[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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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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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

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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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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.