The Pie Commission, Etobicoke

When you run a blog called The Snack Department, you can bet that a visit to a place like The Pie Commission is pretty high on the priority list...

P.S. My Weekend was Awesome

Sorry things have been a bit quiet here lately, but I've been busy preparing for the 3rd Annual Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap, crafting some holiday gift guides, and of course, meeting the fabulous Erica Domesek from P.S. I Made This!

Erica was in town promoting her new craft and lifestyle book, P.S. You're Invited and it was super fun covering the event for my sister's blog This Beautiful Day. Please pop on over to see all the pics including the scoop on Jelly Modern Doughnut's DIY doughnut station...(P.S. I'm still trying to figure out how to install one of these stations in my office cubicle.)

Happy Monday and I'll be back again soon to chat about pie!

♥

I Survived The Grid T.O.'s Burger Week!

The Grid TO's 2nd annual Burger Week came to a close last night and I'm happy to report I successfully tripled my burger intake this year without dying. (Don't worry, I only tried one place last year so I haven't embarked on a second career as the successor to Man vs. Food - yet.)

Similar to Summerlicious, Burger Week is a great excuse to round up friends for burgers and pints at restaurants both old and new. Thanks to my burger buddies and inadvertently my parents ("oh are you going out to eat burgers again? Bring us back one!") who helped round up the troops and keep up morale.

Here are some snapshots of the places we visited:

Bring on the Burgers!

What news had me grinning from ear to ear this morning? The return of The Grid TO's second annual Burger Week of course!

From Wednesday, May 29 - Saturday, June 1, restaurants across Toronto will be offering a special $5 burger on their menu to whet your appetite. (And lest you think you'll get stuck with the same pub burger everywhere you go, samples from last year's event include Keriwa's bison burger with grilled wild-leek aioli and Saskatoon berry chutney on a red-fife bannock bun and The Beet's lamb burger with apricot chutney, Quebec mozzarella and pickled jalapeno, etc.)

If plotted and portioned correctly, the mid-week meat love-in should prepare you for the culminating Burger Day at the Artscape Wychwood Barns on Sunday, June 2 from 11:30 am - 7:00 pm. (Effectively answering the question: "What would be better than burgers? More burgers of course.")

Expect a beer garden, a street party, and approximately 40,000 sliders as the participating vendor count doubles at this year's event. A portion of proceeds goes to support The Stop Community Food Centre, Artscape, and the children's play centre at the Artscape Wychwood Barns so you can chow down guilt-free! Or on a financial level anyways...no guarantees for your arteries hehe.

Although this year's burger creations are yet to be revealed (update: menus now posted), I'm already super excited to see the following vendors on this year's list:

• Barque Smokehouse
• The Beet
• Fidel Gastro's
• Goods & Provisions
• Prohibition Gastropub
• Rock Lobster Food Co
• The Samuel J. Moore
• The Stockyards
• This End Up *

(* Personal favourite; already the winner of multiple "best burger" awards and the home of a to-die-for fried chicken thigh sandwich.)

I will keep you posted as I get more scoop!  In the meantime, make sure you mark off all of these dates on your smartphone and see you all at Burger Day on Sunday, June 2nd!

Happy Wednesday!

♥


(Photo by The Grid TO.)

The September Menu: Keriwa Cafe, Toronto

As the fashionistas pore over their fall bibles (also known as the September issue of every major fashion magazine), this foodie has decided to take on a different devout course of study: The September Menu!

Each week I'll be visiting a new restaurant that features a seasonal menu to showcase what's cooking on the streets of Toronto. Am I crazy? I prefer to just say that I'm hungry :) Let's begin! 

***

On Friday night, I was lucky enough to celebrate my belated birthday at Keriwa Cafe and the seasonal fresh food and unique flavour combinations did not disappoint!

The dining room is spacious yet cozy, with a long bar and banquette running along one end the room and a small grouping of tables laid out neatly on the other side.

The rustic food at Keriwa is not specifically First Nations, but rather it's inspired by local ingredients and Chef Aaron Joseph Bear Robe's experience growing up on a reserve and cooking in professional kitchens in Alberta and Ontario.

Nevertheless, aboriginal ingredients and heritage grains play a prominent part on the menu offering seasoned diners an opportunity to try something new.

Without further ado, here is what was on our plates that night!

For starters, we selected a butterleaf lettuce salad with red fife, cucumber ribbons, and eggplant and a cantaloupe gazpacho with yoghurt, jalapeno and pumpkin seeds. (The salad is usually served with crackling too, but we opted out since my dining partner had food restrictions.) 

Both dishes did an amazing job at balancing a myriad of different tastes and textures. The salad was refreshingly tangy with large sprigs of dill acting as robust counterpoint to the creaminess of the softboiled egg. 

Similarly, the cantaloupe gazpacho was not melon-sweet as expected, but instead provided a smooth base for the yoghurt, jalapeno, and pumpkin seeds to cool, heat, and crunch. 

Moving onto the mains, my friend chose the smoked chicken with corn, poblano, green beans, and lobster mushrooms...

...while I opted for a bison skirt steak, with bull berries, almonds, kale, and parsley, sitting atop a giant rich pemmican ravioli.

I only grabbed a couple of bites off my friend's dish, but everything was flavourful and working well both independently and in tandem.  

As for my entree, it was like each layer was more delicious than the last! Although most steak plates let a large hunk of meat steal the spotlight, my plate was piled high with healthy sauteed greens, crunchy nuts, and bright red berries.  

The bison came on the pinker side (which I love) and even though I realize an office-worker like myself has no reason to consume large portions of pemmican (historically reserved as a high-energy food for fur-traders and Arctic explorers), I really felt like I could eat that stuff for the rest of my life.  

If you're a meat lover like I am, I would highly recommend this entree for you as it was a true forest feast!

Drinks and desserts unfortunately didn't happen on this visit since we were stuffed by the end, but Keriwa did kindly sending diners into the night with a complimentary pair of mini cinnamon buns. (No photos taken since the buns were pretty standard but a very sweet gesture nonetheless.)

Appetizers on average ranged from $10-15 and mains from $25-30, so don't be afraid to save up and splurge for a special meal or occasion :)  Keriwa Cafe is located in Parkdale near the corner of Queen West and Ronscevalles. 

Happy Monday!

♥

PS - Keriwa's September menu is not currently posted online, but if you'd like to see a copy of it, please let me know and I would happy to send you a pic :)

(Photo 1: Keriwa Cafe, 2-5: Lai Mai Ng)

Contemporary Spanish Design

Tonight the Design Exchange hosts curator Juli Capella for a special tour of its newest show, Bravos. Showcasing product designs from 21 of Spain's most talented and successful young industrial designers, this travelling exhibition will be on display at DX for two weeks only from Thursday, August 9 - Thursday, August 23, 2012.

Tickets for tonight's event are available online or at the door for around $10.  

Want a sneak peek at some of the groundbreaking work you might see? Click on the image below to preview the exhibition catalogue!

(Images via Design Exchange)

Good News / Bad News

When I first booked my trip to New York at the end of the month, I completely forgot that Kinfolk would be hosting a dinner in Toronto on June 30!  Luckily, the dinner in Toronto is currently listed as postponed but there's sadly no indication of when the dinner will be postponed until. Did anyone spot any clues on the Kinfolk journal?

In the meantime, here's a video of last month's dinner @ Terrain in Philadelphia and shot by Andrew & Carissa, the neat folks behind the original Kinfolk teaser.

Burger Week Toronto 2012

Carnivores unite! Today marks the official kick-off for The Grid's very first Burger Week in Toronto. From Wednesday, May 30 - Saturday, June 2, 2012, eighteen of the city's finest patty purveyors will be serving up a special $5 burger on their menu.

Here are three of my top picks from the impressive list of participating restaurants:

The Beet (The Junction, 2945 Dundas St. W)

• Organic lamb burger with apricot chutney, Quebec mozzarella, and pickled jalapeno

Keriwa Cafe (Parkdale, 1690 Queen St. W)

• Bison burger with Saskatoon berry chutney, wild leeks, aioli, and Thunder Oak gouda on a red fife bannock bun

The Stockyards (Wychwood, 699 St. Clair Ave. W)

• Beef burger with house-made smoked American-style cheese, pickled sweet onion, and brown butter cornichon aioli

For burger connoisseurs who prefer their charboiled classics with a gourmet twist, the event also features five Black-Tie Burgers ranging from $13 - $28. Incorporating ingredients like short rib, Stilton, ground pork belly, and wild leek aioli, $5 from the sale of each Black-Tie Burger will go to support The Stop Community Food Centre.

Can't make it out to to 20+ burger shops in four days? Don't fret! Burger Week culminates in a Burger Day at the Artscape Wychwood Barns on Sunday, June 3 from 11:30 am - 4:30 pm, complete with musicians, guest speakers, and of course, sliders ($3) and beer ($5).

So what are you waiting for? Cheers to the (early) weekend!

♥

(Image by The Grid TO)

Dîner en Blanc: Toronto 2012

Calling all foodies and social revellers!  The spontaneous spectacle of Dîner en Blanc returns to Toronto this summer on Thursday, August 9, 2012.

Not sure what the parade of diners dressed in white and dining al fresco is all about? Check out this excellent blog post about the first Dîner en Blanc in Toronto on The Hip & Urban Girl's Guide or watch this fun footage from last year's event in NYC!



Registration for Toronto's Dîner en Blanc is now open! Sign up quickly since space is limited and priority is given first to previous diners, second to their friends and family, and third to the general public who are participating in Dîner en Blanc for the first time.

Happy Monday!

♥

Snapshots from the Weekend

Mother's Day High Tea @ The Ritz Carlton (Toronto)

Top to bottom: 

Egg salad & cucumber sammies

Chocolate mousse / macaron / croquembouche / madeleine / red velvet cupcake

Plain & raisin scones / white chocolate 

Smoked salmon croissant sammies

Totoro modelling the DIY collar I'm making based on a tutorial by Honestly WTF

How was your weekend?


♥

YumTum Strategy Guide: March 2012

It's that time again...for the next edition of the Toronto Underground Market! With so many delicious things to eat, a tummy space strategy is an absolute must and I think I may have devised a suitable attack plan ;)

1) Bring lots of friends (or a very hungry friend) to share food with - For my first TUM, I partnered with a fellow foodie and together we were able to sample 8 different dishes by splitting everything in half. Great teamwork!

For my second TUM, I got greedy and didn't share anything so was only able to try 3 different items - an epic fail since I supposedly missed out on a very delicious pierogi poutine :(

2) Take advantage of the sneak peek album on Facebook and rely on your friendly neighbourhood blogger to unofficially scour the Internet for additional info on vendor menus - I can't guarantee this info will be 100% accurate upon arrival, but my efforts most definitely come from my tummy! Or err...my heart :)

Here are my top picks for Sunday!

ESE 

(L.A. style Mexican Food)

Torta Ahogada "Drowned Sandwich" 

(with honey chipotle glaze, Mexican pulled pork, spicy Latin slaw)

Photo Credit: ESE

Huitlacoche "Mexican Truffle" Taquito

(with yuca and queso, garnish of pickled onions, salsa de tomatillo con chile de arbol)

Photo Credit: ESE

Saffron Infused Horchata

(sweetened spiced rice milk)

Photo Credit: ESE

The Beech Tree

(English pub food)

Fish & Chips

(cod fish cakes, green pea pesto, handmade tartar sauce, hand-cut chips)

Photo Credit: The Beech Tree

Welsh Rarebit Fry-up

(hand-cut chips, flame scorched Collier's Welsh cheddar sauce garnished with sauteed leeks & double smoked bacon lardons)

Photo Credit: The Beech Tree

Victory Garden Croquettes

(panko-crusted zucchini fritters with horseradish & herb yogurt sauce garnished with radish remoulade)

 Photo Credit: The Beech Tree 

Comida del Pueblo

(Latin inspired street food)

Cornbread Grilled Cheese Sandwich

(refried beans, caramelized onions with chipotle, guacamole and sour cream)

Photo Credit: Comida del Pueblo

If you can't make it to YumTum tonight, I'll also be live tweeting the event over @laimai and @thesummersocial too!

xo.

Toronto Bollywood Flashmob 2012

If you're looking for a fun way to spice up your winter workout routine, Canada's National Ballet School and Toronto choreographer Lopa Sarkar are teaming up to present a Bollywood flashmob this April in honour of International Dance Day!

Jamming to the Bollywood beats of Montreal duo The Bilz and Kashif, participation is completely free, open to all ages, and will take place at a surprise Toronto location on Sunday, April 29, 2012.

To help get you ready for the big event, group rehearsals will take place at the National Ballet School from February to April on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (full schedule here.)

Based on your skill level, you can decide how many classes you need to pick up the Bollywood, Bhangra, and Classical Indian inspired routine and they have also posted a YouTube video for those of us (like me) who may need a little extra practice time ;)

New registrants will only be accepted until March 23 so grab a couple of friends and sign up soon to dance your way to a better body and try something new!

(Media by Canada's National Ballet School)

Snapshots from the Weekend...

Queen West / Parkdale

The Drake's Chicken & Waffles

(A review in haiku: a touch too much jam, but the fried chicken was crisp, leggo my eggo.)

best. car. film. ever.

(and oh so much ryan gosling <3)

How was your weekend? 

xo.

(Images 1, 2: Lai Mai Ng, 3: FilmDistrict via Wikipedia)  

Today's the Day Folks!

It's finally here!  The very first Toronto Underground Market takes place tonight at Evergreen Brick Works and I can't wait to sample all the yummy goods from Toronto's best amateur chefs! 

I'll be guest posting about the event over at The Hip & Urban Girl's blog as well as posting something on Digital Journal so keep your eyes peeled :)

And just in case you missed it, I posted my first article over at Digital Journal last month - please stop by and check it out, I'd love to hear your feedback!

xo.

Illustrator: Jessica Lucas

Hushed loveliness in this limited edition giclee print by Toronto-based illustrator Jessica Lucas. $50, Etsy.

Book: Burning Questions

RGD Ontario is holding a neat panel discussion on the future of the book/book industry in Canada at the Design Exchange in Toronto next week.

A no-brainer for those already working (or interested in working) in the Canadian publishing industry, the event will feature experts from the publishing, graphic design and cultural sector and will cover a range of issues from digitization to cultural shifts in reading/storytelling.

Panelists include:

Gilbert Li R.G.D., Founder & Creative Director of The Office of Gilbert Li

Margie Miller, Creative Director of Harlequin Enterprises

Scott Richardson, Vice President & Creative Director, Canadian Publishing - Random House

Laura Stein, Creative Director, Communications, Bruce Mau Design

Kate Taylor, Globe & Mail Arts, Writer and Novelist

The event is on Thurs. Aug. 11 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm and is free for RGD/DX members and only $10 for the general public.

Interested?  Register here on eventbrite:

(Image via RGD Ontario e-newsletter)

Junction Design Crawl

Come one, come all to the very first Junction Design Crawl! This Friday from 7:00 - 11:00 pm, local businesses will string up white lights to guide visitors to special events, music, art projects, pop-up sales, and good eats happening inside their shops.

I'm particularly excited for Icelandic hotdogs from Mjolk: steam cooked in beer with specialty mustard, remoulade mayo, ketchup and frizzled onions! They'll be served from 7 pm until they're gone, so snap them up quick :) And if you're too late to the party, Zocalo cafe just up the block is always a surefire bet.

See you in the Junction!

Fellini: Spectacular Obsessions

Don't. Freak. Out. But the master of Italian cinema, Federico Fellini, is the subject of the next big exhibition at the TIFF Bell Lightbox!

Visual Art

Curated by Sam Stourdze and produced by NBC Photography, the exhibition will feature 400+ works that "explore the obsessions that recur throughout his films and life" and no doubt informs the iconography that we admire and still long for so much today.

Dream Double Bills

What would an exhibit on Fellini be without some moving pictures? TIFF invited nine filmmakers, critics, and programmers to slate a series of double bills that pair a Fellini film with another work that complements, contrasts, or inspires a conversation with it.

Incorporating picks from Atom Egoyan, Isabella Rossellini, Deepa Mehta, the film programme also has the added thrill of having Guillermo Del Toro introducing James Schamus' selections on July 2!

Masterworks of Italian Neorealism

A retrospective of classic and rare films by Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, Luchino Visconti and Pier Paolo Pasolini. If you're new to the movement, I highly recommend starting with De Sica's definitive "Bicycle Thieves"and plunging forward from there.

Clearly, it's an exciting summer to be a film lover in Toronto! What are you most excited to see? :)

For additional details, full schedule, and pricing, check out: http://www.tiff.net/fellini#

Black Creek Music Festival: Survival Tips

My visit to the first ever Black Creek Summer Music Festival taught me one very important thing: never underestimate the importance of creature comforts.

Cold temperatures, ticketing issues, and traffic congestion all played a part in the audience experience. Usually, I wouldn't mention these peripheral things, but if Black Creek is planning to come back again next year, here are some simple survival tips to get you through this season comfortably and enjoyably.

1. Keeping warm

If you are huddled up in the cheap seats, don't forget to pack a blanket, dress in layers or throw on extra heavy coat! The higher you climb in the seating chart, the lower the temperature drops and it's hard to enjoy even a world renowned tenor when your legs are frozen matchsticks and your nose is turning blue (of course in June, thanks Canada!)

Some audience members who came dressed for a night out or who had pre-existing medical conditions (senior citizens, pregnant women, etc.) regrettably left the show early once their threshold for cold weather was breached.

The bright side is, frozen misery loves good company as you'll quickly bond with others over which coffee line is the shortest and what seats may be up for grabs after intermission.

CB2: Canada Bound!

It's only May and I can't wait for the first CB2 store to open in Toronto this fall!

Not only are they home to my future studio suite:

TPS file cabinet, $189.00

go cart carbon desk, $179.00

Combined these items look sharp, compact & organized!

but they also have a great range of modern products in bright, lickety-split colours like chartreuse and fire engine red.

Touting "affordable, modern housewares and furniture for apartment, loft and home," CB2 has the confident bearing of its parent company, Crate & Barrel, at prices that let the young and thrifty homeowner join in on the fun too.

cora carafe, $9.95

j'aime pearl pillow, $29.95

cheers wine glasses (set of 6), $19.95

Slated to open at the corner of Queen W & Bathurst in fall 2011, I'm already hunting for a yummy brunch spot in the area to fuel up before hitting the shop for design-induced bliss.

Until then, CB2 offers Canadians online shopping via its American site as well as a blog called in the loop to keep us ready, waiting, and in the know.

Happy weekend!

Images: CB2