Rose's latest venture, The Grand Elvis, took over Rose and Sons and Big Crow BBQ in December of last year. The restaurant boasts a high-end bistro menu with a refined wine list and chic decor and was voted Best New Restaurant in Toronto and Canada, Best Burger and Best Fried Chicken. However, The Grand Elvis had less than three months in the spotlight before closing permanently due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a sincere Instagram post, Rose reflects on his time in quarantine cooking with his son, noting that he had rekindled his love for comfort food, which was nostalgic and warmed the soul.
"To be honest, I never embraced that moniker. I never liked it and always thought I and my food was more than that. But, I have come to embrace that now. Come to understand and love and want that to be mine," says Rose.
As businesses slowly began to open up, Chef Rose decided to fuel his rediscovered love for comfort food classics and bring back Big Crow BBQ.
"Reopening Elvis when it only had two and a half months just didn't seem right," says Rose.
"Big Crow, on the other hand, was what I was yearning for. It just made me feel so good inside to bring it back. Fits like an old glove. We even have one of the original chefs, Jeremy Gries. So it's very much exactly what it was, what it should be."
The newly reopened BBQ joint is serving up all of the old-time favourites, including Baby Back Ribs Smoked and Grilled with Burst Cherry Tomato Pesto, Poke Nachos, Miami Ribs, cheesy garlic bread and a delectable s'mores cake.
