FOOD

TORO RESTAURANT Business, Friendship & Food

BY DAMIR MUJEZINOVIC

en Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette’s relationship is almost brotherly. They respect and admire each other and yet sometimes sparks fly between them, but that’s what helps their relationship and their businesses grow. They’ve known each other for years and they often finish each other’s sentences but even more often they confront each other. Their disputes and showdowns are a form of brainstorming and they’re exactly what’s kept them working together all these years and they’re what, essentially, lead them to open Toro restaurant. K

Toro Restaurant - Traditional Spanish Cuisine in The Heart Of Boston

Toro is a Barcelona-style restaurant located in Boston, more precisely in Boston’s South End. What separates this restaurant from other similar restaurants is the owners’ unique approach to cooking and the restaurant business itself. Ken and Jamie support local farmers and pay a lot of attention to our environment. Toro being a green restaurant is what guarantees fresh, organic, locally produced ingredients. While Toro is not a vegetarian restaurant, it’s owners’ appreciation for nature and environment is definitely a guarantee that all meat served in this restaurant comes from ethically and humanely raised animals. On top of that, Toro offers vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, nut-free and dairy-free menus by request. Wines and spirits available in this modern restaurant are all organic and bio dynamic. Many local companies are also supported by Toro and it goes without saying that they recycle all glass aluminum and plastic materials, filter and carbonate their water, use recycled paper products and, most importantly, use sustainably raised ingredients in all of their meals.

Let’s talk a bit more about the essence of Toro - the eclectic Spanish cuisine. Spanish cuisine is slowly starting to become mainstream in the USA because of it’s wide variety of tasty, unusually prepared dishes and unique twists on more traditional Mediterranean styled pastries. Toro offers a special, one of a kind, gourmet experience to it’s customers and is therefore becoming one of the most popular restaurants in Boston.

The Men Behind The Curtain

Ken Oringer is one of Boston’s most notable chefs and restaurateurs. He entered the world of cooking at River Cafe in New York city and has, since then, become somewhat of a household name in the culinary world. Gourmet Magazine and Esquire have written extensively about him and his restaurants. Over the years, he has received numerous awards and accolades for his work and he has owned a wide variety of restaurants on the East coast. But, it wasn’t until 2009., when he opened Toro, with partner in crime and friend Jamie Bissonnette, that his culinary expertise and restaurateur talent shined. He’s not only a cook, but he is also an incredible, yet ethical entrepreneur.

Jamie Bissonnette wanted to be a cook ever since his childhood. He earned his Culinary Arts Degree from The Art Institute of Lauderdale and spent the better part of his twenties traveling through Europe and America, working in restaurants in Paris, San Francisco and New York. His drive and passion cooking are noticeable in his dishes - the meals he prepares are guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest taste buds. On the other hand, his managing and restaurant running experience is what has allowed him to turn Toro into one of the most popular restaurants in Boston, just like his friendship and professional relationship with Ken allowed him to grow as a cook and as a businessman. Boston Globe, Esquire and the prestigious Food and Wine magazine have written countless articles about this young chef and he has, just like his partner Oringer, received numerous relevant accolades and awards.

There are many different things that make Toro special and stand out in the sea of other similar restaurants, but what fuels the growth of this place and constant influx of new customers is the unique competitive, loving, squabbling and brotherly personal and business relationship between Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette. These two are what makes this place so special. Toro simply has a different, healthier, more organic vibe than any other restaurant out there and it’s no wonder it’s become so popular. If you ever visit Boston, dine there - you will not be disappointed. In fact, you will be knocked off your feet by everything this eclectic place has to offer. If you’re looking for a unique dining experience, combined with healthy and tasty food, look no further - Toro is the place for you.

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