The Green Beanery
565 Bloor Street West
416-954-9223 ext.253

Each day, on my way to and from work, I walk past a large brick building on the southeast corner of Bathurst and Bloor. Locals and pedestrians constantly peek into the wide windows of the soon-to-be-opened new location of The Green Beanery.

The much anticipated coffee shop has been gearing up to open at this prominent Annex location for months. While there is still no concrete opening date, this non-profit coffee bean purveyor (it proclaims to offer the largest selection of beans in town - a pretty bold claim for a city the size of Toronto) will be a welcome addition to an otherwise garish corner, on a street with too few independent coffee operations.

Continue reading Green Beans In Time for Spring »

The Bake Shop
195 Harbord Street
416-850-8039

The first time I walked into the Bake Shop I did a double take. For a brief moment I wondered if by accident I had walked into someone’s home kitchen. The set up of this quaint bakery is not typical of a shop. There is no store front, no back of house, and no divide between customer and shop keeper. Indeed, it does look like a home.

Continue reading Baked With Love at the Bake Shop »

Sushi Café Myoung Dong Soon To Fu Korea Restaurant
620 Bloor Street West
416-588-2700
Dinner for two with all taxes, tip and Soju; no dessert: $42

Sushi Café Myoung Dong Soon To Fu Korea Restaurant is found in the heart of Koreatown. The steamed up windows show pictures of the many varieties of sushi found inside and boast of a “buy two get one free” special. This is a bit confusing since sushi is Japanese and this, most certainly, is a Korean restaurant.

The interior of this small establishment is a bit aggressive, with bright orange walls and panel mirrors. A single palm tree plant hugs one of the corners. The sushi bar is tucked in the back, but even so, it still seems out of place.

Continue reading Sushi Cafe Myong Soon To Fu Korean Restaurant »

Steam Whistle Brewing
The Roundhouse
255 Bremner Boulevard
416-362-BEER

I walk down Front Street in a quick stride with my partner Paul by my side. It’s his birthday and I’m keeping him in the dark about our plans. We pass the Rogers Centre and the CN Tower – he is out of guesses. “You have to walk faster,” I say as the clock nears 5pm. We are almost late. With only minutes to spare we arrive at our destination. “We’re going to brew beer?” he asks confusedly as I open the front door to the Steam Whistle Brewing Company. “No, silly, we’re going on a brewery tour!”

Continue reading Touring the Steam Whistle Brewery »

Harbord Bakery
115 Harbord Street
416-922-5767

We are standing around my kitchen table with an assorted selection of baked goods in front of us. I have just returned home from Harbord Bakery and we are about to start an enviable taste test.

“There’s so much here, I don’t know where to begin,” says Thea in amazement. Thea and Rich, friends who share my love of food, have been visiting for the week from Edmonton. They are more than willing to voice their opinions on all things edible.

Earlier in the morning I got up while they were still sleeping and walked over to the bakery. The warm smell of fresh baked goods was an inviting change from the cold wind outside that has now taken over Toronto. Customers bustled around the counters deciding what they wanted to bring home for Saturday brunch. With so many people around I was able to ask some of those waiting in line for suggestions. Locals were willing to share their Harbord favourites. Top picks were wide-ranging and included fruit flan, carrot cake and tuna salad.

Harbord Bakery, officially named Harbord Bakery and Calandria, is not just a bakery. Rather, it is a well organized and stocked one-stop-shop.

Continue reading Harbord Bakery Treats »

SasMart
6 Denison Square
416-596-6415

Until two years ago I didn’t know nutmeg graters existed. Nor did I realize that Europeans have specific gadgets for every conceivable meal. The French alone have raclette and crepe machines that they pull out with the same familiarity North Americans do with toasters. The Italians attach pasta makers and meat grinders to their counter tops with ease.

Two years ago I vacationed with friends in the French Alps; it was a culinary adventure that changed the way I saw food preparation. We sat around a table, tucked away in an alpine cottage, moving eagerly from one meal to the next. During one dinner of melted cheese and potatoes (raclette) my friend Thibaut pulled out a tiny nutmeg grater complete with a slot to store the petit nut and boldly added the spice.

Continue reading SasMart Has It All »