Hello, Goodbye Toronto

 

I tried to fit it all in. I built a "menu" of places to go, starting with Kensington Market Monday for Cafe Pamenar and back on Augusta Avenue Saturday morning for wood-fired bagels.  For my last week in Toronto I wanted to indulge in snacks, drinks and of course bike rides on streets that I love in my neighbourhood:  Queen, College, Crawford, Ossington, Dundas...

I also built a list of goodbyes, discovering my Toronto friends and family really know their food:

- five o'clock hugs with Janey accompanied by oysters and white wine at 416 Snack Bar

- artisanal drinks in vintage glasses at the Northwood with Leah

- French pastries at Nadege with Helena

- homemade lobster rolls followed by Leah's dessert with local strawberries

- quinoa and seared scallops and an unbaked local cherry cheesecake by Bojan and Angela  

- "Pie Thursday" at House of Cool with a champagne toast

- sampling the new pastry known as a "cronut" at a cupcake cafe on Dundas (I didn't like it) 

- Friday night steak and asparagus BBQ at Jacob and Jessica's 

- a rustic brunch with our beloved supper club group at Zocalo Restaurant 

- a second brunch at The Saint with the Toronto crew of Sheriden grads mixed with wives, new boyfriends and beautiful children (Maggie and Chloe)

The build up to our leaving Toronto was intense and the drive to the airport a bit stressful with two freaked out felines singing all the way to Pearson.  Then just like that (cue finger snap) we are back in Halifax, driving on a smooth highway flanked by thousands of trees and summer ocean air.

At the airport I was told my luggage was 20 pounds overweight. 

Must have been all the good food I ate. 

Cafe Constant, Paris

What a trip to Paris does for the delightful soul... We ate, walked until we collapsed and saw almost everything on our list.  On day three we wandered in Champs de Mars until we found Cafe Constant.  I chose it for its consistent reviews to be "the best meal of the trip."  

We happily jostled alongside Japanese stylistas and British expats meeting their Parisienne girlfriend on a lunchbreak, eventually seated upstairs without too much wait.

Our lunch was elegant, modern French cuisine without arrogant service.  We both enjoyed the lingering qualities of a multi-course meal followed by cafe creme.  Arriving at the tail end of service at 230pm we were the last couple sitting in the dining room which felt both romantic and easy going. 

Find your way there sometime, you won't be disappointed...

SOMA chocolatemaker Designs

Raspberry Rakia truffle (Photo by SOMA) 

Welcome to SOMA chocolatemaker.  I consider this place to be my favourite chocolate-scented retreat (don't you have one of these?).  Entering the King West cafe - a place to "eat, drink and worship chocolate"- brace yourself to not melt from the aromas and complex cacao inventory on the floor-to-ceiling shelves. Their fair trade products include delicate truffles, elixirs, gelato, bars, and plenty of gift-able and special order items. Not visited as often but equally inspiring is their micro-factory in the Distillery District. These chocolatemakers focus on experimentation and the products prove their dedication to creativity.

At the back of the cafe you can imagine yourself the baker as you stare down stacks of chocolate molds or freshly baked Sweet Cherry Focaccia in Blackbird Baking Co.'s space.  I snacked on a focaccia with caramelized onion, asparagus and feta with a side of single origin Madagascar (70%) dark chocolate truffle.

The interior design of the cafe is worthy of the Design District location - I popped into Design Within Reach to look at all the beautiful furniture beyond my reach - then grabbed the latest edition of Design Lines magazine to rifle through the listings for the city's umpteenth design accessory store I want to visit.

SOMA , King West (Photo by Design Lines)

MADE Design on Dundas West is my latest find.  A showroom/gallery/shop with dozens of Canadian product designers represented, several creators captured my imagination. The Gemstone Carpet by Bev Hisey (scroll down), the Meridian Pendant Light by Propellor Design, and a petite Ceramic Pentakis Vessel by Kristen Lim-Tung.

Photo by kristenlimtung.com

Photos by Propellor Design

Bev Hisey's Everydayhousewife studio-retail outlet is my next stop! You can get a sneak peek into her home on favorite design-DIY blog Design Sponge.

Bev Hisey's home & Gemstone Carpet (Photos by Design Sponge)

Capers & Berries; Easy Living Lunch & Dinner

Lately I've been watching episodes of Top Chef Just Desserts, so I might as well admit it: I've been influenced by the sweeter side of life.  I'm also one to search out the cheapest, most delicious and healthy item on a menu.  They always say that breakfast is the cheapest meal if you are eating out, so I took this to heart when ordering an impromptu lunch on the road this week.

An indulgent brunch at JK's Gilead Cafe

It was the small details I fell for: tiny slices of green onion, fresh orange juice, perfectly cooked eggs, delightfully thin porcelain plates, and nicely designed flatware were the surprise touches.  And who can fault a chef when he packs those preserves away so nicely...

Day trip to Paris

Ok not that Paris, but still worth a report.  The surprise of the day (besides the slight letdown that most shops were shut) was stumbling upon an 'Apple Frittery' (oh, and some cows munching on lunch).    

Apple fritters remind me of my dad, perhaps because we once made cake doughnuts together in our Cape Breton kitchen.  And, classified as a doughnut, they are a food that is on trend for 2012 and pick up on a thread I stumbled upon earlier this month.  

Coffee and a Doughnut; food trends for 2012

I'm caught waiting at a generic coffee shop in old town Toronto and baby, it's cold outside.  I've been reading about food trends for 2012 (possible dream job - food trendologist) and doughnuts are apparently trending now, along with Canelés (the 'new cupcake') and other interesting things.