Category Archives: Toronto food

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Christmas, Toronto, Toronto business, Toronto events, Toronto food

359. Go out for Christmas Dinner

December 25, 2011

So you couldn’t find that box of Stovetop stuffing and decided to can the whole homemade-Christmas dinner thing. Don’t settle for cold pizza or a package of instant mashed potatoes; give yourself the gift of a great Christmas dinner at one of these five establishments that are open for dinner today:

1. Fran’s Restaurant: 210 Victoria Street

So you’ve had too much, uh, Christmas cheer, and you need a greasy meal to soak it all up. Head to Fran’s – they’re open 24/7, 365 days a year. Not only will you get a great diner meal, you’ll also get some old-style hospitality without being guilted into doing the dishes.

2. Fairmont Royal York Hotel: 100 Front St. W.

If you really want to treat yourself today (and why not? It is Christmas!), head to the Fairmont Royal York where you can be served a holiday meal that even your Great-Aunt Mildred won’t stick her nose up at. Seatings are at 3:30pm, 3:30pm, 6pm, 6:30pm and 8pm. Call the festive desk at 416-860-5050 to inquire about the different meals.

3. Vaticano Trattoria: 25 Bellair Street

Craving an Italian meal? (You don’t have to have turkey on Christmas!) Head over to Vaticano Trattoria, where they’re open 365 days a year for both lunch and dinner. Today you can get traditional Italian meals from noon to 2am, so put away that box of mac and cheese and give yourself the gift of some real, delicious, Italian cooking this Christmas!

4. Dhaba: 309 King Street West

Bite into some butter chicken for your Christmas dinner! Dhaba serves up dinner tonight from 5pm until 10:30pm, and this unbeatable selection of delicious Indian food could become a tradition for your holiday meal! Conveniently located downtown, Dhaba is a great option for condo-dwellers who can’t be bothered with all of the fuss of a big Christmas dinner in a 600-square foot space.

5. Chinatown

Several restaurants are open on Christmas day in Chinatown; a few include Bright Pearl Seafood (346 Spadina Ave, open from 9am until 11am), E-Pan Chinese Cuisine (369 Spadina Ave, open from noon until midnight), and Xam Yu (339 Spadina Ave, open from 11:30am until 1am).

Christmas Dinner

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338. Warm up with Toronto’s best hot chocolate!

December 4, 2011

Hate winter? Even the most determined winter-despiser loves hot chocolate! Who can resist a cup of steaming melted chocolate on a cold, snowy day?! We wouldn’t suggest you warm up with any hot chocolate though…we suggest you warm up with some of the best hot chocolate in Toronto! Here’s are three fantastic places to grab a delicious cup of drinking chocolate in the city:

1. SOMA Chocolatemaker

Located in the Distillery District, SOMA is one of the few artisan chocolate-makers on the continent that creates chocolate in small batches, right from the cacao bean. The result is fantastic chocolate truffles and incredible drinking chocolate. If you’re looking for something unique, this is the right place. Order Mayan hot chocolate, and it will be made fresh for you on the spot. The mix includes chilies, cinnamon, ginger, orange peel and vanilla, and of course SOMA’s amazing chocolate. Get it served to you in a shot glass for a spicy shot of chocolate you’ll never forget, or have milk added to it for a more classic concoction. SOMA Chocolatemaker is located at 55 Mill Street.

2. Xococava

Pronounced “cho-co-cava” and known for serving up hot chocolate so thick it has been compared to pudding, Xococava is not your typical chocolate shop. Described as “punk rock mad science chocolate,” this shop is known to create some of the most unique truffles around – think chorizo chocolate (yes, as in the meat), and cedar chocolate (yes, as in the tree). Their hot chocolate isn’t quite as out there, but is semisweet and deliciously rich. It can be served “straight up,” with milk or soy milk, or with coffee. Xococava is located at 1560 Yonge Street.

3. Bulldog Coffee

Bulldog Coffee is not a chocolate shop, yet their hot chocolate has won its owner a best barista medal. After all, Ghirardelli chocolate + micro foamed milk = amazing hot chocolate, chocolatier or not! Located at 89 Granby Street (just south of Church & Wellesley Village), Bulldog Coffee offers their traditional, award-winning chocolate as well as the “Blanco Bulldog” – white hot chocolate with a shot of espresso for that perfect sugar/caffeine combo.

Hot Chocolate

 

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321. Gourmet Food & Wine Expo

November 17, 2011

Consider yourself a connoisseur of the finer things in life? Wish you knew more about food and wine so you could impress your next dinner guests? No matter what your knowledge-level when it comes to food and wine, you’re sure to learn something at the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo! Starting today and continuing until the 20th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the Expo is your opportunity to participate in tutored tastings, meet celebrity chefs, learn more about high-quality cheese, attend Mott’s Clamato Caesar School, or brush up on your knowledge of mixology and cocktails.

Gourmet Food & Wine Expo

Admission to the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo is $20 at the door, which gives you one day of unlimited access to the Expo floor, which includes 120,000 square feet of exhibits. You’ll get access to more than 1500 wines, spirits and beers, more than 150 gourmet foods and restaurant samples (sample tickets must be purchased), complimentary chef presentations, live entertainment, and the opportunity to attend wine tasting sessions (for a nominal fee). All attendees must be 19+ years in age. To purchase tickets or to learn more about this exciting event, go to www.foodandwineexpo.ca.

 

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316. Ice, Wine & Dine

November 12, 2011

Get ready for winter in style with tonight’s Ice, Wine & Dine event! Produced by the Downtown Yonge BIA, participants will have the opportunity to sample gourmet food, check out ice carvings, taste quality wine, enjoy the antics of fire performers, take in live musical entertainment, hang out in an ice martini lounge, and much more!

Ice, Wine & Dine

Ice, Wine & Dine is part of the Winter Magic and takes place at various venues throughout the Downtown Yonge BIA. The event gets started at 4pm and continues until 10pm. For a full schedule of events, go to www.wintermagic.ca.

 

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298. Hands-on cooking class: The Making of a Cook Series: Learn the Basics of French Cuisine

October 25, 2011

Always dreamed of whipping up a feast a la Julia Child? Inspired by the hit film Julie & Julia? Learn “the art of French cooking” starting today as the “Making of A Cook Series: Learn the Basics of French Cuisine” begins at the St. Lawrence Market!

French Cuisine

Featuring a series of four classes over the next four weeks, you’ll learn how to make a serious salad, work with meat and fish, and perfect your pastry. Tonight, Chef Pamela McDonald introduces you to the world of French sauces. Learn the making of world class French sauces and become a “saucier”  tonight from 6:30pm until 9:30pm.

Each class of the French Cuisine series is $85/per person (making the entire series $340). All classes are on Tuesday evenings, with the final class on November 15, 2011. To register for one or all of the classes, email kitchen@stlawrencemarket.com or call 416-860-0727.

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286. East Lynn Farmers’ Market

October 13, 2011

Family eat you out of house and home this past holiday weekend? It’s time to stock up on your produce; head to the East Lynn Farmers’ Market today from 3 to 7pm. Just about everything has been harvested, so now is the prime time to stock up on squash, apples, pears, and all the other Fall fruits and vegetables that are symbolic of this time of the year. In addition, this is the last month you’ll be able to get fresh, locally-grown beans, broccoli, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, grapes, lettuce, onions, peppers, plums and tomatoes, so the time to shop is now!

East Lynn Farmers' Market

The East Lynn Farmers’ Market takes place on Thursdays between 3pm and 7pm near Woodbine (in East Lynn Park). For more information, go to http://tfmn.ca.

 

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283. Thanksgiving Dinner at Black Creek Pioneer Village

October 10, 2011

Gather your family and friends and head to Black Creek Pioneer Village for a delicious, traditional Thanksgiving dinner (that you won’t have to cook or clean up after)! You’ll dine at the Historic Brewery Restaurant located at Black Creek Pioneer Village, and can choose from a 12:00pm, 2:30pm, and 5:00pm seating time. Reservations are required, so if you are interested, call 416-736-1733 NOW! This is a wildly popular event and you’ll want to make sure you and your family + friends don’t go without a Thanksgiving Feast!

Thanksgiving dinner @ Black Creek Pioneer Village

For more information, meal prices and for a full menu, go to www.blackcreek.ca.

 

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282. Leslieville Farmers’ Market

October 9, 2011

Leslieville may be known for its fantastic vintage shops and its abundance of independent cafes, but its Farmers’ Market is somewhat of a gem, hidden away in Jonathan Ashbridge Park each Sunday from early June until late October. The Leslieville Farmers’ Market strives to help their neighbours buy their food “directly from its source (and get to know them by name)! By supporting the building of relationships between the community and local environmentally responsible producers, the Market will not only help you to reduce your carbon footprint – it will help you discover great tasting food grown within miles of where you live.

Leslieville Farmers' Market

The Leslieville Farmers Market starts at 9am and continues until 2pm. A word of advice; don’t eat too much before stopping by; they have delicious waffles for sale! For more information about the Market and what is in season, go to http://leslievillemarket.com.

 

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278. Hands-on cooking class: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

October 5, 2011

Girls just wanna have fun…cooking delicious, healthy fare from appetizer to dessert! Join Chef Pamela McDonald at the St. Lawrence Market Kitchen for an evening of urban cooking that will be “fun, creative and above all, for the chic-at-heart!”

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

The class gets started at 6:30pm and continues until 9:30pm; registration is $85. Email kitchen@stlawrencemarket.com or call 416-860-0727 to register.

 

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Green, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto farmers' markets, Toronto food

270. Sick Kids Hospital Farmers’ Market

September 27, 2011

If you work on or near University Ave and Dundas Street/College Street, the Sick Kids Hospital’s Farmers’ Market is your opportunity to purchase fresh produce on your morning break or at lunch! Starting at 9am and continuing until 2pm, today is the ideal day to check out the wares of local farmers – almost everything is in season in September! You’ll find freshly-picked apples, beans, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, eggplant, nectarines, peppers, plums, radishes, squash and tomatoes around at this time of year, so if you are at all into preserving your own food while the harvest is at its finest (the cheapest, most eco-friendly and delicious way to get through the winter with an abundance of fruits and veggies), you need to get yourself to a farmers’ market, stat!

Sick Kids Hospital Farmers' Market

The Sick Kids Hospital Farmers’ Market takes place every Tuesday throughout the year (indoors in the winter, outdoors during the warmer months). For more information, go to www.my-market.ca.