Chef behind successful supper club opens Eastern European restaurant in Toronto

Toronto just got a new Eastern European and Jewish restaurant serving dishes inspired by family traditions.

One thing’s for certain, though: this ain’t your grandmother’s schnitzel.

Maven has swung open its doors in Toronto and is serving a menu that “celebrates the transcendent power of food across generations” according to its website.

Chef and owner Shauna Godfrey also launched popular heat-and-serve supper club service Godfrey’s during lockdowns, inspired by her family of cooks including her mother and Bubby Rose.

“Shauna created a program that facilitated connection through food during a time when people were more isolated than ever,” reads the Maven website. “During this time Shauna was inspired to reconnect with her family recipes, and the initial concept for Maven was born.”

Godfrey studied at the Culinary Institute of America, and has worked at two-star Michelin restaurant Atera in New York City, as a line cook at Daisho in Toronto, and as sous chef at Kojin where she led a large team for two years.

Now, Maven is serving up a menu of snacks, small plates, large plates and sides. For snacks, there are options like cashews with everything bagel spice, challah buns with butter or chicken liver mousse, and BBQ salami. Small plates include options like salmon crudo with pickled onion and horseradish or crispy potato with dill pickle dip.

Large plates include chicken schnitzel, pastrami crusted short rib and duck confit cholent, which is inspired by a traditional slow-cooked Jewish stew. They’re well accompanied by sides such as potato salad or dill spaetzle.

Maven is now open at 112 Harbord St.

1. Maven