Thursday, 17 May 2012

New Ramen Hot Spot Around the Block

Toronto's latest ramen joint "Kinton Ramen" recently popped up down the street on 51 Baldwin Street this week. I had the opportunity of trying it out last night during its soft opening. Their grand opening is tomorrow on Friday, May 18th. The owners of Guu Izakaya (Vancouver) opened up this ramen shop with the design curated by the folks at Dialogue 38, who also did Guu Izakaya on Church Street. Below is a shot of the front elevation but the patio was not set up last night.



Credit: Above photo from Biking in a Big City (http://jnyyz.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/kinton-ramen/)

The wait just to get a table was 1-1.5 hours. Seeing that the shop hasn't officially launched, just wait until grand opening arrives as it seems Toronto is always short on acceptable ramen shops. I would pass though if you are on a tight lunch break from work as the whole experience took about 2 hours+. The ramen took pretty long to arrive as well. I had the regular Shio Ramen with pork shoulder. The noodles are kneaded in-house while Kinton provides the option to customers of having the broth in regular or light . This is the Miso Ramen with pork belly in light broth: 





The broth was good. The ramen was decent, a bit on the thicker side, and acceptable, but could be better in terms of the intensity of the taste. I still find there to be better options at Niwatei or Guu Izakaya. Although the atmosphere isn't as loud and ballistic as it is at Guu, I will go back next time to have a try of their Cheese Ramen that comes with swiss cheese as I've never heard of that combination before.


Here are the rest of the photos of the space. Speaking to assistant manager, Daiki, he mentioned that Manager, Aki, really enjoyed the tastes of the ramen in New York at Ippudo and David Chang's Momofuku. He wanted to bring some of that to Toronto.


The treatment of the interior walls comprises of mainly wood blocking ends put together in checkerboard patterning to add depth and contrast. The ceiling along with HVAC components is exposed. It's simple and I think it looks great with the exposed concrete floor, which induces somewhat of a rustic look.


Go check them out: http://kintonramen.com/












































































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Friday, 6 January 2012

Colour Combinations, Materials and Interiors

The building is not architecturally striking but the combination of materials and colours and shapes is strangely jarring?
More here...

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Tuesday, 15 November 2011

MTO Office Construction Update

Sexy anyone?



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Thursday, 18 November 2010

Great Spin On An Old Ceiling Design

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Thursday, 7 October 2010

Canada's Best Bathroom of 2010 announced

Canadian bathroom awards for Best Restroom in Canada presented to the Byrne Road Cactus Club  in Burnaby, B. C.

Cactus Club Cafe bathrooms in Burnaby, BC edges out Toronto's Spice Route Asian Bar & Bistro and Mildred's Temple Kitchen for top bathroom of Canada 2010.


More here.

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Monday, 9 August 2010

Eaton Centre Renovation


                                                                                               Photo via urbantoronto

If you've been to the Eaton Centre lately, you might have noticed that it looks like a steel mess on the inside. Here's to its $120 million makeover.

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Tuesday, 9 February 2010

GBSA Recent Interior Design

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Wednesday, 3 December 2008

GBSA Interior Design

GBSA in a recent web article version of Canadian Interiors.

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Monday, 11 August 2008

Sneek Preview: TPL Kennedy/Eglinton Branch Expansion

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Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Architecture Office Meets Auto Repair Shop


So a friend sent me these photos of a one of a kind architecture office....

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Monday, 11 February 2008

Marcel Wanders or Castor

....first time I've seen these sites.........Castor

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Thursday, 24 January 2008

Museum Subway Station Toronto








So, the debate continues over the renovations of the seldom used but crystal attached Museum subway station. The new look for the station which is almost complete is set to mimic the museum artifacts and ancient civilizations. Next on the list is Osgoode subway regardless of the fact that the TTC just 'cleaned' the station. There is something refined and timeless about the glazed tile walls of the subway stations. This same characteristic can be found riding the rails in Montreal. If this plan is a one station deal it has some merit. Once more stations adopt the persona of it's name or area it does become a ride in disneyland. When you go to a museum you expect to be transformed so the station would be 'warm-up'. But what if you loathe the concept? What if you want your museum experience separate from your commute to work? Are the bus shelters next? What if you paid in rocks to enter the station? Or all the staff dressed in linen kilts? As a one station deal it may be successful. If more stations follow.....were in trouble.


(photos top-Museum Station proposal bottom two-STCUM Montreal)

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Thursday, 17 January 2008

New Offices- Ministry of the Attorney General

The new design for the offices of the Human Rights Tribunal division of the Ministry are currently out for tender. The new spaces include several environmentally friendly materials. The walnut veneer will provide a rich accent to the muted tones of the floors and walls. The project will be completed in the late spring. Photo updates of the construction to follow shortly.

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Wednesday, 16 January 2008

Retail Design - Comme des Garçons

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Monday, 10 December 2007

Art, Lawyers and Architects

One of the larger law firms in the city is definitely making interior partitions more interesting. Architects KPMB have provided interior design services for Torys new space as well as architectural commentary. Which brings to mind another unrelated question...Who likes those buildings painted with ads?

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Monday, 26 November 2007

Interior Design- Government of Ontario

The firm is currently working on the interior design of a couple of government offices.
The Ministry of Community and Social Services along with The Human Rights Tribunal(Ministry of The Attorney General) will have new spaces in the near future. This work will compliment a growing list of interior projects completed by the firm for the Ministries in the provincial government.

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