Tag Archives: Toronto business

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

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

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

 

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

238. Visit Grain, Curd & Bean and get an ice cream cone from The Port!

August 26, 2011

Nothing goes together quite as well as bread and cheese, except for maybe ice cream and summer! Get it all (and a great cup of coffee) at Grain, Curd & Bean, which is featuring The Port ice cream parlour throughout the summer!

Grain, Curd & Bean

Sample delicious Manchego (made from sheep’s milk in Spain), aromatic Italian Taleggio (fantastic on pizza!) or several varieties of Canadian cheeses, such as Louis d’Or (selected as the grand champion at the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix), Riopelle (a triple cream cheese from Quebec) or Bleu d’Elizabeth (a delightful blue cheese). Pick up a loaf of St. John’s Bakery bread or some Montreal-style bagels, and while you peruse a variety of fine local foods, sip on a delicious latte made from GCB’s blend of coffees.

If the summer heat is getting to you, head to the back of the store for a scoop or two from The Port, featuring Greg’s Ice Cream, a Toronto summer mainstay! Rotating flavours include roasted marshmallow, coconut, toffee coffee, and lemon meringue.

GCB is open from 9:30am until 9pm; The Port is open in the late afternoon/evenings at the back of the store. GCB is located on Dundas Street, just east of Dufferin.

 

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto business

150. Rent a bicycle from Wheel Excitement

May 30, 2011

Want to rent a bicycle for the day without having to stay in Bixi’s downtown parameters?  Up for rollerblading the length of the lakeshore, but don’t have wheels that will hold up? Check out Wheel Excitement, Toronto’s largest bicycle and rollerblade rental shop! Located in Toronto’s central waterfront and open from 10am to 5pm each day, you’ll have a great time riding through the city on your rented wheels. If you fall in love with your bike, you may even be able to purchase it – Wheel Excitement sells bikes from only $175, making summertime city exploration a la bicycle your own!

Wheel Excitement

Wheel Excitement rents mountain bikes, hybrids, and inline skates for $15 for 1 hour, and then $3 for each additional hour, with a 24-hour rate of $30. Rent for two days and pay $50 – each additional day is $15.00. For more information, go to www.greentourism.ca, and be sure to check out Heikki’s interview with Wheel Excitement owner, Bruce Abe, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCX225t9xv4.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, The Beach, Toronto, Toronto business, Toronto food

140. Pick up meat for weekend BBQs at Meat on the Beach!

May 20, 2011

It’s the May 2-4 weekend, and it wouldn’t be complete without grilling up some meat (or at least some delicious fresh veggies)! At Meat on the Beach you’ll find some of the best tasting, most wholesome, naturally raised, fresh meats, perfect for celebrating your long weekend. The selection doesn’t stop there – if barbecuing isn’t your thing pick up some oven-ready creations, such as rosemary-marinated Cornish hens, or succulent bacon-wrapped prime rib. If you don’t want to cook at all, there’s always ready made entrees, soups, and rotisserie grilled items, deli cold cuts and sausages, a fantastic selection of fresh breads and dessert items, and even flowers to put the finishing touch on your, uh, long-toiled over dinner party!

Meat on the Beach

To find out more, check out Meat on the Beach’s website, and be sure to take a look at Heikki’s interview with store owner Ernesto Monte as they discuss the best-kept secrets of The Beach neighbourhood!

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto business

126. Buy Chocolates for Mom!

May 6, 2011

Mothers’ Day is this Sunday – don’t say we didn’t remind you! Treat mum right with some chocolates for her special day.

Chocolates for Mothers' Day

Here’s ten of our favourite chocolate shops in T.O.:

  1. Ambiance Chocolat – 753 Queen St. E. (Leslieville)
  2. The Chocolateria – 361 Roncesvalles Ave. (Roncesvalles)
  3. ChocoSol – 6 St. Joseph St. (Church & Wellesley; their products are also available at many Farmers’ Markets)
  4. Delight – 3040 Dundas St. W. (The Junction)
  5. Eitelbach – 55 Bloor St. W. (Downtown)
  6. Kakayo Chocolate Company – 1584 Queen St. E. (The Beach)
  7. Odile Chocolat – 829 Dundas St. W. (Little Italy)
  8. SOMA Chocolatemaker – 55 Mill Street #48 (Distillery District)
  9. Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland – 55 Bloor St. W. (Downtown)
  10. Xococava – 1560 Yonge St. (Mt. Pleasant)
365 Things to Do in Toronto, The Junction, Toronto, Toronto business

111. Visit Mjölk

April 21, 2011

Now that your Spring cleaning is complete, have you discovered that you are in need of some new furniture? Looking for something unique and beautiful, that will turn heads yet be useful in everyday living? Why not visit Mjölk, a Scandinavian furniture/lifestyle store in the Junction neighbourhood?

Mjolk

Mjölk owners and curators John Baker and Juli Daoust are inspired by Scandinavia, and as such, have filled their store with products from the north. Smaller pieces include everything from herb scissors to Finnish tea towels, from egg cups to pastry brushes, all practical yet lovely. Larger items include stunning sofas, chairs, storage units, and accent tables that make a beautiful and distinctive impact in any home.

Visit Mjölk today; the store is open from 10am until 6pm. Learn more about Mjölk on their website, and check out Heikki’s interview with store owners John and Juli for their insiders’ take on the Junction neighbourhood!

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

108. All Levels Yoga

April 18, 2011

Discover Octopus Garden Holistic Yoga Centre, a new yoga studio located just west of Little Italy on College Street! Whether you’re an experienced yogi or just getting started, there’s a class for every yoga enthusiast at Octopus Garden. Today’s All Levels class, held at 1pm and 9pm is one such class.

Octopus Gardens' All Levels Class

Suitable for any student, this session is especially helpful for those just starting out in yoga, of for those with a desire to expand their knowledge of foundational poses. The class focuses on breathwork and alignment while creating a dynamic flow in varied sequences.

Your first class at Octopus Garden is free – if you want to continue taking the All Levels class (or any other class), you can “drop-in” for $18 a class. A 5-Class Pass costs $75, a 1-Month Pass is $135, or you can become a member for $80/month (plus a one-time $30 activation fee). For more information on Octopus Garden’s classes, go to www.octopusgardenyoga.com.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Liberty Village, Toronto, Toronto business, Toronto events, Toronto food, Toronto neighbourhoods

107. Iron Cupcake Competition @ For the Love of Cake

April 17, 2011

Cupcakes have been trendy for the last couple of years, and For the Love of Cake has the art of the cupcake down to a science. Located in Liberty Village, this fantastic bakery features traditionally flavoured cupcakes, and the more unusual “man cakes” (think bacon, Guinness, and stout flavoured confections). In addition to their array of fantastic flavours, For the Love of Cake regularly hosts an “Iron Cupcake Competition.”

Iron Cupcake @ For The Love of Cake

Iron Cupcake is a cupcake-baking contest open to the public. The concept is similar to “Iron Chef;” a “secret ingredient” is announced, and bakers must incorporate it into their cupcakes. The competitors make the cupcakes ahead of time and bring their finished product to the competition, where “judges” (this is where you come in!) award participants with points for presentation, taste and creativity. Want to be a judge? (Of course you do – who wouldn’t want to taste-test cupcakes?!) The cover for non-contestants is $5, and you’ll get to sample and judge the cupcakes and help decide on the people’s choice award! The tasting gets underway at 1pm today!

For more information on the Iron Cupcake competition, go to http://fortheloveofcake.ca/cupcakes/ironcupcake/. Be sure to check out Heikki’s interview with For the Love of Cake owner, Genevieve Griffin, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWiP5_XrHjg.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Distillery District, Toronto, Toronto business, Toronto food, Toronto galleries

88. Visit A Taste of Quebec

March 29, 2011

Located in the beautiful Distillery District, A Taste of Quebec is Toronto’s only food boutique specializing in terroir products from Quebec. Featuring the finest artisan cheeses, gourmet delicacies, and other delights, A Taste of Quebec not only offers products to help you create delicious meals at home, but provides Quebec delicacies from the Gallery Café, adjacent to the boutique and located in the Thompson Landry Gallery.

A Taste of Quebec

Interested in purchasing Quebecois cheese, but want to sample it first? Need a deliciously hand-crafted quiche for your dinner party, but don’t have the time to fiddle with phyllo pastry? Craving a unique lunch created from the highest-quality, local ingredients available? A Taste of Quebec is all of this and more. Explore A Taste of Quebec at http://www.atasteofquebec.com, and be sure to take a look at Heikki’s interview with Thom, one of the shop’s expert operators!