Chef Marc Thuet and his wife and business partner, Biana Zorich, have unveiled a new dining concept called Conviction at their flagship restaurant space at 609 King St. West. This is the second time the couple has rebranded the space, originally named Thuet and then Bite Me. The new eatery, which opened May 9, is partially staffed by rehabilitated ex-convicts and is intended as a social experiment designed to empower disadvantaged individuals.
“It’s not rocket science. People with steady jobs and a steady income are less likely to wind up back in jail. The ones who are truly interested in turning their lives around will become some of our best employees. They’re on a mission to prove something, to prove that they can succeed," Thuet said in a statement in which he openly discussed his past experience with addiction and alcohol abuse. "I think this place has the potential to change more lives. It wasn’t that long ago that it helped save me."
Of the 13 recently recruited employees, seven will work in the kitchen with Thuet and six will staff the front-of-house alongside Zorich. “It’s important that our customer experience is not compromised,” Zorich said. Cineflix, an independent production company, is shooting footage of the new venture for a eight-part documentary series following the couple and their new staff. The show is slated to air on CityTV this fall.
As part of the rebranding, Zorich said she brought in new red leather chairs, linens, "graffiti chic" artwork, and chandeliers. Thuet's new menu includes dishes like a house-cured antipasto platter with picked vegetables, spaghetti alla chitarra with yellowfin tuna and mentaiko, belly pizza with roasted peppers, maple cured pork belly, goat cheese, and pit-roasted Mennonite capon accompanied by sourdough and arugula salad.
The main dining room seats 80, a lower-level private room called the Caveau holds up to 35, and a smaller glassed-in room called the Bakery holds 12. The restaurant is open from 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for brunch on Sundays.
