TORONTO RESTAURANTS | THE PODCAST · Stephanie Dickison

TORONTO RESTAURANTS | THE PODCAST - Chefs Ashley McKay & Aldo Camarena of XOLO, Antyllia

·1 hr 2 min·5 clips

Stephanie Dickison sits down with chefs Aldo Camarena and Ashley McKay, a couple in the kitchen and in life.

This episode features hosts Aldo Camarena and Ashley McKay, a chef couple, in conversation at their current venue, The Standard Time. The discussion explores their culinary careers and their collaborative residency, Plates No. 5. The host references previously interviewing them for "At The Pass" during the pandemic. Ashley McKay details her professional background, starting with her recent role at Little Jerry where she and Aldo created menus and ran the kitchen. Prior to that, she worked at Enigma in Yorkville just before it earned a star. Her experience includes a short stint at Aslar on Ossington, working with fire for Middle Eastern cuisine. She also spent a significant year at the notable restaurant Giulietta. The conversation highlights the unique, multi-use nature of The Standard Time as a restaurant, music venue, coffee shop, and record store. The chefs' partnership extends from their professional kitchen to their personal life. Their pandemic-era interview is noted as a starting point for tracking their culinary journey. A key insight is the chefs' evident enthusiasm for gaining creative control over menus, as experienced at Little Jerry. Working at Enigma during its pre-star period is presented as a particularly formative and interesting experience. The episode promises a later tour of The Standard Time's distinctive space. The tone is casual, conversational, and celebratory, focusing on professional milestones and personal partnership. The style is interview-based, with a host guiding the chefs through their career timeline. This episode would appeal to listeners interested in Toronto's restaurant industry and the career paths of local chefs. Those seeking highly structured culinary debates or food criticism might find it less engaging.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from TORONTO RESTAURANTS | THE PODCAST