Perfect Weekends Begin & End With Pisco Sours

It's that time Toronto! It's time for shorts and skirts, patios and pitchers, frolicking with friends, bikes and baseball games, and sweet, sweet spontaneity! The warm weather has finally arrived and with it comes those perfect fun and sun packed weekends that seem to go on forever, yet still end far too soon. To kick off what has officially been the first five-star weather weekend of Spring 2014 in Toronto, my boyfriend Chris was able to track down a bottle of Chilean Pisco, a boozy fruit liquor that is the main component to one of my favourite Summer cocktails, Pisco Sours. 

I had my first Pisco Sour experience less than two hours after landing in Chile for an adventure-filled vacation with my dad seven years ago (SEVEN YEARS AGO?! Where did the time go?). I was jet lagged but dying to hit the lounge chair by the pool of our hotel, desperate to feel the sun on my Vitamin D-deprived skin after escaping Toronto's cruel February chill. The moment my tush hit the chair I was presented with my very first Pisco Sour. So delighted to be in such a beautiful foreign country relaxing by the pool, I downed my drink, not realizing that the citrusy, easy-drinking cocktail actually contains a whopping three shots of the 41% spirit. I was a goner. I spent the remainder of the afternoon passed out and drooling in my lounge chair, while the sun burnt my fair, milk-coloured skin. That damn delicious cocktail took the wind right out of me, but that certainly didn't stop me from having at least one Pisco Sour every day for the remainder of my trip. 

It probably would have been a good idea to fill Chris in on that story, before we started drinking our Pisco Sours, as the poor guy didn't have a clue what he was getting himself into. He read "fruit liquor" and thought "oh like a Campari! Like an aperitivo!" It wasn't until we had drained our glasses and Chris went to pour more of what remained in the cocktail shaker, that he got a real whiff of the Pisco and realized how similar it smells to Tequila. A quick peek at the alcohol percentage on the bottle and it was back to chugging water! Just like after my first boozy Pisco experience, Chris had become hooked on the South American cocktail, declaring it to be our drink of the Summer! I sure didn't oppose! Recipes for Pisco Sours differ slightly, but here is one that my dad and I made a few years ago.

With the sun blazing and not a cloud in the sky on Saturday morning, Chris and I had our sights set on bikes! We headed over to Queen West to check out the selection at the Giant store. Thanks to my guy doing some initial bike research for me, we quickly found a reasonably-priced dream bike that had great value, was light and speedy, had good design features, and was cute and sporty looking. We took her out for a test ride and I fell in love! It had to be mine! I purchased my first good bike with a skip in my step and a smile plastered on my face. 

After all that excitement and test riding, we had worked up an appetite and decided to go around the corner to check out North Of Brooklyn Pizzeria, a gourmet pizza shop we have been meaning to try since opening. The small and dark largely-takeout shop features wood and metal accents with four tables for two and bar seating. We each picked up a slice of their Pepperoni and Margherita pizza and a can of, Howe Sound Lager and tucked in. The perfectly thin hand-stretched crust was very tasty and topped with an absolutely delicious hand-crushed tomato sauce, with wonderful concentrated tomato flavour and just enough Buffalo Mozzarella, pepperoni, and basil. I particularly liked the extra touch of sesame seeds that lined the crust of the pepperoni pizza, giving it a nutty bite. It's rare to find such great gourmet pizza sold by-the-slice in the Toronto, and with North Of Brooklyn taking such great care in producing a high-quality product, there's no doubt that their slices take the lead!

There's no better way to end one of those perfect Spring weekends than at a packed Jays game, with the dome open, beers, and good friends! To celebrate another Jays sweep we all headed back to Chris' condo to send the weekend off in the only way we knew how, more Pisco Sours! Cheers to a Spring and Summer filled with gorgeous weekends just like this!

Listening To:

Tove Lo - Stay High (Bad Habits Remix)

There's A New Burger In Town: The P&L Burger

The burger wars of Toronto continue with a new burger in town that everyone seems to be talking about, The P&L Burger, a burger and malt shop created by the team behind Parts & Labour. After winning first place at the Toronto edition of the Country Music Television (CMT) Burger Wars, chef Matty Matheson and Parts & Labour were overwhelmed by the positive attention their classic P&L burger started receiving. As more and more people began to frequent Parts & Labour purely for their award-winning burger, owners Jesse Girard and Richard Lambert, along with Matheson felt it was time to step up their burger game and open a shop solely dedicated to Matty's mouthwatering burgers. I had the opportunity to check out the new Queen West space before they officially opened their doors to the public, for a private media preview event and got to taste almost all fifteen menu items! 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

The P&L Burger menu board; The Deluxe; Chef Matty Matheson; The Castor

All of the burgers on the menu (minus their veggie burger) are made of seven ounces of Ontario chuck (ground in-house daily) and are cooked medium-rare with each burger varying in their toppings. The first burger served to us was the classic award-winning P&L topped with cheddar cheese, bacon-onion jam, iceberg lettuce, and dill pickle mayo. That first bite said it all! That tender, fall-apart-in-your-mouth (and your hands!) patty was extraordinary, with the savory, salty toppings complimenting yet not overpowering the star-of-the-show patty. I am always partial to a classic bacon cheeseburger, so the next burger served, The Deluxe, was right up my alley featuring bacon, American cheese, tomato, red onion, iceberg lettuce, and P&L sauce. Melt in your mouth perfection! The third burger served to us was the clear crowd favourite. The Castor (named after their designers Castor Design) features thinly sliced peameal bacon, cheddar cheese, crispy onions, iceberg lettuce, and BBQ sauce and had everyone in the room (minus the one vegetarian in attendance) swooning! This burger had it all, although would most definitely require a nap after consuming the whole thing. 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

The P&L team; The Italian; Kale Caesar; The Philly

It's at this point that I begin to regret not wearing bottoms with an elasticized waist (what was I thinking?!). Thank goodness they were only serving the burgers to us by the quarter, or else I would have had to be wheeled right out of the event! Although I truly enjoyed all of the burgers, my final standout of the day was chef Matty's favourite, The Italian. Although The Italian had many people in the room rushing to the bar for water to ease the spicy heat that tickled their tongues, I loved that kick of spice that The Italian served up thanks to the addition of roasted hot and sweet peppers. Doused in sweet and slightly acidic tomato sauce, this burger also featured mozzarella cheese and sautéed onions. You may be wondering about that lone vegetarian that I mentioned earlier was at the event, what in the hell was a vegetarian doing at a burger event? More than just chuck burgers, P&L also has a great veggie burger option, The Big Tempeh featuring classic toppings that included cheddar cheese, tomato, pickle, onions, iceberg lettuce, and P&L sauce. In addition to expected menu items like fries, onion rings, and poutine (with MONSTER cheese curds!), P&L also has a lighter side option their Kale Caesar Salad, with super garlicky house-made dressing, tender kale, lots of fresh grated parmesan cheese, and big crispy croutons, a side that any vegetarian and meat lover would go nuts over! 

Being a burger-lover and an indecisive Libra, it's hard for me to pick my favourite burger in the city with so many fantastic options to choose from, but I have to say that The P&L Burger officially makes my exclusive list as one of my favourite burgers in Toronto! Open to the public as of yesterday, definitely make the time to check out what is sure to be a new Toronto favourite! You won't be able to miss their striking, bright P&L sign out front! 

Listening To:

Queens of the Stoneage - 3's & 7's

Origin North Grand Opening

You know you are in for a treat when you spot a giant cauldron-looking bowl, with dry ice billowing out in clouds, in front of the entrance to the event you are about to walk into. This was the opening scene to my evening out at the grand opening of Origin North. Origin North, which is located in the Bayview Village boutique shopping centre, rounds out the trio of Origin restaurants, bringing their high energy atmosphere and diverse global cuisine to the upscale consumers at Bayview Village. The menu, created by Chef Claudio Aprile, reflects the same quirky feel as their other two locations, but has a slightly different menu filled with various tapas options. The grand opening allowed attendees to step inside the new space and experience a taste of their menu with a selection of hors d'oeuvres. 

Beef tartare + ginger + scallion + crispy nori + ponzu

-

Oyster + radish + yuzu vinaigrette

-

Fior de latté + caramelized eggplant + peppers

-

Masa chips + avocado + salsa + pumpkin seeds

-

Maple cotton candy

-

Chocolate sparkle cookie

-

Lemon sour cream ice cream

All of the hors d'oeuvres were absolutely delicious, with the Fior de latté with caramelized eggplant and peppers as my definite favourite. The sweet and smokey eggplant was a sticky and delicious mess of flavour, with the big chunk of fior de latté adding a subtle creaminess, and basil pesto completing the dish with a burst of freshness. I also really enjoyed the cocktails being served, especially the particularly boozy red sangria. My only criticism of the event? Not near enough food! For an event promoting a new restaurant, you would think they would want to highlight the food. Everyone I spoke to that night seemed to feel the same way. Even those much more important than lil ol' me were struggling to get ahold of the hors d'oeuvres. I guess this just means I'm going to have to make my way back to Origin North to indulge in even more!...ahhh so THAT was their plan! Mission accomplished.

Listening To:
The Tragically Hip - Fireworks

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Introducing: Le Petit Popelin

For years now I have been working with the Forefront Communications Network Inc. to put on their show stopping food and wine event, sip & Savour Ontario. Through helping out with one of Ontario's hottest food and wine events, I have been very lucky to have experienced cuisines inspired from all different parts of the world, brought to the table by some of Ontario's top chefs. One of the most exciting years for sip & Savour Ontario was when they introduced food trucks into the event, allowing guests to truly experience the full spectrum of what our province has to offer. This year, motivated by the overwhelmingly positive response to the introduction of food trucks to the event, Forefront Communications has partnered with La Bamboche (known for producing some of the best French pastries and macarons in Toronto) to introduce their own stationary food truck-inspired pop up, bringing the sweet confection, that is currently taking over the pastry scene in France, to the foodies of Toronto. 

This Wednesday, in the Historic Distillery Districts Fermenting Cellar at sip & Savour Ontario, Forefront Communications and La Bamboche bring to you a taste of France as they welcome a new class of French pastries into the food truck scene. I introduce to you, Le Petit Popelin. Although we are just hearing about the tiny, colourful confections now, the sweet, cream-filled pastry began its evolution in the 16th Century by four successive, influential chefs, Chef Panterelli, Popellin, Avice, and Careme, when it began as a simple choux pastry. Nearly 500 years later the classic French choux was re-discovered with a sensational new accent - the "craquelin" or crisp finish, filled and topped with a vibrant colour palette matching the various striking flavours. Texturally diverse thanks to the crisp "craquelin" topping, complimented by the creamy, light filling, not to mention the striking, whimsical appearance, makes this choux a la creme, or what we like to call Le Petit Popelin, a delight for all of the senses! 

To mimic the striking appearance of the pastry, the masterminds at Forefront Communications have developed a chloroplast, stationary food truck, inspired by the colour palettes, iconography, and window shop dressing in the French design. The life-size faux-truck is a clever, practical, and let's face it, adorable way to bring Le Petit Popelin to events, markets, and the streets, allowing sweet-toothed Torontonians to experience a taste of France right here at home. 

Be one of the first to experience this French sensation and taste Le Petit Popelin for yourself at this years sip & Savour Ontario! Get your tickets now! 

Listening To:

France Gall - Laisse tomber les filles

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Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market

"The Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market is more than a local food market. It is a celebration of the diverse communities working together to build a sustainable food system from the ground up.

The Evergreen Brickworks Farmers Market will:

• Engage local food producers and consumers.
• Share ideas to generate understanding of the environmental impacts of food choices.
• Inspire others and empower them to make positive changes
• Promote organic and GMO-free foods, as well as markets where rural food producers and urban consumers both benefit from fair trade and a vibrant local economy.
• Celebrate our diverse food traditions!"

(ebw.evergreen.ca)

SPRING/SUMMER/FALL SESSION

Saturday's from May 5, 2012 - November 3, 2012

8 AM - 1 PM

With 65-85 unique vendors selling everything from baked goods, fresh produce, cheese, meats, preserves, spreads, beverages, crepes, burritos, and more, the Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market is a great way to introduce yourself and your friends and family to new and unique  products that help to support and promote local Ontario farmers, chefs, and artisans.  Touring the market is a great way to become informed on what produce is in season, and better yet, gives you an opportunity to interact with the farmers and artisans themselves to get first-hand knowledge on how your food got to the table. A featured live band helps to set the mood while you weave your way through the many vendors. I like to  start my tour around the market with breakfast! The last time I went to the Brick Works Market, my mom and I decided to wake ourselves up with the Ultimate Breakfast Burrito and a glass of lemonade, both delicious! With food in hand to snack on, you're all set to tour the other vendors, because trust me, touring the market on an empty stomach can be a dangerous game for your wallet! Make sure to ask lots of questions and strike up a conversation at the vendors, you never know what information, or even recipes, the farmers and artisans may be able to give you! So this weekend start your week off right and stock your kitchen with all the yummy seasonal finds you got your hands on at the Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market!

Listening To:

Cat Power - Ruin

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Swooning Over Campagnolo

Campagnolo

416 364 4785

832 Dundas St. West

Toronto

For months now I have been eagerly awaiting a special occasion to check out Campagnolo, one of Toronto's hot spots, located on trendy Dundas West. Specializing in rustic mostly Italian fare, Campagnolo is known for its "good honest come cooked food", with many comparing much of the menu to the type of food your "nonna" would make. Turning out a new menu each day based on what's fresh and in season, Chef Craig Harding certainly has his work cut out for him. With rave reviews left, right, and centre, it came as no surprise that in order to get a reasonably-timed reservation, we had to book our table about three weeks in advance. Although if you're looking for an get early or late dinner, you may get lucky with a walk-in. The special occasion I had been waiting for to finally check out Campagnolo was my moms birthday. With my mom, aunt, and sister in tow, we walked into Campagnolo with high expectations, and walked out with smiles on our faces, full bellies, and a wonderful experience.

Unpretentious, casual elegance.

Crisp on the outside, and warm and tender on the inside, succulent slow roasted short rib shredded and breaded in homemade breadcrumbs, with horseradish mustard adding moisture and giving the bitterballen a great little zip. This composed little dish is like your grandmothers beef roast reimagined.

Burrata is a treat that I don't get to indulge in very often due to this decadent cheese's high price tag. So when I am able to splurge a bit on one of my favourite cheeses, I want to make sure it's done right! For months now I've been hearing people rave about Campagnolo's sinfully delicious Fresh Burrata Cheese with Roasted Grapes and Toasted Bread, and this dish sure didn't disappoint. A warm, soft, and buttery pillow of fresh burrata cheese sits atop crisp toasted bread, drizzled with fruity olive oil, with the roasted red and green grapes adding a touch of sweetness. But it was the hint of saltiness that really brought this dish together, allowing the subtle flavours of the burrata to really sing.

Unfortunately, the only disappointment of the night. I loved the fennel in the tomato-based sauce, but with the fishy taste and slightly mushy texture, it wasn't my favourite. I was glad to have saved my final bite of "bitterballen" for last.

Walking into Campagnolo, I already knew that I wanted to order some sort of pasta, because, quite frankly, I just can't say no to house made pasta at a great Italian restaurant. This dish caught my attention firstly because pappardelle is my favourite of all fresh pastas, and because I wanted to go a little bit outside of my comfort zone. I have actually had a pappardelle and rabbit dish before at another restaurant, and as much as I loved the flavour, there was something about the texture of the big pieces of rabbit in the dish that made me a little squeamish. I decided to take a chance on a pappardelle and rabbit again at Campagnolo and boy am I ever glad I did! This was one of the best pasta dishes I think I have ever eaten, with the silky ribbons of fresh pappardelle enveloped in a salty broth, and delicious pieces of savory shredded rabbit and meaty black trumpet mushrooms making its way into each and every bite, all topped off with freshly grated parmesan cheese and chives. As full as I was after all those appetizers and a big plate of pasta, there was no way I could leave so much as one noodle behind. I savored every single bite, swooning over the delicious flavours and textures. I can imagine that from afar, it must have looked as though I was having a love affair with my plate of pasta.

Thoroughly satisfied and stuffed to the brim, it would have been easy for us to turn down dessert...that is, until we heard the dessert specials. My face lit up at the sound of Campagnolo's Tahitian vanilla ice cream coated with toasted shredded coconut, resting in a pool of coconut fluff, with sous vide pineapple, hot chillies, and fresh mint. With such a fantastic meal already, we were curious to see if the dessert would hold up to the rest of the meal. Once again, we found ourselves blown away by the unique flavours in this dish. My favourite part of this dessert was the hot chillies, which added an explosion of flavour to each bite, balancing out the sweet coconut fluff. Right on point with both flavours and textures, cross your fingers that this will be on the menu on your visit to Campagnolo.

Despite the disappointing mussels, my meal at Campagnolo was still one that I would consider extraordinary. The food was simple, unique, and absolutely delicious, the atmosphere welcoming, and the service exceptional. I would highly, highly recommend checking out Campagnolo for your next special dinner out, in fact, I'm pretty sure I've recommended it to every single person I've spoken to in the two days since dining there!

Listening To:

Jesus and Mary Chain - Just Like Honey

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One Love Vegetarian

One Love Vegetarian

416 535 5683

854 Bathurst St.

Toronto

Closed Sundays & Mondays

After moving to the Annex area last year, my sister, her boyfriend, and I have been having a great time checking out all of the incredible food the area has to offer. No matter how much I enjoy hanging out with my sister and her boyfriend, I have to admit, my favourite part about our get togethers is meal-time, getting to try out all of the different cuisines from around the world all tucked away in the buzzing Annex. With it's lime-green sign and vibrantly painted walls, One Love Vegetarian was a place that caught my attention immediately. We're pretty big meat eaters in my family, so despite my interest in trying One Love, I kept getting side tracked with the thought of pulled pork burritos and jerk chicken. Finally the day came when I was ready to give One Love a try. My sister and I had both read an article about One Love's BBQ Tofu Stir Fry that left us salivating, so off we went to experience our first taste of Jamaican Vegetarian Cuisine.

Mainly a takeout joint, One Love is pretty small with a few tables for eating in. The kitchen is exposed allowing you to see all of the delicious dishes being prepared. Although there isn't anything particularly striking about the decor of the place, the atmosphere is fantastic. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the positive energy flowing through the restaurant, which may be due to the incredibly friendly and gracious staff, whom I have never seen without a smile. You can also always count on a killer soundtrack to be playing while munching on your food. Whether it's Bob Marley, Ottis Redding, or even some Wu Tang, One Love always has you feeling groovy!

Although I have only tried one dish on the menu, I have nothing but rave reviews for that one, mind-blowing, knock-your-socks-off dish! One Love's BBQ Tofu Stir Fry is so delicious I find myself craving it on a daily basis...no joke. I would be heading over there right now if it wasn't a Monday (they're closed Mondays and Sundays). My first glance and bite of the dish were admittedly a little disappointing. My first thought was that the dish needed sauce....boy was I ever wrong. Served on a bed of basmati rice and beans, tofu, sweet red peppers, snap peas, Vidalia onions, and carrots are coated in so much flavour from what they call their "tantalizing sauce," that all you need is a quick toss with your fork to immerse all that flavour and moisture into the rice, acting as your sauce. It's easy to see why One Love chooses for you to do this little step on your own, as the presentation is simple yet beautiful, allowing diners to see the all of the fresh ingredients that go into the dish. The stir fry is perfectly finished with slices of creamy avocado and sweet fried plantain, adding even more flavour and texture. This dish is so good that no matter how many times I say I'm going to try something new there, I always go back to my BBQ Tofu Stir Fry. I promise you, next time I'll switch it up! I've had my eye on their Seasoned Jamaican-Pumpkin-Filled Roti for a while now.

I have also had my eye on the delectable treats they keep displayed at the counter. Not only 100% vegetarian, One Love also serves up a selection of gluten free cookies, brownies, and cupcakes. I hate to say that I haven't tried any of their sweet treats yet, but that'll change soon!

Because all of the produce is purchased fresh the morning of, One Love runs out of some of their dishes at times and has been known to close early now and then due to this. So if you're planning on grabbing some take-out later in the evening, give them a call in advance to make sure they set aside what you want.

I've been to One Love quite a few times now, but I've always been timid of trying their Home Brewed Ginger Beer. The last time I went I overheard a women rave about how fantastic it is, her face contorting in ginger beer pleasure! I immediately ordered a small glass. With fresh lime, organic cane sugar, and a garnish of a lemon slice and mint leaf, my ginger beer arrives looking like a big tumbler of refreshing goodness. At first I was taken aback by the powerful flavour of the drink and the unique way the drinks flavour changes with time on your palate, but by the second sip I was in love! A glass of that on the coldest of days and you're still sure to be transported to a tropical destination upon each sip. You can't visit One Love without grabbing a glass of this! One Love also serves a selection of other juices like organic raspberry lemonade and mango strawberry lemonade, and of course, everything is fresh.

One Love is hands down one of my top cheap-eats in Toronto! You can always count on big flavour, a great experience, consistent quality and fresh ingredients. This Valentines day I decided my one love really is One Love!

Listening To:

I Shot The Sheriff - Bob Marley & The Wailers

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Osteria Ciceri E Tria

Osteria Ciceri E Tria

416 955 0258

106 Victoria Street

Toronto

Although I don't go crazy buying Christmas gifts for friends each year, my best friend Alex and I always take the time to find each other something really special that we can look forward to tearing open a day or two before Christmas. This year, after expressing how broke we both were this holiday season, and how stressed we were thinking about buying all of our Christmas gifts, we decided to give each other the gift of time...and food! No matter how much I love all of the thought and care that goes into the gifts that Alex gets me, nothing could be more special than spending the night in each others company, in a great atmosphere, enjoying a fantastic meal and cocktails. We figured that we would already be going out to eat together during the holidays (we're known for hitting up restaurants to sit for hours on end, spilling our guts out to each other about our latest news, gossip, and drama), and we loved the idea of boycotting the mall, so why not splurge a little more on dinner one night, and really treat ourselves to a great meal for our gift to each other! After going through every single menu on Joanne Kates Top 100 Toronto restaurants of 2010, I decided upon Osteria Ciceri E tria for our Belated Christmas Dinner, because no matter what all you naysayers wanna say about Terroni, I still love it with every foodie bone in my body, so the idea of trying out their sister restaurant was one I just couldn't shake. This past Thursday Alex and I finally went out for our Belated Christmas Dinner and, to be honest with you, it was one of the best gifts I have received all season long!

Atmosphere

Casual and rustic, with a trendy edge, I felt totally at home at Osteria. My favourite part? The large communal table that runs down the length of the restaurant, which encourages a dialogue between strangers. I love the mystery of being seated next to a total stranger, who's number you just may leave with by the end of the night! Me and Alex were definitely hoping to get seated at the communal table next to a group of well-dressed, attractive men...ah well, maybe next time.

Apertivi

A rule for any successful Girls Night Out is that every girl must always be accompanied by a fantastic cocktail. My drink of choice for the evening, a classic Bellini. Osteria knows not to mess with a good thing, keeping it simple and true to tradition with simply prosecco and peach nectar. You can't go wrong with a classic.

Antipasti

As alluring as it sounds to be brought five mysterious small plates, that change almost daily, I have to admit I was a little disappointed with the antipasti selection. Out of the five dishes, there wasn't one that stands out in my memory. Personally, I found that they tasted unfinished, like they were missing an ingredient, seasoning or herb. True the antipasti specials change almost daily, so I may have just been on an off night, but I would recommend skipping the antipasti and digging into your Primi or Secondi on more of an empty stomach.

Primi

After wrestling over the menu for some time, unable to decide which delicious dish to choose, my server pointed out the specials of the day and I was immediately sold! I enthusiastically ordered the Primo special Fettucini Con Tartufo, which is handmade fettucini with porcini mushrooms, prosciutto, parmigiano regiano, and black truffle shavings. The handmade fettucini noodles were so incredibly light, delicate, and eggy, that the very light olive oil sauce was the perfect choice. The salty flavour coming from the porcini mushrooms, prosciutto, parmigiano regiano, and black truffle shavings could seriously knock someone out, and I mean that in the very best way possible! Although I was full about 1/3 of the way into the dish (the specials are known to be a bit larger than the primo and secondi listed on the menu), I refused to leave one noodle behind, thoroughly enjoying and savoring each and every bite!

Dolci

Despite how full Alex and I both were, we knew we would regret it for the rest if the night if we didn't order dessert...and didn't each get our own! The dessert selection was fairly limited the night we went, but we still found a choice that we knew could do no wrong. No matter how many times I have had flourless chocolate cake, I still find myself going back for more, so Osteria's Doncetto Fondente, flourless dark chocolate hazelnut cake with warm gianduja sauce and zabaione was my dessert of choice for the night (although I'm wishing they had their Torta Di Ricotta that night, which sounds absolutely divine!). The hazelnuts in the dark chocolate cake set this dish apart from your average flourless chocolate cake, but the real kicker here was the gianduja sauce and zabaione, which added incredible richness, moistness and sweet flavour.

The Verdict?

All in all, I had a great experience at Osteria. Loved the atmosphere, the staff was very friendly and attentive, and, other than the slightly boring antipasti, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. Osteria, you haven't seen the last of me!

Follow Alex (@freshfromalex) and I (@thisgingerrose) on Twitter!

Listening To:

Miike Snow - Song For No One

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Black Camel Brisket Sandwich

Woah baby! Think I was a little late jumping on this bandwagon, but for any of you out there who haven't yet experienced the wonder that is Black Camel's Brisket Sandwich, get your butt there RIGHT now! No joke! You will not regret it!

Served on a large, fresh bun, Black Camel's Brisket Sandwich is chockfull of tender, saucy and flavourful pulled beef brisket. This sandwich was so good that, I kid you not, I saved my final bite as a midnight snack because I wanted that to be the last flavour I had before bed (so I could continue to dream about it). My parents loved the sandwich so much, that they proceeded to attempt to replicate it 2 days later...which led to me eating 4 brisket sandwiches in less than 2 weeks! Oh yeah! Now what are you waiting for? GO!

Listening To:

Gyptian - Hold Yuh (Remix ft. Nicki Minaj)

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La Bamboche: New Cake!

We have a new cake at Patisserie La Bamboche, where I work. It looks so beautiful and delicious I just had to share a photo of it with you!

Raspberry Mousse Cake

A Layer of Raspberry Mousse

on top of

A Layer of White Chocolate and Vanilla Mousse

with

A Lavender Madeleine Base

and

Mini Lavender Macaron Shells

Listening To:

Feel It In My Bones - Tiesto feat Tegan and Sara

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Welcome to the Neighbourhood: La Bamboche

Last week marked the opening of the long anticipated La Bamboche on Avenue Road. The patisserie's first location at 4 Manor Rd. has been open for just over four years, enough time to garner them both critical acclaim as well as build a strong relationship with the community.

La Bamboche has been named by Toronto Life as Toronto's best macaron. Have I made a spelling error? No, these are not the coconut based macaroons that most of you may be familiar with. These delicate little confections have a light crisp exterior made of meringue and almond powder, and their soft interior is due to silky buttercream or chocolate ganache. To top it all off, the macarons come in an array of beautiful pastels. Sound incredible? It gets better, macarons come in multiple flavours, everything from Strawberry-Balsamic to Lavender, as well as more traditional flavours like Raspberry and Pistachio. The shop always has twelve different flavours, adding new flavours at least every month. Well-traveled customers have reveled in the striking resemblance in both taste and appearance between the macarons at La Bamboche and those found in the best patisseries in France.

Beyond their beautiful macarons, La Bamboche also has an impressive array of cakes, all created and made on site by pastry chef Stephen Nason and his creative team. Nason was trained in Japan by a French pastry chef, allowing him to merge the two styles to create truly unique and innovative products. Unlike many high-end pastry shops that boast beautiful cakes, yet are lacking when it comes to taste, La Bamboche's cakes are both gorgeous as well as delicious! Many of their cakes feature a light mousse in flavours such as Strawberry Lavender, Green Tea and Black Sesame, and Earl Grey and Cassis. One of La Bamboche's signature cakes, and perhaps their most striking, is the Paquet Cake. Sold in numerous flavours, the Paquet features layers of light mouse and moist genoise wrapped in a soft cookie, kind of like an amazing, delicious gift, wrapped in cookie wrapping paper! Pair your pastry with a mug of organic Van Houtte coffee or espresso, or a pot of organic tea.

For those customers looking to La Bamboche for breakfast or lunch items, their perfectly flaky and buttery croissant should do the trick! La Bamboche has six different types of croissant, all baked fresh daily. There are sweet croissants like Chocolate, Almond, and Almond and Chocolate, as well as savory croissants like Ham and Cheese and Spinach and Cheese. The shop also has seasonal danishes, made with the same croissant pastry and filled with sweet custard and seasonal fruits (go in now for peach and blackberry!). There is also an array of fresh sandwiches served on either fresh croissant or choux pastry with fillings such as Turkey and Brie, Roast Beef and Brie, Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese, and Vegetarian and Brie. The sandwiches rest right next to the mouth watering savory quiches. The quiche crust is made with the same flaky croissant pastry, and filled with different flavours such as Shitake Mushrooms and Goat Cheese, Caramelized Onion Pancetta and Swiss, Leeks and Swiss Cheese, and Sundried Tomato Spinach and Swiss Cheese.

As some of you may know, I booked a trip to Cuba a few months ago (I leave Saturday super super early in the morning!!), so in order to pay off my trip, I needed to get a job....Dear readers, the next time you want to pay off a trip to Cuba, do not work in a pastry shop, work at a gym! I think you know what I'm getting at here. I am very proud to say that I am apart of the La Bamboche team, working behind the counter at their Avenue Road shop. In just a few short weeks, I have tried almost every item in the shop...you know...for business purposes. Although working at La Bamboche has abolished any plans I had of eating healthy before Cuba, I don't regret trying anything as each and every item left me wanting more! So after trying almost everything in sight in the shop (I've been on one hell of a sugar high for about 3 weeks now!), I think I'm able to judge the best, or at least my favourite, items in the shop. My absolute favourite items at La Bamboche are:

Tarte Au Citron

The delicious lemon tart I have ever tasted, and I love lemon tarts! The perfect combination of both sweet and tart with an amazing shortbread crust.

Earl Grey and Cassis Cake

Such an interesting flavour combination that left me wondering why I had never combined the two flavours before. Layers of earl grey and black current mousse on a thin layer of chocolate genoise. This cake is also one of the most beautiful cakes in the showcase.

Ham and Cheese Croissant

Oh so very decadent, yet impossible to resist! This ham and swiss cheese croissant is just incredible! La Bamboche's ham and cheese croissant is different from any others that I have tasted due to a layer of silky bearnaise sauce snuggled between the savory ham and creamy swiss cheese.

Macarons

There are a few macarons that stand out as my favourites. The Pistachio, Strawberry-Balsamic, and Raspberry macarons are just out of this world! These three macarons taste incredible and are some of the prettiest ones in the showcase! You must try them!

The second location of La Bamboche on Avenue Road is sure to be a great success! The new store has a beautiful design and allows for more seating, not to mention it is filling a major void in the neighborhood (boy did we ever need a great pastry shop!). With their dedication to quality and perfection, you're sure to fall in love with La Bamboche just as I did!

Note: The above pictures are from La Bamboche's Manor Road location. Pictures from the new Avenue Road location coming soon!

La Bamboche is located at 1712 Avenue Road and 4 Manor Road East.