The VONG choice!

Memories from the Oz

2012-01-22T15:04:00.003-05:00

Observations in Australia: "How you going mate?" When I was approached with this question several times during my travels in Australia, my immediate reaction was to say - i'm going with my feet or i'm going by car... It's the Aussies way of saying How are you doing/ How's it going? Flat Whites/ Long black- these are your coffee orders. They won't understand lattes, americanos, espressos...

The Vong Choice's top 2011 picks

2011-12-25T10:08:00.001-05:00

Wishing you all the very best with holiday cheer! Here are my top foodie experiences and culinary adventures for 2011. Bon Appetit and Bon annee!! 1. Diner En Blanc - Tues Sept 28th - a flash mod dining experience that was out of this world DEB 2011 official video 2. Iron cupcake judging at For the Love of Cakes- secret ingredient was nuts- and the competition was fierce - Iron Cupcake

The Gabardine

2011-12-23T09:49:00.000-05:00

The Gabardine is the latest addition to the financial district adding charm and a casualness into this corporate area full of suits and pretension. Owned by 2 women, Allison Mackenna and Katherine Rodriques, it's no surprise that they were able to infuse some delicate touches into this 50-seat self-styled gastropub. When we walk in for dinner, it is busy, and a note to self to make a

L.A.B - Live and Breath

2011-12-10T17:04:00.000-05:00

L.A.B has been on my list of restaurants to try for a while as chef and co-owner Howard Dubrovsky went to McGill while I was there. Although our paths didn't cross that often in Montreal, I am so proud to see his project come to fruition and the result= it was a delicious restaurant experiment full of delightful surprises in taste, textures and flavours. This new College and Grace restaurant

County General

2011-12-03T12:53:00.001-05:00

In the old Oddfellow space on the corner of Queen and Shaw is the rustic newly opened County General. The brains and proprietaries of Splendido are behind this and were inspired by one of my favourite gastro pubs in NYC - the Spotted Pig; this woodsy jewel, in the Queen West neighbourhood which has already become a hot spot. We went for brunch and were lucky enough to get the cozy money seat

L'Ouvrier

2011-11-27T09:28:00.000-05:00

L'Ouvrier is French for worker and is an homage to Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London, where the following passage can be found: “The cook does not look upon himself as a servant, but as a skilled workman; he is generally called ‘UN OUVRIER’ This new resto on the Dundas west strip, in a former dingy after-hours space is simply transformed into a minimalist large open white room with a

Matshuisa - NOBU in Beverly Hill

2011-11-24T20:38:00.001-05:00

We were told we would die and go to Japanese heaven if we ate at Nobu Matshuisa's place in Beverly Hills so of course we needed to try it! I mean this is NOBU so after a pretty tough day it was completely something to look forward to! We arrive at a very humble no nonsense and traditional restaurant that seemed dated in it's decor and drawfed by it's neighbours of chi chi and modern flare.

Diner en Blanc unofficial video

2011-10-14T19:35:00.001-04:00

Diner en Blanc in Toronto - unforgettable evening in the Historic distillery district! Check out the unofficial video Link: Official DEB 2011 video

Khoa San Road

2011-10-09T12:03:00.000-04:00

Khoa San Road is a popular and energetic hub to backpackers in Bangkok Thailand and has also become my new found favourite Thai food restaurant in the city. I know I”m late to the table but I'm forever changed.Thai food has a reputation of a quick and cheap meal with pad that that is ketchup syrup based sauced mixed with rice noodles and oily red/green curries so when KSR came along, it

Diner en Blanc

2011-10-05T23:41:00.002-04:00

A magical night happened in Toronto when a group of people all clad in elegant white were told to meet on the corner of Mill Street and Parliament on a Tuesday night in late September. We were still lucky to have summer like weather as well pulled up in our white outfits and hats on our head in awe at the sea of people dressed to the nines waiting around to be told what the next steps were. We

A taste of Quebec

2011-10-01T19:01:00.000-04:00

Inside one of my favourite gallery spaces - the Thompson Landry gallery, is a Taste of Quebec boutique deli specializing in gourmet cheeses and decadent spreads like tartinade and confiture artfully placed around the rustic front room. The front room is split in 2 places - where a small preparation area is and the retail space is the other half featuring all the finest cheeses. Thom Sokoloski

Butter and Egg Road

2011-09-25T16:06:00.001-04:00

Butter and Egg road is Ivy Ackerman's brainchild and it has been 5 years in the making. The launch party in Toronto was located at 416 Snack Bar in my local of Queen West. The premise is to bring together locals and travellers alike through dining and cultural events to culminate the experience of being a local anywhere. Scallop cerviche There were about 30 people in this nice intimate

Acadia

2011-09-17T15:25:00.009-04:00

Acadia refers to a francophone region that covers Eastern Quebec and the Maritimes in Canada, spreading itself through Maine, the Carolinas and event as south as Louisiana. The cuisine is classified as 'lowcountry' and has already made an impact as a restaurant in an Acadian region of the US was selected as the best new restaurant of the year. Here in Toronto, Acadia is the latest

Royal Meats... Best Burger in Town?

2011-09-14T08:13:00.001-04:00

So as we are driving up to this place in the west end of town, I am skeptical to hear my former intern Adam tell me that this place will blow the other burger joints out of the water. We pull up to Royal Meats and all the logo and space reminds me of a Rolce Royce dealership with the big capital "R". I also quickly notice that there's a gym across the street so perfect to work off your guilt.

The Bowery

2011-09-12T07:16:00.001-04:00

The Bowery, which means 'farm' in Dutch, is a the latest addition to the burgeoning King East restos joining it's neighbours like Origin and Colborne Lane to bring a NY style urban farmhouse to the strip. The Design Agency formerly the "Designer guys" are behind the modern New Yorky space. You walk in and it feels trendy but not obnoxiously trendy, it really has good ambience and definitely

Girl I want to make you sweat- Caribbean Food Fest

2011-09-05T09:30:00.000-04:00

Possibly on the hottest day of the summer, a few of us go down for Scotiabank's Caribbean Carnival's food festival to try all the delicacies there were to be offered. You know the song.. La la la la long... Sweat till we can't sweat no more...well that was us! We had coconut water from fresh coconuts, roti, jerk chicken and rice and beans which I was expecting and very much looking forward to.

Farmers feed the City

2011-09-03T11:26:00.000-04:00

It was a gorgeous late summer night to be out at the Evergreen Brickworks for "Farmers feed the city. IT was a night curated by Food Network chef and Belong Catering owner, Brad Long featuring the wines of Southbrook Vineyards and Beers from Muskoka Breweries. The night was about highlighting Farmers and the freshness of their foods. As the sun was setting in this great industrial space, we

Agave Y Aguacate - Diamond in the rough!

2011-08-29T07:42:00.000-04:00

On a recommendation from my friend Andy, I stumble into Kensington hungry, on a promise that I would be in for a treat. I find Pancho bakery on Augusta street and there within lies a tiny mexican food emporium from baked goodies, to home made empanadas, an arepa sandwich place and my latest craving, the hidden gem - Agave y Aguacate. Translated in portuguese as "ages and ages" it truly has

Origin - Finally!

2011-08-24T07:31:00.001-04:00

There have been a ton of reviews on this place and it was one of the top spots that i've been waiting to try for a while, always looking for the perfect occasion or date to go but as times became busy, there never was the right opportunity. As my dear friend Merissa said she was coming for a short visit to Toronto from Jordan, I thought ah ha, she is my excuse to go to this hip resto. I love

Kings Noodles

2011-08-21T11:14:00.000-04:00

This Chinatown staple has been buzz worthy for generations and continues to be busy with Canadians and Chinese folks lining up at all hours of the day as it's one of the only places on the Spadina strip to be deemed as authentic Hong Kong style "jok fun mein" (congee rice noodle) restaurant. In the windows hang the BBQ meats that have been cured and made fresh for the day and there's just a

EAT.. inspiring video

2011-08-06T17:03:00.001-04:00

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ....into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films..... = a trip of a lifetime. move, eat, learn

Crepes a GoGo

2011-08-06T10:29:00.000-04:00

This quaint little creperie in the corners of Yorkville is a sliver of "Paris"-dise and I was so pleased to have my co-worker Bernice suggest that we stop in and now I can't wait to go back for more. Inside this french bistro - there was a quote on the wall that just resonated with me "Il faut manger pour vivre, non vivre pour manger". It's a famous quote by Moliere which means that one should

Fish Bar

2011-08-02T07:43:00.000-04:00

One of the newest kids on the Ossington stretch is Fishbar and it was a long time coming as the opening was delayed a good 6 months. The result is a an old storefront transformed into long and narrow space with exposed brick featuring re-purposed furniture and tables packed in so close together that it's impossible not to eavedrop on your neighbors conversations. Like it's name suggest - you

La Societe

2011-07-30T08:58:00.000-04:00

Ohh la la .. La Societe is the new 'see and be seen' hotspot opened in time for patio season and will certainly be a destination for Toronto film fest. It has taken over the former location of Dynasty Chinese restaurant on bloor and the lower courtyard patio as well making it the only patio and large restaurant in the new renovated stretch of Bloor attracting the shoppers, tourists, whos who

RA - this is Miami

2011-07-17T22:17:00.000-04:00

My last day in Miami was spent as a very hung over lady.. I was in pain but was pushed to be active and out and about... Finally after a full day in agony I began to feel normal again and was satiated! Being that it was my last evening in town, I wanted to treat my host to a nice dinner too so we made our way to a fun place that he know and lucky for us - we were in the cusp of happy hour! I

Versaille on calle ocho- This is Miami

2011-07-12T22:52:00.000-04:00

Versaille is like a staple for authentic Cuban cuisine. It is a Miami destination off of calle ocho (you know the Pitbull song that made that street famous.. uno, dos, tres, quartro.. you know you want me.. ) It's packed full with locals, resembles a fortress on the outside and a very basic bare bones, mom and pop style shoppe with a dining area, a cafe walk up area and a bakery. The main

Stripsteak - Vegas Chronicles continues

2011-07-10T17:44:00.000-04:00

Michael Mina's Stripsteak in the Mandalay Bay was voted Esquire Magazine's #1 Steakhouse in the USA and off course when I heard we had reservations there, my goal was to see if the voters of Esquire knew what they were talking about!! Located in the conference center side of the Manadalay, it's definitely a few steps up from the regular steakhouse with a wood burning grill and high ceilings to

Sushi Roku - Vegas Chronicles

2011-07-06T17:24:00.000-04:00

Oh what a night of culinary delights with my colleagues in Las Vegas at Sushi Roku. In the famous Forum Shops at Caesars on the 3rd floor, this dark and sensual place is a great intimate place to gather with friends or on a romantic date. I had one of the most outstanding dishes I had ever had - it was the tempura lobster with a miso glaze. It was sweet and amazing because of the sticky miso

2011-06-29T17:43:00.004-04:00

I had the pleasure of taking part in a steak tasting at St. Jamestown Steak and Chops hosted by owner Mark Michelin by invitation of esteem foodie Joel Solish(@foodie411) from Community Foodis. Not only was it a gorgeous night to hang out on the patio of this local , cabbagetown gem while experiencing some decadent food with good company of fellow foodies. The challenge as I understand it

Modern Jewy cuisine in NY - Octavia's Porch

2011-06-22T21:08:00.000-04:00

Octavia's porch is a homey, cozy spot in the Lower East Side that serves Modern Jewy cuisine and serves as a perfect destination for a catch up amongst friends. With former Top Chef contestant Nikki Cascone behind it, this gem has it's on spin on Jewish classics, pulling New York out of its "Jewish - Deli" mentality and into your Yiddish mother's kitchen. Boozy egg cream cocktail The

My very favourite brunch in NY - Normas

2011-06-04T11:11:00.000-04:00

Yes, this is the place I would recommend brunching in the big apple. It's a bit swanky set in Le Parker Meridian Hotel but the goodies here are way too amazing to pass up and you can't expect to eat cheaply when you're in NYC. And where dapper Nate from the sexy show Gossip Girl meets his newest love interest Juliette. Here are some things to note: There will be a smoothie of the day shot as

Finally a place to dine in Mississauga - Culninaria

2011-05-28T10:04:00.000-04:00

Culninaria is a true gem found in a sea of manufacturers, warehouses, strip malls and chain restaurants. Since I started working in Mississauga, i"ve been searching far and wide for any restaurants that weren't the typical Milestones or Kelseys that you would see everywhere so when my colleague suggested this place (Thanks Adam!) I was truly pleased to hear about it. It's set in a historical

Fabbrica - misses it's Mark...

2011-05-18T22:53:00.001-04:00

OK so I wanted to treat my mom on mommy's day to a nice dining experience and what better way to do that than to take her to Fabbrica, Mr. Top Chef Canada's newest restaurant at the shops at Don Mills. She lives in the area already and so I thought we could spend the day browsing through the promenade of shops and then when hungry, we could feast at this new north of Bloor hot spot. Mark

IRON cupcake competition

2011-05-01T20:42:00.001-04:00

The Winning Entry I have reached another pivotal moment as a food blogger and was asked to be a judge in the April installment of the Iron Cupcake competition. Being an avid fan of the show "Iron Chef", and just loving all things food related, I jumped at the opportunity. The Iron Cupcake competition, a franchise that began in Milwaukee, invites cupcake enthusiasts to enter their best baked

L'Orignal in Old Montreal

2011-04-20T08:22:00.000-04:00

My former roommate and dear friend Stacy suggested L'Orignal, which means "the Moose" in the quaintness of Old Montreal to have dinner while I was in town. This restaurant felt like it was a hidden gem off the beaten path as the entrance is just off Rue Notre Dame, on a narrow side street. It was very intimate as you walk in with its candlelit dark interior and original stone walls and woodsy

Czehoski

2011-04-13T20:09:00.002-04:00

Czehoski is a Toronto institution. The faded namesake sign is the original sign from 1924 when it was a butcher shop and deli owned by a Polish/Czech family. It is also my local bar where I consider myself a regular. In fact, I go there so often that I've been declared the 'mayor' on foursquare (a social network). But I usually go there for late night drinks after I've eaten dinner. This was

Sunday Brunch picks 2011

2011-04-10T14:05:00.000-04:00

Sundays are for lazy mornings and one of my favourite meals of my day- brunch. I have come up with my short list for 2011 of places that I love or would love to hit up: Old faithfuls - These are highly popular places that have remained favourites for years and serve all our classic dishes that we crave in the morning and late afternoon. Beware line ups can be long! Aunties and Uncles -Go for

Arepa Cafe

2011-03-19T09:03:00.000-04:00

I've been curious to try the Arepa cafe on Queen since I've moved down to Queen West mainly because I had no idea what an Arepa was. Being the food-thusiastic curious person I am, I needed to figure that out. So on a Sunday morning, my friend Andrew and I met there to try some arepas for brunch. Walking into the cafe, with exposed brick, we parked ourselves at a table and started our culninary

TOCA at the Ritz

2011-03-12T11:05:00.002-05:00

In the newly opened Ritz Carlton is Toca by Tom Brody, notably from Canoe and North 44 who has also mentored under the great Tom Colicchio. It's a simple elegant restaurant with a huge wine cellar and a cheese cave for you and your party to discover. I was out with some fabulous ladies to chatter away and celebrate life, and when we walked in, we had the best table in the house at the center of

Charlie Sheen's "Winning" Recipes!

2011-03-10T22:23:00.000-05:00

"My hands are rated by Zagat!" Pure gold here folks!

Dumpling House

2011-03-10T08:12:00.001-05:00

I have been craving dumplings lately so my mom and I took a little journey into Chinatown and landed at the "Dumpling House". We walked in wet with snow and it was packed. It seemed that a lot of folks decided on the same journey to eat the home made dumplings that are on display being made in their front window. We finally got seated and my mom and I set off to order our feast. The menu has

O & B Canteen - glorified cafeteria

2011-03-05T10:59:00.000-05:00

Canteen is one of the new Oliver & Bonacini restaurants to open up amongst it's esteem collection (Auberge de Pommier, Canoe, Biff's Bistro) to name a few in the gorgeous Tiff Bell lightbox. With the reputation and force of O&B, I came expecting more from the experience. Overall it was a thoroughly middle of the road 'canteen' or cafeteria. The interior is an open concept white space with a

the '411' on 416Snackbar

2011-02-26T12:29:00.001-05:00

Taking over the former space of Johny Bananas on Queen and Bathurst is 416 Snackbar. It is exactly what it's name describes itself; Snacking place and drinking bar. The menu is very small, as are the portions which are 'snack sizes'. My problem is I came here for dinner and was ravenous which was my first mistake. It's the kind of place you drop into for drinks and to socialize and definitely

The Atlantic on Dundas

2011-02-24T09:28:00.000-05:00

Stumbling into the Atlantic in the Brockton village is like heading to a dimly lit fisherman's shack or cabin crew's hide out while your favourite indy bands play in the background. It's a very laid back and casual atmosphere, and off the beaten path This is a seafood tapas restaurant so if that's not what you're looking for, don't go! They also change their menu daily or every few days so its

Woodlot warmth!

2011-02-21T11:16:00.000-05:00

It was cold and wintery night outside but arriving at Woodlot with the enormous stone oven all fired up made it perfectly cozy, and worth the snowy trek. And the additional bonus of hot cocktail (hot apple cider with Wyborovka vodka) in hand waiting for our table made it even better. As a note - I made reservations 2 weeks ago to ensure we had an ideal time of 8pm for dinner and that said, we

Malena 120

2011-02-07T23:05:00.002-05:00

Malena, the new Avenue and Davenport darling, that took over the space of the Pink Pearl is a good addition to the the strip known for it's abundance of cheap flowers shops. David Minicucci one of the owners is also co-owns it's neighbor, L'Unita, has menus inspired by Southern Italy and Greece with a focus on les fruits de mer (seafood). Dimmed candlelight make this restaurant intimate and

Bison + Poutine= Stampede

2011-02-04T07:18:00.001-05:00

As the trend of “high-end” burger joints dominate Toronto, with various reasons why their burgers are worth paying a premium for, whether it's house made fancy toppings, or whether the cow your meal came from was pampered night and day, chowing down on tasty grass with organic substances, the guys at Stampede are offering affordable and delicious burgers focused on bison. Bison has become more

Parts and Labour

2011-01-31T18:10:00.001-05:00

Put the team of the Social, Oddfellows and Castor Design together and out comes Parts and Labour. Uber trendy with a splash of punk rocker rawness all done with an urban artsy feel. Cylindrical light fixtures and bright coloured pot lights hang from the ceilings with an abundance of car parts as in windshields and mirrors throughout the 5000 square foot space which is bustling with

Campagnolo birthday!

2011-01-31T09:07:00.003-05:00

The Dundas West (DuWest) strip has come a long way from the seedy shops and Portuguese churraschurrias. Now Dundas West is known in the foodie world as the 'carnivore's' terrain with restaurants like the Hoof Cafe, Black Hoof and Porchetta and Co on it. Add newbie Campagnolo to this mix with it's meat heavy offerings blended with homestyle Italian cooking and it's all complete. Campagnolo

Udupi Palace.. Dosa delights!

2011-01-10T22:50:00.001-05:00

If you haven't eaten a dosa, you must head over to Little India and look for Udupi Palace. It may not resemble much of a royal palace with it's basement location that more reminds you of a bare bones banquet hall but seriously, no one comes for the decor! They know their dosas with a variety of 15 to choose from on their menu alone! This is even the home of the annual "Spicy Dosa eating

Antiguian Island Delights

2011-01-01T15:58:00.000-05:00

Once again I've been lucky enough to be invited back to Villa Nuovola in Gally Bay, Antigua. This place is really the epitome of perfection. The scenery alone is what you would visualize as paradise, turquoise sparkling ocean water, clear blue skies with white puffy clouds, and as you look out, you can see cliffs, islands and cruise ships. One of the clearest days, we were able to look across

Eataly - in NY

2010-12-21T14:01:00.000-05:00

With a culinary dream team with three of New York’s most beloved Italian-American restaurateurs behind this project and the the founder of a gourmet food and wine market in Turin, Italy, Eataly has the right ingredients to make this place the 'it' place for Italian dining. This is a 50,000 square foot Italian food emporium with a variety of restaurants, Italian cafe, a roof top beer garden,

SUPPER in NYC - Worth the wait..

2010-12-16T10:57:00.001-05:00

A Friday night dining adventure with my New York friends Dave and Marisa lead us to Alphabet City to the acclaimed Supper Restaurant. Upon arriving at 8pm, and during the dinner rush, we are advised that the wait for a table is an hour! They take no reservations, it's a bit of a hipster foodie destination and there's a hungry waiting crowd. These are the ingredients to a 'must dine at'

Mirto

2010-12-15T00:20:00.001-05:00

One of my last holiday lunches with my workplace family, we decided to go to Mirto. Located on Toronto Street in a restored historic building with very high ceilings and a Victorian interior, Mirto provides a welcoming and comforting place for folks to dine. There are 2 large rooms and one room can be used as a private dining area. Antonio, one of the co-owners, greeted us with gusto, he is

High end dim sum at Crown Princess

2010-12-14T11:36:00.003-05:00

Crown Princess is the new high end dim sum kid on the block that opened in mid-September. It joins the list of places I would take my Canadian friends or out of town guests to try out dim sum for their first time. The list contains Dynasty up at Bloor and Avenue Road, Lai Wah Hein at the Metropolitan hotel, Lai Toh Hei -it's sister restaurant up on Mount Pleasant and Cha Liu which is at Yonge

Yumei sushi in the Beach

2010-12-13T11:37:00.000-05:00

"Yumei" the word for famous in Japanese is an established neighborhood favourite in the beach, and our friend Martin's as well.. I did put up a protest as I don't enjoy going to generic sushi places especially ones that have also Korean dishes on the menu. However there were many surprises during the meal prompting me to even write about the experience. My enthusiasm for food gave my dining

Table 17

2010-11-15T23:22:00.004-05:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; Table 17 is a quaint find in Leslieville village perfect for a good catch up with your girlfriends or a dinner date. The restaurant is divided into two rooms - the first room you walk into features a long bar and some seating and the room towards the side which we get seated in, is simple, farmhouse chic. There's a long harvest table in the center of the room,

Dinner Decadence

2010-11-09T09:40:00.000-05:00

var addthis_pub=" A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of dining with a great group of individuals where the theme of the night was decadence and culninary delights. Laine Valin, from Summerhill Market, was our chef du soir showcasing all the freshest ingredients for the evening. The evening started with a luxurious cheese board where 2 of the 4 cheeses were infused with truffles! There

Ruby Watchco

2010-11-03T15:19:00.001-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; Famed Restaurant Makeover dynamic duo, designer Cherie Stinson and celebrity chef Lynn Crawford have opened up Ruby Watchoo . I've been so excited to try this place and finally with the right occasion, my bestie's Stacey's birthday, we all headed to Leslieville for a culninary adventure. Joey, Cherie's husband was a perfect host for the evening with his entertaining

Enoteca Sociale

2010-10-31T16:11:00.001-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; Dundas West, the budding street of trendy restaurants is home to Pizza Libretto's owners' newest project - Enoteca Sociale. While the restaurant is bustling, it remains cozy with checkerboard decals, with no air of pretense and we feel very lucky to get seated right away without having made a reservation. The menu is nonna inspired with classic comforts of Italy

Unleash the Beast

2010-10-29T22:57:00.001-04:00

Scott and Rachelle Vivian, a husband and wife duo, have taken over the quaint neighborhood space that was previously occupied by one of my prized secret gems - "amuse bouche", with a restaurant with a bold concept and a name to suit it- Beast. With items like pig's head, duck feet, elk tenderloin, sweet breads and foie, this is definitely not a destination to take your vegetarian friends.

Wabora - sushi galore!

2010-10-23T10:57:00.003-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; tuna tataki appetizer As the super uber chic Thompson Hotel has opened for the glamourati to be seen, another famed restaurant import opens for business. Wabora where the original hails from Bracebridge Ontario showcases it's sushi strength by highlighting 52 rolls on the menus all complete with glossy photos which run from a reasonable they run from $6.50 to

Brazillia!!! Gostoso!

2010-10-20T14:46:00.000-04:00

The beaches in Itacare were amazing! the gang enjoying our agua de cocos before a day of surfing and beaching As the sun was setting, a man entertains us with handstands on a surfboard Next stop for me was Itacare, Brazil on my whirlwind world travels where surfing reigns kind in the day and dancing into the late evening. There's an electricity in the air in Brazil even though

Poutine Plus

2010-10-18T21:31:00.005-04:00

Another poutine restaurant has cropped up in my neighborhood and is conveniently located across the street from Smoke's Poutiniere. Now this is dangereux as the market for late night hangouts and inebriated snack time becomes populated with my favourite snack and when there's a long line up at one resto - i can just pop into the alternative yikes! Reminder that I need to figure out my gym

GBK- the purveyors of fine poutine!

2010-10-13T22:06:00.006-04:00

It was Carly's birthday and she lives in Leslieville... this is how we came here to Great Burger Kitchen which has a sign outside saying they are the "purveyor of fine poutines." It is a small take out joint with a small counter to eat at in front of the window but not somewhere you would stay put for awhile! iGBK is owned by Ted & Mary Koutsogiannopoulos and Jim Grontis formerly of Jamie

The hills are alive!!! Chronicles of my travels part deux!

2010-10-09T11:13:00.003-04:00

On top of JungFrauJoch - the top of Europe Was quite windy and cold up here So part deux of my travels were in Switzerland - but not just any part of Switz - the Alps!! And let me just say, the scenery takes my breath away. I was visiting in a small town almost 6000 ft above ground called Lenzerheide also known by locals as LA. heide ('heide' is pronounced heidi- which is a famous

Queen Margherita Pizza

2010-10-04T20:25:00.004-04:00

On the heels of my Italy trip, my sis and I decide to try the new Leslieville pizza resto that has been the new talk of Toronto. And... as Dean Martin's famous lyrics go "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's Amore... The casual but comfortable exposed brick building is quite welcoming and the fact that they take reservations, one up's a restaurant in the West end famed for

La dulce far niente - Sicilia impressions

2010-10-02T11:50:00.002-04:00

The Spectacular view of the sea and the mountains Taormenia stunning views the view in front of me every day Alas I am back in the homeland from my whirlwind travel across 3 countries and 2 continents. It was the experience of my life and a dream come true but now snapping myself slowly back to reality. I will be reporting my impressions and thoughts of each destination while tying

Gilead's Cafe

2010-08-29T13:18:00.002-04:00

Since we moved into the waterfront - I have been looking for a good lunch spot and I feel like I've hit the jackpot with Gilead's Cafe. It's one of Jamie Kennedy's creations and so I knew that all his ingredients were local or even grown in his own farm and he specializes in bringing the best out of seasonal produce. This spot is in Corktown (the area borders the Distillery district and

Deep fried delight at Stockyards

2010-08-29T12:53:00.001-04:00

Prepare yourself when you goto the Stockyards for the following: a wait, things that run out on the menu, comfort southern cuisine and the guilty feeling of eating way too many carbs and calories! This is a labour of love for owner Tom Davis who takes pride and works hard to provide Southern comfort food and good Carolina style BBQ alongside with traditional methods of smoking, dry curing and

Cooking with Ronnie

2010-08-28T11:10:00.000-04:00

My good friend Tash organized a lovely get together with friends to learn and experience the delights of Indian cusine with talented chef and cook Ronica Sajnani . Our agenda for the day was chicken curry with spinach, daal, paluk paneer, okra served with naan and basmati rice. We each got assigned some prep work - I was assigned to cut the raw chicken breast keeping their bone in so that while

Nazareth

2010-08-26T13:31:00.001-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; After a grueling ultimate frisbee match, my friend Heidi took me to her favourite neighborhood Ethiopian restaurant - Narareth. This cute Bloor and Ossington spot was busy still around 9pm when we got there still serving people on dates and groups who wanted some late night eats. (The kitchen closing only at 1am.) It's quite intimate as you walk inside as it's

El Rincon

2010-08-24T10:34:00.000-04:00

After another ultimate frisbee game, the pylons forgo a typical night of beer and wings or ice cream to try something different and head to a cozy Mexican spot in the St. Clair west village. This is a family establishment owned by the Morgado family which has been serving the St. Clair neighborhood for a long time. This is quite a gem as there is an amazing back patio and when we got there, a

Feed your Indian Craving (Chaska)!

2010-08-19T23:32:00.001-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; Having moved down to the waterfront in Toronto left us with very limited options for lunching so we happened to stumble on this very quaint and humble restaurant by accident. It seemed more like a take out spot but wafting the aromas of Indian spices, we ventured inside to reveal a cute spot with a few freshly made options that had us salivating when we walked in

Hoof Cafe

2010-08-09T23:02:00.002-04:00

The Hoof cafe in the old Chelsea room space is still a hot spot as proven tonight on a lazy Monday eve - when it's still bustling in the cozy restaurant. We have to wait 20 minutes to get served which is fine as we are intrigued by the extensive cocktail list and the fact that mutual acquaintances are here dining. Famed for their 'meaty' brunch with notable things like bone marrow churros and

Respect the Boondi! Toronto's secret cocktail bar!

2010-08-08T10:51:00.002-04:00

As you know folks, one of my favourite things to discover when visiting New York or London is a speak easy - a secret, exclusive place to enjoy some fine drinking and cocktails. While New York's Milk and Honey has secret handshakes and passwords that change regularly preventing regular folks from coming, the The Toronto Temperance Society has a $285 membership fee for those who are serious about

When is Quanto Basta, enough?

2010-08-05T12:23:00.003-04:00

Quanto Basta - meaning “enough or as much as you want/like” in Italian is the newest kid on the block south of Summerhill from the owner of Capocaccia Salvatore Mele and has the entire neighborhood buzzing. Stealing the steam from it's neighbors Le Petite Castor and Earth and opening before the anticipated Terroni project "Bar Centrale",it is the hot spot of the moment and this particular night

Dutch Dreaming...

2010-08-03T15:35:00.004-04:00

One of my favourite places to get ice cream with a lot of character is award winning family business- Dutch Dreams! The entire experience is thrill ride. Located at St. Clair and Vaughn road, you can't miss the colourful, kitchy house on the corner with neon coloured milk jugs, life size ice cream cones and lots of knick knacks. In my opinion, the only thing the house is missing is a giant

So it's been a while!

2010-08-02T20:48:00.000-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; Gang, I am sorry that it's taken me a long time to write my newest blog posting. I have been busy packing or procrastinating about packing up my place and moving to a new house which I adore. Now that I'm getting settled, I'm back and up and running and will be updating my blog more regularly. Hope you all have been enjoying yourselves... xo, the Vong Choice

My papa's new project!

2010-07-10T18:20:00.003-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; So my dad loves telling the story that I was very unsupportive of his decision of opening up his latest project and when I walked into the finished restaurant - I definitely ate my words. He did it against the many odds including his health, financial constraints and admittedly the lack of support from his only child, ME. I am truly proud of it and although it

Samba-ing with my sushi

2010-07-03T11:42:00.001-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; Sushi Samba is a franchaise, yes i know this. I've been to the one in New York, South Beach and when I was craving sushi in Las Vegas, we stumbled upon it. And every time I walk through the entrance, I feel like doing a shimmy! It's a sexy and fun environment with a DJ playing some latin beats and with innovative cuisine from 3 different culture - Japan, Peru,

Beso me mucho! xo

2010-06-21T21:46:00.002-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; So there I was in the city of bright lights, and sinful adventures- Vegas and of course I was looking for an interesting dining experience and decided to try Eva Longoria Parker's spot in the Crystals Mall located outside my sexy new hotel Aria. It was seductive and sultry like Eva's style dripping with dark chandeliers and fusia highlights. The chandeliers

Giddy Up! A little Cheval anyone?!

2010-06-14T23:35:00.004-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; I was lucky enough to get invited to participate in another mystery dining experience with the exclusive Charlies Burgers. The theme of this month was horse... more accurately the "Charlie Horse". Saddle up ladies and gents and get ready for a night full of rambunctious and playful food, drink and merriment. The guest chef this month was Matt Demille who is known

Drumroll please! World's Largest POUTINE eating competition!

2010-05-26T15:45:00.001-04:00

Toronto beat out la belle province to host the World's Largest Poutine eating competition sponsored by Smokes Poutinerie and fulfilling a dream of mine- I had the chance to witness and cover the whole competition on my blog *SQUEEL*!!! The contenders - heavy hitters from the Major League Eating Federation (MLE) came from far and wide to compete in this first ever competition against some local

Memphis in May y'all!

2010-05-25T14:05:00.001-04:00

When you hear Memphis: most people think Elvis and BBQ! That's exactly what my trip to the south was all about y'all! It all started at a dinner in NY in February when I was exuberantly talking about my culinary passions when my friend Mary, our lovely hostess along with her hubby Jarren, invited me and our friend Marisa from NYC to join her at the WORLD'S LARGEST BBQ FEST in May! We both

Bohmers

2010-05-11T15:21:00.007-04:00

The trendy Ossington strip is home to many of my favourite restaurants including Foxley, Delux, Pizza Libretto and now Bohmers. This 5000 sq feet old open gallery-esque space is the newest project for chef Paul Bohmer formerly of the Rosewater Supper club. It has taken the chef/owner over a year for this project to become a reality as he was the last to put in his application for a liquor

Celebrating el Cinco de Mayo

2010-05-05T11:45:00.002-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; I was catching up with some old friends at the Drake Hotel enjoying their cinq a sept menu deals for appetizers and drinks when we found out the Drake was celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a salsa showdown. It's not what you think, no sexy latinas shaking their booties and dancing the salsa; foodie Ivy Knight was hosting a salsa battle between 5 amazing restaurants

An Ode to Amuse Bouche

2010-04-26T15:29:00.001-04:00

var addthis_pub="tinkbella"; My friend Pete and I have been trying to go for an indulgent dinner at this romantic and quaint spot but between our hectic schedules and life in general, we hadn't t set a date. However upon finding out that this dear sweet place was closing at the end of May this year, lit a bit of a fire under both our bums and we quickly booked a dinner date. My gosh! Why

World Poutine Eating Competition in Toronto

2010-04-13T10:01:00.002-04:00

Hail Smokes Poutinerie and mark your calendars! On May 22, BMO stadium will be the platform for the first ever world poutine eating competition hosted by Smoke's Poutinerie! Although this is spectators only event - only professionals that have been invited to participate will be able to partake, fear not- Smokes is hosting a contest for 3 individuals to qualify for this event, click here for

Girls trip in Washington DC

2010-04-12T15:43:00.003-04:00

A couple of weekends ago, I had a splendid weekend away with my girlfriend Cat to visit Merissa! The weather was glorious - perfect for driving in a convertible in shorts, tank tops and flip flops and it was March!!! Just wanted to do a blog summary of our culninary adventures while there including a classic restaurant, a sunny brunch, a new hotspot, and crab shacking for the first time ever!!

For the Love of Cake

2010-04-07T11:49:00.002-04:00

Strolling through the newly developed Liberty Village, I was pleasantly surprised to see a cupcake shop as one of the new kids on the block. For the Love of Cake with Cake artist Genevieve Griffin who subscribes to the 4 dimension cupcake philosophy by playing with different combinations of 1. cake bases 2. filling 3. toppings 4. garnishes making her offerings the most innovate flavours around

a DELUX dinner

2010-04-06T21:18:00.001-04:00

This intimate and narrow restaurant oozes with cool and funkiness, only identified by a big sign with a '92 with an arrow through it'. Occupying Sparrow's previous space on Ossington, Delux has been on my list of places to try for at least a year. It's a small space so reservations go fast and the last time I tried to go - we stood waiting for our reservation for about 20 minutes before we

FOOD NETWORK Casting Call- The Opener

2010-03-31T21:38:00.000-04:00

The Food Network is in production on the 2nd season of David Adjey' show 'The Opener'. In every episode of the show, restaurant consultant and renowned chef David Adjey swoops in and assists the restaurant owner and his/her team get ready and geared up for their big opening. At this point the production company are casting for the show and looking for first time owners that can use some

Kaiseki-Sakura Omakase

2010-03-24T17:23:00.001-04:00

We chose a night and saved up our money to try the omakase cuisine in this quaint and subtle Japanese restaurant situated in the Church village. In Kaiseki Sakura - the omakase is really the only reason you come here, letting the chef DaisukeIzutsu craft five, six or seven courses ($80, $100 or $120) from authentic Japanese ingredients, which can be paired with shochu, fine sake and original

Ravi Soups for a little bowl of comfort

2010-03-22T21:05:00.001-04:00

Spring showers are a perfect time to seek a little warm refuge. My co-workers and I went to find some wholesome goodness to warm us up on this wet day. We found what we were in the mood for; Ravi soups which is the second location for this downtown staple. This location is next to the Drake Hotel on Queen Street near Lisgar while it's premiere location is on Adalaide near Spadina. Soup Master

Dinner at Swan - FTguest blogger Laine Cole

2010-03-12T10:55:00.013-05:00