Conviction Restaurant - King & Portland - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Cooking with Conviction Toronto, May 5, 2009: On Saturday, May 9 Chef Marc Thuet and his wife and business partner Biana Zorich will introduce a brand new dining concept – Conviction - at their flagship restaurant space at 609 King Street West in Toronto. Conviction goes beyond the creative culture of cooking that’s come to be expected from Chef Thuet. It’s a social experiment designed to empower disadvantaged individuals while ultimately providing people with an unforgettable dining experience. Conviction will push the limits of the Thuet’s ambition. The restaurant will be staffed by recently rehabilitated ex-convicts who need this chance to turn their lives around. “It’s not rocket science,” says Marc. “People with steady jobs and a steady income are less likely to wind up back in jail. The ones who are truly interested in turning their lives around will become some of our best employees. They’re on a mission to prove something, to prove that they can succeed." Marc speaks from the heart and experience. His own life has not entirely been lived above the line. Substance addiction, alcohol abuse and several brushes with the wrong side of the law nearly saw him heading to prison.“I think this place has the potential to change more lives,” sums up Thuet. “It wasn’t that long ago that it helped save me.” Of the 13 recently recruited employees, seven will work in the kitchen under the tutelage of Marc and six will staff the front-of-house greeting and serving customers, surveyed by the watchful eye of Biana. “It’s important that our customer experience is not compromised.” says Biana Zorich. “In the beginning there’ll be a huge learning curve. Many of these people have never eaten in a fine dining restaurant such as ours, let alone catered to the clients of one. They will learn social skills, business skills and basic life skills that will assist them regardless of the path they opt for in life.” Cineflix, an independent production company, has already started shooting footage for a new documentary series that will follow the couple and their new staff behind the scenes of their burgeoning restaurant biz. The show is slated to air this Fall on Citytv. Inside the recently revamped kitchen the chef and his new team will continue to cook in the Thuet tradition. Conviction continues the restaurant’s move towards fine dining food at more modest prices. The menu features a diverse range of dishes like: House cured antipasto platter with picked vegetables; Spaghetti alla chitarra with yellowfin tuna and mentaiko; Belly pizza with roasted peppers, maple cured pork belly, goat cheese; Pit roasted Mennonite real capon accompanied by sourdough and arugula salad along with many more Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday 5:30pm to midnight and for brunch on Sundays from 11am to 2pm. For reservations, please call: 416.603.2777 ext.1. Download Menu | Press For press inquiries please contact Tim Gallant or Laura Simpson at Empire PR. Tel: 416.203.8060 or tim@empirepr.ca; laura@empirepr.ca Conviction Restaurant 609 King St. W. Toronto, ON M5V 1M5
P 416.603.2777 F 416.603.2999 info@convictionrestaurant.com