[Event] One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale

Show: One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale
Location: Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place
Dates: November 27 - December 7, 2014
Website: www.oneofakindshow.com

I attended my first One of a Kind Show back in March. There are two shows hosted annually, the spring show and the winter show. I loved the vendors that they had at the spring show, so I decided to attend the winter show this past month. The event was held just before the holidays for a week and a half. It was the perfect place to go and find unique gifts for friends and family.

I bought a couple of items for myself while I was there (I went twice!) and I wished I bought more! I also snagged a small Christmas gift for my cousin as well. My plan is to try to attend every show from now on! I love being able to discover small brands and buy from Canadian companies. I highly recommend this show if you love handmade goods.

Fresh Burger (Church-Wellesley)

Photo courtesy of Tsangzilla

Restaurant: Fresh Burger
Address: 542 Church St.
Phone: 905-597-7224
Store Hours: Mon-Sat 11 AM - 10 PM, Sun 12 - 7 PM
Website: www.fresh-burger.com

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Menu

Review

Fresh Burger is a burger joint that originated in Richmond Hill. They recently opened their Toronto location on Black Friday and gave away free burgers as part of their grand opening.

I had the opportunity to preview the new restaurant before it was opened to a line of hungry people. Fresh Burger puts emphases on their quality premium meats. You can order your burger based on how much meat you want along with additional toppings. If you want poutine instead of fries, you can upgrade it for $2.99 in a combo.

The menu is kept to a minimum because their sole focus is the Canada AAA sirloin served. As someone who likes to order interesting items off the menu, their menu did not stand out to me because of the limited choices. I tried their Freshburger and it tasted like any standard burger. It's typical comfort food but made fresh on the grill every time, which I like. Fresh Burger is for people who love the classic burger and want to eat it fresh. No frills, no fuss.

Loaded Pierogi

Restaurant: Loaded Pierogi
Address: 9 1/2 Church St.
Phone: 647-344-0088
Store Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30 AM - 10 PM, Fri-Sat 11:30 AM - 11 PM, Sun 11:30 AM - 5 PM
Website: www.loadedpierogi.com

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Menu

Review

My Order: Ms. Piggy, $11

I wanted to try Loaded Pierogi when I first heard about it. I love pierogies and I don't get to eat them very often. My boyfriend and I went to the new restaurant about a week or so after it opened.

Loaded Pierogi is a decent size restaurant located right beside the cafe called Hank's (both establishments are by the same owners). There are many ways to have your pierogies. Some of the exciting dishes are The Donald Duck (you get an entire confit duck leg!), The Caramel Apple (more savoury), and more. I ordered Ms. Piggy because I thought it was a suitable choice for myself by title. However, I was a wee disappointed when I realized it was plainer than my boyfriend's Porky Pig since mine costed more. I enjoyed my meal nonetheless. I do think Porky Pig tastes better because of the bacon and cheddar cheese.

You can order a vodka flight ($12) here, something I don't see very often because beer flights are more popular. You get three 1 oz. drink from their bronze, silver and gold menu each. They have other alcoholic beverages, including signature cocktails.

Loaded Pierogi is great for some comfort food and for any pierogi fan. I wouldn't mind coming back and trying something else in the future.

Pai

Restaurant: Pai
Address: 18 Duncan St.
Phone: 416-901-4724
Store Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30 AM - 10 PM, Sun 5 - 10 PM
Website: www.paitoronto.com

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Menu

Review

I attended a Zomato Meetup where I caught up with fellow food bloggers and ate delicious Northern Thai cuisine! Pai is one of the many Thai restaurants owned by Chef Nuit and her husband, Jeff. You might not know them, but you probably know their most popular restaurant, Khao San Road!

Chef Nuit

I had the pleasure of trying a variety of dishes during this event that are also on the regular menu. The Som Tum Tad (Papaya Salad) was the starting appetizer. I was confused by the set up of the dish, because it looked like it was a one person portion. Regardless, everyone tried to take equally small portions for themselves. It was my least favourite dish out of everything we've tried.

The first main dish was the Gaeng Kiaw Wan (Green Curry) served with rice. I enjoyed this curry quite a bit. To make it more fun, it was served in a coconut! Shortly thereafter, our second main dish was Chef Nuit Chicken Pad Thai Platter. The pad thai was quite delicious too. The third dish was a surprise dish. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a hold of the plate's name. Judging by the ingredients from their online menu, I guessed it was the Plah Nua (Beef Salad). For this dish, you have sticky rice and cooked beef. You take the rice and scrunch it up into a ball with your hand. Then, you stick the beef onto the rice and eat it together using your hands. It was a new experience for me. I wasn't crazy about this plate compared to the pad thai and curry. It was cool to try regardless.

Lastly, we had dessert. It was mango sticky rice and I enjoyed it more than I expected! The sweetness of the mango along with the sticky rice made a great combo. Despite having a couple of my own drinks, I got to sample a fellow foodie's cocktail. I HIGHLY recommend you order the Tea Ross (not pictured). It's a delicious spiked Thai iced tea. I would go back to Pai for this drink and I never order cocktails or alcohol at a restaurant (only at pubs).

Overall, I loved my experience at Pai. I would definitely recommend it if you have tried Khao San Road or want to eat some Thai food.

Thank you Zomato for this awesome #ZomatoMeetUP!

Yorkville Espresso Bar - CLOSED

Cafe: Yorkville Espresso Bar

Address: 3 Yorkville Ave.

Phone: 416-515-7366 x 28

Store Hours: Mon-Sat 8 AM - 8 PM, Sun 10 AM - 6 PM

Website: www.yorkvilleespressobar.com

Wi-Fi?: Yes

Study Appropriate?: Yes

Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose Options?: Yes to all
- Offers 1%  and 3% organic milk
- Roasted coffee beans from Rufino Organic Coffee and Hale Single Origin

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Vegetarian and gluten-free only
- Everything made in-house, including spreads, dressings, and rubs

Review

My Order: Hot Chocolate, $3

I had a meeting at Yorkville Espresso Bar for the first time. It's a small cafe attached to an adjacent kitchen that doubles as extra seating for patrons. The Kitchen Studio is a cooking school, catering company, and a private/corporate event space. It's also perfect for filming and photo shoots. If you are curious, you can learn more about the kitchen here: www.yorkvillekitchenstudio.com.

When I received my drink, I was surprised for a second because I thought the barista had given me the wrong order. Usually hot chocolate would look like hot chocolate, not like a cup of latte! Luckily though, it was not a mistake and it was delicious. I overall like how quaint the cafe is. I think it's a nice spot in Yorkville and can be overlooked if you aren't seeking it out.

[Event] The Gentlemen's Expo

Show: The Gentlemen's Expo
Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Dates: November 14-16, 2014
Website: www.gentlemensexpo.com

I got to attend the second annual show of The Gentlemen's Expo last month. The show is targeted towards males in their 30s and 40s with an impeccable taste for fashion and the finer things in life. There were notable guests at the show, including Bruce Croxon (Dragons' Den) and Vikram Vij (Top Chef Canada). There were free straight razor shaves for those who didn't want to participate in Movember, courtesy of Dove Men's+.

As a female attendee, this show did not appeal to me as it would have if I were a male in my 30s with exquisite taste. In contrast to The National Women's Show or Delicious Food Show, there were very few vendors. Considering that this was only its second year, the lack of vendors is understandable. I think after a couple more shows, when it starts to gain momentum with the public, there will be more exciting attractions.

However, I ran into a couple of acquaintances who work/own the brands that were there. Shout outs to Man Products Inc. and Yo Sox! Do check them out, they have some pretty cool stuff. The best part of this event for me personally was that I got to win $7 from the lottery!

Touhenboku Ramen (Entertainment District)

Restaurant: Touhenboku Ramen
Address: 261 Queen St. West
Phone: 416-596-8080
Store Hours: Mon - Sun 11 AM - 12 AM
Website: www.touhenboku.ca

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Menu

See full menu here: www.touhenboku.ca/menu/

Spicy Touhenboku Ramen, $10.50

Review

My Order: Garlicky Touhenboku Ramen, $10.50

Touhenboku Ramen is a ramen restaurant on Queen Street West. My friend wanted to try it out because she loves ramen. I passed by this restaurant many times but never paid attention to it. I was up to give it a shot.

We arrived on a Sunday evening and it wasn't as busy as I expected. There were a few patrons but overall, my friend and I had our space to chat without having to worry about the noise and crowd.

At Touhenboku, you customize your ramen. You get to choose the type of noodles you want, the seasoning, and more. Extra toppings cost extra. All ramen comes with nori, scallions, mushrooms, and an egg. If there is a topping that already comes with your ramen that you do not want, you can substitute it for another topping for free (excluding Chasu meat). It's perfect for people who like to customize their food to their preferences. I usually choose a spicy dish but I decided to change it up this time. I ordered the Garlicky Touhenboku Ramen and was satisfied with my choice.

Touhenboku Ramen is a good spot to hit up if you love ramen.

Little Fin

Restaurant: Little Fin
Address: 4 Temperance St.
Phone: 647-348-7000
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 11 AM - 8 PM
Website: www.littlefin.ca

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Updated: February 11, 2015

Menu

Updated: February 11, 2015

Review

My Order: Fin Burger Cheeseburger with Single Patty, $9.25

Little Fin is a new seafood take-out restaurant near Yonge and Queen. I went in to claim my free Fin Burger with a coupon I received as part of their promotion. I was quite excited to try out the place because the photos on their social media looked amazing. The first thing I noticed when I entered was the space. It struck out to me that there were tables along the windows but no chairs. Luckily, it was only temporary because I recently checked and saw that they now have chairs. They also have a patio which is great for the warmer days. I ended up taking my food to McDonald's and eating it there instead because there weren't any seats at the time.

My favourite aspect of the Fin Burger are the black buns. They didn't taste that much different from regular buns but they definitely added to the burger aesthetically. Regardless, the burger was still tasty. Although I enjoyed the food, I am hesitant on going back. The only reason is because I think the prices are a bit steep for a take-out place. However, Little Fin is meant to be a gourmet take-out restaurant so I think it will appeal to others who are willing to spend the extra money.

Little Fin is great if you love seafood and trying new food items that you wouldn't typically get elsewhere. I also think their Instagram account and graphics are simply adorable!

Review Updated: February 11, 2015

My Order: Large Lobster Poutine, $16

The people at Little Fin were kind enough to provide me with a free meal after they saw my original review. They added seats and changed their menu so I was told to drop by to check it all out. I finally returned about three months after their grand opening. 

When I got there, it was jam packed. All the seats were filled during lunch hour. Since I was unable to score a seat, I once again took my meal to McDonald's to eat.

This time, I ordered a large Lobster Poutine because people have been recommending it. When I opened my container, the poutine's aroma was amazing. I haven't smelled poutine that good before! I recommend the large for two people or if you plan to save it for later because it is a big portion for just one person. 

Overall, my feelings on Little Fin improved. From observation, I believe they cut back on their menu offerings. Though I preferred their original menu board because it suited the theme of the restaurant compared to the new one. Prices are still approximately around $10. 

Momofuku Noodle Bar

Restaurant: Momofuku - Noodle Bar
Address: 190 University Ave.
Phone: 647-253-8000
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30 AM - 3 PM, 5 PM - 11 PM
Website: www.momofukutoronto.com

Menu

 

Review

My Order: Dan Dan Mein, $14

I finally got to try Momofuku. From what I gathered, it is a three-level restaurant comprising of "smaller restaurants" within it (correct me if I'm wrong please). My friend and I decided to catch up over some ramen at the Noodle Bar, which is on the first floor. Momofuku is quite popular outside of the foodie community. Therefore, my expectations were super high coming into the restaurant.

We arrived during the evening on a Sunday and it was packed. I wasn't a fan of the communal tables, especially since it was crowded. We were squished in the middle between two different groups of people. I had to raise my voice so my friend (and probably the neighbours) could hear what I was saying.

The menu was printed on a piece of paper and since it had the current date, I assumed the menu changes everyday (what a waste of paper!). My friend said the pork buns were great so I agreed to try it. I wasn't overly impressed because I thought it was overpriced and likely something I had before. For my order, I chose the Dan Dan Mein. I was disappointed to see how little the noodles took up in the bowl. Don't give a big bowl if you aren't going to fill it to the top! I liked the noodles but again, nothing I was eager about.

If I go back to Momofuku Noodle Bar, I will attempt their ramen instead which they are known for. If I revisit, I would likely come on a weekday during non-peak hours.

Note: This review only reflects my experiences at the Noodle Bar and not the rest of the Momofuku's restaurants within the building.

[Not Recommended] Toronto Coffee and Tea House

I never had any problems in the past with my reviews. More often than not, they have been quite favourable. Once in awhile I run across an establishment I am not crazy about. However, I always aim to provide an objective valuation of it. The Toronto Coffee and Tea House is now in a category all of its own. Suffice it to say, I have never been so disrespected as a blogger, and ultimately as a person, until now. After the appalling treatment I received from an individual representing this establishment's interests, I would recommend that anyone reading this actively avoid the Toronto Coffee and Tea House.

Back story: Over a year ago, I visited the Toronto Coffee and Tea House. I found out that the location was the former Toronto Coffee Company shortly before I visited. The former owner of The Toronto Coffee Company posted on Facebook about an ownership conflict he was dealing with (see the latest post here for story: https://www.facebook.com/TorontoCoffeeCompany). When I wrote my review, I expressed my honest opinions in regards to that Facebook post, saying that I thought it was unethical and that I felt bad for the former owner because I would have hated to be in that position. I mentioned that I wasn't going to return to the cafe because of this matter. Despite so, I still gave my unbiased review of the cafe experience itself because I truly enjoyed it and wanted to provide my readers information about the atmosphere, drinks, and so forth.

Months later, I was contacted by a third party hired by Toronto Coffee and Tea House to look over their online and social media presence. I was kindly requested to edit my review since the Facebook post was apparently untrue. That was fair enough, since I didn't have the full story. I edited the first paragraph of my review and kept most of the original post (revised review here: http://torontocafeandfood.blogspot.ca/2013/08/toronto-coffee-and-tea-house.html). Everything was confirmed and it was all good.

A few days ago: I was greeted with this message on my way to work:

When I edited the blog review, I genuinely forgot to update the one on Yelp (since I always copy and paste my reviews over because Yelp does not allow me to link back to my blog). However, it was the only review I forgot to update. The reviews on both Zomato (https://www.zomato.com/toronto/toronto-coffee-and-tea-house-wallace-emerson) and UrbanSpoon (with the spoonback link) for the Toronto Coffee and Tea House were updated to reflect the new information. Had I been notified by the third-party company from before that I forgot to update my Yelp review, I would have happily obliged. Instead, I got attacked by another representative for a misunderstanding. I didn't realize that the same person also posted a review replying to my original post until today:

I sent my reply after to the message:

Regrettably, I have deleted the original review before the reply so I cannot post it here for you guys to judge.

I cannot recommend this cafe to any of my readers as of now. I feel so disrespected as a blogger to have my review called "trash" when I gave my honest opinions based on what I saw on the Facebook post. I still gave an unbiased review of the cafe experience itself separate from the incident. Had the representative checked up on other review platforms before jumping to conclusions, the person would have noticed that said reviews of the cafe were updated and that the Yelp review was simply an oversight. Furthermore, I gave favourable ratings throughout all platforms because I truly enjoyed my experience at the Toronto Coffee and Tea House (4/5 rating on Yelp and Zomato). Instead, I was told I would've been sued if the person was the owner of the cafe and was accused of purposely wanting to slander the owners of the current cafe.

My goal as a blogger is to empower my readers by providing them with my unbiased opinion as well as the unfiltered information I based said opinion on. If I am presented with new information, I will of course update my reviews and opinions to reflect this new development. I do not purposely write anything inflammatory or sensationalist simply to attract attention. I always state that the opinions expressed in my reviews are mine alone, formed from the information in my possession at the time of writing.

I will keep my revised review up and will be updating the rest of the platforms with these experiences soon. 

[Event] The National Women's Show

Show: The National Women's Show
Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Dates: November 7-9, 2014
Website: www.nationalwomenshow.com/en/toronto/visitor/

After Gluten Free Garage, I headed downtown to check out The National Women's Show for the first time. I was surprised how big the show was. I was even more surprised that the World of Taste was bigger than I expected! It made up a good chunk of the show.

I mainly stayed in the food area because there were so many awesome exhibitors and samples. My friend managed to snag a couple of awesome deals. The other attractions were okay, though in my opinion were not as exciting. For example, I thought the Business and Career Centre would have been better off at a career expo. I wish I had more time to thoroughly go through the entire show. I was there for less than three hours and it was not enough time. I had to skim over many exhibitors unfortunately.

I definitely recommend this show for next year because it is a fun and lively event that women of all ages could enjoy. I think the men wouldn't mind being dragged along because there were plenty of beer and wine companies. I just recommend that when you attend, that you give yourself about four hours if you are the kind of person that likes to check out everything.

[Event] Gluten Free Garage

Event: Gluten Free Garage

Location: Artscape Wychwood Barns

Date: November 9, 2014

Website: www.glutenfreegarage.ca

Gluten Free Garage is a one day pop-up marketplace for everything delicious and gluten-free. This event allows people to discover new brands and show that gluten-free food can be delicious!

I attended the event for the first time this past Sunday. There were quite a few bakeries, including the popular bakery Dufflet. There were a few beer and cider brands that I quite enjoyed. Two of my favourites were Snowman Top Hat Ale and Bard's (it reminded me of lychee).  I got to sample a variety of snacks and pastas as well.

The place was packed with people throughout the time I was there. I definitely recommend this event if you are gluten-intolerant. It's also perfect for the entire family to attend, especially if you live near Wychwood Barns.

The Burger's Priest (Woodbridge)

Restaurant: The Burger's Priest
Address: 7887 Weston Rd. #6
Phone: 905-856-2662
Store Hours: Mon-Wed 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM, Thurs-Fri 11:30 AM - 10:30 PM, Sat 12 PM - 10:30 PM, Sun CLOSED
Website: www.theburgerspriest.com

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Menu

Review

My Order: Single Red Sea, $7.99

Despite being a Torontonian girl at heart, I live outside of the city (Woodbridge to be exact). Now, if you are familiar with Woodbridge, you'd know that this suburban area has only begun flourishing within the past few years. Better restaurants have started to trickle up north recently, one of which is The Burger's Priest. I decided to catch up with an old elementary school friend at the Woodbridge location because I always wanted to try it out. 

We arrived around lunch time and it was pretty busy. I got the Red Sea burger with a single patty. I didn't like paying so much for a burger since I was used to McDonalds' value menu (yes, I'm that girl). I was pretty neutral about the burger and would like something new next time. 

I think The Burger's Priest is a great alternative to the fancier restaurants in Woodbridge. It's much more casual and cheaper compared to restaurants like Moxie's. 

[Event] The Luxury Chocolate Show 2014

Show: The Luxury Chocolate Show

Location: Roy Thomson Hall

Date: November 2, 2014

Website: www.torontochocolateshow.com

From October 11 - November 2 of 2014, chocolate lovers across Toronto were able to indulge at the Toronto Chocolate Festival. The Chocolate Ball, Tasty Tours's chocolate tour, and Chocolate High Tea were a few events that were a part of the festival. The entire show is produced by Joey Cee, who has created many successful shows in Toronto since 1965. 

Joey Cee with one of the ladies from Queen of the Kitchen - Artisan Chocolate

Being a chocolate lover, I was thrilled to attend this year's Luxury Chocolate Show. For the show's fourth year, it was hosted at the Roy Thomson Hall. At the show, you could sign up for chocolate making classes, try to win chocolate eating contests, and more! Attendees that were of legal age could sample a variety of wine and beer that paired nicely with chocolate. Some of the wine and beer companies were Highlander Beer Co., Rosehall Run, and Pelee Island Winery. My favourite new wine that I discovered was Southbrook's Cabernet Franc Rose. It was absolutely delicious! Personally I don't like wine, but I will definitely be purchasing this one in the future for a fancy dinner party. It's great for those who prefer fruity tasting drinks.

My favourite part of the show were the chocolate vendors. Attendees were able to sample chocolates from a variety of companies. Some of the brands included were Le Dolci, T by Daniel, Old Time Confections, and Earl's Kitchen and Bar. If attendees wanted to try something more than just small sample bites, tickets had to be purchased.

If you are a chocolate lover, I highly recommend that you drop by next year! I would definitely come back for 2015 and stock up. The event is just before the holidays so it's perfect for buying gifts.

Vote for Me for the Made in Blog Awards 2014!

I decided to sign up for the Made in Blog Awards of 2014. This is my first time participating and it's pretty cool. This contest is to showcase the top bloggers/vloggers in different categories. Any Canadian blogger/vlogger can sign up! I decided to try out for the Travel & Tourism and Going Out/Restaurants categories.

I want to thank everyone who has been with me from the start and also to those who have recently discovered my blog. I hope to continue to grow with this blog and discover more great places in Toronto. In turn, I hope I can help you discover your next favourite restaurant/cafe or expo!

Please vote for me below! You can win some great prizes by voting for each category!

For the Travel & Tourism category:
For the Going Out / Restaurants category:

Aroma Espresso Bar (King St. E)

Cafe: Aroma Espresso Bar
Address: 250 King St. East
Phone: 416-365-7662
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7 AM - 9:30 PM, Sat-Sun 8 AM - 9:30 PM
Website: www.aroma.ca

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Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all

See full menu here: www.aroma.ca/menu/download-our-menu/

Review

I had the pleasure of attending the Friends & Family Event at Aroma Espresso Bar for their King St. East grand opening. To my surprise, the event was actually for friends and family because everyone knew each other there! Another fellow foodie blogger and I sort of stuck out there, haha.

At the exclusive event, everyone could order anything they'd like. So naturally, the first thing I did was to try to order all the things I have not yet had from Aroma! With Aroma food, you can be guaranteed that you are pretty much going to be full from one meal (usually a drink and a sandwich for me!). I tried out their BLT Turkey Croissant and finally after so long, the Ice Aroma Float! I do not recommend the Ice Aroma Float if you don't like overly sweet things. However, if you like vanilla ice cream and just super creamy and rich drinks, then it's a must try!

The King St. East location is identical to the Queen St. West location. These are the first two Aromas I've been to that are identical in appearance (except the flooring). Overall, I enjoyed my first Friends & Family Event.

Dark Horse Espresso Bar (Entertainment District)

Cafe: Dark Horse Espresso Bar
Address: 125 John St.
Phone: 647-748-7700
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7 AM - 6 PM, Sat-Sun 9 AM - 4 PM
Website: www.darkhorseespresso.com

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: No

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Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Roasted coffee beans from Detour Coffee and 49th Parallel Roasters

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free?: Yes to all
- Dairy-free available

Review

I was invited to meet up with the marketing manager of Zomato awhile back to discuss the website launch. Our original meetup place was The Office Pub, except they didn't have Wi-Fi. So we ended up at Dark Horse Espresso Bar just a door down. Dark Horse Espresso Bar was always on my cafe list to visit. I passed by often but never went in. They have four locations and the one in the Entertainment District I visited is their latest addition.

The cafe is underground, which is pretty cool. However, it consists mainly of bar stools against the wall. There are a couple of tables, but not enough if a large group comes by and wants to socialize. They do have a patio though with tables that seat 2-3 people each.

I ordered a lemonade and was not a fan because it was completely sour. The Muscle Masala snacks were interesting though. I tried the Vanilla Fig Saffron and the Chocolate Cherry Cardomon. I forgot which one I preferred, but they were unique. They are protein snack bars that are made locally in Toronto.

This particular Dark Horse Espresso Bar isn't so bad. I like how it is underground. Though I think I would rather prefer their Spadina location because of the open concept and windows.
 

Toronto Popcorn Company

Company: Toronto Popcorn Company
Address: 147 Baldwin St.
Phone: 416-834-4880
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 11 AM - 7 PM
Website: www.torontopopcorncompany.com

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Menu

Review

My Order: Small Blueberry, $4

I saw a picture someone posted on Facebook of the popcorn bag they picked up from the Toronto Popcorn Company. My interest was piqued and I started to see a buzz about this store online. Essentially, it's a specialty shop dedicated to popcorn. They have a wide range of flavours, including: Cheesy BBQ, Honey Mustard, Buffalo Kick, and more! My favourite type of popcorn from them are their candied flavoured ones. Some candied flavours included are: Banana, Toffee, Black Cherry and more! I got myself a small pack of Blueberry popcorn and my friend picked up the Lemon one when we were there.

I honestly think this is a cute place to pick up a surprise snack for a friend or for yourself. They have samples available so you could try before you buy. Their prices are wallet-friendly as well. It's my favourite specialty store within Kensington Market so far and I high recommend it!

[Event + Giveaway] Gluten Free Garage

"Inspired by her daughter Lily, 8, who was diagnosed with Celiac disease in 2009, Gluten Free Garage (GFG) founder RonniLyn Pustil created the event to give people a taste of gluten-free options in Toronto by bringing over 60 artisanal vendors offering gluten-free products under one roof for one day. The idea behind GFG is to promote and provide better access to top-quality local gluten-free food, create awareness about celiac disease, and prove that gluten-free fare can be super tasty. 

Marking its fourth consecutive year, GFG showcases the city’s best in gluten-free eats and lifestyle, including food trucks, guest speakers and for the first time, beer and cider tasting. This year’s guest speakers include North America’s leading gluten-free expert and author, Kathy Smart (Gluten-Free Belly Be Gone) Bunner’s Bake Shop co-owner Ashley Wittig and holistic culinary nutritionist Marni Wasserman."

I've never attended Gluten Free Garage before, so I'm looking forward to it this year! Not only that, but I am hosting a giveaway for one of my followers to win a pair of tickets!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you attended Gluten Free Garage before? If so, what was your favourite part? If you are going this year, what are you looking forward to?

[Launch] Zomato

If you haven't heard already, Zomato has recently launched in Toronto! Zomato is similar to Yelp, which is an online and mobile restaurant search and discovery service. So far, they have details of over 11,000 restaurants in the GTA, including menus, photos, reviews, and more! They allow for users to even upload photos from their Instagram accounts! (Cause who hasn't taken a food photo on Instagram at least once?).

Here are some interesting facts about Zomato!:

• Zomato employs over 800 people across 17 countries.  
• Zomato announced, last year, a US $37 million round of funding from Sequoia Capital and existing investors Info Edge. This has taken Zomato’s total funding to over USD 53 million.  
• Available across web and mobile, Zomato sees over 30 million visits across its web and mobile platforms every month. Traffic has grown by over 300% in the past year. More than half of Zomato’s traffic is seen on its mobile apps – testimony to the fact that local search is moving to mobile very fast. 
• Zomato has acquired 4 companies globally within a span of 3 months. New Zealand-based restaurant search service MenuMania became a part of Zomato in July 2014. Lunchtime.cz and Obedovat.sk, the Czech Republic’s and Slovakia's most popular restaurant guides respectively, became a part of Zomato on August, 22nd 2014. Zomato acquired Gastronauci, the leading restaurant search service in Poland in September, 2014.

You can check out the website at www.zomato.com and/or download the app! I already have an account on Zomato, which you can follow me at if you wish: www.zomato.com/torontocafefood

Le Neuf Cafe

Cafe: Le Neuf Cafe
Address: 9 Clarence Square
Phone: 647-351-6855
Store Hours: Mon 5 PM - 11 PM, Tues-Fri 7:30 AM - 11 PM, Sat 8 AM - 11 PM, Sun 8 AM - 5 PM
Website: www.leneufcafe.com

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: No
Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Coffee beans from Rufino

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Vegan and vegetarian only
- Offers soup and quiche
- Freshly baked goods everyday

Review

My Order: Iced Cappuccino, $3.75

I tried out Le Neuf Cafe this summer when Paypal was promoting their mobile app. They had a coffee week where you could receive $5 off from a bunch of different cafes if you used the app. Le Neuf Cafe is a Parisian cafe that is perfect for any brunch date. All the employees there speak French, to ensure that you receive a great Parisian experience (and it's also a great place for bilinguals to work at!).

Overall, I really like the concept of Le Neuf Cafe because I don't know of many Parisian/French cafes in Toronto. It's such a cute place to catch up with girlfriends or sit down on the patio (during the summer) for a lunch break.