Apr 1, 2026

Toronto’s beloved Little Italy restaurant will welcome a refreshed menu under the new culinary leadership, beginning April

TORONTO, ON — Contrada announces the appointment of Lifni Kalikutty as Executive Chef, alongside the introduction of a refreshed menu with a more focused, distinctly Italian approach in the kitchen. A longtime member of the team, Kalikutty now leads the kitchen with a clear point of view and renewed momentum.

Kalikutty’s approach is defined by discipline and clarity, with a strong foundation in pasta-making and a detail-driven style that brings a sharper focus to the menu. He has worked in leading kitchens including Enoteca Sociale, Ascari, Montecito, Giulietta and the Michelin-starred Giulia, and was mentored by respected Italian chefs including Rob Rossi of Giulietta and Osteria Giulia.

Lifni Kalikutty, Executive Chef at Contrada
Photo: Pat Ozols

“Contrada has always been about great ingredients and a certain kind of energy in the room,” said Lifni Kalikutty, Executive Chef at Contrada. “I’m excited to build on that and keep pushing the food forward.”

Vitello with cured veal, tonnato and pickled honey mushrooms

The refreshed menu introduces several standout additions, including vitello tonnato with prosciutto di san daniele, picked mushrooms and watercress, ricotta gnocchi with morels and asparagus, and a vibrant dish of beets with Jimmy nardello pepper sauce and stracciatella. Primi offerings are further elevated by tagliatelle with a white rabbit ragu and stinging nettle, alongside a seafood risotto with shrimp, crab, and scallop, finished with a touch of mascarpone and espelette pepper. These new dishes represent a confident, seasonal take on modern Italian cooking.

Ricotta gnocchi with morels, asparagus and sherry cream

Alongside these new additions, guests will continue to find several Contrada classics on the menu, including the restaurant’s signature pork chop alla Milanese and duck agnolotti, ensuring that longtime favourites remain part of the dining experience.

“Lif brings a strong point of view and a real sense of momentum to the kitchen,” said Patrick Groves, Sommelier and General Manager of Contrada. “There’s a lot of excitement around what he’s doing, you can feel it the moment the food hits the table.”

Beginning April, the refreshed menu will roll out over the coming months, featuring new dishes that are precise, seasonal and grounded in a modern Italian approach. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.contradarestaurant.com.

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ABOUT CONTRADA
Located in Toronto’s Little Italy, Contrada is a modern Italian-Canadian restaurant focused on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, low-intervention and neo-classical Italian wines and modern Italian cocktails served in a warm, intimate setting. The name Contrada, Italian for “district,” reflects both the historic districts of Siena and the single-contrada vineyards of Mount Etna in Sicily, celebrating a sense of place and the restaurant’s connection to neighbourhood and tradition.