Anyone who isn't aware that Valentine’s Day is almost upon us has probably been living under a rock for the past month. Luckily for the procrastinators who still haven’t gotten around to picking up a gift for their sweetie, we braved the blustery winter weather to check out a few of Toronto’s finest chocolatiers. (Yeah, it’s a tough job sometimes.)

First up in our hunt for chocolate nirvana is the the elder statesman of Toronto's gourmet chocolate scene: Soma (55 Mill Street). Their cozy brick-and-wood space in the Distillery District is filled with dozens of baskets stacked full of assorted chocolate-based goodies, including hot chocolate mixes, gourmet chocolate bars and various chocolate-covered edibles. We're here for the truffles, though, which range from classics like salted caramel and whiskey, to more adventurous flavours like balsamic vinegar and Douglas fir. Purists will be happy to hear that they also make several single-origin 70% chocolate truffles.

We end up choosing an Arbequina olive oil truffle and a pecan butter crunch. The olive oil has a thin bittersweet chocolate shell that’s sweet and fruity, but the filling is a little disappointing – while the oil does give the filling a rich slippery mouthfeel, the flavour doesn’t stand up to the dark chocolate ganache as much as I’d like. However, the pecan butter crunch helps soothe my disappointment, with a smooth milk chocolate coating that pairs well with the buttery crisp toffee and the fresh pecan halves nestled inside.

Heading east, we find Kakayo Chocolatier (1584 Queen Street East). The bright white shop is located along a stretch of Queen Street East smack dab between Leslieville and The Beaches. Owner Colleen Wong-Sala specializes in organic, fair-trade and gluten-free chocolates. Chocolates are handmade on the premises, filled with flavours like salted caramel, green tea matcha and grains of paradise. Their selection also includes a few vegan options made with rice or soy milk, including chai spice and banana split.

We start off with one of Kakayo’s top sellers, the rainforest mocha truffle. The milk chocolate shell is creamy and slightly nutty, and the Panama coffee ganache centre has just a little touch of vanilla to temper the coffee's bitterness. We follow it up with the hot tamale, which has a dark, fruity, barely-sweet chocolate coating and an equally dark ganache filling that provides a gentle afterburn thanks to a dash of chili. Kakayo's truffles are hand-dipped, which makes their shell a little thicker than some of the other truffles we sampled, but there's still a good ratio of chocolate to filling.

Over in Yorkville, MoRoCo's (99 Yorkville Ave) white-and-pastel space feels more like a Victorian boudoir than a chocolatier, with several glass cases showing off pretty pastel-coloured rows of French macarons and various confections arranged in artfully trimmed alcoves. Many of their truffles have cheeky names that hint at the flavours nestled beneath their colourfully printed chocolate shells such as; monkey in the middle (tangy berry gelee with peanut gianduja), sourpuss (bittersweet chocolate with passionfruit and ginger) or thai me up (white chocolate with lemon, basil and mint), among others.

At $3 a piece, these truffles are a little more expensive than the rest, but it should be noted that we’re in Yorkville, daaah-link. We begin with the curry in a hurry, which has a pleasantly silky milk chocolate coating, but while the coconut milk ganache is creamy and sweet, there's only the barest hint of curry spice to be found (so bare, in fact, that I'm not sure I'd have noticed it if I wasn't expecting it to be there). A truffle named "fresh one" is a winner, though - the bittersweet chocolate coating has a satisfying snap and isn’t overly sweet, while the balsamic and strawberry cream filling finds a perfect balance of tangy, sweet and creamy with vibrant berry notes.

Over in the West End, Delight’s (3040 Dundas Street West) small storefront in the Junction is worth seeking out. Their chocolates are handmade on site using only fair trade and organic ingredients. Their small but varied selection includes flavours like cardamom lime, maple cream, hazelnut and chili chocolate, some of which are also vegan.

We decide to try the earl grey vanilla and the Quebec blue cheese. The milk chocolate of the earl grey vanilla is soothingly creamy, with a pronounced earl grey flavour. The star attraction is definitely the blue cheese, though, which turns out to be a delightful surprise (pun totally intended) - its salty-sweet dark chocolate filling is reminiscent of cheesecake, with a hint of pungent blue that comes through in the finish.

Lastly, we head north to Midtown to check out Xococava (1560 Yonge Street). The menu here reads more like a tapas joint than a chocolate shop, with options like chorizo, black olive, trumpet mushroom or preserved lemon (no surprise, since they’re an offshoot of Cava, the tapas place next door). If this all sounds a little too adventurous, rest assured that they do have a few more traditional choices, including raspberry, mint, and chai masala.

We can't pass up a chance to try the signature chorizo truffle, which is flavoured with a blend of paprika and lapsang souchong tea to mimic chorizo’s distinctive smoky spice. The smokiness is a little overwhelming at first, but it’s soon tempered by the sweetness of the milk chocolate coating. It’s a jarring, but not entirely unpleasant, combination. We then move on to a Spanish coffee truffle, which has a fruity dark chocolate shell and dark roasted coffee filling that strikes a good balance of sweetness and acidity.

Bottom line, there’s clearly no shortage of well-crafted, high-quality chocolate in Toronto. You can't really go wrong with any of these chocolatiers - eco-conscious types will probably be most pleased with Kakayo and Delight’s range of organic and fair-trade confections, fashionistas will appreciate MoRoCo and Soma’s sleek presentation, and adventurous food lovers will swoon over Xococava’s exotic flavourings. Let's face it, as long as there's some form of chocolate involved, it's sure to be a happy Valentine's Day.

Isabelle Boucher works as a flunkie in the telecom industry by day, and as a mad scientist in her kitchen by night. You can catch her recipe-related meanderings on her blog, Good Food, Good Wine and a Bad Girl. She'll be asking her Valentine for a heart-shaped box of carrot sticks.

From everyone here at TasteTO, best wishes to all our readers, contributors and friends for a safe and wonderful holiday season and a prosperous new year.

We're taking a week off to unwind, relax, spend time with dear friends and, of course, eat! We'll be back on January 2nd to start TasteTO's 4th year of coverage of everything that's fit to eat in Toronto. See you then!

We're winding down our content for the year, good readers. We've given our hard-working, dedicated writers a couple of weeks off to enjoy the holidays without looming deadlines hanging around their necks. We will have Flavours of the Day events posts along with What's Cooking posts until December 24th, and then we'll be taking a break until the new year when we'll be back with lots of new content, interviews, chef profiles and other great stuff.

Enjoy all the good eats of the season!

For some families, the arrival of the holiday season is heralded by houses made out of gingerbread, or dainty disks of iced and sugared cookie dough.

For others, it wouldn’t seem complete without a hard-sauced plum pudding or airy pannetone concluding their festive meal.

In my family, the occasion was always marked by the receipt of a jar of mincemeat lovingly prepared by Mamere (my grandmother). From as far back as I can recall, these care packages were sent across Canada to all of her 12 children, affording them a tiny taste of home no matter where their celebrations might be. Every year we longingly looked forward to the day that package would come, and then greedily consumed the pie in record time once it had been prepared. Mamere has since retired, but during the past few years I’ve taken the importance of upholding this tradition to heart.

Even though I now produce it for my kith and kin, it’s been a very long time since I’ve felt the urge to enjoy any myself.

Mincemeat (for the uninitiated) is a melange of dried and candied fruit (think raisins, currants and mixed peel to start, all of which I’m not keen on) stewed to a thick and syrupy consistency, then baked into seasonal edibles like pies and tarts. Today most of what is available is vegetarian, but traditionally it included suet (the fat from around beef kidneys). My family’s version is uber-traditional and includes not only suet but actual ground beef, partially owing to my decline in desire over the years, I’m sure. "Meat + fruit = dessert" is at best a questionable equation for most folks, it seems.

Preparing mincemeat has become a dying art, one that most people aren’t even aware of anymore. While researching this story I reached out to the internet for recommendations and was met with some peculiar suggestions. One person waxed poetically about a brand of pie found in a well-known supermarket chain, while another declared a commercial jarred brand on grocery store shelves to be exactly what I was after.

They were both wrong.

I didn’t want a soulless glop chockful of preservatives or things I can’t spell.

What I wanted to find were bakeries that were taking the same time and care to make their mincemeat tarts as my family does with ours. The goal became to find the culinary torchbearers of this almost forgotten treat, as it were.

Once I started asking, I was astonished by the number of bakeries around town that still produced these festive wares. Though not available for sampling or purchase at the time of writing, I found that Wanda’s Pie In The Sky (287 Augusta Avenue), Mabel’s Bakery (332 Roncesvalles Avenue), The Healthy Butcher (565 Queen Street West) and Dessert Lady Cafe (20 Cumberland Street) would all have them in stock or for order closer to the holiday season.

Luckily, I was able to obtain 5 samples from several other bakeries, for which I’ve compiled my tasting notes.

The first stop I made was at Dufflet Pastries (787 Queen Street West) where the tarts were 1.5” ($1.35) and 3” ($2.75) respectively, with a flaky, crumbly, buttery crust. I found the blend of apples, lemons, oranges, raisins and apricots wonderfully balanced between the sweet, tart and spicy elements, producing a tart with the elusive taste of Christmas. Though both sizes were delicious, I much preferred the larger one because it had a better ratio of filling to crust than the smaller version, which was almost all crust by comparison. Nevertheless, it’s hard to go wrong with any baked offering from Dufflet, and I would certainly return for these again.

Next I made haste to Daniel et Daniel (248 Carlton Street) in the hopes of securing one of their mini ($1.70) or individual ($4.65) tarts, but upon arrival all they had was a medium (8 inch). Quite possibly the strangest variation of mincemeat I laid hands on, their version was strewn with a powdery crumb topping that until tasting I’d mistaken for a dusting of icing sugar. The filling was sticky, treacly and very chunky, with pockets of whole raisins and currants interspersed throughout. It did exhibit the requisite tang of proper mincemeat, as well as a satisfyingly firm and crisp tart shell, but with the topping, it was a little too sweet for my liking, and I didn’t care for the aftertaste it left in my mouth, either. I’d only recommend it to those who are particularly fond of raisins (which I am not) or a curious connoisseur.

My third destination was to see Stephanie Pick at The Queen Of Tarts (283 Roncesvalles Avenue) where I picked up the prettiest tart ($4.75) of the bunch. Her glossy snowflake bedecked tart combined the usual suspects (raisins, currants, mixed peel) with cranberries, dried apricots, apples, pears, citrus, rum, marsala and more. One of the keys to successful mincemeat is allowing the flavours an adequate amount of time to meld, and this tart definitely evidenced that care. The filling was rustically chopped without being unpleasantly chunky, and the glaze (likely apricot) added a welcome sweetness to counter the puckeriness of the mince. The crust was so intensely buttery that it became the most addictive one to sample, disappearing much too quickly for my liking.  A very solid tart that I’d welcome eating again… soon!

Halfway across town, I found myself at Brick Street Bakery (55 Mill Street) purchasing the most adorable tart (1.5”) I’d found ($2.25). It was minuscule, with a double crust that hid the filling entirely, and had me worried that I’d received a tiny tortiere instead of a mince pie. After one bite (though there was hardly much more to it than that) I found that it was mince with a very heavy hand on the citrus and whole fruit. The double crust was overkill on a tart so small, and completely threw off the proportion of pastry to filling. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t suggest bothering with this unless you really like citrus or crust more than pie.

Lastly, I went back across town to see Kyla Eaglesham of Madeleine’s Cherry Pie And Ice Cream (1087 Bathurst Street) to receive the most fancifully ornate tart. These star-shaped specimens ($2.25) with holly berry garnish were the full monty/real deal with a lard-laden crust and a suet-enriched filling (though they will make lard-free pastry on request). The caramel hue of the pork fat-based crust made all the other tart shells look anaemic by comparison. And despite arguments to the contrary, there really is no substitute for such a crust; at once meltingly flaky and a rich burnished brown. While the filling was smooth, it was less assertively spiced than the other tarts I sampled, but it perfectly offset the luxuriant shell. This tart would make a great entry point for those interested in dipping a toe into the world of mincemeat because it is mild enough to win over naysayers, yet still holds true to what mincemeat is all about.

I consumed more mincemeat in 3 days than I had in the previous 10 years while compiling this story. Surprisingly, instead of dulling my appetite for it, the comparison reignited my love affair with this oft-maligned dessert. In essence, these 5 Toronto bakeries have given me the best Christmas present of all; a chance to reconnect to one of my family’s own cherished traditions.

So, this holiday season, why not trade in your pumpkin pie, sugar cookies, plum pudding or fruitcake for a tantalizing slice of mincemeat? You never know, you just might like it after all.

Porsha Perreault is a freelance writer, voracious eater, amateur charcutier, and chocolate enthusiast living in Little Italy. A copy of her family's cherished mincemeat recipe can be found at Foodie and the Everyman.

This latter was a gag gift of sorts, with mom – uh, I mean Santa – bringing him some “real” presents as well. But it’s quite possible to give some serious beer or beer-related presents for Christmas, especially with the oodles of options that are available nowadays. So for those trying frantically to find a gift for the beer lover in your life, here are a few tips that will hopefully help out.

For the locavore:

If your friend is the sort who shops at farmers markets and lives by the 100-mile diet whenever possible, local beer is the way to go. And it’s hard to get more local than Steam Whistle, the brewery in the historic Roundhouse building just south of the CN Tower that’s known for their popular namesake pilsner. While a plain ol’ six-pack might be appreciated by some, a more stylish option is the Steam Whistle Gift Pack (LCBO 11692 - $29.95) containing a retro-style wall mount bottle opener along with two bottles of their crisp golden lager.

For a bit more variety, try the Mill Street Seasonal Sampler (LCBO 159277 - $12.75/6x341 mL), a sixer featuring a bottle each of Mill Street’s five regular brews (Organic Lager, Stock Ale, Tankhouse, Belgian Wit and Coffee Porter) along with Helles Bock, a strong German-style lager that’s normally available only at their brewpub in the Distillery District. Speaking of which, the brewpub has a retail outlet attached where a variety of Mill Street swag is available, including glassware, t-shirts, hats, as well as bottles and growlers (1.9 L jugs) of their various brands.

If their definition of local extends to include all of Ontario, the latest Ontario Craft Brewers Discovery Pack (LCBO 137067 - $14.95/6x473 mL) would be a good choice. As noted in my review a couple of weeks ago, this six-pack of cans includes brews from Trafalgar, Muskoka, Nickel Brook, Great Lakes, Wellington and Neustadt, giving a good sample of what the province’s craft breweries have to offer. If you’re more of a DIYer, you can also put together your own gift basket from the many Ontario beers available at the LCBO in single cans or bottles, including Denison’s Weissbier (LCBO 132480 - $2.60/473 mL), Amsterdam Nut Brown (LCBO 142331 - $2.50/473 mL), Hockley Stout (LCBO 68262 - $2.65/473 mL) and Scotch-Irish Black Irish Plain Porter (LCBO 32540 - $2.10/341 mL).

For the food lover:

For those who appreciate both good beer and great food, a celebratory dinner at beerbistro (18 King Street East) would undoubtedly be appreciated. Chef Brian Morin and his team are ranked amongst the best in North America when it comes to matching beer and food, as well as using beer as an ingredient in many dishes. And if you’re feeling especially generous, you can always splurge on a bottle or two from the special cellar list, which features some of the rarest – and priciest – beers in town.

For something slightly less expensive, consider a night out at Volo (587 Yonge Street), The Monk’s Table (1276 Yonge Street) or The Queen & Beaver (35 Elm Street). Or if cheap and casual is more their speed, try C’est What (67 Front Street East), The Rebel House (1068 Yonge Street) or Smokeless Joe (125 John Street).

For the whisky aficionado:

Considering that they start with the same raw ingredients – i.e. water and malted barley – it makes sense that a lot of beer fans are also appreciators of whisky. So why not bring their two favourites together in one package, and pick up the Innis & Gunn Connoisseur’s Collection (LCBO 131789 - $14.95/3x330 mL). This gift pack contains bottles of three distinct oak-aged brews from the Scottish brewery, including Limited Edition Rum Cask, Limited Edition IPA, and Innis & Gunn Original, along with a lovely branded glass.

The year-round success of Innis & Gunn Original has inspired the LCBO to look for other barrel-aged beers to stock, and two from Scotland’s Harviestoun Brewery are available now in limited quantities as part of the Winter Warmers beer promotion. Part of the series called Ola Dubh (Black Oil), the beers are a collaboration between Harviestoun and distillery Highland Park, and feature an Imperial Stout based on Harviestoun’s Old Engine Oil strong ale, matured in casks that previously held Highland Park whisky of various ages. The LCBO has brought in the 12 Year Old (LCBO 107672 - $5.45/330 mL) and the 40 Year Old (LCBO 143610 - $18.40/330 mL), with the latter being both the most expensive and the most limited beer ever stocked by the agency, with only 360 bottles imported for the entire system.

For the Belgophile:

It’s no secret that some of the best beers in the world come from Belgium, with those from the half-dozen Trappist monastery breweries in the country being the most revered. The largest of the six is Chimay, and while their Red and White are available here year-round, it’s rare to get the dark and fruity Blue, so the Chimay Gift Pack (LCBO 560383 - $14.95/3x330 mL) with a bottle of each and a glass is a nice treat.

While not Trappist monasteries, the monks at Affligem and Maredsous both produce beers in a similar style, making the Affligem Mixed Pack (LCBO 682906 - $15.95/4x330 mL) and Maredsous Gift Box (LCBO 925818 - $15.95/3x330 mL), each containing three Abbey-style ales and a branded glass, very worthwhile purchases. And for something that the recipient might be inclined to share, try the Duvel Gift Pack (LCBO 395848 - $10.95/750 mL), which features a 750 ml bottle of the legendary golden ale along with a striking glass.

For the reader:

While I haven’t yet had a chance to read either of them myself, the numerous glowing reviews for Cheers!: An Intemperate History of Beer in Canada by Nicholas Pashley and Hops and Glory: One Man's Search for the Beer That Built the British Empire by Pete Brown, as well as my enjoyment of previous books by both authors, mean that I can recommend both of them without hesitation. If I had to choose one, I’d be inclined to go with Cheers!, if only because Mr. Pashley lives in Toronto, and if the recipient happens to bring the book along to his or her favourite local pub to read while enjoying a pint, the odds are high that the author himself might be on hand.

And as a regular contributor, I’d be remiss if I didn’t suggest a gift subscription to TAPS Magazine, Canada’s only national publication devoted exclusively to beer. Aside from overlong and rambling articles on beer styles by yours truly, the quarterly magazine features coverage of the beer and brewing scene from coast to coast, including brewery profiles, beer reviews, news on events and new beer releases, and a whole lot more. I may be a bit biased, but I really think that it’s an indispensable resource for anyone interested in craft beer in Canada.

Hopefully, this admittedly incomplete list of ideas will be helpful for those last minute gift runs. And don’t forget that while it may be better to give than to receive, there’s nothing wrong with the old “one for you, one for me” rule, so feel free to double up on any of the above and give yourself a bit of Christmas joy as well.

The Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of both life and death. Occurring on November 1st and 2nd, the event, also known as All Soul's Day is celebrated primarily in Mexico and by families of Latin-American descent. The festival has taken place every year for centuries and dates back to Meso-American times.

On the Day of the Dead, families flock to graveyards to celebrate the lives of their deceased, bringing with them the favourite things of their dead relatives, from music to clothing and especially their favourite foods.

Most people know skulls to be associated with the Day of the Dead, and edible skulls can be found at all celebrations. The celebratory treats are made from chocolate, sugar, and even amaranth, a grain that grows in Mexico and that when moulded creates a treat similar to Rice Krispie squares.

Here in Toronto, while our Mexican community is quite small, we have a really wonderful Day of the Dead celebration that takes place every year at Harbourfront Centre. While events are scheduled for the weekend following the official Day of the Dead (events take place November 7th and 8th this year), there is still much to see, do and eat.

Besides a variety of vendors selling sugar and chocolate skulls, Mexican crafts and various treats, the weekend will feature demonstrations on making pan de muerto and mole, as well as El Cilantro Catering and Rebozos serving up tacos, tamales and more.

The weekend long celebration also features music and dance performances, films, craft demonstrations and storytelling focusing on Mexican mythology for kids.

The Day of the Dead celebration takes place Saturday November 7th and Sunday November 8th at Harbourfront Centre. Admission is free. For more information and details on specific programming, please visit the website.

For more images of the Day of the Dead event at Harbourfront Centre, please check out my posts from 2007 at Save Your Fork and Leaves and Petals.

I kind of hate Valentine's Day. In a world where we should all be saying "I love you" any chance we can get, or where buying a partner flowers or candy should/could be a regular occurrence, there's just way too much pressure to fill one particular day with a year's worth of romance and caring. And because most people are out of practice when it comes to showing others that they care about them, they fall back on "tradition" (aka. the tacky and clichéd). So while, in truth, I don't have too much problem with a heart-shaped box of assorted chocolates (I actually like the orange creams), so much of what falls into the standard Valentine's Day gift list (a dozen red roses, champagne, romantic dinner for two) sort of makes me retch. Or at least roll my eyes and groan - and not in a good way.

Now while I can't help readers with the other issues aside from advising that a gift that suits the recipient's tastes is better than a gift that is simply "traditional" (ie. buy a cool plant or a bouquet of their favourite flower instead of those tacky roses; skip the teddy bear unless the giftee is under the age of 10; and wait until Sunday and go for a lovely brunch instead of getting shafted on an overpriced V-Day dinner...), I am able to recommend some non-traditional sweets and candies that show a lot more thought and creativity than a gift picked up at the gas station.

The folks at Yummy Stuff (1660 Queen Street West) have a really great selection of treats for Valentine's Day. They're still working with a mostly heart-shaped theme, but these handmade delights will show that the gift-giver has put some thought into their purchase and is thinking about taste and flavour, not just getting off the hook for another year. Morag and her team are offering beautifully decorated cookies ($4 each or 6 in a heart-shaped box for $25); cakes ($32 - $50); cupcakes ($4 each); brownies ($25/dozen); and handmade truffles ($8/4, $20/12).

Lesia Kohut of LPKs Culinary Groove (718 Queen Street East) is offering a diverse selection of pastries and chocolates in her east end shop where everything is green, organic and fair trade. The midnight cassis cake ($22/$34) is gluten free and is glazed in chocolate. There's also a variety of tarts at $5.25; some are vegan and some are gluten free. A special box of 4 large Valentine truffles ($20) in flavours of "love" (wildflower honey and cinnamon), "desire" (bourbon vanilla and cardamom), "passion" (orange and tabaqueiro chili) and "seduction" (caramel ganache) is available for the big day, or try some of their regular truffle selections starting from $20. There's also a variety of decorated cookies, some of which are vegan or gluten-free.

At Soma Chocolatemaker (55 Mill Street), they're selling breathtaking lacy chocolate hearts ($12/$17.50) nestled in a bed of wild cherries tumbled in dark chocolate. Heart meringues with Madasgar vanilla ($5) add a light touch. There's also a couple of seasonal truffle favours (Yuzu or pomegrantate and barberry), and a crazy love collection ($35) that includes a lacy heart, meringues, truffles and SOMA's barberry crunch made with handmade toffee, roast cacao nibs, feulletine and barberries.

Readers also shouldn't overlook the do-it-yourself option. Bulk shops such as Domino's at St. Lawrence Market (92 Front Street East) have a huge selection of seasonal candy from jelly beans and gumdrops to chocolate-covered cherries. Add a couple of decorated sugar cookies from Future Bakery and it's even more fun than a store-bought selection because it can be tailored to the tastes of the recipient - and it's easy to keep quantities small if they happen to be one of the hardy few still sticking to their new year resolutions.

Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention straight-up bars of chocolate. Personally, while I'd never turn down any of the goodies listed above, I'd be just as happy if my hubby gifted me with a selection of high-end chocolate bars. From the Varlhona single-origin bars to the many flavoured creations by companies like Dolfin, a stack of these with a red bow is all I really need to feel loved. Of course, this idea can go high-end as well, and anyone with a wad of cash and a chocolate connoiseur to buy for might want to consider the Pralus stack at Aren't We Sweet at St. Lawrence Market. At $49.99, it tends to cause jaws to drop at the register, but for anyone who cares to send the very best, Pralus is widely considered the best chocolatier in the world.

With February 14th knocking on the door, many hunnies and bunnies find themselves in a flurry planning the ultimate date.  Some succumb to the marketing of overpriced red roses or giant hearts sutured to the paws of abnormally happy stuffed bears, or even attempt to score a table at one of the city's most romantic establishments in a room with like-minded patrons, while others prefer to take it easy and simply find the time to spend together.  Whatever the plans, it's really the thought that counts, isn't it?  Below find an assortment of delicious treats guaranteed to send anyone into a sugar-filled heaven.  Who knows, there might be sweeter memories to be made in the morning... with the leftovers, of course.

They call Paris the "city of love," but a trip across the Atlantic might be tough for the budget conscious.  Why not try a taste of the fair city at Crêpe It Up (507 Church Street), a no-frills but tasty option for those staying in town during the weekend of amour.

The only challenge to finding deluxe comfort in a relaxed environment may be to locate a quiet table in The Drake Hotel's (1150 Queen Street West) busy dining room, but once seated, a hearty serving of sticky toffee pudding and a steady flow of drinks would make any lover swoon.

Can anything be sweeter than sharing a pudim flan d'chocolate branco - a light custard flavoured with citrus fruit and white chocolate, then glazed with a thin layer of caramel - at Chiado Restaurant (864 College Street)? Answer: not having to share it.

Romance and interaction could be had with the aid of a cheese plate.  Seduce the senses by feeding each other with a mix and mingle of flavours and textures over a glass of wine.  The version above can be found at Célestin (623 Mount Pleasant Road).  Just keep it PG in the dining room.

Treat your hearts well by sharing a carp-shaped ice cream waffle that's accompanied by a dollop of wasabi-like green tea ice cream after a meal of heart healthy sushi at Omi Restaurant (243 Carlton Street).

Or just indulge in one of Dutch Dreams (78 Vaughan Road) massive cones.

Pucker up with one of the lemon tarts from Jamie Kennedy's Gilead Café (4 Gilead Place) or drop by a specialty bakery and bring the sweet action home.

There are also gorgeous specimens to be had at the bakery counters of Pusateri's Fine Foods (57 Yorkville Avenue; 1539 Avenue Road), or Whole Foods Market (87 Avenue Road) that will leave you, and not your bank account, breathless.

Renée Suen is a graduate student at the University of Toronto, specializing in cardiovascular sciences. She has an insatiable appetite and can often be found with her camera, searching for something tasty to eat. Find more mouthwatering treats on her Flickr site.

Epic Restaurant at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel are offering a Valen Dine special with a four course prix fixe menu from February 11th to the 15th for $65, or $100 with wine pairings. Offerings include hamachi sashimi, foie gras and a choice of lamb, steak or arctic char along with a chocolate and raspberry dessert. Benihana at the Royal York is offering a five course menu for $70 on February 14th only. The hotel is also offering a $99 Stay Over Rate from the 11th to the 15th as well. Diners wishing to book Valentine’s dinner or dinner and the $99 Valentine’s Stay Over Rate should call (416) 860-5050 or email festive@fairmont.com.

They're taking Valentine's very seriously at Madeleines, Cherry Pie and Ice Cream (1087 Bathurst Street) with a number of specials and events leading up to the day of luv. From February 1st to 15th, customers can drop by and decorate heart-shaped cookies. $20 will get you 6 cookies and an afternoon of decorating fun. The café is also hosting a chocolate-themed dinner on Friday, February 13th featuring a four course meal with chocolate in every dish. The cost is $75 per person, or $50 per person for 2 or more guests. Reservations required. Contact the shop at 416-537-3131 or info@madeleines.ca

If you own a shop or restaurant and want to tell our readers about any special dining or product offers you have coming up, please drop us a line with the details at contact@tasteto.com and we'll add it to our weekly specials round-up.

From everyone here at TasteTO, best wishes to all our readers, contributors and friends for a safe and wonderful holiday season and a prosperous new year.

We're taking a week off to unwind, relax, spend time with dear friends and, of course, eat! We'll be back on January 2nd to start TasteTO's 3rd year of coverage of everything that's fit to eat in Toronto. See you then!

Earlier this week, Taste T.O. dropped by to see the big guy, and instead of giving him a list of toys, we asked him a list of questions which he was kind enough to answer for us:

You've got $10 to buy lunch - where do you go?

I've been working at the Eaton Centre while I've been in town, and I've found some good places around there. Chipotle (323 Yonge Street) makes great burritos - I really like the carnitas (pork) with black beans. The daily specials at Evergreen Thai Restaurant (175 Dundas Street West) are great too, especially the noodle dishes.

When I'm not working, I like to spend time down at Flatiron's Christmas Market (51 Front Street East), and then head over to Mustachio's in St. Lawrence Market (93 Front Street East) for a delicious eggplant sandwich. They're so big that they even fill up a fat guy like me! Ho ho ho!

The budget's unlimited, someone else is paying and the choice is yours - where do you pick for dinner?

I'm usually the one doing the giving, so having someone else pay would be kind of strange! But if I had to choose, I'd go with Senses (328 Wellington Street West) where I'd order their lobster bolognaise with truffles and a Kobe ribeye.

Not quite so fancy but still a great place to treat someone is beerbistro (18 King Street West). I love going on Saturdays for their weekly applewood smoked suckling pig special, with a pint or two of Durham Hop Addict IPA to wash it down. Chef Brian Morin is always on my 'nice' list!

Tell us some of the food shops you frequent when buying groceries to cook for yourself.

I don't do a lot of cooking myself - Mrs. Claus is a much better cook, I just take care of the eating (which is probably pretty obvious when you look at me!). We get the basics shipped to us up at the Pole, but the missus always asks me to pick up a few things when I'm down here.

She's been cooking a lot of Mexican lately, so I've been stocking up on chilies and other supplies at Perola's (247 Augusta Avenue) in Kensington - and I usually pop around the corner for some cookies at My Market Bakery (172 Baldwin Street), 'cause you know I love the cookies! I also like shopping at St. Lawrence Market, especially Domino's for oils, sauces and chocolate, Alex Farms for cheese, and The Sausage King for sausages.

And I should thank the folks at Pet Valu (1660 Bloor Street West & other locations) for special ordering Reindeer Chow for me. It can be hard to find around here!

When ordering in for a quiet night at home, what's your favourite place for take-out or delivery?

The Festive Special from Swiss Chalet, of course!

Oh, no, relatives are coming to Toronto from out of town - where do you take them?

My relatives are all big eaters (runs in the family, I guess...), so we'd have to go somewhere with big portions. Harlem (67 Richmond Street East) is a personal favourite - their fried chicken is the best I've had anywhere, and the servings are so large that even I have been known to leave with a reindeer bag.

Mrs. Claus likes a lot of Asian food, so when it's her relatives, we usually go to Pho Asia 21 (1208 King Street West) for the fantastic pho, and E-Pan (369 Spadina Avenue) for the crispy beef with sesame - it's fried in sweet sesame sauce until it caramelizes, so it's almost like beef candy.

Your favourite place to grab a couple of drinks and hang out where everybody knows your name?

Not to toot my own horn, but everybody knows my name no matter where I go. Ho ho ho! But when I'm going out with the elves, we like somewhere with a good beer list (elves are serious about their beer!), so we go to places like Rhino (1249 Queen Street West), Volo (587 Yonge Street) or C'est What (67 Front Street East).

What's coming up?

Well, I've got that "flying around the world to leave presents for all the boys and girls" thing happening tonight. I usually sleep for a couple of days after that, and then the wife and I head south to vacation for a couple of weeks - this year it's Mexico. After that, it's time to start putting together the new 'naughty' and 'nice' lists, and we also have to negotiate a new contract with the Elves Union, so 2009 will be a busy year. But hey, it keeps me out of trouble. Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!

Tasting T.O. is a regular feature where we ask local artists, writers, musicians, foodies and other personalities about their favourite places to eat and drink in the city. If you or someone you know would like to be featured in an upcoming instalment - especially if you have an upcoming event, gig, release, etc. to promote - please get in touch.

Whether it's because they don't celebrate Christmas or because they're celebrating later, there's plenty of people who find themselves wandering the streets of Toronto on December 25th looking for a meal. And while there are many hotels offering various buffets or fancy 5 course dinners, not everyone wants the big platter of turkey and fixin's on Christmas Day. While the husband and I will be joining a relative for a hotel holiday buffet on the 25th, our usual tradition is to head to one of our favourite local restaurants with all the other heathens and hipsters and enjoy a hearty plate of scrambled eggs and toast with nary a mention of holly, mistletoe or presents.

Here's a selection of places that are open and serving their regular menu on the 25th.

Abbot on the Hill
1276 Yonge Street
416-920-9074
Open from 11am to 4pm - accepting donations for Kids For Kids charity.

Bangkok Paradise Thai Restaurant
506 Queen Street West
416-504-3210
Open from 5pm - 10:30pm

Bright Pearl Seafood Restaurant
346 Spadina Avenue
416-979-3988
Open from 9am for dim sum to 11pm.

The Beaver
1192 Queen Street West
416-537-2768
Open at 10am for brunch.

The Cock and Tail
1168 Queen Street West
647-349-8245
5pm - 2am
There's no food served at this local watering hole but they'll be pulling pints and mixing drinks.

Dhaba
309 King Street West
416-740-6622
Open for dinner: 5pm - 10pm.

E-Pan Chinese Cuisine
369 Spadina Avenue
416-260-9988
Open noon to midnight.

Fran's
20 College Street and 210 Victoria Street
416-304-0085
Both location open 24 hours a day.

There's probably also plenty of places open in either downtown Chinatown or in Markham, pick a place and call ahead.

It’s Saturday morning at the chaotic Loblaws on St. Clair West at Bathurst and I’m wearing a Santa hat, attempting to implore shoppers to buy a frozen turkey for Second Harvest’s annual Turkey Drive. I’d never people-watched this much before and I discovered that we all look stressed out while grocery shopping. Toddlers are hanging out of carts knocking displays over, couples are arguing over what to buy, and solo shoppers are dashing around talking on cell phones carrying out orders from someone at the other end of the line. I hold out a flyer hopefully, “Buy a turkey for Second Harvest?”

Second Harvest is a local charitable organization that provides the simple, but much needed, service of collecting surplus perishable food from grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, manufacturers, and events and delivering it to social service agencies in the city such as shelters, soup kitchens, and children’s breakfast programs. Founders Ina Andre and Joan Clayton began in 1985 by picking up excess food in their hatchback and driving it themselves to needy groups. Today, Second Harvest collects and delivers almost 6 million pounds of food per year to 250 agencies using a fleet of seven climate-controlled trucks.

Unlike a food bank, Second Harvest does not purchase any food. All distributed food is excess that would otherwise go to waste. A common misconception is that the perishable donations are leftovers or expired, but this is not the case. For example, all items rescued from a large event like the Good Food Festival, a consumer show, have not been plated or served. The donated goods go straight from the vendor’s refrigerated vehicle directly into a waiting Second Harvest truck.

A few weeks back, I volunteered to assist a Second Harvest driver on a Sunday pickup route that coincidentally winds through West Toronto, my general neighbourhood. We dropped off food at about nine different agencies, including several youth homes. It was great and humbling to see firsthand the people who benefit from Second Harvest and how much the donations help.

Before the Turkey Drive began in 2003, Second Harvest gratefully collected surplus turkeys that didn’t sell during the holiday season. However, agencies receiving the turkeys could only cook and serve them after the holidays were over. By holding the drive in early December, turkeys can be delivered in advance so that shelters and soup kitchens can join in the celebrations and enjoy a festive holiday dinner.

Normally, turkeys aren’t available for sale this early, but Loblaws brings them in especially for the Turkey Drive. In addition, they give Second Harvest $5 for every turkey donated. This year’s goal is to raise 5,000 turkeys over two weekends (Dec 6-7; Dec 13-14) at 10 Loblaws locations. In order to enable quick delivery, all 5,000 birds have already been allocated to agencies, so every single one is desperately needed and anxiously awaited.

I volunteered on the first day of this year’s drive along with 10 other lovely people, including several sweet kids who took one for the team and wore the turkey costumes. In addition to handing out flyers and soliciting customers, we assisted the cashier at a special till set up in the frozen food section so that customers could select and pay for a turkey and then easily hand it over to volunteers who would transport it to a Second Harvest truck. We also helped push turkey-laden grocery carts through the store and the maze of movators to load them onto the truck parked outside. Saturday morning Loblaws shoppers were frazzled and busy but kind, and we seemed to make a turkey run at least a few times per hour. By the time my 3-hour shift was over, we counted about 60.

And while we sold plenty of turkeys, at the end of the weekend only 1,834 birds were collected from all locations, so approximately 3,200 more are urgently needed. Second Harvest will be set up again this weekend at a number of Loblaw's stores throughout the city from 9am - 6pm (participating stores include locations at Leslie & Lakeshore, Moore & Bayview, Queens Quay Market – Lower Jarvis, Victoria Park & Gerrard, and Hoggs Hollow – Yonge & Yonge). Every turkey will go a long way to helping those in need have an enjoyable Christmas dinner.

Cook It Yourself

For those not content with ye olde industrial butterball, there are a few happier, healthier poultry options available. Organic turkey can be hard to track down, but The Butchers (2636 Yonge Street) is offering in-house smoked turkey and ham, as well as fresh organic turkey and a limited number of Heritage Bronze turkeys. Customers are advised to place their Thanksgiving orders at least two days in advance.

Bronze turkeys seem to be the hot Thanksgiving item this year, as they are also available at The Healthy Butcher (565 Queen Street West), along with ham, turducken and a variety of other holiday meats. The folks at Cumbrae's (481 Church Street) are so excited about their heritage turkey offerings, they've got a video on their website.

Whitehouse Meats in St Lawrence Market (93 Front Street East) offers free-range turkeys and chickens (for those of us not feeding an army), and across the street at the farmers market, Clement's Poultry offers organically-raised birds.

The other main Thanksgiving element is cranberries, and local berries can be found at the farmers market at Nathan Phillips Square and St. Lawrence Market.

Make It Look Like You Cooked It Yourself

Since not everyone actually likes spending the day over a hot stove, there are plenty of places willing to prepare your Thanksgiving feast so you can enjoy the day not covered in gravy. Although The Healthy Butcher won't cook your turkey for you, they do offer a selection of prepared side dishes, soups, stuffing and pies to make the day a bit easier. Cooked turkey with all the trimmings is available at Whole Foods (87 Avenue Road), as well as full dinner packages and sides. They've even got cheese boards, fish and a vegan holiday dinner.

The Fairmont Royal York (100 Front Street West) is also offering prepared Thanksgiving dinner packages under their Thanksgiving To Go promotion, as is Le Meridien King Edward (37 King Street East, no web info, call 416-863-4125 to reserve). And Rose Reisman Catering is also offering a Thanksgiving to Go special, delivered to your door.

Screw It, Let's Go Out

If dinner at a fancy hotel is what you've got in mind for turkey day, The Royal York is offering both Thanksgiving brunch and dinner at Epic, and the King Edward will be serving dinner in the elegant Victoria's restaurant.

If local and seasonal is important, the Palais Royale (1601 Lakeshore Boulevard West) is serving up a Thanksgiving brunch in conjunction with the Pear Up promotion, and Black Creek Pioneer Village (1000 Murray Ross Parkway) does up a pioneer style dinner showcasing Ontario meat and produce in their Half Way House restaurant.

And finally, while it's billed as an Oktoberfest event, the Abbott on the Hill pub (1276 Yonge Street) will be holding a brunch and dinner fundraiser on the 11th and 12th of October to raise money for the Canadian Olympic teams. It's more bratwurst and beer than turkey and wine, but it's for a good cause. (416-920-9074 to reserve tickets.)

As an atheist with Buddhist tendencies, Easter is an interesting holiday to watch other people celebrate. For Christians, Easter is the holiest of days, but the more secular aspects of the holiday are actually pagan in origin - all the chicks and bunnies and goats represent new life and the beginning of the harvest season. How this came to be celebrated via chocolate is beyond me, but the traditional chocolate Easter bunny, usually included in a basket of various egg-shaped candies, is now the norm. It's just too bad it's such awful chocolate.

As I roamed the department stores looking for interesting Easter treats, I continually faced a wall of waxy, low-quality milk chocolate. From bunnies and hens to the incredibly disturbing life-sized cats and dogs, to Homer Simpson, not to mention various cars and trains, there appears to be nothing that can't be molded out of crappy chocolate. After all, it is mostly wax. But surely, there had to be good Easter treats out there.

Then a package of goodies from UK chocolatier Green & Black's arrived at my door. Included was a gorgeous white chocolate Easter egg, flecked with real vanilla. I found more of the same, plus eggs in dark and milk chocolate and their award-winning Maya Gold flavour ($9.99 each) at Whole Foods (87 Avenue Road), where they also had Green & Blacks mini praline eggs ($11.99/175gr) in milk chocolate. The large eggs are also available at Shopper's Drug Mart locations for $7.99 each.

While wandering Whole Foods, I also noticed Rogers truffle eggs ($2.99) Saxon flower truffles ($9.99) and Nirvana chocolate bunnies ($12.49). Trays of hot cross buns ($4.99) are also to be had if traditional grub is in order.

Over at Pusateri's (57 Yorkville Avenue), they had bags of pretty little cookies from Ottawa bakery Isobel and Co. and The Dutchess of Dough in Easter shapes. And while I didn't get a chance to run all over town, I'm sure there are great Easter-themed goodies at indie shops such as Queen of Tarts (283 Roncesvalles Avenue), Soma Chocolates (55 Mill Street, Building 48) and Madeleines, Cherry Pie & Ice Cream (1087 Bathurst Street). The latter is also hosting an egg decorating workshop for grown-ups on Thursday March 20th, and one for kids on Friday March 21st.

Easter Dinner is another part of the holiday that can be stressful. Typically ham or lamb is served, and like Christmas, it can be a lot of work for the person doing the cooking. While most large hotels in the city offer some kind of Easter brunch, the Fairmont Royal York is going one better with their Easter to Go service.

Epic restaurant will be serving Easter brunch on Sunday, March 23rd with seatings at 10:30am and 1pm, priced from $70 per person. The meal includes sushi and sashimi, poached eggs benedict, roast sirloin of beef, roast leg of lamb and a white and dark chocolate fondue station. For those who prefer to eat at home, they're also offering a selection of Easter Dinner To Go packages featuring turkey, ham, lamb or beef, with or without all the fixin's, including Yorkshire pudding, cream of asparagus soup, roast potatoes and more, plus chocolate Easter eggs for dessert. Reservations for brunch or orders for Easter dinner can be made by calling 416-860-5050 or by emailing festive@fairmont.com.

Also available for delivery (if you have a minimum of 10 people) is an Easter dinner by Rose Reisman Catering. Priced at $24.95 per person, it includes such tasty options as Butternut Squash, Nutmeg and Ginger Soup, Pork Tenderloin with an Orange Balsamic Glaze and Dried Apricots, and Roasted Asparagus with Brazil Nuts and Lemon. Call 416-467-7758 or visit the website for more details.

Finally, Casa Loma holds their annual Easter brunch on the 23rd, with seatings at 11am and noon. Cost is $43.35 for adults and includes admission to the castle. For reservations call 416-923-1171 and ask for the catering office.