TORONTO — El Catrin, located in Toronto’s The Distillery District, has welcomed two new chefs from Mexico City — executive chef Carlos Zamora and chef de cuisine Jonathan Alvarado. Additionally, the restaurant will unveil an updated menu at its annual Cinco De Mayo event from May 5 to 7.
Zamora and Alvarado have worked at some of the world’s best restaurants, including the three Michelin star-rated Can Fabes and two Michelin star-rated Mugaritz. The chefs also spent time at Mexico City’s Pujol, which was named one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. This is the first time they will team up at the same restaurant.
“Cinco de Mayo is about celebrating the people and food of Puebla, a beautiful region of Mexico,” says Zamora. “Mexico has 32 states, each with so much difference, from the mountains to the desert. The masa, the comal, the Indigenous methods, the innovation – it’s our responsibility to share the warmth of our people through the care of our food. It’s this heritage and the hospitality of Mexico that we want to bring to our guests at El Catrin.”
“We have both had the opportunity to work throughout Puebla, and its unique and delicious culinary history has definitely inspired our approach,” says Alvarado. “We share the same feelings about cooking. It is a humanizing art, with the opportunity to combine recipes and execution to create something new. We welcome everyone to join us this Cinco de Mayo, an excellent time of year to see what’s new at El Catrin.”
“El Catrin is all about gathering what we value most – family, friends, culture, and of course, unparalleled Mexican cuisine,” says Rik Ocvirk, VP of The Distillery Restaurants Corp. “For nearly a decade, Torontonians have cherished the warm feeling of sharing a delicious meal with loved ones here in the historic Distillery District, and we can’t wait to share our new chefs and menu with our guests.”
