Stephanie Dickison's Blog, page 48
March 31, 2020
Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Kennedy Road
Photo courtesy of Highland Farms.
In order to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape at this time, I’m creating a guide of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, cafes, and food shops for every neighbourhood in Toronto/GTA. Use them to locate nearby shops, discover restaurants offering take out and delivery, and support local businesses.
KENNEDY ROAD EDITION
Hungry? Kennedy Road between Lawrence East and Kennedy Commons at Highway 401 is a great place to be.
Take a look:
***COVID-19 UPDATE: BUSINESSES LISTED BELOW MAY BE CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. PLEASE CONTACT ESTABLISHMENTS DIRECTLY FOR HOURS OF OPERATION.***
Auntee Aneeta Supermarket
Grocery Store
1260 Kennedy Rd., Unit 8
416-751-5881
Bamyan Supermarket
Grocery Store
2 Antrim Cres., Unit 5
647-347-0722
Burrito Boyz
Mexican Restaurant
1961 Kennedy Rd.
416-609-2699
Cake House Bakery
Bakery
2300 Lawrence Ave. E., Unit 12
416-285-4341
Café Mirage Grill & Lounge
Restaurant & Lounge
26 William Kitchen Rd.
416-335-1177
Dairy Queen
Ice Cream Shop/Burger Restaurant
1910 Kennedy Rd.
416-292-8436
Daisy Mart
Convenience Store
2 Antrim Cres., Unit 1
416-293-6960
Daisy Mart
Convenience Mart
2278 Lawrence Ave. E.
416-752-5279
Eggsmart
Breakfast Restaurant
1961 Kennedy Rd., Unit #1
416-293-6099
Elite Bakery
Bakery
1961 Kennedy Rd., Unit 3
416-754-7857
The Fanzone Wings & Ribs
Pub
1168 Kennedy Rd.
416-551-0415
Flipper’s Fish House & White Shields Banquet Hall
Seafood Restaurant/Banquet Hall
2300 Lawrence Ave. E.
416-759-6671
Gibbos West Indian Take-Out And Grocery
Indian Takeout/Grocery Store
1872 Kennedy Rd.
416-293-4619
Habibiz Restaurant & Café
Middle Eastern Restaurant & Hookah Lounge
1939 Kennedy Rd.
647-868-5658
Harry’s Drive-In
Burger Restaurant
2280 Lawrence Ave. E.
416-759-5980
Harvey’s
Fast Food Restaurant
2310 Lawrence Ave. E.
416-757-7000
Highland Farms
Grocery Store
850 Ellesmere Rd.
416-298-1999
Hot Wok Hakka Chinese Food
Hakka Chinese Restaurant
7 Progress Ave., Unit 5B
416-293-5342
Jerry's Fish & Chips
Seafood Restaurant
1190 Kennedy Rd.
416-225-9944
Johnny’s Shawarma
Middle Eastern Restaurant
1904 Kennedy Rd.
416-298-7917
Jolly’s Grill Inn
Filipino Restaurant
2300 Lawrence Ave. E., Unit 25
647-341-4000
JNT Convenience
Convenience Mart
880 Ellesmere Rd.
647-367-0118
Just Love Caribbean Restaurant & Bar
Caribbean Restaurant & Bar
1344 Kennedy Rd.
647-351- 5683
Kairali
South Indian Restaurant
1210 Kennedy Rd.
416-288-0994
Karaikudi Chettinad Restaurant
South Indian Restaurant
1225 Kennedy Rd.
416-701-0003
Kennedy Milk
Convenience Store
1346 Kennedy Rd.
416-757-6458
KFC/Taco Bell
Fast Food Restaurant
1338 Kennedy Rd.
416-755-6028
Kim Kim
Hakka Chinese Restaurant
1188 Kennedy Rd.
416-757-8300
Lone Tai Supermarket
Grocery Store
2300 Lawrence Ave. E.
416-285-6686/416-757-9510
Metro
Grocery Store
16 William Kitchen Rd.
416-321-6300
Mucho Burrito Fresh Mexican Grill
Mexican Restaurant
26 William Kitchen Rd.
416-293-0404
Nature’s Choice
Health Food Store
1878 Kennedy Rd.
416-298-3829
New Hopper Hut
Sri Lankan Restaurant
880 Ellesmere Rd., Unit 215
416-299-4311
Patisserie Royale
Bakery
1415 Kennedy Rd., Unit 26
416-755-6323
Pho Vietnam
Vietnamese Restaurant
1280 Kennedy Rd.
416-755-0909
Pho Nam Dinh
Vietnamese Restaurant
1885 Kennedy Rd.
416-412-0296
Pita Pit
Sandwich Restaurant
1975 Kennedy Rd.
416-291-2222
Pizza On Fire
Pizzeria
880 Ellesmere Rd.
416-412-0011
Plaza Smoke
Convenience Store
2300 Lawrence Ave. E.
416-755-3233
Nova Ristorante
Pizzeria
2272 Lawrence Ave E.
416-751-1200
Quality Bread Bakery
Bakery
800 Ellesmere Rd.
416-292-9100
RC West Indian Grocery
Grocery Store
1872 Kennedy Rd.
416-293-4619
Royal Grill Halal Pakistani
Pakistani Restaurant
2300 Lawrence Ave E.
416-751-0880
Santa Roza Family Restaurant & Lounge
Restaurant & Nightclub
880 Ellesmere Rd., Unit 202
647-341-7692
Shot House Pub & Grill
Pub
1880 Kennedy Rd.
416-297-7714
Sivano Convenience
Convenience Store
1196 Kenendy Rd.
647-348-7919
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
1156 Kennedy Rd.
416-752-5818
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
20 William Kitchen Rd.
416-335-4016
Sunset Grill
Breakfast Restaurant
37 William Kitchen Rd.
416-321-1600
Tim Hortons
Coffee Shop
2370 Lawrence Ave. E.
416-755-6629
Tim Hortons
Coffee Shop
1 William Kitchen Rd.
416-258-4231
Wendy’s
Fast Food Restaurant
1460 Kennedy Rd.
416-752-8195
Wild Wing
Pub
11 William Kitchen Rd.
416-754-9464
---
Explore other Neighbourhood Food + Drink Guides.
Please contact establishments directly for more information.
Names, addresses, phone numbers and websites subject to change.
With thanks to Kennedy Road BIA.
March 29, 2020
Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Village of Islington
Photo courtesy of Cirillo’s Culinary Academy.
In order to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape at this time, I’m creating a guide of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, cafes, and food shops for every neighbourhood in Toronto/GTA. Use them to locate nearby shops, discover restaurants offering take out and delivery, and support local businesses.
VILLAGE OF ISLINGTON EDITION
From household essentials to tantalizing takeout, Etobicoke’s Dundas West between Islington and Kipling has it all.
Take a look:
***COVID-19 UPDATE: BUSINESSES LISTED BELOW MAY BE CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. PLEASE CONTACT ESTABLISHMENTS DIRECTLY FOR HOURS OF OPERATION.***
A. F. Home Bakery
Bakery
5168 Dundas St. W.
647-430-3611
Ah So – Sushi Bar (Inside Rabba Fine Foods)
Japanese Takeout
4869 Dundas St. W.
416- 244-0609
Ali Baba’s
Middle Eastern Restaurant
4928 Dundas St. W.
416-690-1026
Anatolia Turkish Cuisine
Turkish Restaurant
5112 Dundas St. W.
416-207-0596
Beer N Wings Sports Grill
Sports Bar
5164 Dundas St. W.
416-236-2627
Chinese Food Gallery
Chinese Restaurant
5138 Dundas St. W.
416- 236-3838
Cho Dang Soon Tofu
Korean Restaurant
5130 Dundas St. W.
416-234-1161
Cirillo’s Culinary Academy
Culinary School
4894 Dundas St. W.
647-430-8795
Dairy Milk Convenience Store
Convenience Store
5066 Dundas St. W.
416-239-9706
Dino’s Wood Burning Pizza
Pizzeria
4923 Dundas St. W.
647-348-6612
Espresso Bakery & Deli
Bakery & Deli
4980 Dundas St. W.
416-236-3183
European Patisserie
Bakery
5072 Dundas St. W.
416-783-9377
Fox Precinct
Pub
4946 Dundas St. W.
416-207-9990
Galata Café
Turkish Restaurant
5112 Dundas St. W.
647-351-4888
Gohyang Restaurant & Bar
Thai, Chinese & Japanese Restaurant
5096 Dundas St. W.
416-231-6660
I Love Sushi
Japanese Restaurant
4944 Dundas St. W.
416-236-5400
Ikkoi Japanese Family Cuisine
Japanese Restaurant
5084 Dundas St. W.
416-233-2727
Insadong Restaurant
Korean Restaurant
4941 Dundas St. W.
416-746-0777
Joe’s Pastizzi Plus
Restaurant/Café/Bakery
5070 Dundas St. W.
416-233-9063
John’s Fish & Chips
Seafood Restaurant
5090 Dundas St. W.
416-231-3474
Restaurant Beijing
Korean Restaurant
4925 Dundas St. W.
416-805-1452
Lucky Buck Plus
Convenience Store
4909 Dundas St. W.
416-236-2702
Mai Bistro
Asian/Latin Restaurant
4906 Dundas St. W.
647-343-3130
Mamma Rosa Restaurant & Bar
Restaurant & Bar
5078 Dundas St. W.
416-207-1111
Mamma’s Pizza
Pizzeria
4986 Dundas St. W.
416-231-4545
Medium Rare
Butcher
10 Burnhamthorpe Rd.
416- 231-1500
Miss Natalie’s Tropical Cuisine
Caribbean Restaurant & Caterer
5118 Dundas St. W.
416-260-9444
Montgomery’s Inn Museum & Tea Room
Museum/Tea Room
4709 Dundas St. W.
416- 394-8113
My Thai Kitchen
Thai Restaurant
4911 Dundas St. W.
416-519-3356
Neighbours Fine Foods
Grocery Store
4917 Dundas St. W.
416-234-9146
Osmow’s
Mediterranean Restaurant
4850 Dundas St. W.
416- 239-9000
Rabba Fine Foods/Tim Hortons
Grocery & Convenience Store/Coffee Shop
4869 Dundas St. W.
416-234-0609
Sorsi e Morsi Trattoria
Italian Restaurant
4900 Dundas St. W.
416-232-2250
St. James’s Gate Irish Pub
Pub
5140 Dundas St. W.
647-350-5140
Subway
Sandwich Restaurant
4927 Dundas St. W.
647-428-7263
Toji Sushi
Japanese Restaurant
5088 Dundas St. W.
647-348-8654
Traditional Korean Bakery
Bakery
4992 Dundas St. W.
416-233-8883
Village Trattoria
Italian Restaurant
4903 Dundas St. W.
416-236-2609
---
Explore other Neighbourhood Food + Drink Guides.
Please contact establishments directly for more information.
Names, addresses, phone numbers and websites subject to change.
With thanks to The Village of Islington BIA.
March 27, 2020
At The Pass with Kyla Kennaley
Judge Kyla Kennaley (far right) on The Great Canadian Baking Show, with fellow judge Bruno Feldeisen, host Aurora Bronwne.
Currently
Pastry chef, currently working as Talent Development Manager F&B at The Savoy Hotel London.
Formerly
Judge on CBC’s The Great Canadian Baking Show, Season 3; Pastry Chef and Owner of Madeleines, Cherry Pie and Ice Cream; Chef Instructor, George Brown College CHCA School of Continuing Education.
Favourite dish to make right now
Chestnut pancakes!
Last cookbook purchase
Baking with Bruno by Bruno Feldeisen.
Have you read it/tried any recipes
Not yet. I want to try Gâteau à la Tomate. :)
One dish or ingredient you’d like to see gone from menus
Artificial preservatives.
And one dish or ingredient that you’re excited about right now and would like to see on more menus
Foraged/wild mushrooms. If we are going plant-based, we can add a lot of texture and flavour with this great protein base.
Your biggest influences
Dominique Ansel and Auguste Escoffier (I work in his kitchen…).
If you could eat at any restaurant in the world
My mom’s kitchen table - we grew up in the Kawarthas on Pigeon Lake. And there are too many to name; El Celler de Can Roca is on my list, if you can get me a table!
Last thing you ate
Duck breast in simple wine reduction with dried figs.
Three must-have ingredients always in your fridge.
Maple syrup, homegrown preserved hot peppers, and butter.
Guilty pleasure
Salt and vinegar potato chips, or as they say here in the UK, balsamic crisps. ;)
Top 3 favourite Toronto restaurants
Alo, Dailo, and Taste of China Seafood Restaurant.
Top 3 favourite Toronto bars
Bar Raval, Côte de Boeuf, and Reposado Bar.
Go-to drink
French 75, dry.
One habit you have in the kitchen that you should lose, but can’t seem to shake
Assuming that my way is the best way. ;)
One habit you have in the kitchen that will inspire young chefs
Scrape your bowls. Your dishwasher and the owner will love you.
Hidden talent
Eek… Old bartending trick - I can tie a cherry stem in a knot. Also, I am extremely accurate with weights and measures.
Best career advice you ever received
When you enter the kitchen be fully present and let nothing distract you. Leave the world behind and create. The world will still be there when you get out.
Worst career advice you ever received
“As a girl you will never be hired for any job other than as an institutional cook. You should think about working in another industry.” - from my Chef Instructor teaching my Institutional Cooking Course in college in 1992.
Your advice for a young cook starting out in the business
If you start at the top you have nothing to look back upon. Start at the bottom and grow; slowly. You have a lifetime to become the best in the industry.
March 26, 2020
COVID-19: Licensed Toronto bars + restaurants allowed to sell liquor with food delivery + takeout
Nearly ten days after the Premier of Ontario declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ordered all bars and restaurants in the province to close unless offering takeout and delivery, the Government is allowing them to sell wine, beer and spirits, effective immediately.
The Government has amended Regulation 719 under the Liquor Licence Act (LLA) to “temporarily allow liquor sales licensees (i.e., licensed bars and restaurants) to sell beer, wine and spirits as part of a food order for takeout or delivery.” These changes are in effect as of today, March 26, 2020, until December 31, 2020.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) states in its latest news release that “All liquor sales licensees are automatically permitted to begin selling liquor for takeout or delivery along with food – they do not have to apply, request permission, or notify the AGCO.”
Licensees must however, meet many requirements and follow strict protocols, including:
1. All types of liquor may be sold for takeout or delivery, but must be purchased together with food. This includes beer and wine made under a brew pub or wine pub endorsement.
2. Liquor sold for takeout or delivery must be in a sealed and unopened container.
3. The permitted hours of sale and delivery of liquor with food are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
4. Liquor may be sold for takeout or delivery through a third party, such as a food delivery service or ordering platform, provided they are acting on behalf of the licensee.
5. There is no limit on the amount of liquor that may be sold for takeout or delivery.
6. The licensee must ensure that any persons involved in the sale or delivery of liquor have completed Smart Serve training, including any third parties acting as agent for the licensee. In response to this extraordinary circumstance, the Government of Ontario is allowing agents who are not yet Smart Serve certified to begin delivering liquor on behalf of licensees, as long as they obtain their Smart Serve certification by April 25, 2020.
For more information, view the release in its entirety.
This favourable amendment may save some restaurants from the brink. Whether it can save the industry as a whole remains to be seen. Let’s hope.
Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Eglinton Way
Photo courtesy of Tokyo Sushi.
In order to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape at this time, I’m creating a guide of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, cafes, and food shops for every neighbourhood in Toronto/GTA. Use them to locate nearby shops, discover restaurants offering take out and delivery, and support local businesses.
EGLINTON WAY EDITION
Midtown’s Eglinton West between Oriole Parkway and Chaplin Crescent is replete with food shops, services, and restaurants.
Take a look:
***COVID-19 UPDATE: BUSINESSES LISTED BELOW MAY BE CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. PLEASE CONTACT ESTABLISHMENTS DIRECTLY FOR HOURS OF OPERATION.***
The Abbot on Eglinton
Pub
508 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-487-8350
A&W
Fast Food Restaurant
1021 Avenue Rd.
416-440-0666
The Bagel House
Bagel Shop
450 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-901-9594
Blooming Orchid
Chinese, Japanese & Thai Restaurant
525 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-481-3825
The Burger Shack
Burger Restaurant
233 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-487-1974
Chinese Food Gallery
Chinese Restaurant
557 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-322-3230
Convenience Store at Petro Canada Gas Station
Convenience Store
1021 Avenue Rd.
416-440-0666
Crosstown Coffee Bar
Coffee Shop
187 Highbourne Rd.
647- 347-7738
Crosstown Convenience
Convenience Store
524 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-347-1915
Cyrene Restaurant
Mediterranean Restaurant
530 Eglinton Ave. W.
416- 440-2121
Dave Young Fruit Market
Fruit & Vegetable Market
494 Eglinton Ave. W.
416- 489-1118
Ferraro 502
Italian Restaurant
502 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-488-7729
Fresh Harvest Fine Foods
Grocery Store
546 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-487-0388
GTA Sushi Catering
Asian Fusion Caterer
359 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-280-5211
The Healthy Butcher
Butcher
298 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-674-2642
Hotel Gelato
Dessert Shop
532 Eglinton Ave. W.
416- 932-2663
House Of Chan
Chinese Restaurant & Steak House
514 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-781-5575
INS Market
Convenience Market
333 Eglinton Ave. W.
Kimono Japanese Grill & Sushi
Japanese Restaurant
359 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-487-8660
Lawyers & Lattes
Law Firm/Café
511 Eglinton Ave W.
905-499-3659
LCBO
Liquor Store
333 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-488-4700
The Mad Bean
Coffee Shop
519 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-235-2456
Nikko Sushi
Japanese Restaurant
376 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-349-1866
Nomad Steakhouse
Steak House
453 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-486-6623
Phipps Bakery Café
Bakery/Café
420 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-481-9111
Pizza Hut
Pizzeria
233 Eglinton Ave. W.
416- 487-4550
The Queen's Legs
Pubs
286 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-481-3555
Sake Bar Kushi
Japanese
257 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-748-7253
Second Cup
Coffee Shop
518 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-481-3198
Sina Persian Cuisine
Persian Restaurant
288 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-344-0211
Sophie’s Dine-in and Takeout
Persian Restaurant
302 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-616-1316
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
444 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-488-0178
Subway
Sandwich Restaurant
365 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-901-1094
Tim Hortons
Coffee Shop
333 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-322-3140
Tokyo Sushi
Japanese & Korean Restaurant
373 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-486-9006
7 Numbers
Italian Restaurant
516 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-322-5183
---
Explore other Neighbourhood Food + Drink Guides.
Please contact establishments directly for more information.
Names, addresses, phone numbers and websites subject to change.
With thanks to The Eglinton Way BIA.
March 25, 2020
Secret Recipe: Cactus Rosado’s Al Pastor Tacos with Pineapple Salsa
Confining tacos to be enjoyed on a single day - especially an in-between day like Tuesday - is ludicrous.
The versatile handhelds are ideal any time (hint: 10am) or day of the week. Thanks to vibrant flavours and contrasting textures, tacos aren’t just instant crowd-pleasers; they’re a reprieve from your usual go-tos (Pasta, again?). Even better, whether it’s dinner for one or twelve, they’re conducive to any setting: formally at the dinner table, on odd chairs pulled together in the backyard, or verylikely, on the couch.
Cactus Rosado Taco Bar in Baldwin Village celebrates tacos every damn day. The restaurant that was to commemorate their grand opening last week, offers an impressive array of tantalizing menu options including: beef tongue, jerk chicken, octopus, roasted pumpkin, Brussels sprouts, and beets, for starters. The secret to their creations? Fresh ingredients, house made sauces, and proteins marinated in flavour-packed concentrations.
Head chef Aaron Okada adapted their Al Pastor (aka spit-grilled pork) recipe for home cooks, and it’s surprisingly quick and easy, once you’ve assembled all the ingredients.
Tender, crispy strips of savoury pork paired with a tropical sweet and spicy salsa results in a well-balanced dish that is anything but boring, no matter the day of the week.
Al Pastor Tacos with Pineapple Salsa
Yield: 5-6 people (2 tacos each, with leftovers!)
Al Pastor
1 kg Pork shoulder
Marinade
1 ½ cups Orange juice
¾ cup White vinegar
¼ cup Chipotle in adobo
1 Guajillo chili, toasted and soaked 15 min to rehydrate
1 Ancho chili, toasted and soaked 15 min to rehydrate
2 cloves Garlic
1 tbsp Cumin
1 tsp Black pepper
1 tbsp Oregano
1 tbsp Salt
1/2 White onion, roughly chopped
2 tsp Achiote paste or powder
2 tsp Smoked paprika
Directions
1.Blend all ingredients to form a marinade.
2. Cut pork shoulder into ¼-inch thick strips, anywhere from 1 to 3 inches long each.
3. Marinate pork overnight using about 1 1/2 cups of liquid for every 1 kg of meat.
To cook the pork
At the restaurant, it’s cooked in thin slices, layered on the spit like shawarma. At home, cook it in a frying pan as you would a stir-fry.
1. First, drain the liquid, reserving some for later.
2. Fry the pork strips in a pan on high heat until cooked and seared enough to get little crispy bits. You may need to do this in batches, so the pan isn’t too full.
3. When it’s almost done, you can add some of the marinating liquid into the pan and allow it to cook/reduce for a short time, just to get that last little bit of flavour in. You don’t want the end result to be too saucy.
Pineapple Salsa
1 whole Pineapple, cleaned and cut into small dice
1 whole Red onion, cut into small dice
1/2 Serrano chile, minced
½ cup Cilantro leaves, pick off stems and roughly chop
1 fl oz Honey
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Black pepper
Directions
Mix ingredients together in bowl.
To serve
Heat up tortillas (we use 6” white corn tortillas) on a frying pan with a tiny bit of oil. Layer each tortilla first with some al pastor pork, then a drizzle of crema or sour cream, topped off with a spoonful of pineapple salsa.
———
Cactus Rosado
26 Baldwin St.
416-901-8892
(currently closed due to COVID-19)
Check out other Secret Recipes.
March 23, 2020
Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Parkdale
Photo courtesy of Miss Thing’s.
In order to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape at this time, I’m creating a guide of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, cafes, and food shops for every neighbourhood in Toronto/GTA. Use them to locate nearby shops, discover restaurants offering take out and delivery, and support local businesses.
PARKDALE EDITION
Queen West between Roncesvalles and Dufferin bustles with a plethora of dynamic, diverse destinations, including the city’s largest number of Tibetan restaurants.
Take a look:
A+ Sushi & Bibim
Japanese & Korean Restaurant
1345 Queen St. W.
416 588-9988
A-1 Convenience
Convenience Store
265 Dunn Ave.
416-537-3974
A&N Canadian & West Indian Take Out
West Indian Restaurant
1427 Queen St. W.
416-530-5775
A&W
Fast Food Restaurant
1496 Queen St. W.
416-534-2400
Alexandria Falafel
Middle Eastern Restaurant
1233 Queen St. W.
416-533-7500
Ali Baba's
Middle Eastern Restaurant
1430 Queen St. W.
416-536-2100
Ali's Roti West Indian Food
West Indian Restaurant
1446 Queen St. W.
416-532-7701
Amico's Pizza
Pizzeria
1648 1/2 Queen St. W.
416-537-2222
Bala Super Market
Grocery Store
1474 Queen St. W.
416-535-9450
Bar Vegandale
Bar
1265 Queen St. W.
Bernard's Pilipino Specialties Inc.
Filipino Store
1534 Queen St. W.
416-534-3640
Best Convenience
Convenience Store
1410 Queen St. W.
416-538-0774
Budget One Stop
Convenience Store
1281 Queen St. W.
416-537-0394
Burrito Boyz
Mexican Restaurant
1736 Queen St. W.
416-537-2699
Capital Espresso
Café
1349 Queen St. W.
416-531-7730
Cattlemen's Meat Market
Butcher
1538 Queen St. W.
416-537-8454
Chantecler Boucherie
Butcher
1318 Queen St. W.
416-628-3586
Chantecler Restaurant
French Restaurant – currently closed due to fire
1318 Queen St. W.
416-628-3586
CiCi's Pizza
Pizzeria
1618 Queen St. W.
416-533-3311
Coffee Time
Coffee Shop
1402 Queen St. W.
416-516-2369
Copenhagen Vegan Café and Bakery
Vegan Bakery
1312 Queen St. W.
647-352-1312
Craig's Cookies
Bakery
1537A Queen St. W.
647-343-5156
Duggan's Brewery
Bar
1346 Queen St. W.
416-890-7339
Easy Restaurant
Breakfast Restaurant
1645 Queen St. W.
416-537-4893
Escape Goat
Bar
1510 Queen St. W.
416-533-7777
Food and Liquor
Bar
1610 Queen St. W.
647-748-7113
Fullworth
Grocery Store
1371 Queen St. W.
416-533-5880
Garleek Kitchen
Fusion Restaurant
1500 Queen St. W.
416-551-0929
Glory Hole Doughnuts
Bakery
1596 Queen St. W.
647-352 4848
Glory of India Roti Cuisine
Indian Restaurant
1407 Queen St. W.
647-349-5679
The Gourmet Shop
Bakery
1540 Queen St. W.
Grand Electric
Mexican Restaurant
1330 Queen St. W.
416-627-3459
The Grand Trunk
Bar
1718 Queen St. W.
647-748-4755
Grill Cottage
Middle Eastern/Mediterranean Restaurant
1468A Queen St. W.
647-748-8055
Grocery Coffee
Café
1550 Queen St. W.
647-803-1479
Guu Izakaya
Japanese Restaurant
1314 Queen St. W.
647-351-1314
Gyro Bar! Souvlaki Kitchen
Greek Restaurant
1647 Queen St. W.
647-350-5977
Hanoi Restaurant
Vietnamese Restaurant
1283 Queen St. W.
416-538-4963
Himalayan Kitchen
Tibetan & Himalayan Restaurant
1526 Queen St. W.
416-536-4138
Islas Filipino BBQ and Bar
Filipino Restaurant
1690 Queen St. W.
416-533-0777
Jason's Coffee Shop
Coffee Shop
1498 Queen St. W.
416-588-7978
Jinks Art Factory
Coffee Shop/Tattoo Studio
1664 Queen St. W.
647-347-7779
LCBO
Liquor Store
1357 Queen St. W.
416-532-7283
Lee's Variety
Convenience Store
1578 Queen St. W.
416-538-0836
Le Phénix
French Bistro
1263 Queen St. W.
416-342-1587
Little Tibet
Tibetan Restaurant
1449A Queen St. W.
416-532-9728
Local Kitchen & Wine Bar
Italian Restaurant
1710 Queen St. W.
416-534-6700
The Local Market
Grocery Store
1434 Queen St. W.
647-348-0611
Loga's Corner Momo Takeout
Tibetan Restaurant
216 Close Ave., Suite A-C
647-761-0965
Lucky Supermarket
Grocery Store
1438-1440 Queen St. W.
416-532-6160
Lynn's Convenience
Convenience Store
1326 Queen St. W.
647-350-2188
Mandala Bakery & Convenience
Bakery/Convenience Store
1506 Queen St. W.
647-352-1234
The Mezz
Bar
1546 Queen St. W.
647-812-2144
Miss Thing's
Hawaiian Restaurant & Bar
1279 Queen St. W.
416-516-8677
Motel Bar
Bar
1235 Queen St. W.
416-399-4108
Mother India
Indian Restaurant
1456 Queen St. W.
416-588-4634
My Roti Place
Indian Restaurant
1376 Queen St. W.
416-538-7684
Newfoundland Store
Grocery Store
1537 Queen St. W.
Norling Tibetan & Hakka Cuisine
Tibetan & Hakka Restaurant
1512 Queen St. W.
416-532-2877
Not Your Mother
Vegan Ice Cream Bar
1346 Queen St. W.
Om Restaurant
Tibetan Restaurant
1439 Queen St. W.
416-532-3901
Parkdale Breakfast Bar & Grill
Bar & Grill
1449 Queen St. W.
416-532-6835
The Parkdale Drink
Bar
1292 Queen St. W.
416-778-8822
Parkdale Milk & Variety Mart
Grocery Store/Convenience Store
1487 Queen St. W.
416-532-6068
Pete's Corner Grill
Family Restaurant
1582 Queen St. W.
416-530-5736
Pizza Pizza
Pizzeria
1432 Queen St. W.
416-967-1111
Plentea Tea Bar
Café
1205 Queen St. W., Unit 2
647-351-8321
Pretty Ugly Bar
Bar
1237 Queen St. W.
Queen and Dufferin Convenience Inc.
Convenience Store
1205 Queen St. W.
416-537-7377
Queen Fresh Market
Grocery Store
1384 Queen St. W.
647-351-8838
Queen Supermarket Indian & Canadian Groceries
Grocery Store
1429-31-33 Queen St. W.
416-534-0077
Queen's Mini Mart
Grocery Store/Convenience Store
1666 Queen St. W.
416-532-6143
Ravi Soups
Soup Restaurant
1533 Queen St. W.
416-536-7284
The Rhino Bar & Grill
Bar & Grill
1249 Queen St. W.
416-535-8089
Rice & Noodle
Chinese Restaurant
1508 Queen St. W.
416-535-6868
Rustic Cosmo Café
Café
1278 Queen St. W.
416-531-4924
Sam 24 Hour Fine Foods
Grocery Store
1521 Queen St. W., Unit 101-102
647-878-7501
The Shameful Tiki Room
Bar
1378 Queen St. W.
Shangrila Tibetan & Asian Cuisine
Tibetan & Asian Restaurant
1600 Queen St. W.
416-588-1100
Sho Izakaya
Japanese Restaurant
1406 Queen St. W.
647-350-1406
Skadarlija Restaurant
Bar
1608 Queen St. W.
416-539-0378
Skyline Restaurant
Diner
1426 Queen St. W.
416-536-3682
Stone's Place
Bar
1255 Queen St. W.
416-536-4242
Subway
Sandwich Restaurant
1395 Queen St. W.
647-340-8101
Sun Fa Restaurant
Restaurant & Bar
1485 Queen St. W.
416-539-8935
Superfly
Bar
5 Brock Ave.
416-551-9603
Super Land Market
Grocery Store
1400 Queen St. W.
416-588-0665
T.Dot Variety Store
Convenience Store
4 Macdonell Ave.
647-439-5892
Tashi Delek Cafe
Himalayan Restaurant
223 Jameson Ave., Unit 3
416-454-0136
Tibet Kitchen
Tibetan Restaurant
1544 Queen St. W.
416-913-8726
The Tempered Room
Bakery
1374 Queen St. W.
416-546-4374
Tennessee Tavern
Eastern European Restaurant & Bar
1554 Queen St. W.
416-535-7777
Tim Hortons
Coffee Shop
1480 Queen St. W.
416-516-8947
Tiny Café
Café
10 Macdonell Ave.
647-865-2873
TO. Lounge
Bar
1384 Queen St. W.
416-532-9565
Tsampa Tibetan Restaurant
Tibetan Restaurant
1528 Queen St. W.
416-535-1440
Yak Café
Café
1504 Queen St. W.
416-533-9778
Yummy Stuff Bakery
Bakery
1660 Queen St. W.
416-531-9732
241 Pizza
Pizzeria
1468 Queen St. W., Rear Entrance
416-241-0241
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Explore other Neighbourhood Food + Drink Guides.
Please contact establishments directly for more information.
Names, addresses, phone numbers and websites subject to change.
With thanks to the Parkdale BIA.
March 22, 2020
At The Table with Alli Chung
It all started at a young age. While her peers were taking on typical roles in elementary school plays (horse, tree, Robin Hood), was performing Shakespeare.
That drive continued throughout her teens and young adulthood - modelling during high school, followed by acting in her “spare time” while completing a B.A. in Advertising and Marketing. So it’s no surprise she’s amassed an impressive amount of work in a short amount of time.
Recently, she guest-starred on hit shows The Bold Type (Amazon) and UnReal (Hulu), and wrapped a major recurring role as Detective Taylor Kim on CBC’s Coroner. You can also catch her on The Expanse (Syfy), Dark Matter (Syfy), Damien (A&E), Man Seeking Woman (FXX), The Stanley Dynamic (YTV), Almost Heroes (Showcase), Lost Girl (Showcase). and horror filck SAW 3D. Speaking of films, she lead Mariner - an official selection for TIFF 2016 and one of TIFF’s Top Ten Shorts in Canada - and co-produced her first short film, FOMO.
Never one to just “sit around,” the Canadian actor shared her current food obsessions in-between takes of her (many) upcoming projects.
Occupation
Actress
Place(s) of Residence
Currently residing between Toronto and Vancouver.
Last thing you ate
Chicken bone broth and a pomegranate banana smoothie. Today was a healthy day!
If you were left to your own devices to make something at home, what would it likely be?
Honestly, I’d like to say sushi or truffle risotto but the more embarrassing truth is I’d probably just munch on fancy crackers and cheese. Or dare I say, make frozen pizza!
When staying at a hotel, what are you raiding from the mini fridge?
Let’s be real. It’s going to be the wine. And cheese and crackers, of course. LOL.
Guilty pleasure
Mac and cheese. And chips. Always chips.
Drink of choice
Peach iced tea or water.
Favourite meal of the day and why
I love lunch! I’m not a huge breakfast person, so I usually have a matcha in the morning, start working and forget to eat, so I’m starving by mid-afternoon. Which makes lunch so much more satisfying!
Favourite cookbooks to use
My favourite cookbook I’ve had for years. Jamie’s Kitchen by Jamie Oliver. Cliché, but so good. It’s on my coffee table.
Favourite cookbooks just to look at
I’m not vegan, but I love to peruse vegan cookbooks. I love comparing the recipes to the meat-based and dairy-based recipes that are out there.
Most of them taste just as good! And feel healthier. Doing a little bit can make a huge difference. It’s a journey. I’m trying to do my part for our planet.
Three items always in your fridge
Hot Sauce, Cheese, and Oat or Coconut Milk .
Top three Toronto restaurants
1. Yueh Tung
My favourite Chinese restaurant. I’ve been going there for years. Cantonese Chow Mein and the Chicken Curry are excellent. Love the low-key vibe and the traditional phoenix and dragon artwork.
This place makes plant-based foods top quality and luxurious! Cocktails are delicious and healthy. They have smoothies, juices and elixirs sold in bottles to go. And they’re committed to sustainable, organic, local farmers. What couldn’t I love?!
Amazing curries, dimly lit with exposed wooden beams, and family run. Lovely service.
Go-to food and bev order at a restaurant
Anything with avocado, fries or cheese. Wine all day, every day! Pinot Noir, please.
Would you rather: Go to farmers’ market/nearest pub/food truck?
You’ll usually find me at the nearest pub. ;)
Describe your kitchen
I travel often so I’m usually living in different spaces. But my cottage up north I consider MY kitchen. I’ve recently just had it renovated and added an island, dishwasher and sink looking out onto the water. It’s open and airy, minimalistic, with a grey and white color scheme. Sometimes blue jays come to visit me on the patio while I eat lunch. It’s my favorite place to cook, hang out and have great chats.
Describe your cooking style
I’d say my cooking style is ‘on-the-go.’ I’m usually cleaning while I’m cooking. When I’m by myself, it’s very basic and minimal. But I love taking the time to make special meals for friends and family.
Ideal food day: From the time you wake up until bed, what are you having?
Wake up: Matcha with oat or coconut milk.
Lunch: Tuna sandwich or avocado toast and blueberry & chia smoothie with cinnamon on top.
Dinner: Depends on the day! Mattar paneer and garlic naan, truffle mushroom pizza, or tacos and margaritas.
March 20, 2020
Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Fairbank Village
Photo courtesy of Mulu Bakery.
In order to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape at this time, I’m creating a guide of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, cafes, and food shops for every neighbourhood in Toronto/GTA. Use them to locate nearby shops, discover restaurants offering take out and delivery, and support local businesses.
FAIRBANK VILLAGE EDITION
Covering Eglinton West from Dufferin to Chamberlain, and Dufferin from Hunter to the CNR Rail north of Schell, this midtown Toronto neighbourhood is filled with tantalizing fare from across the globe.
Take a look:
Chito’s Pizza
Pizzeria
1853 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-783-6666
Churrasqueira Portugal BBQ & Grill
Portuguese Restaurant
1912 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-916-6875
Delicious Empanadas
Colombian Restaurant
2438 Dufferin St.
647-827-2278
Eglinton Fast Food Inc.
Canadian/Filipino Restaurant
1837 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-781-1700
Express Thai Cuisine Restaurant
Thai Restaurant
2440 Dufferin St.
416-785-1994
Fil-Euro Bakery
Bakery
2348 Dufferin St.
647-350-6022
Filipino N' Toronto Grocery and Take-Out Food
Grocery Store/Takeout Food
1859 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-780-0015
Frenzline Sports Bar & Grill
Bar & Grill
2346 Dufferin St.
416-782-8629
George’s Eatery & Bar Inc.
Bar & Grill
1988 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-784-9091
House of Indian Roti
Indian Restaurant
2344 Dufferin St.
416-901-7684
Landmark Restaurant
Bar & Grill
1839 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-789-9302
Mulu Bakery
Bakery
1893 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-916-1805
My Little Butcher Shop
Butcher
1948 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-783-1437
No Frills
Grocery Store
1951 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-256-1686
Ocean Grill Restaurant
West Indian Restaurant
2442 Dufferin St.
416-787-9181
Pat's Gift and Variety
Convenience Store
1835 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-782-2502
Pizza Hut
Pizzeria
1862 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-787-4500
Popeyes
Fast Food Restaurant
1875 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-781-4063
Stefano's Sports Bar
Sports Bar
1984 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-435-8366
Sunlong Natural Market
Grocery Store
1895 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-780-9339
Sushi Zuki
Japanese Restaurant
2030 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-352-2030
Thai Shan Inn
Thai Restaurant
2404 Dufferin St.
416-784-1491
Vietnamese Restaurant
2404 Dufferin St.
416-784-1491
Vari Coffee & Deli
2432 Dufferin St.
416-784-1143
Variety Store
Indian Take Out/Convenience Store
1860 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-797-9440
Yummy Tummy Bar & Grill
Canadian Restaurant
1962 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-782-0782
4 Your Convenience
Convenience Store
1990 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-792-3564
---
Explore other Neighbourhood Food + Drink Guides.
Please contact establishments directly for more information.
Names, addresses, phone numbers and websites subject to change.
With thanks to the Fairbanks VIllage BIA.
March 19, 2020
Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Riverside
In order to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape at this time, I’m creating a guide of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, cafes, and food shops for every neighbourhood in Toronto/GTA. Use each one to locate nearby shops, discover restaurants offering take out and delivery, and support local businesses.
RIVERSIDE EDITION
The eastside nabe imbued with a buzzy vibrancy, simultaneously evokes a relaxed, community vibe.
Take a look
Animal Liberation Kitchen
Vegan Restaurant
100 Broadview Ave., Unit 202
647-232-9790
Blackbird Baking Co.
Bakery/Retail
635 Queen St. E.
416-546-2280
Bonjour Brioche
French Bistro/Bakery
812 Queen St. E.
416-406-1250
Boxcar Social Café Bar
Café/Bar
4 Boulton Ave.
416-349-1210
The Broadview Hotel
Hotel
106 Broadview Ave.
416-362-8439
The Broadview Hotel Café + Bar
Café/Bar
106 Broadview Ave.
416-362-8439
Brickworks Ciderhouse
Gastropub
709 Queen St. E.
416-759-6565
Butchers Of Distinction
Butcher/Retail
738 Queen St. E.
416-466-9191
Cannonball Coffee and Bar
Café/Bar
641 Queen St. E.
416-463-0500
Chez Nous Wine Bar
Wine Bar
798 Queen St. E.
416-781-4743
The Civic
Canadian Restaurant
106 Broadview Ave.
416-362-8439
The Comrade
Restaurant
758 Queen St. E.
416-778-9449
Dark Horse Espresso Bar
Coffee Shop
630 Queen St. E.
647-436-3460
Eastbound Brewing Company
Brewpub/Brewery/Bottle Shop
700 Queen St. E.
416-901-1299
ēst Restaurant
Tasting Menu Restaurant & Cocktails
729 Queen St. E.
416-792-1000
Fortune Smoke & Gift Store
Convenience Store
736 Queen St. E.
416-465-1988
Good Karma
Indian Restaurant
689 Queen St. E.
416-551-6152
Hi-Lo
Bar
753 Queen St. E.
416-551-3459
I’ll Be Seeing You
Bar
747 Queen St. E.
416-778-9988
il ponte – Cucina Italiana
Italian Restaurant
625 Queen St. E.
416-778-0404
Indian Spice Room
Indian Restaurant
717 Queen St. E.
647-349-1009
Jasper Dandy
Bar
725 Queen St. E.
647-343-1698
The John
Bar
682 + 686 Queen St. E.
416-469-1396
La Carnita
Mexican Restaurant
780 Queen St. E.
647-344 0780
LAN Vietnamese Restaurant
Vietnamese Restaurant
755 Queen St. E.
647-748-7388
LCBO
LIquor Store
772 Queen St. E.
416-465-6943
Lob
Bocce Ball/Restaurant
100 Broadview Ave., Unit 101
416-583-1516
Lucky Star Restaurant
Chinese Restaurant
739 Queen St. E.
416-466-8688
Nomads Restobar
Global Restaurant/Bar
701 Queen St. E.
416-551-1553
The Opera House Grill & Patio
Greek Restaurant
737 Queen St. E.
647-348-7717
Pizza Nova
Pizzeria
714 Queen St. E.
416-439-0000
Pizza Pizza
Pizzeria
680-678 Queen St. E.
416-967-1111
Pizzaiolo
Pizzeria
722 Queen St. E.
416-406-3456
Prohibition Gastro House
Gastropub
696 Queen St. E.
416-406-2669
Riverside Burgers
Burger Restaurant
688 Queen St. E.
416-850-7026
Riverside Market
Grocery/Convenience Store
720 Queen St. E.
416-466-0821
Ruby Watchco
Farm-to-Table Family Style Restaurant
730 Queen St. E.
416-465-0100
Saulter Street Brewery
Brewery/Taproom/Bottle Shop
1-31 Saulter St.
416-462-9379
Siddhartha Indian Cuisine
Indian Restaurant
734 Queen St. E.
416-463-4200
Starbank Convenience Mart
Convenience Store
705 Queen St. E.
416-463-4663
St. John’s Bakery
Bakery
153 Broadview Ave.
416-850-7413
Subway
Sandwich Restaurant
727 Queen St. E.
647-435-8673
Sweet Jesus
Ice Cream/Dessert Shop
780 Queen St. E.
647-334-0780
Tabule Middle Eastern Cuisine
Middle Eastern Restaurant
810 Queen St. E.
416-465-2500
Tertulia Espresso + Bar
Cafe/Bar
711 Queen St. E.
647-696-1166
Urban House Cafe
Restaurant & Bar
718 Queen St. E.
416-901-9718
White Lily Diner
Modern Diner
678 Queen St. E.
416-981-7800
Wine Rack
WIne Store
731 Queen St. E.
416-465-5454
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Please contact establishments directly for more information.
Names, address, phone numbers and websites subject to change.
With thanks to the Riverside BIA.
