tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-104288612012-01-07T17:46:59.443-05:00Tessnoreply@blogger.comBlogger171100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-72719541735547892252011-08-15T00:22:00.000-04:002011-08-15T00:22:49.671-04:00

Last visited: July 2011 (1 day) Yeah that's right...1 day... Things to do: Not to shortchange Philly; there's actually a lot of things to do in the city which can keep you occupied for a while. The one-day trip was a bit of a lark and it wasn't my first time to the city. If you're into history, then the Old City area is a no-brainer, just make sure you get tickets in advance where possible.

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-17917568331746393572011-01-25T01:08:00.002-05:002012-01-07T17:26:56.405-05:00

Last visited: August 2011 (3 days) Oh Montreal, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways... Where to eat: Montreal is another of my favourite cities. The food is spectacular. Even when you're not trying, the odds of eating someplace good are high. My first visit to Montreal, my friend and I tried a couple of $0.99 pizza places near our B&B and one of the had ridiculously good pizza. Food here

Tessnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-11069604487989148562010-12-29T00:30:00.009-05:002012-01-07T17:35:29.655-05:00

Some places I like to eat, when I'm not eating brunch. (updated January 7, 2012) Woodlot - I love Woodlot. The menu changes pretty often and there's a separate vegetarian menu (it's similar to the regular menu, but it's nice to see a restaurant making this type of effort). My favourite is the pappardelle - I've tried it with wild boar and with lamb and both versions were DELICIOUS. Ribbon pastas

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-35602109954733903322010-12-05T20:45:00.006-05:002012-01-07T17:39:43.671-05:00

Consider this an ever-evolving post to fulfill your most pressing brunch needs.  Last-visited dates for each location will be in brackets.  And while I have eaten brunch outside of the Queen West/Annex/downtown core area, you may notice that none of those places appear below.  That's because none of them are good enough to be listed (except for Globe Bistro - and the photo above is actually from

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-75924075796304983122010-11-05T00:36:00.001-04:002011-05-01T20:06:54.247-04:00

Mmm Beast. It's a pretty perfect neighbourhood restaurant. Cozy and friendly with interesting menu options. Ever since I first went there for brunch I've liked it a lot. I also remembered hearing that you have the option of having an entire dinner that revolves around a single animal. And what better excuse for such a meal than a birthday?  I present to you....The Rabbit Throwdown! Round one:

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-42483134081801842382010-09-15T23:21:00.004-04:002012-01-07T17:44:00.856-05:00

Last visited:  July 2011 (4 days) Places to stay:  You'll most likely wind up either on the Magnificent Mile or in the Loop if you're staying in a hotel.  Both areas are great, you can easily get around by transit or walking and a lot of the main tourist attractions are nearby.  Unlike other cities, where staying in a main tourist area kind of sucks (ahem, NYC Times Square), staying in this

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-38413149686200313172010-08-22T23:36:00.003-04:002011-08-24T19:10:40.951-04:00

I first went to TIFF over 10 years ago, it was pretty much the first thing I did when I moved to Toronto.  Not on purpose, but I noticed it was happening and I was a bit of a film geek so I went to two screenings.  I saw Waking Ned Devine and I Woke Up Early the Day I Died.  I'm moderately surprised that I Woke Up Early has been seen by people outside of the festival circuit.  I mean really -

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-42507932083042792132010-08-05T01:02:00.000-04:002010-08-05T01:02:27.546-04:00

Last visited:  February 2010 (4 days) Places to stay: When I visited, I stayed in the Arpoador B&B.  It's a very small place, only two rooms - I stayed in a twin room, bathroom in the hallway (but not shared) while the other room had an ensuite bathroom and a Queen-sized bed.  I had a pretty good experience here, the location is excellent and the area quite safe.  But you would have to try and

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-34278623159346793652010-08-02T18:25:00.002-04:002012-01-07T17:46:59.454-05:00

Last visited:  November 2011 Places to stay: Umm, usually I stay with friends or family.  But once I stayed at a Marriott in Brooklyn, it was right by the bridge so it's a pretty good location and cheaper than staying in Manhattan.  The cheaper B&B / hostel options all seem to be up by Harlem or Columbia University, but it's not the most convenient area so if it's your first visit, you'd

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-6868116934356629462010-08-02T10:35:00.000-04:002010-08-02T10:35:10.037-04:00

Date:  August 2, 2010 I love ice cream!  And gelato, ice cream cakes, ice cream sandwiches, popsicles...you get the idea.  And I think I have now found Toronto's best ice cream.  I have, in fact, undergone extensive testing of this product to try and ensure that my conclusion is correct.  Let's do a run-down of frozen dessert options. Dutch Dreams You can see it in the above photo.  Ironically

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-16974174296105384632010-07-28T00:49:00.001-04:002010-08-04T23:53:33.848-04:00

Could this be the best pork ever? That's pretty high praise coming from me.  After all, I literally live off eating pork.  And for those of you like me, perhaps you owe it to yourself to try this delicious pork.  Many of you have tried it (some of you who have would probably agree that this is maybe the best pork ever).  Some of you may not know you've tried it but after reading this will

Tessnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-37251109997259973382010-07-28T00:20:00.001-04:002010-08-04T23:53:49.924-04:00

Let's cut right to the chase - whose smoked meat reigns supreme in Toronto?  Thanks to The Stop, we had the perfect chance to find out at the Deli Duel. Goldin's?  The only place I'm aware of where you can order a Goldin's smoked meat sandwich is Free Times Cafe.  Otherwise, I think they mainly sell whole briskets. The Stockyards?  Rowena and I dropped in for brunch right before the Deli Duel

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-58348936081179240032010-07-14T00:05:00.001-04:002011-02-01T18:52:03.044-05:00

I like Black Hoof (938 Dundas St. W.) and I like Hoof Cafe (923 Dundas St. W.).  I'll randomly update this post if I eat at either for dinner.    July 11, 2010: Fried chicken dinner at Hoof Cafe.  $25 gets you four biscuits, homemade gravy and hot sauce, coleslaw and half a chicken, cut up and fried.  This also makes for delicious leftovers.  I think the hot sauce was my favourite part.  The

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-30364910670297279562010-07-07T22:55:00.001-04:002010-07-07T22:56:31.784-04:00

Grace Upstairs503 College Street   Last visited:  July 7, 2010 Wednesday night at Grace Upstairs: $8 for the bbq (pulled pork sandwich or lamb sausage) / $12 for bbq + a beer / $20 for the lobster boil. The pulled pork sandwich was on coco bread and had a side of coleslaw.  I liked this!  I lived in the southern U.S. for many years and I haven't really liked most of the pulled pork or bbq

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-71936445964825382082010-07-01T00:33:00.001-04:002010-08-04T23:54:26.518-04:00

Hot dogs - the new gourmet burger? I'm pretty sure this is where things are headed.  Although Toronto continues to have more and more gourmet burger places opening up each minute, we are generally a bit behind the times.  I'm pretty sure encased meat is where it's at. Don't get me wrong, my love of burgers is pure and true.  But lately I've been having a bit of a love affair with the

Tessnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-19639757080660463632010-06-22T00:57:00.001-04:002010-08-04T23:55:04.314-04:00

There's eating food and then there's a dining experience.  I've been to EMP twice in the past, once for lunch and once for brunch; both times before the current chef (Daniel Humm) took over.  I've had a soft spot for EMP since I first went there.  Tucked away, you almost wouldn't notice it's there.  Welcomed inside, you'll find yourself in a beautiful art deco room.  A part of me hesitated to

Tessnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10428861.post-75279154583731962132010-06-12T00:19:00.026-04:002010-07-07T00:56:53.782-04:00

1.0 The blog started when I left on a four-month trip. 2.0 The blog became a mishmash and was partially abandoned. 3.0 The blog will try to become your helpful friend. I've covered a lot of ground since the blog started in 2005 due to an unusually flexible job where I'd generally leave work for around two months each year to travel.  But now I've changed jobs and am limited to a 9-5, two weeks

Tessnoreply@blogger.com0