Alex Abbott Boyd
16 episodes listed below
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Hosted by Toronto-based sommelier Alex Abbott Boyd, Tasting Notes Toronto explores the personal and professional stories behind the people shaping the city’s food and wine scene. We talk about the real work behind the scenes — from first jobs and turning points to running restaurants and shaping wine programs. If you’re interested in the behind-the-scenes of hospitality and the people who drive it, this is the show for you.
A dirty napkin becomes a lesson in feeling seen; you get the service thinking behind it.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A clean, grounded portrait of how a major wine program is built and kept working.
Faye McLaughlin reads as a seasoned steward of Langdon Hall's wine program, and the episode is at its best when it ties her 19 years there to the scale of the list, the care behind pairings, and the work that keeps wine service running smoothly.
Bourbon talk, barrel stories, messy good pours.
Bourbon reviews with memory, candor, and community.
Everyday life, thought through together.
I got an email I thought was for the chef—turned out I'd been named Sommelier of the Year.
Sommelier Alex Abbott-Boyd interviews wine director Patrick Hapche about wine pairings, list design, and value wine regions.
A sommelier interviews a wine director about building a massive wine program and personalizing guest service.
A sommelier interviews a champagne winemaker about her family's history and the personal connections in selling champagne.
Chef Eric Chong shares his journey from winning MasterChef Canada to earning a Michelin star for his restaurant Akin.
Interview with Jeremiah Thomas, GM and Beverage Director at a Michelin-starred restaurant, discussing his career in hospitality and promoting work-life balance.
Daniel Hadida and Eric Robertson say Pearl Morissette’s menu is driven by ingredient availability, not by a menu planned in advance.
On Tasting Notes Toronto, Scott Vivian and Nate Middleton explain how Beast Pizza combines pizzeria service with fine-dining food and whole-animal dinners.
Celia Méndez says Canary Counter’s wines should “speak of the landscape” and of the families and traditions behind them.
Ben Pliskey Summers shares how he co-founded Bossa Nova Wine and Beer as a community-focused retail shop during the pandemic.
A sommelier interviews a winemaker about the art and meaning behind wine, exploring personal stories and the craft of winemaking.
A conversation with chef and sommelier Ryan Donovan about running Richmond Station, sourcing ingredients, and balancing hospitality with family life.
Sommelier Alex Abbott-Boyd interviews Ian Studdart, owner of East End Vine, about his journey from art school to creating a welcoming wine bar in Toronto.
Sommelier Alex Abbott-Boyd interviews Robert Luo, head sommelier at Canada's best restaurant, about his journey from Guangzhou to becoming a wine professional.