Category : News

About a month ago, my website went down because the holder of the domain name failed to inform me that the domain name needed confirmation. I’ve spent the past weeks learning the full horror of trying to-do-it-myself domain and hosting. More later when I’ve recovered…..

Do I see a smoke signal rising above Parkdale? You bet. It says Keriwa Cafe which – as far as I know -  is the first aboriginally-inspired restaurant in the city. When I journey to Queen W. and Roncesvalles I  half-expect some form of history lesson.  Instead,  I have a welcome culture shock. Keriwa is all cool modernity, from the smart windowed facade to the vibrant lightbox inside. Place buzzes … Continue reading.. →

We have a down moment at Earth Bloor West, in the heart of High Park, when we’re told that Canada’s Finest Plate isn’t available. Not a good way to start dinner at restaurateur Ed Ho’s new fresh’n’local place with the mission “Think Global, Eat Local.” Of course some may argue that all of Canada is hardly local, that it would be more apt for a Toronto restaurant  to import from … Continue reading.. →

Can I believe my eyes? Spang in the middle of Bloor Street’s Mink Mile is this Parisian bistro spilling out of the Colonnades’ apartment complex into a jolly little sidewalk cafe. Nostalgics are indulging a cinq a sept, once the favourite window for dangerous liaisons.  Take that you bloggers who’ve recently been assailing Toronto as funless. And the fun continues upstairs in La Societe itself. Nightclub king Charles Khabouth, who … Continue reading.. →

It’s becoming a trend: French chefs are downscaling. The latest report comes from Chef Olivier Douet of Lisita in Nimes who has returned his star to Michelin, saying “I am not spitting in the soup – to have a Michelin star is a distinction, a very important recognition of merit,” he said.  But it’s just to expensive to live up to the expectations of a one star…He will now offer … Continue reading.. →

Chile time. All year long, Latin American restaurants hunker down in the cold of a Toronto winter and then, Ole, summer’s here with the temperature soaring overnight, and the taco, the tortilla, the enchilada, the empanada, the pupusa, the quesadilla, the burrito, the fajita  find their place in El Norte sun.   And where else to enjoy Hispanic  sandwich culture than on a patio, the most desired eating location in … Continue reading.. →

Bon Vivant is on the lam from Texas, evading a possible $500 fine for noodling. No not that kind. Catfish noodling, hand fishing  – which makes trout tickling seem effete. He stuck his hand in a mudhole and dragged out a sixty pounder – oh pull the other one!- and got real bit for his pains, his right arm looks a zipper. Now, all he wants is peace and quiet … Continue reading.. →

I’m  sitting in Aria, one of the new restaurants in Maple Square, the city’s new “vibrant global entertainment destination” and feel I might  as well be in the Air Canada Centre opposite. Aria is a vast high-ceilinged stadium of a resto, glassed in on two sides, a long bar to the right as you enter, and on the left,  banquettes ranged along a glass wall, while around the 25-yard line … Continue reading.. →

BHCO, new name for made over Hoof Cafe, has a soft opening this week — follow their tweets, the fourteen course tasting menu is a big success.But when are us chickens gonna get to go to Grant van Gameren’s new place? Not so fast. BHCO has sixteen seats, 14 may be reserved. No word yet of how many sittings.Call BHCO and the machine says the owners will be tweeting about … Continue reading.. →