Cafe Neon

Cafe: Cafe Neon
Address: 241 Wallace Ave.
Phone: 647-352-8366
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM - 5 PM, Sat-Sun 10 AM - 3:30 PM
Website: www.cafeneon.ca

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

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Offers Devil's Nectar
- Coffee beans from Kitimai

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Offers baked goods, such as chocolate chip cookies
- Offers made in-house vegan sandwiches

Review

Drink of Choice: Latte, $4

Cafe Neon is a cafe in Wallace Emerson that has a fun and urban vibe. I am a complete sucker for pretty interiors and something about Cafe Neon captures my attention. They provide breakfast during the weekdays and brunch on the weekends. Their sandwiches are made in-house with vegan options available. One of their specialty drinks is the Devil's Nectar, which contains two espresso shots and Coca-Cola! Not exactly sure how that would taste but it sounds pretty crazy!

The employees told me that they have a great work culture at Cafe Neon. They are always asked for their input when the cafe wants to launch new food items or what sort of changes should be made. One of their barista is an artist who draws out all the menu boards. Another barista is a wedding photographer! Honestly, he has some of the most gorgeous wedding photography in Toronto I have seen. You can check his site out at: www.nivshon.com. Trust me, you want to click it. I wished I am getting married so I can get some photos done!

Cafe Neon is simply a cute place that I recommend checking out if you are in the area for coffee or brunch.

G for Gelato

Cafe: G for Gelato
Address: 75 Jarvis St.
Phone: 416-792-1761
Store Hours: Mon-Thurs 8 AM - 10 PM, Fri 8 AM - 11 PM, Sat 9 AM - 11 PM, Sun 10 AM - 10 PM
Website: www.gforgelato.com

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

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Coconut milk available
- Roasted coffee beans from Rufino Espresso

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Vegetarian only for regular food
- Vegan and gluten-free snacks available
- Offers snacks from Nutri-Health, such as brownies

View the full menu here: www.gforgelato.com/menu/

Review

Food of Choice: Funghi Pizza, $17

Gelato of Choice: Large Blueberry Lavender and Rufino Almond Fudge Gelato, $6.75

I first heard about G for Gelato when I was talking to an acquaintance awhile back. He raved on and on about the customer service and how awesome the gelato was. After that, I always remembered this particular gelato bar because of that positive review. I finally got the chance to try G for Gelato for the first time this week when they invited me out to their pizza party.

First thing I was able to do when I arrived was received a complimentary massage from Hand & Stone. I wished at the time there weren't so many people so I could've fully enjoyed it! Nonetheless, it was a great start off.

Shortly after, guests were presented with appetizers and their drink of choice as more people started to settle in. I enjoyed the variety of cheese and meat offered, though they weren't on the regular menu. Out of the two salads offered, I went for the Caprese Salad which had Fior Di Latte (a type of cheese). I learned on this very day that I did not like Fior Di Latte, or at least in full form compared to it being shredded on pizza (which I liked). Sadly, I couldn't finish the salad although it looked lovely on the plate. The Fior Di Latte cheese in my opinion was very bland and had that rubbery texture I did not enjoy. I preferred the cheese in the appetizer earlier. My friend actually liked the Caprese Salad and finished his plate. He said he had it at other restaurants and this was one of the better ones. So it's all about your preference!

All the pizzas made at G for Gelato are medium-sized and perfect for two people (or one if you are really hungry!). I tried out the funghi pizza, which consisted mainly of mushrooms and arugula. This was an awesome combination. The pizza had a great consistency and the combination of toppings were done just right. They also had spicy oil, which I added to my pizza and liked! Since I was full from eating a hearty lunch prior, I packed the rest to go.

The most anticipated part of the entire event for me was the gelato. I sampled at least half of their flavours so I could pick out the ones I wanted in the end. In the summertime, they serve 36 whopping flavours! 36! They have unique flavours such as Coconut Basil, Blueberry Basil, and Redbull (yes, Redbull). In the winter however, there's only 18 flavours available and usually the popular ones would be offered during the colder months. They have three cup sizes, small (1 flavour), medium (2 flavours), and large (3 flavours). I took about ten or more minutes to decide on my order so I ended up getting two flavours instead of three for the large cup. I got Blueberry Lavender and Rufino Almond Fudge (inspired by one of Baskins Robins' flavours). Out of the two, my favourite was Blueberry Lavender. I never heard of this combination before but it tasted amazing. I loved the lavender in the flavour. G for Gelato is indeed the place to be for gelato.

Towards the end of the event, I decided to jump in with Davindra from Goat Roti Chronicles to make some pizza! We tossed in a bunch of different toppings, like mushrooms, sausages, and olives. The pizzas made here only need about four minutes to be fully cooked! So you can guarantee your pizza will come out super quick. I ended up only taking a slice of the pizza we made home since I already had the Funghi. Nonetheless, I was proud of our creation. Not only did I went home with pizza but G for Gelato gave the guests some pretty awesome swag, including: a shirt from 1 <3 T.O. (I received the original!), gift card to Hand & Stone, and a pizza cutter!

Overall, I highly recommend G for Gelato if you wish to try a great assortment of gelatos. Do it now so you can enjoy it with whatever is left of Toronto's summer!

Thank you to G for Gelato for the media invite!

The Feisty Jack (Food Truck)

Food Truck: The Feisty Jack

Address: Keep an eye out on their Twitter or Toronto Food Trucks for location

Phone: N/A

Store Hours: N/A

Website: www.thefeistyjack.com

Review

Food of Choice: Bolly'wich $9

I got to join in with the crowd for the filming of Food Truck Face Off back in June. Those that signed up to be in the background of the show were able to order any complimentary meal from the food trucks that were participating. Some people were aired for their opinions of the food they got (which I didn't do).

After humming and hawing for a good 15 minutes between the food trucks that were opened, I settled for The Feisty Jack. I waited in line for at least half hour because Simcoe Park was jammed pack with people! I was excited for my food nonetheless. The Bolly'wich was naan bread stuffed with chicken, masala, basmati rice, and other various delicious toppings. I was very content with my pick though I have to warn you, that it is a bit messy. I had to eventually grab a fork to eat the whole thing. I love naan but I rarely get to eat them because for some reason, I don't go out for Indian food. This is a good alternative and perfect if you love naan like I do.