Chefs Claudio Aprile and Robbie Hojilla Talk The Talk

CHEF CLAUDIO APRILE - Toronto Life wasn't surprised when Chef Claudio Aprile shuttered Origin Liberty. In a sit-down with The Grid, Aprile acknowledged that the area was a challenge and didn't want to "dilute his brand." These days, his company, Orderfire Restaurant Group, continues to operate his two remaining Origin restaurants and Trillium in Lester B. Pearson's Terminal 3, but the man himself is upping his television game as a featured judge on CTV's MasterChef Canada, set to premiere next Monday 8pm EST. [The Grid]
· Shop Talk: Claudio Aprile on joining MasterChef and closing Liberty Origin [The Grid]
· Claudio Aprile's Origin chain loses its Liberty Village location [TL]

CHEF ROBBIE HOJILLA - At last year's TIFF, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's presence thrust Hudson Kitchen into the spotlight, and months later, Chef Robbie Hojilla, a well-studied culinary adventurer (Centro, Bistro and Bakery Thuet, Woodlot, Ursa), continues to treat all his diners like Hollywood royalty. As The Grid reports, it's "tricky to find one word to describe the menu." Hojilla's background in French, Italian, Canadian, and Filipino cooking inspires him to "put a spin on classic dishes and not be like anyone else. It's good North American food."
· Fame Ate Here [The Grid]