Get Real! Café
135 Ossington Avenue
416 532-4564
Lunch for two including all taxes, tip, and tea: $29

It was a rainy day, and I was cold and hungry; I yearned for a safe haven and comfort food. As I walked hurriedly down Ossington Avenue toward Queen Street West, a cozy refuge presented itself to me. I excitedly entered the world of Get Real! Cafe, a decision I will forever be thankful for making.

Offering gourmet and basic salads, deluxe and open-faced sandwiches, and a Hot Pot option, this weekday menu was a dream come true for me. It can be challenging to find equally delicious vegetarian/vegan and affordable food in an unpretentious environment in Toronto. This is just the type of spot I’d love to visit on a Sunday for brunch (for which they have a separate menu), though I’m sure this tiny space must get packed quickly.

Continue reading Get Real! »

Toronto’s Julie Daniluk wants to be “the Oprah Winfrey of nutrition.” While she does not necessarily aspire to become of the world’s wealthiest women, she does want to be able to access the masses as effectively to inject her wealth of nutritional knowledge. If anybody can achieve this ambitious feat, it is Daniluk.

This Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Cooking Instructor, Author, Photographer, and PR Rep and Co-Operative Co-Owner of The Big Carrot Natural Food Market believes that “to eat well is to have emotional balance, greater self-esteem, and feel connected to the universe.”

In a world where it seems as if there is a distinct separation between what the general populous perceives as delicious food versus nutritious food, Daniluk wants to show the skeptics that this lifestyle shift can be joyful. Continue reading Healing Talk with Julie Daniluk »

Ninth Gate Korean Bistro
11 Jarvis Street East
416-981-1919
Dinner for two with all taxes, tip and wine: $55

Over the past year, I have become quite enamoured with Korean cuisine. On a quest motivated by my belly and palate, I continue to seek out my favourite dishes at both well-known locations and obscure gems.

Since Seoul, the capital of Korea, was once a walled city with 8 gates, the owners of Ninth Gate Korean Bistro have “opened the 9th gate to offer [their] patrons this gateway to the unique tastes and flavours of Korean foods.” Located at Front & Jarvis Streets in Old St. Lawrence Market, this seemingly upscale establishment provided a casual and comfortable atmosphere.

Continue reading Ninth Gate Korean Bistro »