Blackfriars Bistro & Catering
46 Blackfriars St N6H 1K7 London, ON, Canada

We have been making several types of fresh pasta for our new Spring menu launching later this week. #farmtotable #youngpecorinoravioli #baccalaraviolaci

Our Almond Encrusted Chicken Breast with Local Apples, Leeks and Blyth Farms "Drunken Ram" is one of our signature dishes. #farmtotable

We will be continuing our prix fixe menu until the end of the month of March. Wednesday to Saturday from 4 pm to 8 pm. Call 519 667-4930

Our baker Gary, made Manuela a beautiful Hazelnut-Coffee Dacquoise for her birthday. #farmtotable

We will also have some other signature items on offer as choices for Londonlicious this week such as our Roasted Eggplant & Garlic Soup; Beef Bourguignon made with beef tenderloin, mushrooms, Metzger lardons and pearl onions with red wine demi and buttered noodles or Potato and Spinach Gnocchi Puttanesca with tomato ragout, olives, capers, garlic, anchovies, artichokes and Parmigiano. #25thanniversary Wednesday to Saturday from 4pm to 8 pm. Call 519-667-4930

LONDONLICIOUS Blackfriars is celebrating 25 years in business this February. As longtime advocates of the farm-to-table movement, menus reflect their continuing exploration of the diversity of locally-sourced ingredients and quality products. Owner Emanuela Frongia and chef Bryan Lavery are supporters of the buy-local movement and offer a Slow Food-inspired experience. The Blackfriars team support independent farmers, artisans, local craft brewers, distillers and offer VQA a...nd consignment wines. We are open for contactless curbside pick up, takeaway or or delivery: Wednesday to Saturday 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm LONDONLICIOUS 3-course prix fixe $45 per person + taxes & gratuities Appetizers Roasted Heritage Squash Soup with Birch Syrup & Local Honey or Signature Caesar Salad with Crisp Romaine, Focaccia-Croutons, Metzger’s Bacon & Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese Mains Chicken Marbella with Prunes, Capers, Olives, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Herbs and Baby New Potatoes or Savory Maple-Roasted Root Vegetable and Caramelized Brussels Sprouts Lasagna or Double Smoked Metzger Pork Chop with Caramelized Plums and Fig Balsamic Glaze on Roasted Baby New Potatoes with French Green Beans or Bucantini with Black Tiger Shrimp, Mushrooms, Lemon and Tarragon-Pistachio Pesto Desserts Chocolate Strawberry Tiramisu or Caramel Chocolate Apple Bread Pudding Consignment or VQA Wines $30 Bottle: Pinot Noir Sprucewood Winery Sauvignon Blanc Sprucewood Winery Carmenera Anakena Winery Terre Bianche Sella & Mosca Winery Craft Beers $5. a can: Cream Ale Anderson’s Brewery Irish Red Ale Powerhouse Brewery Light Lager Bayside Brewer Londonlicious #farmtotable

Now that we have moved into the red zone we will continue to offer our regular menu and our Londonlicious menu as well as our pantry/larder items available for takeaway, contactless curbside pickup, delivery and very limited dine in seating. Please call 519 - 667-4930 to order or to make a reservation. We continue to have strict protocols in place. The safety of our staff and clients remains of paramount importance to us. #pleasewearamask

We just heard that the Lavery Culinary Group is a 2020 Innovative Experience of the Year finalist for their Forest City Culinary Experience Slow Food-Inspired Tasting Experiences at Blackfriars Bistro. #gastronomictastingexperiences #sprucewoodshoreswinery #sociallydistanced #arkoftaste #swoconf2021 Photo by Phong Tran

Happy Valentines Day. This is the contents of our special Valentines Day Brunch Box. #todayisour25thanniversary

A Filipino Gastronomic Tasting Experience with chefs Brian Sua-an of Reverie Restaurant & Bryan Lavery of Forest City Culinary Experiences & Blackfriars Bistro at Blackfriars Bistro Monday November 30th at 6:30 pm. $70.00 with optional Craft Beer and Cocktail Pairing Limited Reservations at 519- 667- 4930... Sinigang Savoury and Sour Soup Broth with Chayote, Lemongrass, Garlic, Nettle, Tamarind, Black Tiger Shrimp and Baby Clams Grilled Sea Bass wrapped in Banana Leaves, Onion Lemon, Tomato and Garlic Chips Pinkabet Heritage Squash, Okra, Bitter Gourd, Eggplant, Kale and Broad Beans with sautéed Shrimp Paste Duo of Charred Pork Belly Adobo with Soya and Lime & BBQ Pork with Chopped Chilies, Green Onions & Cilantro with Jasmine Rice Pandan Chicken Caramelized Boneless Thighs with Lemongrass, Ginger and Soya Halo Halo House-made Ube (Philippine Purple Yam) Ice cream, Macapuno (Preserved Coconut), Nata (Coconut Jelly), Anko (Red Bean Paste) & Crème Caramel & Tuile

The article is mostly accurate but of course the award was for our entire team at Lavery Culinary Group (including Emanuela Frongia) for our Forest City Culinary Experiences. We could not have achieved this without our many community partners and the support of fellow restaurateurs. We are excited about our upcoming culinary experience with Chef Brian Sua-an of Reverie Restaurant on November 30th which will feature re-imagined Filipino cuisine with beer and cocktail pairings.

We are open for Dinner and Contactless Curbside Pickup 7 nights a week at 5pm. The photo is chef Scott Brown's Braised Short Rib, Blue Mushroom and Eggplant Warm Salad with charred Kale and Birch Syrup. Other specials tonight include Beef Wellington with Mushroom Duxelle and Red Wine Demi and Classic Fresh Linguine with Meatballs and Bolognese Ragu. Reservations or to order for pick up call us at 667-4930.

COMING SOON! BLACKFRIARS BISTRO Gluten Free and Plant-based Pantry/Larder Offerings Savoury Artichoke Tapenade 250ml GF PB... Plant Based Basil Pesto with Cashews 250 ml GF PB Ground Mushroom Marinara Sauce 500ml GF PB Sundried Tomato and Basil Ragu 500ml GF PB Cauliflower Velvet Soup 500ml GF PB Apple Pumpkin Curry Soup 500ml GF PB Marinated Quinoa Raw Vegetable Salad 500ml GF PB (Quinoa red peppers, peas, carrots, onion, cilantro, lemongrass vinaigrette) Kale Lentil & Sweet Potato Salad 500ml GF PB (kale, sweet potato, lentil, pepitas, walnuts, ,cranberry, mild curry vinaigrette) Layered Love (casserole of seasoned quinoa, braised mushrooms, lentils GF PB Topped with creamy garlic smashed sweet potatoes) {Serves 4} Pear & Chevre with Thyme Galette with GF Pastry 8 GF Plant Based Pear, Thyme and Crema Fresca Galette 8 PB Artichoke Sundried Tomato, Cashew ricotta , spinach PB Rustic Folded Tart 8 Vegetable Curry with Saffron Brown Basmati Rice (potato, cauliflower, GF PB spinach & chickpeas in a rich plant based curry sauce) {Serves 4} GF Vegetable Lasagna with Sun Dried Tomato Ragu GF (peppers, mushrooms, spinach, zucchini noodles,ricotta,mozzarella & parmesan) {Serves 6} Dolce Vita Lasagna Calabrese PB (Layers of fresh pasta, spinach, parsley, cashew ricotta and rich ground- Mushroom, marinara sauce) {Serves 6} Sweet Bakery Bliss Double Chocolate Torte {Serves 6} GF (dense dark chocolate flourless cake that is completely addictive) Apple Crumble Coffee Cake 8 GF PB Pear Cardamom Coffee Cake 8 GF PB Lemon Italian Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze 8 PB Individual Carrot Cake Cakes GF PB Individual Fancy Pumpkin Tart PB GF Individual Local Apple French Tart PB GF Italian Amaretti Morbidi Cookies ( 1 dozen) GF PB Take and Bake Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies( GF & PB)

Blackfriars Bistro News! At Blackfriars curbside pick-up, we are offering not only a seasonal changing weekly menu but some of your favorite made-from-scratch dishes on our Pantry/Larder menus. Our chefs and our baker are crafting delicious, seasonally-inspired ready-to-eat meals that are available for contactless curbside pickup! Our farm-to-table inspired menus are crafted weekly by our team with handpicked, seasonal ingredients from small, independent farmers, producers, ...Continue reading

UPDATED 2020 BLACKFRIARS - SEASONAL PANTRY/LARDER CALL 667-4930 Coming Soon our Gluten-Free and Vegan Pantry Items ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TAKE-AWAY OR CONTACTLESS CURBSIDE PICKUP...Continue reading

I am up early after a busy Thanksgiving weekend at Blackfriars. We are closed today and Wednesday for a short break and to play catch-up. Today, is likely the last day that we will make the weekly trip up north to visit the Mennonite farmgates before they close up until next spring. I am reposting the story, "Saffron and the Secrets of the Back Forty," that I wrote almost a decade ago. Sarah and her family, Old Order Mennonites, have long since moved from southwestern Ontario... north, and purchased land in the Renfrew area near Ottawa. My relationship with another family who I have been buying produce from since I owned and operated Murano Restaurant has deepened over the last fifteen years or so. Manuela and I made the commitment to a weekly visit to purchase their pristine seasonal produce and other high quality ingredients from them since we started operating Blackfriars in mid-June. Some of the other Mennonite farmers have retired and the occasional new farmgate has appeared since I originally wrote this article. We have developed relationships with farmers at a Mennonite co-op and purchase our freshly milled Hoffnung certified organic, stone-ground flour (spelt, whole wheat bread flour, pastry flour) in person from their mill in Howick township. They also mill Red Fife which is a heritage wheat variety that was the baking and milling industries' standard of wheat in Canada from 1860 to 1900. Red Fife Wheat is included in Slow Food Canada's Ark of Taste. Hoffnung incidentally, means "Hope" in their dialect. - Bryan Lavery See more

We want to share this photo of Blackfriars Bistro that was taken a few weeks ago by local photographer, Phong Tran, which reminds us of an Edward Hopper painting. We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone in the Blackfriars Community and beyond who have supported us for nearly 25 years, and more recently through the pandemic. These have been challenging times but your ongoing support and encouragement have meant a lot to us. Many of you know that the restaurant ...ownership transferred from Betty Heydon to Manuela Frongia in July. Betty is still running catering operations off-site as the Catering Coordinator. Betty approached chef/food writer and Culinary Director of @LaveryCulinaryGroup , Bryan Lavery, (original partner and chef at Blackfriars) about finding a successor for the restaurant. Manuela, who worked with Lavery at Murano Restaurant and the Lavery Culinary Group, was brought on board and worked alongside Betty for two years. Due to Covid-19, the transfer of ownership was accelerated. Chef Lavery was brought in to refocus operations and brought a dedicated farm-to-table philosophy to the Bistro. It remains our hope that we will be celebrating Betty Heydon and her many accomplishments at Blackfriars Bistro and the larger community in February 2021, which will be the restaurants 25th anniversary. Happy Thanksgiving. #BlackfriarsNeighbourhoodAssociation #Blackfriarsbridge #petersville #londonontario #londonontariorestaurants #farmtotable #neighbourhoodbistro See more

CALL US FOR DINE-IN RESERVATIONS or CONTACTLESS LUNCH OR DINNER CURBSIDE PICK UP - ASK ABOUT OUR DAILY BLACKBOARD SPECIALS Lunch Wednesday to Saturday 11:30 am to 2 pm or by Special Arrangement (Curbside Pick up Available). LUNCH MENU ...Continue reading

We will soon be announcing our contactless curbside pickup Thanksgiving dinner options which will include individual dinners, dinners for two or more. Also, check out our posting for pantry/larder items here on our Facebook page. #farmtotable #heirloomsquash #comebacktoblackfriarsbistro #curbsidepickup #londonontarioculinaryexperiences #londonontariorestaurants #thanksgiving2020

Blackfriars will be Open Sunday evening and both Sunday and Monday for Contactless Curbside Pickup. We are featuring our Thanksgiving Prix Fixe Dinner as well as our regular menu. Please Reserve a Table or Order Pickup in Advance. 519 667 4930 Contactless Curbside Pickup Turkey Dinner with all the Trimmings Roasted Turkey Breast... Homestyle Gravy Creamy Mashed Potatoes Classic Savoury Stuffing Roasted Fall Vegetables Cranberry Compote Please order in advance. $29.95 per person Individual Pumpkin Tarts $9. Individual Apple Tarts $9. Heritage Pumpkin Pie $24. #thanksgiving2020 #grateful #homestyle #farmtotable #contactlesscurbsidepickup See more

They're back!!! Fresh Blueberry Scone Shortcake.

BLACKFRIARS PANTRY/LARDER SEPT/OCT 2020 ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TAKE-AWAY OR CONTACTLESS CURBSIDE PICKUP At Blackfriars your dietary restrictions are understood and happily accommodated! Some of our seasonal pantry/larder items sell out quickly and may need 2 days notice. Phone us at 519-667-4930...Continue reading

Blackfriars Mid-September Menu We support independent farmers and update are menu weekly. All our Pantry and Larder items are available for contactless curbside pickup or Take away. Creamy Roasted Buttercup Squash with Local Maple and Honey 9... Chicken Liver Pate Venetian Style with Roasted Red Pepper Jelly, Fresh Fruit & Crostini 14 Beet and Woolwich Dairy Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Walnuts and Local Honey 18 Seafood Cheesecake with Black Tiger Shrimp, Heritage Greens and Mulberry Vinaigrette 19 Fresh Ontario Melon & Prosciutto Crudo Toscano with Balsamico 17 Our version of Caesar Salad Grilled Romaine, Croutons, Bagna Cauda & Gunns Hill 5 Brothers Smoked Cheese 15 Charcuterie Board Salumi, Prosciutto Crudo Toscano, Pulled Pork Terrine, Pork Hock Terrena, Rillettes, Crostini & Savoury Preserves 28 Verdura Board Roasted Carrots, Pickled Beets, Grilled Zucchini, Eggplant, Peppers, Marinated Artichokes, Sundried Tomato Pesto, Roasted Red Pepper Aioli & Focaccia 23 Grilled Metzgers Prime Rib Burger with Old Cheddar Cheese, Zucchini Relish on house-made Oregano Focaccia accompanied with Traditional Potato Salad and Coleslaw 19 Stracatto di Manzo al Chianti Classico Marinated & Braised Flank Steak with Raisins, Lardons & Pine nuts 29 Grilled Atlantic Salmon with Lemon-Caper Beurre Blanc on Buttered Baby New Potatoes 28 Almond-Crusted Chicken stuffed with Gruyere, Sautéed Apple & Leeks with a Dijon-Brandy Cream Sauce on Baby New Potatoes 28 Filet of Aged Beef Tenderloin with a Red Wine Demi served on Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes 4oz 27 7oz 39 Medallions of Metzgers Pork Tenderloin topped with Black Tiger Shrimp and Piri Piri Sauce on Roasted Garlic Smashed Potatoes 29 Ultimate Cheese Selection 21

Slow Food-Inspired Tasting Experience Menu October 2020 Prix Fixe Menu $65.00 Wine Pairing $35.00... Cranberry, Elderberry and Rose Tea Creamy Roasted Long Island Cheese Pumpkin Soup with Stinging Nettle Pesto Sweet Dumpling Squash Stuffed with Black Duck Wild Rice Risotto Heirloom Tomato Salad Pawpaw Tasting Tourtière with Ontario Pork, Day Apples, Quince, Elderberry, Staghorn Sumac and Mennonite Pear Chutney Jesuit Pear Tasting Seabuckthorn Ice Cream / Heritage Pumpkin Mousse Apple and Maple

If you like squash we have you covered. #heirloomsquash #heritagesquash

Our interest in wild foods and foraging was re-ignited when our team at the Lavery Culinary Group joined chef Katherine Jones of Growing Chefs Ontario and Andrew Judge, coordinator of indigenous studies at Conestoga took us for an Edible Nature Walk near where I live on Windermere. Manuela recently purchased the book The Forager's Harvest. which is a great reference for Edible Wild Plants. Executive Chef Katherine Jones is a Stratford Chef School graduate and for over eight years has been with Growing Chefs! Ontario, working to challenge the perceived limitations of children and youth in the kitchen. Her interest lies in using hyper-local ingredients and foraged finds. She is a true inspiration. - Bryan Lavery

We had a full day of visiting farmgates and picking up both Red Fife and our Organic Flour from the Mennonite growers. We still had time to forage for berries and found some interesting mushrooms as well as several "faerie rings." Which we will write about at a later date. We left these beautiful specimens undisturbed. #foraging #farmgates #organicflour #redfifewheat

Black Duck Wild Rice, located in Curve Lake First Nation is a social enterprise involved with seeding, harvesting, processing and educating about manoomin or wild ricea traditional food of the Nishnaabe people. Blackfriars has sourced this indigenous rice for its menus over the last few years Black Duck Wild Rice will be featured as part of our Slow Food-inspired Tasting Experience on Wednesday, September 21st 2020. http://nourishingontario.ca/blog/tag/black-duck-wild-rice/

2020 BLACKFRIARS PANTRY/LARDER OCTOBER ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TAKE-AWAY OR CONTACTLESS CURBSIDE PICKUP At Blackfriars your dietary restrictions are understood and happily accommodated! Some of our seasonal pantry/larder items sell out quickly and may need 2 days’ notice. Phone us at 519-667-4930...Continue reading

Here is an article our chef/EatDrink Magazine Food Editor Bryan Lavery wrote about Culinary Farmer/Food Advocate Paul Spence & wife Sara a few years ago. Paul has gone on to host the Regenerate Heritage Grain Weekend among other accomplishments. Paul & Sara will be speaking at our Slow Food-inspired Tasting Experience on Sept, 23rd 2020 at Blackfriars Bistro about their farm & the elusive pawpaw. The evening will feature a wine pairing by Sprucewood Shores Winery www.eatdrink.ca/a-culinary-farmer/ @OntSouthwest @SprucewoodWine

Blackfriars Bistro and the Lavery Culinary Group present a new Slow Food-inspired Tasting Experience. Farmers Paul & Sara Spence will be a focus of this taste experience at Blackfriars Bistro with Sprucewood Shores Estates Winery. Wednesday, September 23, 2020. Details & reservations at 519 667- 4930 Photos by, Phong Tran

Thanksgiving Contactless Curbside Pickup Blackfriars will be Open Thanksgiving Weekend for Dining and Contactless Curbside Pickup. Please Reserve a Table or Order Pickup in Advance. 519 667 4930 Turkey Dinner with all the Trimmings... Roasted Turkey Breast Homestyle Gravy Creamy Mashed Potatoes Classic Savoury Stuffing Roasted Fall Vegetables Cranberry Compote Please order in advance. $29.95 per person Individual Pumpkin Tarts $9. Individual Apple Tarts $9. Heritage Pumpkin Pie $24. Pecan Pie $28. Individual Tourtière with Ontario Pork, Day Apples, Sumac, Quince, Elderberry and Pear Chutney $22. Individual Savoury Beef Pot Pies with Roasted Root Vegetables $20. Roasted Heirloom Squash Soup 750ml $14

New Menu with Blackboard and Dessert Specials Daily. www.blackfriarsbistro.com/menu

Yes, we have new and infinitely more comfortable Eames-inspired "Eiffel" dining" chairs with moulded seats in the dining room. The "iconic"wrought-iron ice cream parlour chairs are now on the patio for alfresco dining. #comebacktoblackfriarsbistro #farmtotable

Blackfriars Update: In the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurateurs were mandated to close their dining rooms and shut down their catering operations entirely to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. For employers, this meant laying off all their workers, many who will not return to the industry. As it turned out, abruptly closing a busy restaurant operation would be an on-going challenge that even the most stalwart restaurateurs would find difficult to navigate. ...Continue reading

I am looking for someone knowledgeable about foraging to help me develop a Wild Food Experience exploring the many species of edible plants found along the banks of the Thames River in Blackfriars/Petersville. Please contact me at Blackfriars Bistro 519 667 4930 - Chef Bryan Lavery

September Menu We support independent farmers. Menu and pantry items are available for contactless curbside pickup. Please call for reservations or for curbside pick-up at 519-667 4930 Roasted Eggplant and Garlic Soup with Roasted Red Pepper Rouille 9... Heirloom & Field Tomato Salad with Basil Pesto 14 Chicken Liver Pate with Roasted Red Pepper Jelly, Fresh Fruit & Crostini 14 Beet and Local Goat Cheese Salad with Walnuts and Local Honey 16 Panzanella House-made Focaccia, Red Onions, Tomatoes, Gunns Hill 5 Brothers Cheese, Olives and Herb Vinaigrette 15 Fresh Ontario Melon & Prosciutto Crudo Toscano with Balsamico 16 Grilled Romaine, Croutons, Bagna Cauda & Gunns Hill 5 Brothers Smoked Cheese 15 Charcuterie Board Salumi, Prosciutto Crudo Toscano, Pulled Pork Terrine, Pork Hock Terrena, Rillettes, Crostini & Savoury Preserves 28 Verdura Board Roasted Carrots, Pickled Beets, Grilled Zucchini, Eggplant, Peppers, Marinated Artichokes, Sundried Tomato Pesto, Roasted Red Pepper Aioli & Focaccia 23 Grilled Metzgers Prime Rib Burger with Old Cheddar Cheese, Zucchini Relish on house-made Oregano Focaccia accompanied with Traditional Potato Salad and Coleslaw 19 Beef Bourguignon with Tenderloin, Mushrooms, Pearl Onions, Lardons and Red Wine Demi served with Buttered Noodles 27 Grilled Atlantic Salmon with Lemon-Caper Beurre Blanc on Baby New Potatoes 28 Almond-Crusted Chicken stuffed with Gruyere, Sautéed Apple & Leeks with a Dijon-Brandy Cream Sauce with Baby New Potatoes 28 Filet of Aged Beef Tenderloin with a Red Wine Demi served on Olive Oil Roasted Potatoes 4oz 27 7oz 39 Medallions of Pork Tenderloin topped with Black Tiger Shrimp and Piri Piri Sauce 29 Ultimate Cheese Selection 21

We have given our Black Duck Wild Rice the risotto treatment and paired it with Sweet Dumpling Squash at lunch. Our chef has a personal connection having spent a few of his formative years growing up beside Rice Lake. #seasonallunchmenu #farmtotable #foraging

At lunch we are serving our Tourtiere made with Metzger's Ontario Pork, Day Apples, Quince, Elderberry and Mennonite Pears. #farmtotable

Blackfriars Bistro and Lavery Culinary Group present a Slow Food-inspired Tasting Experience Its that time of year again, pawpaw season. This elusive plant, indigenous to the northern Carolinian forest, historically ranging from parts of the southeastern United States to southeastern Canada and is the only temperate tropical fruit tree in southwestern Ontario. Aromas of mango and banana give it a singular flavour profile for our cool climate cuisine. This delicious Ark of T...aste passenger is a focus of a Slow Food-inspired 5-course taste experience coming up in London, Ontario at Blackfriars Bistro with a wine pairing from Sprucewood Estates Winery. Chef Bryan Lavery, Emanuela Frongia, and farmers Paul and Sara Spence will be on hand with some other very special guests. We will be tasting items from the Canadian Ark of Taste and other uniquely local ingredients which reflect Canadas vast, diverse landscape of peoples and foods. Save the date, Wednesday, September 23, 2020. Dinner is $60.00 with an optional $35.00 wine pairing. Reservations are required. 519 667-4930 Slow Food simply put is the opposite of fast food. Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization founded in 1989 to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions. Since its beginnings, Slow Food has grown into a global movement involving millions of people in over 160 countries, working to ensure everyone has access to good, clean and fair food. Slow Food believes food is tied to many other aspects of life, including culture, politics, agriculture and the environment. Through our food choices, we can collectively influence how food is cultivated, produced, and distributed, and change the world as a result. More reading about the pawpaw can be found at https://edibletoronto.ediblecommunities.com//hunting-pawpaw See more

We have lots of new items and produce on our Pantry offerings this week. We will be posting the list shortly.

Thank you for all your kind words. Please note that Betty is staying on as the Catering Coordinator for Blackfriars. STATEMENT: March 12 changed the future of eateries across our world. After 24 years as owner of this very special bistro it was a truly bittersweet decision for me to hang up my apron.... What made Blackfriars such a unique space was the love and support from our wonderful clients and staff whom I was privileged to consider friends. Fortunately , Emanuela Frongia was not ready to give up on the Blackfriars mission to spread love through food. I am grateful to her for carrying Blackfriars forward and especially thankful to each of you who have made my journey at Blackfriars one of kindness. Betty See more

We are gearing up to provide some new Culinary Experiences this fall. Our first experience will be a Slow Food-inspired pop-up dinner and wine pairing at Blackfriars Bistro with Sprucewood Shores Winery on Wednesday September 23, 2020. We will be releasing details shortly. #farmtotable #VQA #SlowFoodInspired #londonontarioculinaryexperiences #tourismlondon

In season, Gary's freshly baked Blueberry Scones are what sweet dreams are made of... Photo by, Phong Tran for Lavery Culinary Group

We love peach season. Our folded Peach Tart with Mascarpone have been a big hit! #farmtotable Photo by, Phong Tran

Fantastic evening out at Blackfriars. Congratulations Emanuela, Bryan Lavery and your team. The ambience and food were outstanding, and the company was top notch!

Blackfriars Menu Saturday August 29 2020 Roasted Eggplant and Garlic Soup with Roasted Red Pepper Rouille 9 Heirloom and Heritage Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad with Basil Pesto 14... Panzanella House-made Focaccia, Red Onions, Tomatoes, Gunns Hill 5 Brothers Cheese, Olives & Herb Vinaigrette 15 Fresh Canary Melon & Prosciutto Crudo Toscano 14 Chicken Liver Pate with Red Pepper Jelly & Crostini 14 Grilled Romaine, Croutons, Bagna Cauda & Gunns Hill 5 Brothers Smoked Cheese 15 Eggplant Three-ways: Caponata, Baba Ghanoush, Parmigiana 14 Charcuterie Board Salumi, Prosciutto Crudo Toscano, Pulled Pork Terrine, Pork Hock Terrena, Rillettes, Crostini & Savoury Preserves 28 Verdura Board Roasted Carrots, Pickled Beets, Grilled Zucchini, Peppers, Marinated Artichokes, Sundried Tomato Pesto, Roasted Red Pepper Aioli, Hummus & Focaccia 23 Grilled Metzgers Prime Rib Burger with Old Cheddar Cheese, Zucchini Relish on house-made Oregano Focaccia accompanied with Traditional Potato Salad and Coleslaw 19 Salade Niçoise with Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Green Beans, Baby Potatoes, Hard Boiled Eggs, Capers, Olives and Tarragon-Dijon Vinaigrette 27 Almond-Crusted Chicken stuffed with Gruyere, Sautéed Apple & Leeks with a Dijon-Brandy Cream Sauce and Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes 28 Beef Bourguignon Beef Tenderloin Braised in Red Wine, Demi, Mushrooms & Pearl Onions with Buttered Tagliatelle and Green Beans 29 Filet of Aged Beef Tenderloin with a Red Wine Demi served on Olive Oil Roasted Potatoes 4oz 27 7oz 39 Medallions of Pork Tenderloin topped with Black Tiger Shrimp and Piri Piri Sauce 29 Ultimate Cheese Selection 21 Blueberry or Strawberry Scone Shortcake with Whipped Cream 11 Peach Strudel with Mascarpone & Whipped Cream 11 Upside down Pear Cake 11 Double Walnut Chocolate Tart 11

BLACKFRIARS PANTRY ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TAKE AWAY OR CONTACTLESS CURBSIDE PICKUP. At Blackfriars your dietary restrictions are understood and happily accommodated! Some of our seasonal pantry items sell out quickly and may need 2 days notice. Phone us at 519-667-4930 We truly love this time of the year. In addition to our weekly seasonal menu we have individual Roasted Vegetable Lasagna ($18), Seafood Lasagna with Béchamel ($22), Chicken Marbella with Prunes, Plums, Cap...Continue reading

We have been working on some new Pantry Items.

Blackfriars Bistro Update In the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurateurs were mandated to close their dining rooms and shut down their catering operations entirely to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. For employers, this meant laying off all their workers, many who will not return to the industry. As it turned out, abruptly closing a busy restaurant would be an on-going challenge that even the most stalwart restaurateur would find difficult to navigate. At Bl...ackfriars Bistro, thousands of dollars of perishables had to be thrown out when the freezer unexpectedly broke down. Like many others, tens of thousands of dollars in business disappeared overnight. Now, 5 months into the pandemic, many of our friends and colleagues in the restaurant industry have cautiously reopened their doors to the public. For some, this means reopening their dining rooms and patios, or adding a patio, while others have opted to reopen for just contactless curbside delivery, takeout or pivoted to retailing specialty and grocery items. Blackfriars has been lucky enough to be able to open a modest but charming patio beside the restaurant that has been a godsend. Sadly, some of our long-time colleagues will not be reopening. Some restaurants are closing by choice and some because they do not have the financial wherewithal to rebound. We have tried to make our operational procedures at Blackfriars Bistro transparent so that our regulars and new patrons know about our dedicated efforts and the ins and outs of maintaining a safe premise. We have deep cleaned the restaurant, painted, and added other safety measures and protocols. There are still patrons who are concerned and afraid to interact so were letting them know you don't have to [and] we have contactless curbside pick-up for both our menu and pantry items, Delivery options will be available in September. We are hoping to open the dining room for lunch in September; in the meantime we are open Wednesday to Saturday evenings or other times by special agreement. The narrative regarding how restaurants will go forward, given the rising costs of operations which have been escalating for years, is still in a state of flux. The coronavirus has shone a light on the fragility of the industry and the fact that workers need to be paid a living wage. Restaurants play an integral role in community, and at Blackfriars Bistro we continue to take action in this time of uncertainty we remain focussed on London and the Blackfriars/Petersville neighbourhood, the larger restaurant community, and far beyond with pride, loyalty, gratitude and commitment to our buy local and farm to table philosophy.

We have been making changes to keep everyone safe and social distanced in the dining room.

We had a wine tasting with Staci Greka of Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery yesterday. Here is an article from EatDrink Magazine's Women's Issue earlier in the year. #sprucewoodshoreswinery @SprucewoodShoresEstateWinery https://eatdrink.ca/an-interview-with-winemaker-tanya-mitc/

BLACKFRIARS MENU AUGUST 25th Join us for Dinner Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday beginning at 5 pm on our socially-distanced patio or in the dining room. Menu and pantry items are available for contactless curbside pickup. Please call for reservations or for curbside pick-up at 519-667 4930 Roasted Eggplant and Garlic Soup with Roasted Red Pepper Rouille 9... Heirloom and Heritage Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad with Basil Pesto 14 Panzanella House-made Focaccia, Red Onions, Tomatoes, Gunns Hill 5 Brothers Cheese, Olives & Herb Vinaigrette 15 Fresh Melon & Prosciutto Crudo Toscano 14 Ontario Niagara Peach, Basil & Marinated Bocconcini Salad 16 Grilled Romaine, Croutons, Bagna Cauda & Gunns Hill 5 Brothers Smoked Cheese 15 Eggplant Three-ways: Caponata, Baba Ghanoush, Parmigiana 14 Charcuterie Board Salumi, Prosciutto Crudo Toscano, Pulled Pork Terrine, Pork Hock Terrena, Rillettes, Crostini & Savoury Preserves 28 Verdura Board Roasted Carrots, Pickled Beets, Grilled Zucchini, Peppers, Marinated Artichokes, Sundried Tomato Pesto, Roasted Red Pepper Aioli, Hummus & Focaccia 23 Grilled Metzgers Prime Rib Burger with Old Cheddar Cheese, Zucchini Relish on house-made Oregano Focaccia accompanied with Traditional Potato Salad and Coleslaw 19 Lake Erie Perch with Lemon- Caper Beurre Blanc 28 Salade Niçoise with Grilled Atlantic Salmon Tuna, Green Beans, Baby Potatoes, Hard Boiled Eggs, Capers, Olives and Tarragon-Dijon Vinaigrette 27 Almond-Crusted Chicken stuffed with Gruyere, Sautéed Apple & Leeks with a Dijon-Brandy Cream Sauce and Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes 28 Filet of Aged Beef Tenderloin with a Red Wine Demi served on Olive Oil Roasted Potatoes 4oz 27 7oz 39 Medallions of Pork Tenderloin topped with Black Tiger Shrimp and Piri Piri Sauce 29 Ultimate Cheese Selection 21 Lemon Curd Cake with Lemon Butter Cream 11 Seasonal Scone Shortcake with Whipped Cream 11 Peach Strudel with Mascarpone & Whipped Cream 11 House-made Muskmelon Ice Cream 10

We are fortunate to have a patio this summer for socially-distanced dining. It is great to see folks enjoying alfresco dining Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights. We also have an additional 20 seats inside for dining. Call us for a reservation at 519-667-4930.

We're excited to welcome you back for inside the dining room at Blackfriars Bistro. Things look a little different (theres a lot more space between the tables) but still the same hospitable service and our commitment to seasonal farm-to-table food is even stronger than ever. We are making weekly trips to our farmer friends to source ingredients and hand-pick the freshest seasonal produce. Some rules for dining inside with us. Please sign our book with your name and telephone... number. Please do not enter the restaurant or patio without a mask. You must wear a mask when not seated at your table (entering and exiting and visits to the washroom). Unfortunately, this is the new reality and we have to enforce a zero tolerance policy as mandated by the Middlesex Health Unit and for the safety of our patrons and workers. Please make a reservation in advance as we have limited tables inside and outside on the patio. Our telephone number is 519-667-4930. We may consider taking a walk-ins but please call from outside to check availability. Please be patient, we have a small dedicated staff focused on your safety and wellbeing as well as their own. Our hours vary but Contactless Curbside and Pantry Items are available Wednesday to Saturday night beginning at 4:30 pm. Please check our Facebook for hours and an updated weekly menu or call us. Thanks for your continued support navigating through these changing, challenging times. We look forward to seeing you.

It is tomato season. Betty has been providing us with an incredible selection of heritage and heirloom tomatoes from her garden.Their flavour has it all: intensity, richness, and depth.

BLACKFRIARS PANTRY ITEMS Some of our pantry items may need 2 days notice. While the kitchen was being painted and some touch-ups in the dining room were getting done we travelled the countryside this week to bring you the highest quality fruit and vegetables from our farmer friends. We have beautiful peaches, blueberries, canary melon, cantaloupe, new potatoes, green beans and eggplant this week in addition to our regular offerings. We love this time of the year. Betty cont...Continue reading

AUGUST 13th - 15th 2020 Join us for Dinner Thursday, Friday & Saturday beginning at 5 pm on our patio or in the dining room. All items are available for contactless curbside pickup. Please call for reservations or for curbside pick-up at 519 - 667 4930 BLACKFRIARS MENU... Chilled Tomato-Cucumber Gazpacho 9 Ontario Field Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad with Basil Pesto 14 Fresh Melon and Prosciutto Crudo Toscano 14 Panzanella Bread Salad with Red Onions, Tomato, Gunns Hill 5 Brothers Cheese, house-made Focaccia, Black Olives and Herb Vinaigrette 15 Classic Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons and Parmigiano with Metzgers double-smoked Bacon 14 Signature Stilton & Port Cheesecake with Heritage Greens, Mulberry Vinaigrette and Crostini 16 Charcuterie Board Prosciutto Crudo Toscano, Pulled Pork Terrine, Pork Belly Terrena, Salumi, Rillettes, Crostini, and Savoury Preserves 28 Verdura Board Roasted Carrots, Beets, Peppers, Grilled Zucchini, Cauliflower & Red Peppers, Marinated Artichokes, Sundried Tomato Pesto, Roasted Red Pepper Aioli and Hummus 23 Grilled Metzgers Prime Rib Burger with Old Cheddar Cheese & Zucchini Relish on house-made Oregano Focaccia accompanied with our Traditional Potato Salad 19 Grilled Atlantic Salmon with a Fresh Niagara Peach Compote on Baby New Potatoes 28 Salade Niçoise with Grilled Yellowfin Tuna, Green Beans, Baby Potatoes, Hard Boiled Eggs, Capers, Olives and Tarragon-Dijon Vinaigrette 26 Almond-crusted Chicken stuffed with Asiago Cheese, Apple and Leeks with Dijon-Brandy Cream 26 Filet of Aged Beef Tenderloin with a Red Wine Demi served with Olive Oil Roasted Potatoes 4oz. 26 -- 7oz. 38 Medallions of Pork topped with Black Tiger Shrimp with Piri Piri Sauce on New Potatoes 29 Ultimate Local and International Cheese Selection 21 Dessert Folded Peach Tart with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream 11 Strawberry Scone Shortcake with Whipped Cream 11 Plum and Mulberry Crostada 11 Ask about our dessert specials.

Happy Food Day Canada. We hope you all have a great long weekend! Stay safe and healthy everyone! We are open tonight at 5 pm for patio, indoor dining and contactless curbside pickup. Please call 667-4930 for a reservation.

Happy Food Day Canada! We support small, independent farmers, growers and artisans. #farmtotable #fooddaycanada #slowfood