Toronto Uncovered

It would have been obvious to anyone walking by that there was something serious going on at One Restaurant Wednesday night.  Lines of well dressed, young professionals snaked down Yorkville Avenue all the way to Avenue Road;  big signs bordered the entrance; and loud music poured out onto the crowded street.  It was the official launch party for Yahoo! Canada’s new website, a definite who’s who of Toronto’s advertising and marketing elite,  joined by household celebrity names like Ken Daneyko and Tie Domi.

Since Yahoo! Canada is a client of the marketing firm where I work,  my colleagues and I joined the party to see what all the fuss was about. I had never been to One before, and have to say that my first impression was, “Wow, this place is huge”. I had assumed that it would be one large open space with maybe a couple of rooms, but was proven very wrong. There were 4 main rooms all occupied with different stations.

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I’m a big fan of stations at parties because they keep them interesting and entertaining. Yahoo’s stations included a photo shoot with lots of fun and crazy props (wigs, swords, helmets, big glasses and boas), a lip balm bar where you customized your own balm, a bar station where you ordered your own drinks (what? it counts), and a make your own taco station. This last one wasn’t really for me, by the time i got there it looked like a thousand small children had been there first, sticking their fingers into the cheese and various sauces. In short, it was kind of a mess and turned me off a little. Good idea in theory, poor in execution.

The music, spun by DJ Starting from Scratch, was selected by party goers who could make requests when sending their RSVP. This was a good way to make people feel involved and to ensure everyone heard at least one song they could dance to. It would have been even better if you could also tweet your requests (since social media is a big part of the new Yahoo! Canada site).

Canapes were flowing from the time I arrived until the time I headed home. They started with sliders, butter brazed lobster, sesame coated tuna sashimi, and boxes of poutine, followed by sweet key lime and pecan filled deserts. Hats off to Food Network’s Chef, Mark McEwan for providing delicious treats all night long.

Given that the theme of Yahoo’s new website, It’s Y!ou,  is all about customization, this party was on point with their message.  I had a pretty good time and would definitely attend another party at One Restaurant. Yahoo!

Did you attend? What did you think?

I’ve lived between the boundaries of Yonge St. and Sherbourne St. for most of my adult life. In previous posts, I have pointed out that the East side, while offering many benefits (especially if you are a home owner), lacks the same epicurean vibe that its Western counterpart flaunts so brightly. East-enders have to look a little harder to find a really solid restaurant that satisfies all of our basic dining needs: ambiance, service and food.

I have been dining at Hair of the Dog (Church and Carleton) since my University days. It is small and intimate and built into the side of an old house. In the summer, it provides a great balcony setting to enjoy caesars over brunch. In the winter, it embodies the feeling of a cozy cottage, dimly lit with comfortable chairs and benches. It’s furnished with dark wood and draped with rich velvet.  Soft house music plays dimly in the background, providing just enough melody to muffle the chitter chatter of other diners. It is instantly relaxing.

Hair of the Dog is a popular spot and does not take weekend reservations, however, I have never had to wait for more than 15 minutes, during which the bar tenders and hostess provide excellent service, including prompt martinis and regular table updates and check-ins. You’re never left waiting and wondering (unlike some other trendy hot spots, ah hem, Guu). Once seated, the service is fast and friendly. No complaints.

OK, now onto the really important part: the food. The menu at HoTG is not huge, but it has something for everyone. My personal favourites include the jambalaya, the 1lb burger and the chicken stir fry. The pulled pork sandwich and grilled seafood dishes are also amazing.  I will warn you, if you order the jambalaya add the scotch bonnet sauce with care, it is not for fair-tongued eaters. Unless you like to feel the burn the next day, take it easy on the hot sauce. Most dishes range from $10.00-$20.00. Expect to pay about $60.00 per person including liquor, tax and tip.

If you’re in the area definitely check it out. Let me know what you think!

As January rolls in, many of us are looking for ways to shed the extra pounds we have undoubtedly packed on over the holidays.  I’m thankful that my parents pounded into my head the importance of exercise and healthy eating at an early age  (of course, I  wasn’t so thankful when I was 10 and searching endlessly for the hidden Halloween candy in my Mom’s closet). Now that I am older, I usually seek out healthy food naturally. I actually love and crave big salads with lots of different toppings. I have come across some pretty amazing salad and prepared food bars in Toronto which are both healthy and delicious.

My favourite place to grab a prepped salad is Whole Foods. I LOVE Whole Foods. Its totally yuppie and I don’t care. The salad bar and prepared foods section is amazing. First, you have a choice of romaine lettuce, baby greens and baby spinach, before working your way through toppings like sesame tofu, grilled eggplant, baked cloves of garlic, candied yams, mini potatoes, 3 different types of quinoa and at least 6 cultures of cheese. Their prepared food section doesn’t end there. They also have a hot bar for anyone looking for fresh lasagna, turkey meatballs or beef stir fry. The list goes on, but those are my favourite dishes. I usually mix the hot and cold bars – because I am a grazer, and at the end of the day I have a hard time saying no to food.  Whole Foods does not sell any products that contain unnatural ingredients like dyes or preservatives and most of their food is organic.  For between $10.00-$15.00 dollars you are guaranteed a delicious, filling and totally good-for-you meal!

I used to work downtown at Bay and Queens Quay, which is rammed with lots of bad-for-you, fast food. If are in the financial district a lot and looking for a good place to grab a salad the Longo’s Market (BCE Place) is a safe bet. Like Whole Foods, they have a wide variety of salad toppings – chicken, boiled eggs, seafood salads, smoked salmon, and a ton of veggies and cheese. I usually paid about $12.00 for lunch and looked forward to treating myself at least once a week.

Bay and Elm houses one of my other favourites called Commensal. I uncovered this restaurant back in my vegetarian and vegan days. All of their food is vegetarian friendly, but it is so amazingly delicious you would never know it. They have a hot and cold bar as well as a full counter of deserts! Because this is a vegetarian menu only, you get more variety than your typical hot/cold bar. I especially love that you can choose between 2 types of hummus and a variety of other dips and spreads, not to mention their vegetarian lasagna, quiche, chilli and stir fries.  Yummy! I haven’t been vegetarian/vegan for years, but I still love going back to Commensal. This is the more expensive of the three – usually upwards of $15.00-$20.00 per person.

Do you have a favourite prepared food spot? Any good hot or cold bars in Toronto that I am missing?

Last night I was among the lucky bloggers and journalists in Toronto to receive an invite to a very intimate Inniskillin wine tasting.  The event was hosted in the back room of  Nancy’s Cheese at Dupont and Spadina, which provided  amazing cheese and a cozy atmosphere for us learn about the various wines that make up Inniskillin’s Winemaker Series.

I am definitely no wine connoisseur, but I do know what I like when it hits my pallet. Throughout the evening we tried four wines from the series and listened as Marketing Director, Scott Starra, regaled us with stories of Inniskillin’s past and present accolades.

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We started the tasting with a 2008 Two Vineyard Riesling. Unlike most Rieslings this particular blend was not overly sweet, but instead had strong notes of citrus, leaving a refreshed feeling in your mouth. If you like your Rieslings dry with higher acidity levels this is a great choice. It is also highly versatile for food pairings, going well with Asian, Thai and Indian dishes as well as squash soups.  Scott explained that if you are ever unsure of what to pair with a particular meal, a dry Riesling is a good choice as they often accent most flavours and foods.

Our second wine was a 2008 Three Vineyard Chardonnay, oaked in both French and American oak for a full robust bodied taste.  As with the Riesling, this Chardonnay was high in acidity, which is a common element in 2008 white wines because of the long, warm nights that summer was blessed with. I usually prefer an unoaked Chardonnay, however, found this one to be really tasty when paired a strong cheese  like the Roaring Forties Blue from Australia. You can also pair it with buttery foods like lobster, seafood, buttered popcorn (with truffle oil if you’re feeling swanky), and even turkey.

It was finally time to move onto the reds. While I enjoy my whites, I am a red wine girl at heart. I was thrilled to learn our first selection was a Pinot Noir. Maybe it stems from the scene from Sideways in which Miles gives a full description of the delicacy, sensitivity and temperament of the Pinot grape, or maybe its just because i have good taste, but Pinot has been high on my list of favourites for some time.

The 2007 Three Vineyard Pinot Noir owes its full body and distinguished tastes to the hot summer we had in 2007. If you’re looking for a mild Pinot, this is not for you. On the other hand, if you like your wines to have a little bit of attitude and be able to stand on their own this is a great choice.  In terms of pairings, Scott suggested anything with earthy mushroom flavours, pork, duck, or a good brie. I also liked it with the Blackburn cheese from Quebec that we sampled last night.

Our final vino of the soiree was a 2007 Cabernet Franc from Inniskillin’s Reserve Series. As with all wines from 2007, the Cab Franc was very full bodied, without being too strong or intrusive on the pallet.  I liked this wine a lot and since it is the only one we tried last night currently on the stands in the LCBO will definitely be picking some up for the holidays. Priced at $16.95 you’re getting a lot of value at a low cost. This wine is well paired with lamb, steak and grilled chicken as well as a strong well-aged cheese.

The first three wines featured will be hitting the shelves in the near future. If you’re not already familiar with the different wines Inniskillin and other Niagara region wineries have to offer, its high time you get acquainted. For more information on Inniskillin check out their Facebook page, including videos, interviews and recipes.

I usually refuse to set foot in a mall during the pre-Christmas craziness. I’m not huge on malls to begin with, and I really don’t have the tolerance to withstand the crazy crowds. Since I am also not prepared enough to start my shopping early, I rely on the thousands of online stores, ready to ship my parcels with the click of a button.

There is only one problem with this method: I’m not supporting my local vendors. This year, my mission is to incorporate more vendors from the GTA who also have online stores.  Below are some I have found so far:

Duration of Ownership: 2.5 hours. Chocolate Lover? Check. Human? Check.

Neslo Chocolates: Neslo is owned and operated  by two cousins who hand make every batch of delicious, high quality Belgian chocolate. They experiment with unconventional flavours like Banana Brandy, Salted Caramel and Strawberry Wasabi. These chocolates are melt in your mouth. If you don’t finish the box in the first couple of hours  not only are you not a chocolate lover, you may not be human either.  These are a perfect gift for anyone in your life, just make sure you pick up a box or two for yourself while you’re at it.

You cant get much cooler than having a Star Wars and Computer combo!

Orange Fish: This online-only store caters to the knick-knack lover. Products range from characterized USB keys, to belt buckles, to artisan undies and magnets. I particularly love their cuff links, many of which are made out of  pieces of real items like hockey pucks, working compasses,  footballs and Madison Square Gardens flooring.  Everything on OrangeFish.ca is unique in either creation or design and range in price from as little as 4 or 5 dollars through to around 200. Their items would be great stocking  stuffers or Secret Santa gifts.

Warning: Owners may also experiment with copping a feel

Clothing Brand Experiment (CBE for short): CBE hoodies are a Toronto based company offering some funky and colourful hoodies for men and women. The hooded sweatshirt was the first “experiment” CBE went after.  Their goal was to make a locally produced, hooded sweatshirt with all the features they loved. Looks like they did a pretty decent job and don’t have to charge their clients an arm and a leg. Check out their online store – good gift for anyone hoping to stay warm this winter in style.

Simply splendid and simply de-lic-ious (num num num num num)

Simply Splendid: OK, so this one you cant order online, however, you can just pick up the phone and place your order that way. And since you can still accomplish this from the comfort of your couch, it still counts. Simply splendid owner and baker extraordinaire, Marilyn Mirabelli, specializes in making the most delicious shortbread cookies I have ever tasted. I have tried her vanilla and chilli chocolate which were both good enough to make me go back for seconds, but the real show stopper was her curry flavoured shortbread. I know it sounds kind of weird but its amazing. Her teas and cookies can be purchased separately or as sets. Definitely a good gift for any sweet tooth in your life. She will also come to your house and put on a full British-style Victorian Afternoon Tea.  A great gift idea for moms, grandparents, Brits and any cookie lover in your life.

Where have you been doing your online shopping this year? Any great Toronto vendors to share?

A couple of months ago a friend invited me to have lunch at Four Restaurant. Since then, it has quickly become my favourite Bay Street restaurant. I have eaten there at least 5 times for and recommended it to friends, colleagues and clients.

Im not really a picky eater, and will usually try anything at least once, however, I am usually pretty health conscious. What I like about the menu at Four is that everything on it is under 650 calories, low in fat and still high in taste. Instead of flavouring their dishes with butter, salt, and sugar, they use more herbs and spices to bring out the natural taste of the food.  None of their dishes are deep fried and most are specialty diet friendly (South Beach, Weight Watchers, etc.) The portions are of a reasonable size (I have never left still feeling hungry) and you aren’t saddled with gut rot for the rest of the afternoon.

My favourite part of eating at Four is the deserts, which are served in shot glasses for $2.00 a piece. Your waiter brings around a tray of 10 different deserts to choose from, ranging from fresh fruit to cheese cake. All deserts are health conscious as well, all under 200 calories.

If you end up trying Four, make sure to make reservations as it is a popular lunch spot. Let me know what you think and what you end up trying! So far, Ive had their burgers, pastas, appetizers and most of the deserts. I have yet to be disappointed, unsatisfied or underfed.

Growing up, apple picking was an annual tradition in the Morrison household. I used to love running up and down the rows of blossoming apple trees, plucking only the shiniest and ripest apples to catch my eye.  My brothers and I used to climb the larger  trees to get to the best, sun-kissed apples at the top.

I am happy to admit that not much has changed. Last weekend, some friends and I took a short road trip to Chudleigh’s apple orchards. Luckily, the weather was on our side – sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. This made for a                                       great escape from the city. Almost immediately, we returned to our childhood, lowered our already questionable maturity levels, and ran around the orchard picking apples of every variety we could find. We eventually tired our selves out and found a spot to lay in the sun and enjoy our surroundings.

Everyone left with a few bags of gorgeous apples, and some jams and other baked goods from the Chudleigh’s store. The best part of having all of these perfectly ripe apples is the inevitable baking to follow. Below are some delicious apple recipes I plan on trying out this week!

Apple Crisp Recipe via Roberts Place

Apple Stuffed Chicken Breast

Other Apple Recipes via Ontario Apple Growers

Friday night a bunch of my  girlfriends treated me to a belated birthday dinner. We headed to Ossington’s Watusi, a 1960’s themed cocktail lounge that opened its doors last Spring. Watusi is fairly small and intimate, seating approximately fifty or sixty people. Since there were  eight of us, we decided to split a bunch of different things off the menu, tapas-style. Most of the dishes are smaller servings, so this worked out perfectly.

We ordered nearly every item, including wanton nachos, lamb sirloin, blue cheese pizza and black cod.  Side note: is there anything  blue cheese doesn’t taste good on? Everything was fabulous.  Simple, well infused dishes that perfectly married natural flavours with delicious spices and marinades.

I am not usually a big dessert person. I typically prefer to fill up on “food food” over sweets.  But since it was my birthday, I decided to have my cake and eat it too. The desserts turned out to be  my favourite part of the meal.  The avocado white mousse and pineapple crumble are two items I have developed permanent cravings for. Both were very original and not too sweet or rich.

It wouldn’t be a proper birthday (or even normal day) celebration without some drinks to wash down all of this great food. Two words: Dirty Martinis! They make a mean one!

Total cost worked out to about $50.00 a person, including tax and tip. The only thing lacking was a patio!

Photos courtesy of CityNews

I have mentioned a few times that I am completely in love, and possibly have an unhealthy obsession, with all things food. Luckily, I am active enough to stave off severe weight gain as a result of my never ending quest for delicious delicacies. Last weekend, I discovered a new restaurant on Queen West called Vdara (aka mmmm Vdara).  It has since been added to my ‘must go back and try everything else on the menu’ list.

Before I get too carried away with the details of the actual meal, I want to quickly highlight the ambiance and atmosphere. For a restaurant to be truly successful on Queen West, it needs to meet a few conditions: First, low yuppy appeal. Check. The decorative wall art featuring nude dancers left little to the imagination and should promptly scare away any easily offended,  square types. Second, it needs to appeal to a diverse crowd. Check. Whether you’re looking for drinks, dinner, P. Diddy’s Ciroc cocktails, or a dimly lit corner to rehash the latest pitfalls of your life, you wont be disappointed. Third, it should have a trendy name that new comers aren’t quite sure how to pronounce – think Czehoskis, Noce and Addis Ababa. Check.

Now, onto the meal itself. There was a large group of us for dinner so we ordered six or seven appetizers to share. The herbs and spices fried chicken strips and empenadas stuffed with pulled pork were amazing, but the real show stopper was the breaded and baked mac ‘n’ cheese cakes topped with smoked bacon and home-made ketchup.  I literally dreaded swallowing every bite for fear it would be my last. In short, moanfully good. For my main, I ordered the blackened tilapia with fruit salsa and baked sour cream and chive potatoes.  I’m a huge fan of blackened anything, so this was right up my alley. The poor, unsuspecting guy sitting next to me ordered grilled beef tenderloin (my second choice) which smelled so good I insisted on sampling his more than once.

I’ve been promoting Vdara to everyone who is looking for a really great meal, at a reasonable price (expect to pay approx 60.00-70.00 with wine, tax, and tip). If you’re in the area its well worth stopping in – let me know if you do.

Last Saturday I decided to try Harlem Restaurant on Richmond. I had been once or twice before for drinks and dancing, but had never been early enough to catch their dinner service. We arrived around 8pm, taking our chances without reservations. The restaurant was packed, and we were lucky enough to score their last table.

Dimly lit chandeliers sparkled from the ceiling, providing just enough light to take in the rustic decor. Live vocals from CarolynT filled both the up and downstairs with jazz, soul, and reggae. The overall atmosphere left little to be desired.

The menu was filled with all sorts of Southern dishes: Jambalaya, BBQ Chicken, Braised Short Ribs, Seafood Fondue, and my personal best friend Mac-n-Cheese. I’ve always had a healthy appetite so I started with a Hummus and Avocado appetizer, served with homemade crisps and just the right amount of Southern heat. This was followed by BBQ Chicken and sides of Cornbread and Mac. I could not have been happier. The chicken was so tender it practically fell apart on the plate and should most definitely have been served with an extra pile of napkins. If you’re OK with getting your hands dirty and having the odd bit of BBQ sauce on your face, this is the dish for you. Polite eaters beware!

The services was also fantastic. We were never without food, and our wine glasses were never empty. The total bill came to about $120.00 for two people, including tax and tip. All in all, a great experience. I would highly recommend Harlem to anyone looking for a fun (and filling) way to spend an evening.

- Heather