FLAME in Italian. We chose this name because it represents the flames from our wood burning pizza oven, with our traditional Italian style pizza being one of our signature features on our menu. The flame also symbolizes our burning passion for family and food.
MP: Which regions of Italy reflect the food on the menu?
GB: Our family is from Puglia, so our cuisine is influenced to a great extent from southern Italy, with inspirations from the Tuscana region and of course influences from all great things Italian!
MP: What has contributed to your passion for cuisine? Where did it stem from?
GB: I feel that Italians are innately raised with a love for food. Italian food stands as the cornerstone for all social gatherings and celebrations within our culture. My passion for cuisine came from my early childhood. Watching my Nonna prepare her home made pastas, sauces and Italian dishes with such love and dedication really inspired me. I feel that I inherited my Nonna's flare and passion for cooking and desire to genuinely make people happy and feel good with the foods I prepare and serve with love.
MP: What was your favourite dish growing up? Have you included it on the menu?
GB: My favorite dish when I was growing up was the Orecchiete Con Prosciutto. I have included it on my menu because I love it so much. It is orecchiette with prosciutto, peas and arugula,tossed with shaved parigiano reggiano and a truffle oil drizzle. Everytime I eat this dish I remember my Nonna and the great family gatherings that we shared in her home with all our loved ones, it makes me feel a sense of nostalgia and contentment that mere words could never express.
MP: What sets Fiamma apart from other Italian restaurants?
GB: Our genuine passion for cooking and serving our patrons, and the joy of seeing them truly enjoy their dining experience is what sets us apart from other restaurants. Seeing our patrons enjoying their meal and overal dining experience is very rewarding for our family at Fiamma, and we accomplish this by serving authentic, high quality traditional foods. The first rate service we provide to our customers, our warm, romantic ambiance and our wood burning oven pizzas are the best in the city.
MP: Why is wine so important with a meal? What is your most popular wine? What food is it best paired with?
GB: Wine is a very important part of the meal because it completes the meal. It balances and compliments the flavours of the dish and adds a new dimension to any meal that it is a part of. Growing up in an Italian family, wine has always been a very important part the meal. Our most popular wine would be either our Montegiachi Chianti, which is best paired with a dish like the Osso Bucco, or our Bosan Amarone which would be best paired with a dish like the 12oz rib-eye steak. The flavours just dance in your mouth when put together.
MP: What kind of ambiance is Fiamma famous for? What inspired it?
GB: The atmosphere that we have created at Fiamma is very classic and welcoming. It feels warm and comfortable, while offering plenty of private areas for that romantic dates or corporate meetings. We strive to make people feel good when they walk through the doors and sit at one of our tables. We want you to feel satisfied when you dine at Fiamma, whether you're with family or friends.
MP: How do you choose your waiters at Fiamma? How do they make the dining experience better?
GB: When hiring our waiters we are looking for the qualities that we ourselves have. They must be very knowledgeable about both food and drink, they must be experienced in the service industry and they must share our same passion for what we do here. We are passionate about the whole dining experience from beginning to end. The food, the service, the atmosphere and our love for what we do is what makes Fiamma a memorable experience.
MP: What is your clientele like? Do you attract a certain type of customer?
GB: We have a wide range of clientele here. Everyone from corporate groups to families, to couples out on a date and hoping to kindle that “flame” and fall in love. We have created an environment that will make just about anyone feel good when they spend their time here with us.
MP: Your restaurant is quite well known in the foodie world. Have you had famous people drop in?
GB: Yes, we have seen many famous faces come and join us here. Many athletes, including Darryl Sittler, Sam Horne, and Pinball Clemens. We've also had comedian Russell Peters come in, and many others along the way.
MP: What is your best selling dish and why do you think its so popular?
GB: Our woodburning oven pizzas have always been a top seller. We also have the Penne con Salsicccia Piaccante, which is penne with spicy Italian sausage,wild mushrooms and goat cheese in a tomato sauce, and our Osso Bucco which is a centre-cut braised veal shank with a red wine demi-glaze. Both of which are absolutely amazing.
MP: Does Fiamma cater?
GB: Yes. We cater all events from weddings, to corporate and office functions, to family events in the comfort of our customers' homes. We are happy to say that you can experience Fiamma Ristorante in either your house, or ours.
MP: If diners can walk away from Fiamma feeling just one thing, what do you hope for it to be?
GB: We want our diners to feel happy. We want them to be happy with the food, with the service, with the whole experience that we have tried to create here. When they walk away, we want them to feel like they are walking away from a little piece of home.
MP: Why do people keep coming back?
GB: People keep coming back for all the reasons we have spoke about here. Our passion for quality food and quality service is second to none. Our atmosphere makes you feel like you want the night to never end, and let's not forget one of the best parts about coming to dine at Fiamma: me. Grace. =) |