EVENT | WonderPho - a wonderful fresh take on Vietnamese cuisine!

The first thing that comes to mind when someone suggest going for Vietnamese food, it's usually pho. While the occasional spring roll appetizer is ordered, most people usually don't stray too far from the staples. Wonderpho offers a an interesting take on traditional cuisine while staying true to the favourites that everyone loves. 

REVIEW | The Tea Room at Windsor Arms Hotel - wide range of teas, delicious sandwiches & the best scones!

It' been a while since I indulged in an afternoon tea, so when my friend suggested going to the Tea Room at the Windsor Arms, I was on board.  I have heard great things about their tea services but also read some not-go-great reviews, so I was excited to try it first hand myself.

REVIEW | The Good Press - Yorkville's new organic, cold-pressing juice bar

Cold-pressing has been around for decades but it wasn't until late 2012 - early 2013 that Toronto started catching on to this new "trend" and saw a boost of juice bars dedicated to providing one-bottle meals full of super-foods.  Yorkville welcomed The Good Press to their swanky neighbourhood this season and is quickly becoming a go-to for a quick snack or even a meal alternative.

REVIEW | Jedd's Frozen Custard - smooth, creamy & tasty custard made fresh everyday!

As much as I love custard, I've never had frozen custard in my life, so when I heard about Jedd's Frozen Custard being a few blocks from my work, I made no hesitation to head there for lunch with my co-workers! It's a relief that while they specialize in frozen custard, they offer daily specials like soup, sandwiches, quiches and salads for the lunch crowd and croissants, tarts, pies and cakes for dessert lovers as a cafe and patisserie.

LAUNCH | Lentil Hunter with Chef Michael Smith - Oh Canada, our home and producer of the world's best lentils

I'm sure a lot of you have heard of or seen Chef Michael Smith on one of his many shows, including The Inn Chef, Chef at Home, Chef at Large, and the list goes on. Let's add the web series, Lentil Hunter on that long list! This new show features Chef Michael Smith on a global journey to find the best recipes using lentils.  I was invited to the launch to meet the Lentil Hunter himself as well as to try those delicious lentil recipes at Cirillo's Culinary Academy.

LAUNCH | Get a 'Taste' of Taste of Toronto - you don't want to miss this culinary event of the year!

Not to be confused with Toronto's premiere culinary event Toronto Taste (supporting Second Harvest's food rescue program), Taste of Toronto will be making its North American debut at Fort York this summer from July 24-27. Although the events are different, they seem to have one thing in common - Second Harvest will also be the official charity partner for Taste of Toronto. 

 

EVENT | McEwan All Access 3.0 - culinary event with Toronto foodies at McEwan Foods

Not having been to the previous McEwanAllAccess events, I was pretty excited to attend the 3.0 hosted by Abbey Sharp from abbeyskitchen.com at McEwan Foods. I mean, I was about to sample some delicious food and hang out with Chef Mark that I pretty much only saw on TV for Top Chef Canada, not to mention that he owns some of the best restaurants in the City!

REVIEW | Rose City Kitchen - tasty & quick Middle Eastern snack bar in the Queen West neighbourhood!

Looking for a quick snack or a full-out meal on Queen West? Yes, there's a LOT of places to choose from, but nothing quite like the new Middle Eastern snack bar, Rose City Kitchen. 

REVIEW | Iron Chef Japanese Steak House - teppanyaki dining experience in Mississauga

My first Teppanyaki experience was about a few years ago at a friend's birthday party. I immediately took a liking to a dining experience that is both fun, interactive and delicious. I mean, who can say no to watching your food being cooked in front of you as the Chef performs some tricks? Recently I went to a Mississauga Teppanyaki restaurant called Iron Chef Japanese Steakhouse.

REVIEW | Yamba Yogurt - Aussie style yogurt made with 100% Canadian Milk!

We all know the health benefits of having breakfast every morning to kick start your metabolism for the day.  However, I rarely have a full breakfast before I rush to work and end up starting my day with a big cup of coffee - I know.. horrible habit! So, I was delighted to have found Yamba Yogurt, a new Australian-style yogurt brand that is gluten-free, probiotic, prebiotic and most importantly, ultra delicious!

LAUNCH | The Big Green Egg - The Ultimate BBQ Cooking Experience

Now that the weather is getting nicer, it’s time to dust off the patio furniture and start thinking about throwing barbeque parties in your backyard. Whether you are looking to upgrade an existing barbeque or looking to buy your first and possibly last barbeque, you should definitely check out the Ontario Gas Barbeque store!

REVIEW | The One That Got Away - Fish house that's here to stay!

Opening a restaurant that has a very small menu can often prove to be an obstacle but gaining popularity and staying open in industry that has such high turnover is another challenge all on its own.  On one hand, it saddens me to say that I have only recently tried The One that Got Away but on the other hand, if I had tried it any sooner I probably would have missed out on trying a lot of other restaurants.

REVIEW | Milagro Cantina on Mercer - authentic Mexican cuisine inspired by Mexican City eateries!

The craze in the food industry in the past year or two seems to be all about tacos. It could get a bit repetitive, but the Milagro Cantinas offer traditional Mexican eateries inspired by Mexico City - so you're looking at the good old authentic stuff here! We were invited to a dinner at their Toronto flagship on Mercer St., opened by Mexican City-born brothers, Arturo and Andres Anhalt, and it was unlike any other Mexican food we had in Toronto.

GIVEAWAY | Win a Summer Fresh Prize Pack & $25 Gift Card for Terra Greenhouses for Mother's Day!

Remember our visit to the Summer Fresh headquarters last October? We were spoiled with some of the best dips & hummus in the market. Our friends at Summer Fresh are showing some more love by hosting a contest for upcoming Mother's Day! Win some of their delicious hummus, dips and sauces, a spatula and an adorable new apron - oh and a $25 gift certificate to Terra Greenhouses.

REVIEW | Cagneys - newly renovated but...

Cagney's has been around in Streetsville for a very long time and has always been a local favourite. Since its recent renovations, it now operates as an upscale lounge restaurant. We were excited to visit and see whether the renovations and new menu made a turn for the better or for the worse. 

 

REVIEW | Luckee Restaurant - traditional dim sum elevated with contemporary flavours & ingredients by Susur Lee

Luckee by Susur Lee opened its doors just last month at the Soho Metropolitan Hotel (formerly Sense Restaurant) and it quickly became the talk-of-the-town. Probably because everyone is excited to try Chef Susur Lee's newest restaurant in the City and not to mention that Dim Sum has been quite popular these days with many new takes that restaurants are experimenting with and sold out dim sum festivals!

EVENT | Cinco De Mayo Festivities - where to go to get your Mexican on in Toronto this wknd!

In just a few days, we'll be seeing a whole lot of Mexican takeover in Toronto in celebration of Cinco De Mayo! What better way to participate in the festivities south-of-the-border than to indulge in some tostadas, carnitas, tequila & a slew of other Mexican dishes. If you're searching for where you could get your Mexican party on, look no further than Drake One Fifty & El Caballito.

Photo Credit: Rock It Promo