EATS: Stratosphere

Hello everyone! Most people associate great food with the downtown Toronto scene, but there are many fantastic places on the west side (WEST SIIIIIIIDE). I am an Etobicoke fiend – most of my life is there – work, friends, gym, yoga (and hopefully will be living there within the next couple of years.) Some time last year, my good friend Sarah (of Evymama – sidenote to all the new moms and moms to be – excellent maternity and nursing wear! Ships all across North America – support local!) and her partner introduced me to Chris and Eleni who are the owners of Stratosphere. A newer addition to the Kingsway area, Stratosphere is a winebar and gastrolounge which features elevated casual dining.NOTE: I was invited to review here recently but these first 2 photos were taken a few months back. I decided to check out their patio when I came to review despite the humidity being a bit high. It was actually lovely in there as the sun had already started to set and the patio was in the shade.

COMING SOON: Taste of Toronto 2016

Hello everyone! Last year, I had the pleasure of attending Taste of Toronto for one day and it was a food-lover’s paradise. Taste of Toronto is returning for its third year from June 23-26, and has expanded to the Garrison Common at Fort York. The Taste festival concept began 13 years ago in London, England, and has rapidly grown into an international event with festivals in 19 cities around the world including Dubai, Amsterdam, Milan, Paris, Hong Kong, Dublin, Sydney, and Moscow, to name a few. Toronto is the ONLY North American city to host this incredible event. No matter where it is, Taste represents a foodie’s dream come true: delicious food created by the city’s greatest restaurants, world famous chefs, superb drink and outstanding entertainment, set in stunning outdoor surroundings.

Attendees can participate in hands-on cooking lessons at Metro Master Class, watch live cooking demonstrations in the Taste Theatre (where I watched Chef Michael Bonacini create seafood magic and Chefs Alvin Leung and Eric Chong cook Eric’s winning MasterChef Canada dish), sample and learn about various wines in the Tasting Room, enjoy intimate conversations at the Toronto Life Chef’s Table, sip the newest Grand Cru at the Nespresso Boutique Bar and shop at the Taste Marketplace filled with over 80 artisan and premium producers and brands.
(Photo courtesy of Sarjoun Faour for Taste of Toronto)
There’s an all-star lineup of Toronto chefs and the one I am most excited about is Chef Claudio Aprile. You may know him as a judge from a little show called MasterChef Canada.

Tickets are available now for $19 (General Admission) along with different packages for VIP and American Express cardholders. For more information, check out the Taste of Toronto website at http://tasteoftoronto.com and you can also follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @tasteoftoronto.

Which restaurants are YOU excited to try? Let me know in the comments, or even just let me know if you’ll be attending this year! Thanks so much for stopping by!

EATS: Joey Sherway

Hello everyone! Summer is almost officially here, however we have been lucky with getting a sneak peek at the gorgeous weather that is still on the way. What better way to enjoy the sunshine than to have lunch and some delicious cold drinks on a patio?
I was recently invited to the newly opened Joey at Sherway Gardens to try some of their new spring menu items along with some new cocktails. Fortunately, my friend Mark was able to join me on a beautiful, sunny afternoon.From JoeyRestaurants.com: We travel the world to discover bold flavors, then turn them into signature recipes. Our people are masters of their craft, committed to creating a memorable experience for every guest. Our rooms are vibrant and polished, but without a trace of pretension. We live by a simple credo: “Get it right the first time.”

EATS: Kinka Izakaya

Hello everyone! One of my favourite restaurants in the Annex is Kinka Izakaya (formerly known as Guu.) I was scared when I first saw an article pop up on my news feed about Guu being no more, however was relieved when I found out that it was just the name that was being affected. This was confirmed when I went for dinner recently and everything is as delicious as it usually is. Kinka is a Japanese pub-style restaurant featuring many different Japanese snack favourites and fusion dishes.The interior is still the same with 2 dining areas – the bar/regular side with wooden tables and chairs and the tatami-style section where you sit on the floor. The only major decorative difference is the old Guu kanji-doodle mural above the bar is gone.
We were seated on the tatami side!I went with my friend Laura as our Christmas celebration and ordered some of our old faves while trying some new dishes. The karaage (fried chicken) is still the best I’ve ever had and if I recall correctly is now a bigger portion. In previous years, you’d only get 5 pieces whereas now you get 7. To balance out the fried chicken we also ordered the delicious seaweed and tofu salad which features several different types of seaweed and the most delicious vinaigrette. I wish I could make salads at home taste this good!
This is the Kinoko Bibimbap. The first time I ordered it, I was a little apprehensive since it contains cheese, mushrooms, and seaweed in a Korean style stonebowl. Turns out this odd combination works incredibly well and this hearty rice dish is SO comforting. Spicy Negitoro (top left) is one of my favourite dishes at Kinka. Chopped spicy tuna with nori on the side for wrapping – you really can’t go wrong. We also enjoyed Ingen, which is the tempura green beans with matcha salt, and the braised pork belly (can’t remember the name of the dish) but it was tender and the soft boiled egg mixed beautifully to maintain the richness of the pork belly and sauce. We used to get the Kakuni Pie (braised pork belly wrapped in pastry) however it is sadly no longer available in that form. Sidenote: also very sad that Nanohana (sauteed rapini) is no longer on the menu. Overall, Kinka still maintains the high quality dining experience with perfectly executed izakaya food and an extremely energetic atmosphere (they still yell greetings and goodbyes when you arrive and leave.)

Kinka Izakaya (Annex) is located at 559 Bloor St. West. There are also locations on Church and in North York (and apparently also in Montreal!) You can find them online at http://www.kinkaizakaya.com and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

Have you been to Kinka before? What are your favourite dishes? Any other izakayas in Toronto you recommend? Let me know! Thanks so much for stopping by!

EATS: School

Hello everyone! There are so many brunch spots in Toronto and more popping up all the time. One of the more fun brunch destinations is in Liberty Village in an old, converted autoshop. School is known for their crazy long lines (get there early and make sure everyone in your party is present) and equally crazy menu options.
I ate here a few years ago but that was the one and only time. Brandon and I decided to come here to exchange Christmas gifts and enjoy some interesting holiday brunch creations.  It definitely has that industrial feel with the exposed brick and garage door, but it is super cozy inside and accented with school-themed decorations.
When we went, they were offering their 12 Days of Christmas brunch menu, however their regular menu isn’t far off.  $6 for hot apple cider though? Geez. I decided to try their Chicken and Waffles ($20, with green butter, naturally) and while the waffle was delicious, the chicken was a bit on the drier side. The Tabasco-pepper honey had a nice bite and the slaw was a great side. Brandon had the Apple Pie Flapjacks (should’ve taken a photo) that were definitely filling (5 pancakes – he couldn’t even finish it all!) and looked pretty amazing.I love that the bill came in a report card envelope!
All in all it was a decent brunch. I’m sad that they no longer have the peanut butter and banana smoothie however the cider (even though pricey) was still very festive and delicious. If you’re looking for a hip and fun atmosphere and don’t mind paying a little more, then consider going to School.

School is located at 70 Fraser Avenue in Toronto. You can find them online at http://www.schooltoronto.com and on Twitter/IG @schoolresto.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

EATS: Tacos 101

Hello everyone! Tacos began blowing up in the Toronto food scene a few years ago and there are many options within the city to get your eat on. Fish tacos are my favourite and whenever I get a chance to try a new taco spot, I’m all in. My friend Brandon recently sent me a link to an article about the new Taco 101 on Dundas and we finally got the chance to stop in to give them a try!Tacos 101 is located at Dundas and Church and is a small and cozy space with bar seating for 4. I love the colourful and intricate decorations!
Their menu is simple and very inexpensive. $3 guac and chips?! You’d think that it would be a small portion however Brandon and I discovered that we really could’ve just split one instead of ordering our own. Definitely worth the $3.
I love the luchador mask painted on the counter. While you wait, you can also help yourself to chips and salsa up on the bar. I ordered the Nopal, Chicken Adobado, and Fish tacos to get the full experience. The fish taco was very fresh and brightly accented by the mango pico de gallo. The fish itself was crispy and light (not too much batter) so I would highly recommend it! The Nopal (vegetarian) was also a great option. I’d never had cactus before but it was a great combination with the refried beans and cheese. The Chicken Adobado was my least favourite – the chicken is diced so small that half of it fell out while eating and just a touch on the dry side.
I will definitely be going back to try the other 2 tacos. Service was really fast and even though there is very limited seating, people were very considerate to not linger after finishing their meals.

Tacos 101 is open Monday-Saturday from 11:30am – 9pm and is located at 101 Dundas St E in Toronto. You can check them out online at http://www.tacos101.com and on Twitter @Tacos101TO and Instagram at @Tacos101Toronto.

What’s your favourite taco restaurant? What’s your favourite taco? Let me know if you have any recommendations, and stay tuned for more of my taco adventures! (ie: La Carnita, Grand Electric, El Catrin…)

EATS: Ramen Isshin

Hello everyone! One of my favourite foods is Japanese ramen and I am sharing with you my top favourite ramen restaurant in Toronto. Located on College Street at Bathurst, Ramen Isshin serves up THE BEST ramen I’ve ever had. Believe me when I say that this place is definitely #1 in my top 3 (will post on the other 2 in the future…) 

EATS: Queen Margherita Pizza

Hello everyone! Several people had told me about Queen Margherita Pizza, and I must admit, I really took notice after they followed me on Twitter. I finally went in last week to give them a try, and I was thoroughly impressed! I went to the location in the Baby Point area of Jane and Annette in the west end of Toronto (or Etobicoke if you’re like me and still call it that) for dinner with my friend Laura, and we both indulged in their awesome $29 Prix Fixe Menu. I started with their Caprese Salad and I must say, this was probably the best rendition of this classic dish I’ve ever had. Sliced rainbow heirloom tomatoes were enhanced with basil and bufala mozzarella. Everything on this plate had strong flavour but none of it overpowered the other – it was in perfect harmony.
I went with the Gio Oldschool pizza topped with prosciutto and arugula, which is probably my favourite combination for this type of pizza. Let’s just get this out of the way: yes, QMP is compared with and rivals Pizzeria Libretto and I will say: the only thing that would’ve brought this over the edge is the delicious chili oil that is offered at the latter. I still really enjoyed this pizza, and I love that this is closer to me than PL.  I finished off the meal with their Tiramisu which was served as a very generous portion. This was a fantastic end to a hearty dinner. Perfectly balanced sweetness and texture with the mascarpone and coffee.

I highly recommend checking out Queen Margherita Pizza to get your pizza fix. There are 3 locations across the city: Leslieville (1402 Queen St E), Dundas West (772 Dundas St W), and Baby Point (785 Annette St). You can find them online at http://www.qmpizza.com and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

EATS: #TapasJourney Toronto

Hello everyone! My lovely friend, Elizabeth invited me to join her for the last day of Estrella Damm’s inaugural Tapas Journey in Toronto. This was a 10-day culinary event at different Toronto restaurants featuring a $20 sampler which included 3 Signature Tapas and one Estrella Damm beer (I opted for ginger ale and water since I am not a beer fan.) We stayed in the Queen West area and popped into Carmen first. I wish I had taken more pictures of the actual restaurant – it is so cozy and welcoming. We got to sit on the back patio since it was a beautiful evening out. Our first dish was Montadito of Lobster: braised lobster tail with brie and greens (they had run out of the jamon Serrano.) A very rich start to the tapas journey, the lobster was flavourful and the brie provided that extra boost of richness. Next was the Pintxo “El Jefe” (or as I like to call it, el Jeff lol) which was a skewer grilled shrimp with guindillas, pardon pepper, and pan con tomato. The peppers brought some heat, while the olive brought distinct flavour. This dish had a variety of textures and was a nice follow up to the richess of the first tapas.
Finally, we were served the Salmorejo Toronto: spicy tomato sauce with crispy bread, garlic scapes, hard-boiled egg whites and egg yolk. This was our favourite dish of the evening! You really can’t go wrong with tomato soup, and the additions just brought it all to a whole new level! I would gladly go back to Carmen! Service was fantastic and the staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. The lighting wasn’t as great at our next stop which was The Good Son, so I didn’t take as many pictures. To be fair, it was later in the evening and we were indoors. The tapas menu at TGS was hearty and delicious. My favourite was the first platter that came out, which included Steak Tartare with soft boiled quail egg and hand-cut fries. The next 2 came out together – Grilled Shrimp Crostini (was supposed to be octopus but they had run out) and Papas Bravas (potato wedges with scallion aioli, San Marzano tomatoes, and chicharone. Definitely a heavier tapas meal, but was perfect for a chilly fall-like evening. I had walked past The Good Son many times before and am glad I finally went in. I would also love to return to try their regular fare.
I hope this event comes back next year – such a great opportunity to try a bunch of different restaurants that you normally may miss!

Thanks so much to Elizabeth for taking me on the Tapas Journey, and thanks to you for stopping by!

EATS: Lisa Marie

Hello everyone! If you’re into the food truck scene, you’ll know that Fidel Gastro is definitely a must when you’re in Toronto. Not too long ago, they opened up their brick and mortar restaurant located in the heart of the fashion district called Lisa Marie. They feature innovative and modern takes on street food with awesome fusion. A little while back, Britt and I decided to have dinner here to catch up and eat some delicious food. One of the most popular dishes that we had to get was the Pad Thai Fries ($6 or $7 – can’t remember – it was a daily feature which you can actually make at home with this recipe…but I doubt it’ll taste as good as the ones there :P) It tastes exactly like how it sounds – like taking pad thai sauce and tossing fries in it, which is simply delish.We also ordered the Double Pork Dumplings ($11) which were pork and leek dumplings with bacon and sour cream. I love the mix of the traditional Chinese dumpling with the more Western ingredients.I also enjoyed that they were seared on the sides so you got that homemade-gyoza type tenderness with the slight crispy texture.
We ordered the Maple Hot Cauliflower ($9) since we felt we needed some sort of vegetable with our dinner. This was probably our least favourite just because the different flavors of maple, sriracha, and garlic mixed together was…I would say distinct. Perhaps it was the torching that brought on the odd flavor. While we didn’t dislike it as Britt and I are pretty adventurous in our food choices, it’s probably not something we’d order again.  I cannot for the life of me remember what this dish was called (EDIT: They tweeted me – Sugo and bread!) – it was another daily feature and it was probably the best thing we ate there. Meatballs, tomato sauce, basil and other delicious herbs I’m guessing. I know I know, seems really simple but hot damn! Served with a bag of warm, crusty bread to dip, it was the perfect comfort food.
I cannot wait to go back to try some of their other amazing sounding and looking food! Fried Cornish Hen and Corn Bread Waffles? YES PLEASE!

Lisa Marie is located at 638 Queen St. West in Toronto. You can check them out and/or make reservations online at http://www.fidelgastros.com and follow them on Twitter and Instagram @fidelgastros. You can also locate the Fidel Gastro’s food truck via http://torontofoodtrucks.ca/

Have you been to Lisa Marie or visited Fidel Gastro’s food truck? What’s your favourite dish? Thanks so much for stopping by!