MICHELIN-Recognized Favorites Thai Hosts One-Night Winemaker Dinn

There is a certain electricity that hums along Ossington Avenue, a constant, kinetic energy that defines Toronto’s dining scene. But on Monday, April 27, that buzz will be focused entirely on a single address: 141 Ossington. Favorites Thai, the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand darling that has mastered the art of the charcoal grill, is stepping outside its usual à la carte comfort zone for a one-night-only winemaker dinner that promises to challenge the very nature of how we pair wine with spice.

The Culinary Fire of Favorites

If you’ve spent any time at Favorites, you know the vibe: it’s loud, it’s vibrant, and it’s undeniably focused on the alchemy of fire. Under the direction of Head Chef Ronnie Xu, the kitchen has become a temple to the charcoal grill. Xu’s approach isn’t about delicate, muted flavours; it’s about high-impact, smoky, and deeply aromatic Thai cuisine that demands your full attention. The Bib Gourmand recognition isn't just a badge of honour; it’s a testament to the consistency of their bold, unapologetic cooking. For this dinner, Xu is pivoting from the restaurant’s usual shared-plate chaos to a structured, multi-course tasting menu, a rare opportunity to see his technical precision applied to a curated progression of dishes.

A Veneto Twist

Pairing Italian wine with Thai food is a high-wire act. Usually, you’d reach for a Riesling or a Gewürztraminer to combat the heat of a curry or the funk of a fish sauce-drenched salad. But Favorites is throwing that conventional wisdom out the window by partnering with Tenuta Santomè, a producer from Italy’s Treviso province. This isn't your average supermarket Pinot Grigio; Tenuta Santomè is known for its precise, sustainable approach to the terroir of the Veneto. Having winery owner William Spinazzè in the room to guide the pairings is the real draw here. He’ll be walking guests through the estate’s philosophy, offering a masterclass on how the bright, acidic, and mineral-forward wines of the Veneto can actually stand up to—and elevate—the complex, fire-driven profiles of Xu’s Thai menu.

The Ossington Experience

Ossington is the beating heart of Toronto’s culinary nightlife, and Favorites sits right in the thick of it. The venue itself—warm, intimate, and perpetually packed—is the perfect backdrop for this kind of event. It’s not a stuffy, white-tablecloth affair; it’s a social, high-energy environment where the conversation is just as important as the wine. Whether you’re a long-time regular or a newcomer looking to experience the best of what the city has to offer, this dinner is a masterclass in how Toronto’s restaurant scene continues to evolve, blending global influences in ways that feel both surprising and entirely at home in our diverse city.

Good to Know

• **The Details:** The dinner takes place on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Tickets are $120 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and must be booked through the 'Experiences' tab on their OpenTable page.
• **A Crucial Warning:** Because this is a highly curated, set tasting menu, the kitchen has strict limitations. They cannot accommodate allergies related to gluten, shellfish, allium, or seafood. If you or anyone in your party has these sensitivities, this specific event won't be the right fit.
• **Make a Night of It:** Since you’re already on the Ossington strip, you’re perfectly positioned for a pre-dinner cocktail at Bar Banane or a post-dinner nightcap at one of the many nearby watering holes. Given the popularity of the street, I’d recommend arriving a little early to grab a drink nearby and soak in the atmosphere before your 6:00 PM seating.