Livelihood Cafe

Cafe: Livelihood Cafe
Address: 254 Augusta Ave.
Phone: N/A
Operating Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM - 7 PM, Sat-Sun 10 AM - 7 PM
Website: www.livelihoodproject.org

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all three, coconut milk available for lactose-free option: $0.35
- Flavour Shot: $0.50
- Extra 'Spro Shot: $1
- Iced: $0.35
- Misto: $0.50
- Coffee beans from Planet Beans and Rufino Coffee

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Vegan and gluten-free cookies, vegetarian sandwiches available
- Baked goods are from La Bamboche

Review

Livelihood Cafe is part of a non-profit organization called the Livelihood Project. This organization help refugees develop transferable work skills and re-train people who have lost their jobs to automation. Livelihood Project also teaches digital skills to help people familiarize themselves with the constant changes in the digital world. They hire refugees from Syria, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia to work at Livelihood Cafe. However, they are not just hiring people who are looking for a job. The organization is currently looking for the next leaders to guide their own communities in the future. Livelihood Project aims to give these refugees experience and knowledge to empower others. They want people who are passionate and inspired to make changes within the Toronto refugee community.

The Livelihood Cafe itself is located in the middle of Kensington Market. It acts as a training and meeting space for the public and headquarter for the organization's operations. It allows other non-profit organizations to come and work at the cafe as well. This is also a good space with WiFi to get your own work done if you live within the area.

If you are someone from Syria, Ethiopia, Sudan or Somalia that makes traditional baked goods from your home country, Livelihood Cafe is interested in selling your treats. If you would like to reach out to them, please visit their website.

TOT the Cat Cafe

Cafe: TOT the Cat Cafe
Address: 298 College St.
Phone: 647-748-2287
Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 10 AM - 8 PM
Website: www.totthecatcafe.com

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Only soy and almond

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: None
- Limited food menu at the moment

Review

My Order: Masala Chai, $2.25

Toronto's first cat cafe, TOT the Cat Cafe, opened in Kensington Market this November. I've been to one of Montreal's cat cafes this past summer and wanted to compare.

I was slightly bummed out with my trip here. My first disappointment was the cost of my Masala Chai. It was $2.25, which I found was overpriced for a teabag in hot water. The menu itself was pretty standard and at the time I was there (in November), their food menu was limited. I was told that they are planning to bring in more food so that might have changed by now.

The cafe has a separate room for customers to go in and view the cats because of regulations. Everyone that enters the room has to wear a pair of cute cat slippers in order to keep the room clean. It is small and compact with various cat furniture for the cats to climb and sleep on. In order to get into the cat room, you must register yourself onto a waiting list. The length of time you are allowed to stay in the cat room varies on how busy the cafe is. This can get a bit frustrating when the cafe gets really busy and there is a huge wait list.

They had eight cats during the time I was there and one got adopted that very day! The process of the adoption takes awhile because hopeful owner(s) would have to meet with the shelter for interviews and processing paperwork. The cats were definitely adorable and I think this would be a great place for any cat lover.

I was mainly disappointed with my experience because of my order and how the cats weren't allowed to roam free due to regulations. I saw that people could get annoyed waiting to get in when there was a huge line-up. I hope that the menu have improved since I was last there because I felt that they could have added more to the experience.

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

Interior

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!

Jelly Modern Doughnuts

Restaurant: Jelly Modern Doughnuts
Address: 376 College St.
Phone: 416-962-2053
Store Hours: Mon pre-order pickup + delivery, Tues-Thurs 7 AM - 6 PM, Fri 7 AM - 7 PM, Sat 10 AM - 7 PM, Sun 11 AM - 7 PM
Website: www.jellymoderndoughnuts.com

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: No

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Gluten-sensitive options available

Review

Doughnut of Choice: S'mores, $2.75

If you read my review for Kensington Krawl, you would've found out that was the first time I visited Jelly Modern Doughnuts. I have been eyeing the store for a couple of years now ever since I saw it, but never had the chance to stop by. After my food tour, all attendees were given a coupon for a free doughnut and coffee. I eagerly came back to claim the coupon with a friend of mine.

The first time I was there, I tried the S'mores doughnut. For this visit, I took a stab at the Salted Caramel. I loved both doughnuts but I preferred the S'mores a bit more. My friend got hooked after eating his Coconut doughnut and ended up buying half a dozen for his roommates afterwards! He ended up coming back later on every time he passed by.

I highly recommend Jelly Modern Doughnuts if you love gourmet desserts. Every bite is worth it!

[Food Tour] Savour Toronto - Kensington Krawl

Company: Savour Toronto
Food Tour: Kensington Krawl
Website: www.savourtoronto.com

Review

I got the chance to go on my first food tour by winning a pair of tickets through Hailo Toronto. Savour Toronto provides food tours, culinary experiences and culinary events for Torontonians and tourists since 2013. The tickets I received were for the Kensington Krawl. This tour focuses on finding hidden gems and on the history of Kensington Market. There are a total of 13 stops, seven of which are food stops and the rest are for quick history lessons.

The first place we started off was at Cheese Magic. We got to sample four types of cheese, which I really loved. After, we got to visit Thomas Lavers Cannery & Deli. It's a gourmet shop with many canned preserves, sauces, and pickled items. They also sell fresh pasta and deli sandwiches. My boyfriend loved the fresh ginger beer there. We got to sample sandwiches and pickled food. The sandwiches were yummy!

Thomas Lavers Cannery & Deli

Next, we headed to Sanagan's Meat Locker and learned more about this upscale butcher shop. We tried various sliced meats. Everything in the shop is locally sourced from Ontario farms. Shortly after, we had a couple of historic stops to learn more about Kensington.

Sanagan's Meat Locker

Next was the Kensington Lodge. It is a historical building that has been renovated into a bar. I got to try the Antigravity, which is an American Blonde Ale from Flying Monkeys. My boyfriend ordered the Maple Whiskey Sour (hopefully I remembered the name correctly because I didn't write it down), which I thought was absolutely delicious. It didn't taste like alcohol but more like a fruity beverage, which I really liked.

Kensington Lodge, Antigravity (left) and Maple Whiskey Sour (Right)

Once we were done with the patio and alcoholic drinks, we headed over to Akram's Shoppe. It's a store that specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine and sells a variety of grocery items for customers to take home. There was an assortment of sweets and each person on the tour got to try two pieces of their choice. I personally want to go back if I am ever craving shawarma or falafel because it is super cheap there ($2-$3)!

Akram's Shoppe

Once we satisfied our sweet tooth, we headed over to Carlos' House of Spice. Perfect for anyone who loves to add herbs and spices to their cooking. Each person got a bag of dried mango slices (all made fresh). My boyfriend absolutely loved them and finished them as quickly as he had received them. Once we got out of there, we took a walk around Kensington and our guides went over four historical spots. Our last stop, and my favourite, was at Jelly Modern Doughnuts. I always wanted to try it out, but knowing it being a gourmet doughnut shop, I always skipped out because of the price. But alas! This food tour allowed each person a doughnut of their choice. I went for the large S'mores doughnut and my boyfriend went for large Coconut doughnut. Mine was delicious! I can't wait to go back because I got a coupon for a free doughnut and coffee!

Jelly Modern Doughnut

S'mores

Coconut

My favourite food stops were: Cheese Magic, Thomas Lavers Cannery & Deli, Kensington Lodge, and Jelly Modern Donuts. My boyfriend favourite stop was Thomas Lavers Cannery & Deli since the ginger beer sample really surprised him by how delicious it was. He also quite enjoyed the sandwiches as well.

The Kensington Krawl is $55+HST that lasts for three hours. Asides from the samples, the price includes for a full size alcoholic drink and a gourmet doughnut. I think the price is a bit expensive, but then again I've never been on a food tour before so I cannot compare it with others. I think it's a good tour to go on if you are a tourist and would like to learn more about one of Toronto's many diverse communities. Also perfect for the foodie out there who would like to discover some new favourite shops.

Jimmy's Coffee

Cafe: Jimmy's Coffee
Address: 191 Baldwin St.
Phone: 416-901-2289
Store Hours: Mon-Sat 7 AM - 7 PM, Sun 8 AM - 7 PM
Website: www.jimmyscoffee.ca

Study Appropriate?: Yes
Wi-Fi?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: Yes

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Offers coconut milk
- Customized roasted coffee beans from Classic Gourmet

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Offers dairy-free products
- Offers gluten-free muffins
- Offers croissants from La Bamboche
- Offers baked goods from Queen B Pastry
- Offers baked goods from Circles and Squares

Review

Drink of Choice: Cappuccino, $3.25

Back in February, my cousin came back from Montreal to visit. We wanted to have some quality time together so we decided to explore Toronto. Our original plan was to hit up a cafe on Queen St. However, we stumbled upon Jimmy's Coffee when we were going through Kensington Market. We decided to try it out instead because of convenience and I heard some good reviews about it. 

Jimmy's Coffee has portraits of all the famous people with the name Jimmy (or variation of it), such as Jim Carrey, Jimmy Fallon, Jimi Hendrix, etc. The owner is a fan of classic rock and Jimi Hendrix, hence the inspiration for the cafe. I thought it was an interesting concept to base a cafe off of celebrities.

The place was full when we arrived and we definitely saw how popular it was. Despite it being full, it was a quaint place, especially at the back of the cafe. They also have a backyard patio for the warmer weather. The cafe sells coffee beans from Classic Gourmet that are repackaged and made specifically for Jimmy's Coffee. Overall, it's a neat coffee shop in Kensington, great for those who loves the original location on King West.

Fika Cafe

Cafe: Fika Cafe
Address: 28 Kensington Ave.
Phone: 416-994-7669
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 9 AM - 7 PM
Website: www.fikacafe.ca

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: Yes

Interior

Menu

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

- Roasted coffee beans from Pilot Coffee Roasters

- Offers Lavender White Hot Chocolate

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

- Offers gluten-free macaroons

- Sandwiches made in-house

- Fresh food daily 

Review

Drink of Choice: Fika Cardamom Spiced Latte, $4

I think I might have found my favourite cafe so far in Kensington Market. Fika Cafe is a Swedish-styled cafe that is all about minimalism. I am very drawn to simple and clean-styled cafes with a nice space and this place definitely hits the spot. I learnt that it is co-owned by the owner of Splendido, which is a contemporary Canadian restaurant near Harbord and Spadina. I think it's pretty cool to own a restaurant and a cafe.

The cafe has a nice back room with a large table for people to sit together and do work. I like how Fika Cafe has small tables in the front and a large one in the back to accommodate to the number of customers. The space is available for rent and since the owner is a photographer, there will be future crafting and tech workshops.

I quite enjoyed my Fika Cardamom Spiced Latte. It was a unique taste but it reminded me a bit of cinnamon as well. I wished I had the opportunity to try out their Lavender White Hot Chocolate because it sounded quite amazing.

I think I would like to come back here again when the weather is nicer and I'm around in Kensington Market. Oh! And the cafe's business card is way too cute. You can remove the pony from the card and Instagram the journeys of Dala, the Fika Pony, with #FikaKensington.

Cafe Unwind - CLOSED

Cafe: Cafe Unwind
Address: 68 Wales Ave.
Phone: 647-352-7724
Store Hours: Mon-Sat 8 AM - 5:30 PM, Sun Closed
Website: www.cafeunwind.ca

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

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Chai made in-house
- Offers French toast latte during the winter (using a secret recipe!)
- Coffee beans from Merchant of Green Coffee and then roasted at Fresh Coffee Network
- Tea from Pippins Tea Company Inc.

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Everything made in-house
- Muffins made every morning
- Gluten-free cookies available
- Offers a chili special every week during the winter

Japanese Treasure Tea, $1.86

Review

Choice of Drink: Chai Latte, $3.10

Located outside of Kensington Market shopping district is Cafe Unwind. It is conveniently beside the Toronto Western Hospital, which makes it a hotspot for the workers to drop by in the morning and during lunch.

When I arrived to this cafe back in March (I know, and it took me this long to review!), I was taken by the size of it. Similar to Fahrenheit Coffee, ten people would completely crowd out the space. Whilst I was there, I got to chat with Maddie, the barista. She was absolutely sweet and talkative and I learnt that she was going to Peru for community work sometime this year (best of luck to her!). When I asked if the cafe used stamp cards, she pointed to the tear-outs taped against the wall under the menu. Since there was really no use for Yellow Pages anymore, the owner turned them into stamp pages for the regulars. Another fun thing they do is that they have two tip cups, each one with a different food or snack written on a paper attached. The cup with the most tips will have that food made as a special for the following week!

The chai latte I had was simple, but not as sweet as I wanted. However, I thought their Japanese Treasure tea smelled heavenly. It was very light and had a bit of peach to it, I believe. Their high chairs were not the most comfortable since the tables were a bit higher (or it was the chairs being a bit lower than it should). With no Wi-Fi, it was not exactly the most ideal place to work either. I do think that it's a nice place to be early in the morning since it's so tiny and quaint. You would be able to sip on your tea or coffee and observe the outside in peace as the day begins.