Congratulations to Shayne Herbert of Azura, who was recently named the 2024 Michelin Guide Toronto Exceptional Cocktails Award winner. He leads the bar program at Azura, an ambitious, Mediterranean-Canadian restaurant on the Danforth. 

There Herbert crafts cocktails inspired by the restaurant’s seasonal tasting menu, pushing the boundaries of creativity and hewing to the principles of sustainability. He especially loves playing with unusual ingredients, such as the Turkish olive oil that goes into his signature Olive Branch cocktail.

His advice to anyone getting into the industry: “Do everything 100 per cent if you’re going to do it. Go all in for sure. If you really enjoy it and you really love it, don’t shy away from it, lean into that, because that’s when the magic happens.”

For 2024, its third year in Canada, the Michelin Guide expanded its Ontario reach to Toronto & Region. The full selection, including Bib Gourmands and recommended eateries, now comprises 100 restaurants, representing 30 different types of cuisine.

Four new restaurants were each awarded one star: DaNico (Toronto), Hexagon (Oakville), Restaurant Pearl Morissette (Jordan Station) and The Pine (Creemore), with Restaurant Pearl Morissette also being the newest Green Star restaurant in the selection. Toronto & Region now holds 15 one Michelin-starred restaurants, two Green Stars and a single two-star restaurant, Sushi Masaki Saito.

Unfortunately, two restaurants lost their stars—Alobar Yorkville and Yukashi—while the once-acclaimed Nordic eatery Frilu closed in July.

And in addition to the Exceptional Cocktails Award, three other special awards were announced:

• Michelin Sommelier Award: Ashleigh Forster of DaNico.

• Michelin Outstanding Service Award: Lamine Martindale of Conejo Negro.

• Michelin Young Chef / Culinary Professional Award: Rafael Covarrubias of Hexagon.

For more, visit michelin.com.