BLACK HOOF 928 Dundas West, at Gore Vale, 416-551-8854, theblackhoof.com
Blood Custard ($8)
The in-yer-face handle doesn’t do justice to chef Brandon Olsen’s deceptively sweet appetizer-slash-dessert (albeit pudding in a parallel universe). Better to describe it as a sanguine crème brûlée – a frothy rosemary-infused confection whipped with cream, egg yolks and pig plasma and garnished with shaved pear, crisply fried onion and a tassle of coriander sprouts.
Children of the night wash them down with a couple of cocktail queen Jennifer Agg’s signature Caesars rimmed with Marmite and dehydrated horseradish. Bloody marvellous!
Thursday to Saturday 6 pm to 1 am, Sunday and Monday 6 to 11:30 pm. Closed Tuesday, Wednesday, some holidays. Licensed. Access: two steps at door, washrooms in basement.