Get ready to #SpiceUpSpring with Aroma's newest menu items!

It's no secret of ours that we love Aroma Espresso Bar and have ever since it opened its doors in Toronto. It's the perfect place to grab a classy quick bite or to move your work from home office to. 

REVIEW | Light Cafe

We find Baldwin Village to be a street in Toronto that is ever growing. You'll never know what to expect in terms of businesses that will pop up! Not to mention it's diverse food culture including gelato, ramen, Italian, Filipino food and so much more. It doesn't surprise us at all that Light Cafe decided to take residence on Baldwin. 

REVIEW | Sweet O'Clock

Although we're still a little confused about summer in Toronto this year, there are days where I would love for nothing but a nice cold drink on a patio and there are days/nights where I wish I could crank up the heat in my house. For those hot and sweaty days, there's really nothing like a cold drink or a cold dessert to cool you down - I'm talking about some Taiwanese crushed ice desserts and milk teas!

REVIEW | Gladstone Hotel's Cafe

Queen street is one Toronto's streets that has so much to offer, not just for tourists but for locals as well. With charm, style, and plenty of shops and parks to take a stop by, you will find something new every time you take a walk through all the neighbourhoods branching off it.  Celebrating its 126th birthday, The Gladstone Hotel is definitely not a stranger to Torontonians as you have probably visited for food, drinks or even a staycation!  Last week, I stopped by for dinner at the hotel's cafe - for the first time!

LAUNCH | Portland Variety - a café, bakery & tapas bar, all-in-one on King West

The newest business to grace the bustling King West neighbourhood is no other than Portland Variety. When I first heard the name, I couldn't quite figure out whether it would be a convenience store, a snack shop, a cafe, or a bakery.  Little did I know, it's actually a café and bakery from 7AM to 3PM and transforms at 5PM, into a tapas restaurant and cocktail bar serving delicious and sharable pintxos.  Portland Variety caters to pretty much everyone at any time of the day or night. I mean, the name says it all, doesn't it?

Grilled Octopus with Iberico Chorizo, smoked tomato, olive oil & lemon ($18.00)

All photos by: Katie P. 

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.

GIVEAWAY | Win a $30 Aroma Espresso Bar Gift Card #aromaLunchBuddies

It's about time we get some sunshine in Toronto, right? Patio season has finally arrived and we couldn't be happier! To celebrate, we've partnered up with Aroma Espresso Bar to announce a special contest for our readers & friends! 

REVIEW | Sam James Coffee Pocket - a no-fuss, no-BS, quickie coffee bar in Koreatown

I'm sure many coffee-lovers in the city are already aware of the two Sam James Coffee Bar locations on Harbord and King St.  It was a mere coincidence that on one afternoon, I happen walking on Bloor Steet (just had some Korean soondubu that day) that I saw this hidden gem called the Sam James Coffee Pocket!  And, what a perfect name for this location.

REVIEW | Café Boulud - prix fixe Sunday brunch at Toronto's Four Seasons Hotel

The prestigious Four Seasons Hotel opened its doors in October 2012 but we still haven't dined there!  Thought it was about time to change this so, last Sunday, my girlfriends and I met for some long overdue Brunch at the Café Boulud inside the hotel.

REVIEW | Hodo Kwaja / 호도과자 - Toronto's first walnut cake bakery offering korean redbean desserts

If you're familiar with many Asian cultures, they tend to have a lot of dessert with redbean paste, such as red bean flavoured ice cream, red bean sherbet, and so forth.  One of the most popular Korean dessert using red bean is none other than walnut cakes.  The First walnut cake bakery in Canada is Hodo Kwaja, located in the Bloor Street and Christie area, which we like to visit often!

REVIEW | BnC Bakery & Cake House - tasty Korean bread, pastries, bubble tea and cake, the list goes on

There's a lot of dessert places in Toronto, but have you tried Korean ones? BnC Bakery & Cake House is one of the few Korean bread retailer & supplier in the Korean community in Toronto and surrounding areas.  They supply their baked goods to Korean grocery stores and shops as well as sell them directly in their 3 'Cake House' locations in Toronto.

REVIEW | Millie Creperie - Kensington Market's new dessert cafe with savoury & sweet crepes

Toronto is no stranger to cafés, waffle and crepe joints and desserts in general. You’ll be able to satisfy your sweet tooth whether you’re looking for an over the top creation or something simple.  As a weekend excursion, we ventured over to MillieCreperie – Kensington Market’s newest resident. 

REVIEW | Ruelo Patisserie - deliciously perfect French macarons in midtown

Just a short walk North of Yonge & Eglinton, this the second location of this popular French Patisserie, Ruelo.  They offer fresh bread (baked daily), sandwiches, French macarons, pastries and cakes that will satisfy any one who stops by this lovely Cafe.

Their Macarons are one of the best I've had in Toronto with very unique flavours such as Green Tea Seseme and Wasabi Grapefruit!  They definitely taste ultra fresh.  I especially loved that they're not too big and not to small - the perfect size.  If you're a Macaron lover, you must visit this place.  Especially with the La Bamboche (yonge/eg location) closed, this will definitely be my new to-go place for a Macaron-fix.

REVIEW | Apricot Tree Cafe - more than just a cafe in Mississauga

Eating out in Mississauga isn't as interesting as eating out in Toronto because there are so many different option downtown. Whenever my friends and I eat out in Mississauga, it's usually the typical chain restaurants like Jack Astor's, Milestones etc..

A great place to change from the usual is a little cafe in the Sherwood Forest Plaza called Apricot Tree Cafe.

REVIEW | Thobors Boulangerie Patisserie Café - dainty little spot in Midtown

Last year, my co-worker Lindsay (check out her blog) took me to this lovely cafe on Mt. Pleasant, where I had such a delectable lunch. I forgot about this place until last week, where I was in the area meeting a friend and decided to revisit this French bakery: Thobors Boulangerie Patisserie Café!

Tucked away in the Davisville area, this little cafe always had steady traffic, full of people coming for brunch, lunch, light supper or picking up some delectable treats.

Stoney's Bread Company - you gotta eat here!

My friend has been telling me about Stoney's Bread Company, which was featured on Canada's You Gotta Eat Here! We finally decided to go this past weekend and it's definitely worthy of being featured on a food network show!