A sleepy stretch of Queen East just got a little dose of Latin American flair thanks to the arrival of Cafe Rustico. The cozy little cafe, located in a former flower shop across from the Moss Park Armoury, is the creation of Tomas Ahumadia, a kitchen-industry vet striking out on his own after 14 years. Along with some classic Rufino espresso, he’s serving up housemade Chilean snacks, including coconut-rolled alfajores and hefty empanadas (choose from traditional beef, olive and egg, or a lighter shredded chicken).
175 Queen East, at Jarvis, 416-948-4073. Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm, Saturday 9 am to 6 pm.
