What鈥檚 life in lockdown with a two-year-old like? 鈥淭he greatest!鈥 says Martina Sorbara. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really fortunate,鈥 says her partner, chef Cory Vitiello, of life at home with Barlow, who turned two in September. 鈥淲e just have so much time during this critical stage to spend with him and watch him grow and enjoy every step.鈥
The couple鈥檚 busy schedules usually mean that they鈥檙e anywhere but at their home, which is between High Park and Roncesvalles Village. All that changed with the lockdown in March 2020, when Dragonette, Sorbara鈥檚 indie-pop project, was put on hold, and Vitiello, founder of elevated-takeout-rotisserie-chicken joint Flock Rotisserie + Greens, faced a wave of heartbreaking April cancellations, including Biblio Bash, the 色色啦 Public Library fundraiser with his catering partner 10Tation, and his annual fundraising dinner for children鈥檚 cancer charity Camp Ooch at Cactus Club Caf茅, where he is head of culinary development for 色色啦.
Barlow, who turned two last September, is learning how to talk. “He calls me ‘hon’ and ‘babe,’” says Martina Sorbara with a laugh.
Luis MoraBut the silver lining has been the extra time at home with their son. Right now, Barlow is learning to talk (鈥淗e calls me 鈥榟on鈥 and 鈥榖abe,鈥欌 Sorbara says with a laugh), and he graduated early from potty training, which the couple initiated once they realized that their normally packed schedules had dramatically freed up.
It鈥檚 created plenty of time for lazy Sundays. 鈥淲e鈥檝e made Sundays about us,鈥 says Vitiello. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so special. We lock ourselves in, do our crosswords and cook.鈥 On a typical weekend, the family will get up early and go for a stroll through High Park or Roncesvalles Village. They鈥檙e regulars at the Roncy caf茅 Reunion Island, sometimes scooping up a legendary breakfast sandwich from the Gold Standard takeout window. 鈥淭hey treat Barlow like a VIP,鈥 says Vitiello.
Playtime at home.
Luis MoraVitiello, a chef since he was 15, spent most Sundays during the first two decades of his 25-year career working hectic shifts in kitchens. After closing his acclaimed Harbord Room restaurant in 2016, his life changed. Now, in contrast to the harried pace of a restaurant kitchen, Vitiello savours the slower speed of cooking at home. He starts the day by picking up fresh ingredients from local merchants, such as fish market Hooked or Roncesvalles produce stand Ko Fruit Market.
Though veggies and fish are usually the core ingredients of his mains, a high-quality cut of meat constitutes a special Sunday treat. Braised meats, especially short ribs, have been a favourite comfort food over the winter. While Sorbara is a pescatarian, Vitiello says he has 鈥渘o problem spending the whole Sunday cooking this braise that could feed 15 people, even though there is only one person in the house who eats it.鈥 Thankfully, it鈥檚 not hard to find some outside assistance. 鈥淚 usually take some to the neighbours [as a] surprise,鈥 he says.
“In the past year, I think we have seen three different versions of Barlow and had to say goodbye to some really sweet versions only to [witness the] birth [of] the next incarnation of who this child is,” says Cory Vitiello.
Luis MoraSorbara is a whiz in the kitchen, too, whipping up pastries to satisfy Vitiello鈥檚 sweet tooth. She鈥檚 happiest, however, spending a cosy Sunday working away on a crossword, a pastime Vitiello has picked up as well, along with his Sudoku habit.
Sorbara is a veteran puzzle master 鈥 she enjoys making crosswords as birthday gifts for her father, York University chancellor Gregory Sorbara. A highlight of her 2020 was receiving a thoughtful rejection from the New York Times for a crossword she鈥檇 submitted that had the theme of shape-shifting. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to submit another one, and I have high hopes!鈥 she says.
To carve out time for themselves, they take turns putting Barlow down for his nap and to bed at night. 鈥淎nd our glory time is when we finally get him down to bed and we have our evening to ourselves,鈥 says Vitiello.
“We just have so much time during this critical stage to spend with Barlow and watch him grow and enjoy every step,” says Cory Vitiello.
Luis MoraThat鈥檚 when the strategy board games come out. Their current favourite is A Few Acres of Snow, an out-of-print two-player game from 2011 based on the struggle between the French and the British to occupy Canada. Sorbara learned the game from her cousin, a board-game collector. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hilariously nerdy,鈥 she says. Vitiello also juggles three ongoing poker groups on Zoom: a game with friends, a game with fellow chefs and a game with 鈥渢he old-timers, Martina鈥檚 father and his friends.鈥
But the highlight remains watching their baby boy grow. 鈥淚n the past year, I think we have seen three different versions of him and had to say goodbye to some really sweet versions only to [witness the] birth [of] the next incarnation of who this child is,鈥 says Vitiello. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been so special to see that growth together.鈥
