Summertime Poll

What is your favorite Toronto summer activity?

TO Restaurants: Tati Bistro

Tati is a great French bistro on Harbord Street.  The interior is very quaint, and they have the best patio I've been to yet in Toronto as well as sidewalk seating in the front when the weather allows.  The food and wine are always good, and I enjoy the warm European feel.  The service, though friendly, is very slow.  And, it can be a bit spendy.  When you're in the mood for French food, check it out - and call ahead to reserve the back patio if it is warm enough!  Check out my review on Yelp from the link on the lower, left-hand side of the screen.

Driving in Toronto is Difficult

One-way changes direction

Downtown Toronto can be difficult to navigate while driving.  Here are a few things to be aware of.  First, Toronto is full of one-way streets and while this isn't novel for a big city, I've never seen a city full of so many one-way streets that change direction every block or so.  As soon as you get to an intersection in our neighborhood, you have to turn right or left because the street you are driving on changes to a one-way in the opposite direction - see the picture to the right.  I guess they do this so people can't overload the side streets with traffic.  Luckily, Google Maps is up-to-date with all of this information so your directions should be up-to-date.

Where to Shop TO: The Healthy Butcher

I don't eat meat, but my husband does so when we buy meat I try to be sure it is at least organic, free of hormones and antibiotics.  When possible, we buy meat from animals raised on their natural diet (chickens/pigs that are pasture raised, cows that are grass fed,etc).  So, we looked throughout Toronto for a butcher shop that meets our ideals for sourcing meat.  

The first place we found that we tried out is called The Healthy Butcher.  They have three locations - one on Queen just West of Spadina, one on Eglinton at Avenue, and one in Kitchener.  They say that their priority is local and organic meat, but they also offer some groceries and prepared foods like soups.  I really like their philosophy.  They have a quote in their store that says something to the effect of  - we should eat half as much meat at twice the price.  I completely believe that this is the way our society should focus on eating - much less meat of a much better quality.

Architecture in Toronto

Right in center of city - on Queen St.

Outside City Hall with modern skyscraper behind

Who thought this was a good idea?

ROM - mix of modern & historic

Melting pot - I think that is the best description of the architecture in Toronto.  Here you'll find many beautiful historical buildings, most of which are in fantastic shape, stashed throughout the city.  Then you'll also find slugs of concrete, evidence of the boom of growth in Toronto of the 60s and 70s.  City Hall and the library at U of T are perfect examples of this.  They don't look so bad on a sunny day, but man are they dreary on a gray winter day!  Of course there is also your fair share of new and modern buildings especially skyscrapers and condos!  But most uniquely, you'll find a hybrid of historical buildings mixed with a modern flare - in a way I've never seen before.  They literally build modern parts coming out of or around the old structure.  Take a look at the photo of the Royal Ontario Museum, I think this is the best example of the type of hybrid architecture but there are examples of it elsewhere like at U of T.  I appreciate that they aren't demolishing the historical buildings and have come up with a unique way to modernize the city, though this style takes a bit of getting used to.  

There is no one way to classify the architecture here so you're in for a treat when you start exploring!

TO Restaurants: Akai Sushi

I posted a review on Yelp a while back about this sushi place near us on the restaurant stretch of Harbord, but realized it never made the blog because the review was pre-blog.  It is a great little place, and while we're surrounded by options on Bloor, Akai is leagues above the other options (slightly more expensive as well but prices are very reasonable for what you get - just maybe not the top option for students).  We go a few times a month and though I've never craved sushi before, I crave Akai often.  I love everything I've tried - and my favorite are the spicy crunch rolls.  Lately I've been keeping my eye out to see if any restaurants (Chinese, Thai, and sushi) offer brown rice, and hadn't found a single one.  At Akai  yesterday I realized they offer it so I gave it a try, and it reaffirmed my love for Akai!  They usually give us a small appetizer and a green tea ice cream dessert on the house which are always tasty!  The only thing I would change is there are a couple of mini sushi dishes on display that I think are unnecessary and look like they belong somewhere else.  Definitely recommend it - give it a try!

Exploring TO: Art Gallery of Ontario

Northwest corner of AGO

Last night was officially my first visit to a Toronto museum.  I know what you're thinking, how could I have been here almost 6 months and not made it to the Bata Shoe Museum yet?  Crazy I know - but since I can't figure out why there even is a shoe museum, I haven't made it a priority.  But, last night I went to the Art Gallery of Ontario!  On Wednesdays admission is free (normally $20) so decided to check it out.

Must Try Italian - Enoteca Sociale!

Picture by Aislinn Smith

We found a fantastic little Italian restaurant in the West End of Toronto called Enoteca Sociale.  It is really a close second to the quaint places we used to love in NYC, and we'll definitely be back.  Check out the full review on Yelp or Blog TO, and then head over to check out the restaurant when you can!

Honest Ed's

There is a store on Bloor and Bathurst called Honest Ed's.  I've never seen anything like it.  I often feel like I've happened upon Times Square if I drive by it at night as it literally lights the neighborhood.  It is a humongous superstore, a predecessor to Wal-Mart I would say, known for the original & quirky sayings of its founder, great deals, and a no-frills shopping experience.

Weeked Wine Tasting in Niagara

Follow-up from my previous post.  We had been wine tasting up in the Hudson River Valley when we lived in New York, and while the white wine was pretty good, it was nearly impossible to find a good red wine.  We assumed Niagara would be the same, but we were pleasantly surprised with the quality of some of the wines we tasted - some better than others.  For our first time in Niagara, we drove down Saturday morning and spent the day wine tasting, then stayed near the falls for the night.  We tried a few wineries on the escarpment and several others in Niagara on the Lake (NOTL).  The one thing I realized early on is that some of the wineries are family-owned while others are corporately owned - the difference isn't necessarily obvious on the outside, but I prefer to support the family businesses. 

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.

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?!  

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.

Cell Phone Options in Toronto

If you are moving to Toronto you're likely going to want to get a cell phone, but you'll find it isn't quite as easy as it sounds, and there are many things to consider before deciding which route to take.  

The main debate you'll have is around how you are going to communicate with people in the US and Canada, which leads to the debate about whether you want to keep your US number or get a Canadian one.  Below are some considerations for both:

1. If you have a US number, you can get an international plan (+$20 for voice/text only) so the calls you make will not cost extra above and beyond the increased price of your plan.  However, people in Canada will likely (depending on their phone plan) be charged long distance to call or text you.  I worried about this since I'm going to live in Canada, I didn't feel right making it difficult for people here to reach me.
2. If you get a Canadian cell phone plan, then the calls you make from Toronto will not be affected, but your friends/family from the US will likely pay extra to call/text you.  If you're going to travel to the US frequently, you'll want to consider having an international/North American plan so you can use your phone.  Additionally this option requires you to change your number, communicate that to your contacts, and lose your US number (only matters if you're ever moving back) - not insurmountable, but a bit annoying.

Exploring TO: St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market South Building

St. Lawrence Market is a fantastic place to spend a Saturday in Toronto.  The neighborhood around there is cute on its own merit, but then bring in the market and it is worth the trek down.  In the north building, there is a farmer's market every Saturday which runs year round and some craft-type vendors around the perimeter.  It is similar to the rest of the markets in the city so no need to make it on Saturday just for that.  The south building is amazing though!  I'm not sure I've been anywhere quite like it - maybe the market in Barcelona?  I think my husband would strongly consider moving down to the area just so he could stop there to pick up food to cook every day. 

Exploring TO - Attractions: CN Tower

The CN Tower is growing on me.  When we first moved here I wasn't too impressed (the fact that it was the tallest free-standing structure until 2007 is interesting though).  We have a pretty good view of the tower (which lights up at night) from our deck, but it doesn't have the same magical feeling as the Eiffel Tower or looking up at the Empire State Building and wondering what the colors mean on a given night.

Random Observations About Canadians

I think Canadians are funny, and while I'm still observing and learning I thought I would share a few observations that I find humorous so far.  (Yes of course these are generalizations and are not meant to be in anyway demeaning - just observations!)

First, Canadians are rule followers, which I think I've mentioned before.  I think my favorite illustration of this is that when walking around town, they never disobey street lights.  In New York, everyone waits for the cars to pass and then crosses the road regardless of what the lights tell you to do which makes sense since you walk so much you'd never get anywhere otherwise.  But here where you also walk a lot (of course less than NYC), if the light says don't cross, NO ONE and I mean NO ONE will cross the street no matter how dead the street or the traffic is.  Funny what they will do however is cross in the middle of the street, not at a light, when the traffic has ceased - I guess this way they aren't actually disobeying a light?

Exploring TO - Sports: Toronto Argonauts

I went to my first CFL game on Friday night, and it was a fun Canadian experience!  The Toronto Argonauts were playing the Montreal Alouettes.  Do you know what an Argonaut is?  Check out Wikipedia's definition.  How about an alouette (skylark) for that matter  - I'm sure you learned the song growing up?  The Argos play at the Rogers Centre, and we went dressed for the roof to be open in the middle of a cold snap.  But, luckily the roof was closed - which would have been nice to know ahead of time!  The arena is also the baseball stadium so the set-up of the field works, but they get a bit creative. We had good seats, on the 30 yard line, and they only cost about $55 compared to the arm and leg you'll pay to go to an NFL game.

TO Restaurants: The Harbord Room

As I mentioned on Monday, we decided to celebrate the beautiful fall day with dinner at The Harbord Room.  It is a very small space, and since I still haven't adjusted to having to make dinner reservations, we usually can't get in when we try.  On Monday they didn't have a table available but had plenty of room at the bar so we took it.  What I love about The Harbord Room is that they create the perfect combination of atmosphere plus fantastic fresh, seasonal, local food, good wine, and great cocktails.