Happy New Year!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season, and I want to wish everyone a happy start to 2011.  I'm looking forward to starting an exciting new year of new experiences in Toronto.  I'll be back to more regular postings starting next week.

Niagara Wines

While Canada has been known for its ice wine for a while, I think most people outside Ontario, me included, would turn-up their nose at any other Ontario wine before even giving it a shot.  But, I always try what is local and try to find at least a few local favorites.  Many of the restaurants in Toronto carry Ontario wines so I've tried a few and found one that was pretty good (Flat Rock Pinot Noir).  So after months of talking about it, we finally made it to Niagara to taste some wines.  I've put together some general resources and information to share here, and will give the best and worst of our weekend itinerary in the next post.

Is Target Coming to Canada?

Is Target coming to Canada?  It looks like they're trying!  But, it looks like they've been trying for 10 years with no success.   Apparently someone else has rights to the Target name in Canada, but Target continues to fight.  I'm going to keep hoping, because there is just something about Target that I haven't found a replacement for (maybe it is the Minnesota girl in me?).  I can find almost anything I need there, and I find it actually to be a therapeutic experience.  I can't walk into one without spending $100, but I guess that is ok now that I only get to one on occasion.  I know I'm a bit crazy about my need for Target, but apparently I'm not alone as I know that many Canadians drive to Buffalo to shop and always make it to Target! 

Where to Shop TO - Groceries: Karma Co-op

Since I moved to Toronto I've had more spare time to do things I've always wanted to do.  I've been interested for the last couple years in local and real/slow food.  I've had a little time to read some books on the subject and figure out what things are important to me.  I can recommend a few:  In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, Real Food by Nina Planck, and The Jungle Effect by Daphne Miller.

In New York it was fairly easy to find this type of food since the Farmer's Markets were so extensive, and though I believe the only requirement is to sell your own food, it was almost impossible to find a farmer who wasn't growing food the way I think it should be grown.  Here in Toronto, you have to look a little harder to find grass-fed beef, eggs from pastured chickens, oils that you're ok with eating, etc.  So I've done some research and tried out a host of places, and then I found Karma.  It doesn't look like much, but when we went for a tour, we were immediately surprised:  eggs from pastured-raised chickens, organic everything, pasture-raised beef, expeller-pressed sunflower oil, unpasteurized honey, un-homogenized milk....all under the same roof. 

My First Caesar

My First Caesar

It looks like a normal Bloody Mary, right?!  Well, it is actually a Caesar, but that is why I decided to go for it (well and a friend reassured me I wouldn't be able to taste the clam juice).  I've been disappointed since we moved to Toronto that I can't seem to find a good Bloody Mary anywhere.  When I order one, I get plain tomato juice with vodka, and if I'm lucky a bit of spice.  But, what I want is the Bloody so popular at every brunch spot in NYC- spicy, a little horseradish, maybe Worcestershire, some celery salt, pickles, olives, and celery (am I asking for too much?)!  Yet I see people ordering Caesars everywhere I go, and they look fantastic.  But, clam juice, really?!  

Postal vs Zip Codes

Every time I have to tell my Toronto address to someone in the US, they ALWAYS question the postal code (unless they do extensive international shipping).  The format is quite different here in Canada.  In the US, the zip code is a 5 digit numerical number (no spaces).  In Canada however, the postal code is a 6 digit alpha-numerical code that identifies your location very specifically.  It is in the format of L#L  #L#.  I'm always surprised how much people here know about me just by stating the first three characters of our postal code (Go M5S!).

Holiday Preparations in Toronto

Our 1st Tree in 5 Years!  All lit up!

We got our first Christmas tree in 5 years last night!  I'm very excited that we have enough space to fit one since we didn't in NYC.  Living space is a definite benefit of moving to Toronto.

I'm still not positive where the best places are to buy a tree in Toronto.  In NYC, there is a person selling them on what feels like every corner so you can't possibly miss it.  Here I saw the Metro by us carried some and found out that Home Depot did too, but you always hear about how those die so early.  Then, we found a lot behind a church by Bloor and Markham, and that is where we got our tree.  We ended up with a fraser fir which is kind of special - it has scoliosis like me!  But I like it!  They cost $8/foot, which seemed reasonable to me.