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8 Mother's Day gifts that are under $100

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Mother's Day never tasted so good with this Deluxe Olive Wood Salad Server gift set from Olive Oil Emporium. Each coupled with their most popular premium olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Both artisan, single estate and delicious.
OLIVE OIL EMPORIUM
$73.95

 

Give mom the gift of time, our expert technicians offer convenient in- home services. Contact us for Wi-Fi speed boosting, printer repairs, new computer setups, universal remotes, phones, & more! In-Home Services & Repairs. Mention MAY25 to save $25 off in-home service for May.
SIGNA COMPUTER SERVICES, 3457 Yonge St, 416 488 9208

 

Chantelle has developed a new and exciting product – the Soft Stretch range. The reassurance of wearing underwear with none of its constraints! Absolute comfort, very soft and breathable material with no seams on contact with the skin for a sensation of absolute freedom, purity and simplicity. 
KATHRYN'S LINGERIE, 1847 Avenue Road, 416-782-6632
$22

 

Scarves are the perfect Mother's Day Gift idea or maybe even a fun top to go with it. We also have Gift Certificates available in any denomination.  
PEPPERTREE KLASSICS, 137 Main St N Markham, 905-294-3882
Scarves, $18-20

 

William Ashley carries the finest selection of world renown brands, like Miranda Kerr’s Friendship Tea and Dinnerware Collection for Royal Albert. This Gratitude 3-piece box set by Miranda Kerr includes a dessert plate, cup and saucer, and makes the perfect gift mom!
ASHLEY'S CHINA, 131 Bloor St W Unit 113, 416-964-2900
$79.00

 

Now that Spring is here, it’s time to ditch your warm winter hues for cool bright spring shades. From ombre to balayage highlights, Master Stylist Shelley is an expert in finding the perfect colour combinations to flatter any complexion. Book Mom a custom colouring appointment and get her hair cut free. Offer ends May 31/18.
SHELLEY’S HAIRSTYLING, 482 Eglinton Ave. W, 416-489-0555
Colour services start at $68. New clients only. 

 

The exclusive Spa and Salon brand that will give you or Mom dazzling results. Let everyone envy your lashes! Buy EyEnvyTM today to see what it's all about! The perfect Mother’s Day Gift: Receive the Eyenvy Serum, mascara, eyeliner and makeup bag.
UPTOWN SPA 801 York Mills Road Suite 311 416 449 4044
$89 (limited time offer)

 

Give your mother the perfect Mother's Day gift learning to create her own elegant afternoon tea! Class will include gourmet finger sandwiches, scones, homemade jam, pastries and her own special blend of tea. Gift cards available in store.
FOODWRX COOKING STUDIO 808 York Mills Road, 647 479 8682
Mother's Day Afternoon Tea Class, $90/person, 20% off for 2 or more people

 

Behind the bar at the Maple Leaf Tavern with world-class mixologist Naren Young

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It’s been two years since Maple Leaf Tavern took the historic Maple Leaf Tavern building at Gerrard and Pape and turned it from a pile of great bones to a true destination for brunch-goers and happy hour imbibers. But while the outside of the space beckons upscale casual beer-swillers to the yard, it’s their cocktail programme that has always been this place’s best-kept secret.

World-class mixologist Naren Young, whose bar in New York, Danté, ranked 16th on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, finds himself in Toronto every season to create, train staff and help introduce Maple Leaf Tavern’s cocktail program. These go beyond just your better-than-average martinis or twee garnishes––his cocktail philosophy takes your favourite drink and flips it on its head with academic precision and unorthodox flavour combinations.

“I do want people to know that they can come here and get a very simple sidecar or an old-fashioned or a great Manhattan,” says Young.  “[But] we really think about the basics of what goes into each of those and we recreate it in our own interpretation of those.”

This spring and summer, what that translates into are perfectly pairable and inventive flips on summer’s drinkable hits. For example, the Bell Pepper Margarita packs the savoury punch of a caesar, with the freshness of a traditional margarita in its combination of Altos Blanco tequila, red bell pepper juice, fresh lime and house-made jalapeño tincture, finished off with some chili salt.

“We use a lot of savoury ingredients, stuff you might find in your kitchen. Fresh herbs, fresh spices, fresh vegetables. We use a lot of salt, a lot of vinegar in our drinks,” says Young. “It’s a nice synergy between what’s coming out of the kitchen and what’s coming out of the bar. The drinks are very compatible with food.”

For a sweet escape, the new Rhubarb Daiquiri doesn’t take to the beach but rather a summer garden party, with earthy notes of rhubarb compote and salted strawberry cordial, the freshness of pressed lime and the headiness of Havana Club.

We loved the Lemon and Basil Fix-Up, an endlessly sip-able spritz of freshness combining gin, limoncello, Bianco Vermouth, fresh basil and lemon finished off with a healthy pour of cava.  

The Maple Leaf Tavern unveils its full cocktail line-up in early May.

 

What's open and closed around Yonge and Finch following horrific act of violence

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UPDATED: 15:42 PM

Yesterday, Toronto was rocked by the news that a man in a white rental van had killed 10 people and injured 15 in the Yonge Street and Finch Avenue area. 

UPDATE: The number of injured has dropped to 14 due to a miscount. 

As a result, services in the city may be disrupted today and some businesses may be closed. We'll be bringing you up to date information to help you get to your destination safely today.

TTC

​UPDATE: TTC will likely continue to bypass the North York Centre during rush hour tonight but expect it to be running again before the end of the day.

Trains are bypassing North York Centre station on Line 1 today. Customers using GO Transit can board anywhere in Toronto with their PRESTO card or transfer. TTC customers can also board GO Transit vehicles with their TTC transfer or Metropass.

Customers may utilize TTC fare on Go Transit from Yorkdale Bus Terminal due to closure on Line 1/YU, between Sheppard and Finch Stations. There will be no GO bus service on Yonge St, at Finch GO Terminal or at York Mills GO Terminal.

The 97 Yonge bus is diverting both ways via Sheppard, Doris, Kenneth, Bishop.

Subway service is operating to and from Finch Station. 

Parking
Finch Station parking lots are open for business today. Residents of nearby buildings who cannot get into their condo or apartment parking lots are welcome to park in the lot with no penalty. There will be no enforcement today.

School closures
TDSB Education Centre at 5050 Yonge St. will be closed today. As a result, please note that this evening's meeting of the Health and Mental Well-Being Committee has been cancelled.

Earl Haig school is open today. The school has support services available for students impacted by the incident that happened yesterday.

Road closures

UPDATE: The affected area continues to be closed but it should be running again by the end of the day (Tuesday). "I ask for people's continued understanding," said John Tory.  

Yonge Street has reopened between North York Blvd/Elmwood Ave (to the north) and Sheppard Ave (to the south).

Yonge Street remains closed north of North York Blvd/Elmwood Ave.

All lanes are now open on Beecroft.

Lyft
​The ride-sharing service announced yesterday it would offer discounted services to those impacted by the tragic event that occurred. 

"Free ride up to $15. Valid from Mon., April 23rd at 2 PM to Wed., April 25th at 1:30 AM. Pickup or drop-off must be within 0.2 km of a Sheppard-Yonge, Bayview, Bessarion, Leslie or Don Mills Station. See app for coverage area. Cannot be combined with other ride credit or offers. Subject to Lyft's Terms of Use."

For more details click here.

​Business closures

UPDATE: HG Jewish Theatre Company's performance of Mikveh will be performed as scheduled but it is suggested that attendees leave themselves extra time.. 

North York Civic Centre will reopen on Wednesday.

City says North York Civic Centre, Mel Lastman Square and Douglas Snow Aquatics Centre will be closed today. Staff have been asked to not report to work.

City Planning Offices will be closed at the North York Civic Centre tomorrow. Staff are advised not to come in. Those requiring a satellite location to work are advised to find touch down stations at City Hall, Metro Hall, ETCC and SCC. 

Gibson Museum will be closed today. 

Yesterday, Mayor John Tory asked all businesses and office buildings to close. There could be closures for days to come over the course of the investigation. 

Memorial
A memorial has been set up across the street from the scene where the van struck pedestrians. 

Multiple fatalities after man drives van into pedestrians near Yonge and Finch

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LATEST UPDATES:

  • The number of injured victims dropped to 14. It was originally miscounted as 15 yesterday. 
  • No victims have been confirmed but police have notified some of the families they "believe" to have died in the attack.
  • CTV News confirmed that Yonge Street attack suspect Alek Minassian was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces from August 23, 2017 until October 25, 2017. Minassian did not complete his recruit training and requested to be voluntarily released after 16 days of recruit training.
  • Alek Minassian has been charged with 10 counts of first degree murder; and 13 counts of attempted murder.

Ten people are dead and 15 more are injured after a driver of a white van plowed into multiple pedestrians on a 3-km stretch of Yonge Street between Sheppard Avenue and Finch Avenue on Monday afternoon.

On April 23, at 1:30 p.m. the Toronto Police Service (TPS) responded to multiple calls about a rogue driver and injuries in the area.

Toronto police Deputy Chief Peter Yuen later confirmed that the driver had mounted the curb and struck several pedestrians in different areas along Yonge Street before TPS was able to apprehend the driver and seize the vehicle.

“We located that vehicle. The driver is in custody right now and he is being investigated in the events that took place this afternoon,” Yuen said. “I want to offer my condolences to the families and the victims of this tragic event that took place. We can confirm with you that we have nine people that are dead, 16 that are injured.”

Following the press conference on Monday at 4:30 p.m., it was reported that the death toll has been revised to 10 dead and 15 injured. Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill was taken into police custody. Today Minassian was charged with 10 counts of first degree murder, and 13 counts of attempted murder.

CTV News reported today that the van attack suspect was breifly in the Canadian military, between late August and October, 2017. Alek Minassian did not complete his recruit training because he requested to be released after 16 days. 

Yuen said TPS has mobilized all available resources during the investigation.

“Toronto Police Service will be here for a number of days, to shut down a busy stretch of Toronto, which is what is required. This is going to be a long investigation. We have multiple witnesses, we have a lot of surveillance cameras. There were a lot of pedestrians out, a lot of witnesses out enjoying the sunny afternoon. We are urging anyone who saw anything to contact police,” Yuen said.

Toronto Police have set up two hotlines. Anyone missing a friend or family member who may have been a victim in Monday’s attack can call 416-808-8085. Witnesses who have any information on the events of the tragedy have been asked to call the investigative hotline at 416-808-8750.

A web portal has been opened for anyone who is able to submit photos or videos of the incident, please click here.

Check out what's open and closed around Yonge and Finch following horrific act of violence.

Mayor John Tory was also on hand yesterday to share his condolences with the City of Toronto and has asked the public to stay clear of the area in the next couple of days.

“There will be several days of disruption going on … I hope people will be considerate of that and understand that there will be disruption to traffic and to business in this area of the city," Tory said.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted his condolences about the incident at Yonge and Finch.

First Look: The people behind Soi Thai and Shanee bring refined Thai cuisine to Midtown with Dee

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Sherry Lertchaiprasert Papa is a seasoned restaurateur and first made her way onto the Toronto Thai culinary scene with her restaurant Soi Thai on College Street, which dished up Thai street food. Becoming a restaurateur was more of a passion project for Papa, whose family owns a bottle recycling business in Thailand. When Papa first immigrated to Canada, she was craving a taste of home which is how Soi Thai was born.

Papa’s restaurant concepts have “matured,” a reflection of her growing experience as a restaurateur. “Soi Thai was the teenage girl next door,” Shanee was the “party girl” and her newest addition, Dee at Yonge and Davisville is the “sophisticated bigger sister” which hopes to bring “refined Thai cuisine” to midtown. It occupies the former Lil’ Baci spot.

Dee is a Thai superlative, but Papa also says that it is also a play on words that begin with the letter d — delicious, delightful, divine. At the centre of the motif and décor at Dee is Thai artist, Piyaporn Jansiriwilaikul’s depiction of Sita, the goddess of good fortune, prosperity, success and happiness. Janisiriwilaikul’s depiction of the goddess in Caucasian form is meant to represent the philosophy of the food at Dee — dishes made with local ingredients but also using Thai elements and Thai flavour; a marriage of East and West. The menu offers “classic Thai dishes but with our own twist,” says Papa.

To start you can bite into Goong Sarong, deep-fried marinated shrimps wrapped in crispy rice noodles, served with sweet chili sauce ($9) or the Lui Suan Rolls ($10), vegetables rolls wrapped in rice paper with edible flowers served with a trio of sauces — spicy strawberry, mango and Dee’s signature green cilantro sauce. You can also opt to get any four appetizers to make Dee’s Platter ($30).

One dish that has never made an appearance on any of Papa’s previous menus is pad thai. Papa’s take, Dee’s Pad Thai ($21), is one that is “fun and flavourful” and meant to be a “feast on one plate,” alluding to the different textural elements such as fried wonton crisps, shrimp chips, cashews and mango that come as accoutrements that surround the dish of rice noodles like a crown. It is a dish that is good for sharing and comes with three jumbo Tiger prawns — no skimping on the proteins here.

Jim Jaew ($21-$28), a showcase of Thai grilling at its best, gives you your choice of protein (salmon, steak, tiger prawns, chicken or tofu) with Thai mixed vegetables served on a bed of rice with a side of spicy Jaew sauce.

As a departure from Papa’s previous Thai spots, where dishes were more tapas-sized, the portions at Dee are quite generous which makes it great for sharing. As with all of Papa’s restaurants, Dee is a vibrant space. There are murals of Sita, including a light-up version towards the rear of the restaurant adorned with Thai rubies. The team at Jump Branding & Design (Paramount Fine Foods, Tavolo) helped bring Papa’s vision to life. The red banquettes are accented with hand painted murals depicting butterflies, exotic birds and lush flowers.

“Red is my favourite colour; it’s an appetizing colour,” says Papa “and the goddess Sita is so stunning that there is no other colour that suits her.”

Most of the interior elements are sourced directly from Thailand — from the dishware to the lighting fixtures to the antique Singer sewing table legs. And if being in the company of a goddess isn’t regal enough for you, Mom Luang (equivalent of duchess) Sogiwat Lekhakul helped source the Thai red rubies that crown the illuminated Sita at the back of the restaurant.

Dee Thai Cuisine, 2013 Yonge Street, 647-344-8838

Miku will launch a sakura-inspired menu to celebrate cherry blossom season

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You can get delicious sushi year-round at Miku, but each spring they roll out special sakura-themed menus to celebrate the cherry blossom season. Available from April 23 to May 6, the sakura aburi prime set menu is a delicious meal of sushi, beef and seafood creations served with some fantastic sake.

First up, an indulgent amuse bouche of pan-seared foie gras accompanied by a dab of tart sakura no ha preserve cherry jam. The sake pairing is a sweet plum Kozaemon Junmai Umeshu.

The Kaiseki trio is next. It’s served in special spherical dishware sets that unstack to reveal three levels of dinner: Aburi beef carpaccio with jalaeno pnzi and pickled mustard seeds; Saikyo miso baked sablefish with truffled parsnip puree, market baby vegetables with an unbelievably light and flavourful sakura soy foam; and oh-so-fresh sashimi. All paired with Gold Omachi Junmai Daiginjo sake.

Finally, the aburi prime course arrives. Feast on painstakingly crafted pieces of sushi such as snow crab with truffle sauce, A5 Japanese waygu with yuzu shichimi and uni with nori crisp, to name a few. This was paired with the smooth Aburi x Yoshi no Gawa Aburi Ginjo.

This is not the time to skip dessert. The sakura panna cotta is a perfect melange of textures and flavours: with sakura gelée paired with a shard of sweet elderflower meringue and a wonderfully fresh-tasting mint ice cream. Plus, if you’ve never sipped sparkling sake before, the Indigo Wind Junmai Sparkling will be a welcome surprise.

The Sakura Features Menu is available April 23 until May 6, during dinner only. 

Miku, 10 Bay Street, 647-347-7347 

First Look: KaKa All You Can Eat, Markham's popular AYCE sushi spot, lands downtown

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KaKa, a popular spot for unlimited sushi, has opened its first location in the downtown core. Poised as an upscale All-You- Can-Eat sushi, the goal was to offer premium sushi at an affordable price point. Its first location in Markham and garnered plenty of interest — so much so that it warranted an additional location, this one situated steps away from the Eaton Centre.

The restaurant has 150 seats in total. There are also two VIP rooms, where guests can reserve for private parties and events. The interior design is modern Japanese with clean lines and warm wood tones. There are splashes of magenta (their signature colour) within the restaurant. Also of note is their striking geisha mural piece that fills the back wall near the main entrance.

An open bar concept offers wines, beer, sake and cocktails — the recommendation for the latter is the signature Hinomoto: lychee liqueur gets layered with rum, sake, Calpico and a splash of lemon juice and grenadine.

There are over 100 items on offer with the aim of appealing to sushi and even non-sushi lovers Chef Frank, who conceptualizes all the menu items for the restaurant, explains how KaKa straddles making upscale sushi while also being an AYCE restaurant.

“We’re the first AYCE restaurant in Toronto to serve torched sushi. Previously, such premium items could only be found at higher end à la carte Japanese restaurants like Miku and JaBistro. Moreover, recipes utilise a Japanese and French fusion that, I feel, separates Kaka from the competition.”

KaKa also uses ingredients not normally found at other AYCE sushi spots such as foie gras and edible gold.

Signature items include Kaka Rainbow Roll which features salmon, crab stick, cucumber and uni sauce rolled in tobiko; Poke rolls (chef’s personal recommendation that includes tempura shrimp, salmon, tuna, avocado and cucumber finished with chili mayo); and Chef’s Special Roll with a cucumber, crab, avocado and tobiko filling that's draped with salmon, topped with hokkaido scallop and finished with spicy mayo and unagi sauce.

Other not-to- miss items include Salmon Tataki in yuzu-miso vinaigrette, miso enriched Tuna Tataki that’s finished with garlic chips and shaved daikon, Sashimi Pizza with a crunchy tempura base and sweet Beef Sashimi.

Perhaps the most burning question on everyone’s mind is the name: Why KaKa? General manager Irene Chung explains that the restaurant was actually named after the sakura flower.

“In Cantonese, we say Fa 花, but somehow, it got lost in translation. The soft F became a hard K in terms of pronunciation.” By the time the owners realized what the term meant, it was too late to change it.

“Press for our food was wholly positive so we didn’t want to change our restaurant’s name and confuse our diners.”

Besides, all publicity is good publicity, right? 

$34.99 for the all-you- can-eat menu (the à la carte menu varies per item(s) ordered).

KaKa, 655 Bay Street, 416-979-3288 

Protection of historic train station is paramount to Scrivener Square development plans

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A scaled back proposal for a contentious highrise residential development at 5 Scrivener Square overlooking the former North Toronto railway station received raucous disapproval from some community members at a public meeting last month.

More than 100 people packed into the Isabel Bader Theatre on March 20 to see an updated proposal from developers Diamond Corp. and Tricon, who bought the site together in June 2016.

The revised proposal reaches a height of 21 storeys, down five from the previous pitch residents were shown in November last year. The number of units — which developer Steve Diamond suggested would be luxury rentals, not condos — has been reduced to 141 versus the original 182. A 332-square-metre public park has also been added to plans. 

Kristyn Wong-Tam, councillor for Ward 27 Toronto Centre–Rosedale, said, “Certainly there were significant adjustments responding to the community’s concern, especially with respect to additional public realm.”

Wong-Tam, who said she had not seen the updated proposal until that evening, declined to state whether she supported the development.

The original, taller proposal is before the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) following an appeal from Diamond Corp., attendees heard. But if the city approves the latest proposal, Diamond said “we would abandon that appeal.”

For many who commented at the evening event, the changes presented were not enough. Local resident George Braoudakis was one of a number of people who do not approve of a structure any taller than the train station–turned-LCBO’s iconic clock tower.

“You know, we can be accused of NIMBYism or whatever, but this is also an important part of the heritage of the city,” he said. “The soldiers left for World War One from that station. Now we’re gonna be building a little downtown complex here — it’s a sad state of affairs.”

The loudest voices were opposed to the development, but some in attendance supported the new iteration, including Debbie Briggs, president of the Summerhill Resident’s Association.

She said she didn’t like the earlier vision for the site, but her group approves of what was presented.

“Would I like it a little lower? Yes, but in this day and age … I think we’re very lucky to have a developer that is interested in working with the community,” she said.

 

Dining Diaries: What director and cat lover Aaron Hancox ate before his film premiered

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Director and producer Aaron Hancox filled us in on all his eats in the week prior to the Hot Docs cinema screening of his film Catwalk: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit. You can watch it online here at CBC.ca.

Friday, March 16 —Sound mixing 
I order a weekly veggie basket from Mama Earth Organics and I’m dead set against food waste. As a result, I often find myself eating veggies for breakfast. Today it is steamed broccoli with tahini and two hard-boiled organic eggs. For lunch, leftovers: homemade lemon curry chicken and sautéed Swiss chard, eaten while mixing the feature version of Catwalk with my co-director Michael McNamara. Later, out for dinner, Pinky’s Ca Phé, Hanmoto and Bar Isabel all have two-hour waits, so my lovely girlfriend Christina I and grab bar seats at Superpoint. We drink a Paper Plane cocktail and Ace Hill Pilsner and enjoy the standout broccolini, with pecorino cheese, garlic and anchovy. We also split shishito peppers and a delicious rigatoni with smoked pork, pecorino and ’nduja sausage. 

Saturday, March 17 — Radio chat 
Needing to get rid of my butternut squash, I try a little morning experiment. Coconut squash fritters with nutmeg, with eggs and sautéed lacinato kale. Later, right before jumping on Newstalk 1010 with Michael, I order my favourite at Kanga Aussie Meat Pies: the “Canadian,” served with a surprisingly fresh side salad. At dinner with the Italian (future) in-laws, as always, there’s way too much delicious homemade food — roast beef, roast chicken and, of course, homemade wine. I brought Guinness for St. Paddy’s Day. My favourite is their giardiniera antipasto. I could eat that stuff all day long. 

Sunday, March 18 — Day off
Christina and I skip breakfast and grab a coffee at the new Balzac's Powerhouse location while running some errands. After our errands, we explore the Junction triangle and stop in at an old Portuguese favourite — Dupont BBQ Grill House. I have the stickleback, feijao a portuguesa and green beans. Christina has churrasco chicken. Dinner is homemade roast lamb shoulder (from Sanagan’s in Kensington) with mint and garlic, served with a side of roasted double-smoked bacon Brussels sprouts. 

Monday, March 17 — Business lunch
I soaked some kippers overnight, to desalinate them, and fry them up for breakfast with a couple of eggs. For lunch, Michael and I head to Bar Raval. We chat over savoury tapas about plans for our upcoming documentary, about the science of salt in our bodies. The kitchen bread is the real showstopper here: white anchovies on crunchy bread with garlic mayo and roasted peppers. We also have house-smoked mackerel and cured beef with pickled root veggies. After a couple of Ace Hills, we finished it all off with Sam James coffee. I make an afternoon coffee stop at Empire Espresso on College, my favourite in the city. For dinner, I try iQ Food Co. and am not disappointed with the power-food offerings.

Tuesday, March 21 — Hosting talent
It’s a hectic day, and on my way to finish the colour grading for Catwalk, I whip back into Dark Horse on John Street to fuel up. Michael, Beau (my cat) and I wrap up an interview at Sirius XM in Liberty Village, and I grab a chicken shawarma wrap at my local Ghazale on College. My visit includes a complimentary ginger tea (they are the nicest). That night, I drive to Pearson to pick up the stars of Catwalk, Bobby (cat) and Kim Langille (owner), who have just arrived from Moncton, N.B. Kim needs a pit stop at the hotel to use her anti-static product on Bobby, then we grab dinner down the street at La Bettola di Terroni. Michael and Catwalk producer Judy Holm had snagged us a table. We quickly get caught up and order some pizzas to share. Late night drinks at Soho House finish up the day: two vodka sodas with Tito’s vodka.

Under a Hundred: A surprisingly filling meal of spaghettini and sea bream at Joso's

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For the past four decades, Joso’s (202 Davenport Road) has been wooing guests  — everyone from David Cronenberg to Drake — with its fish and bacchanalian artwork. And at 41 years young, the place is ever perky.

Upon walking in, you are seduced by the voluptuous sculptures, and you can’t help but get in the mood … to dine, of course. So, armed with our Sir Robert Borden, we trotted upstairs and settled in a cosy nook, ready to feast on Dalmatian fare.

The sips 
This time, there was to be wine. After having eschewed wine for all the carbs last month at Buca Yorkville, we knew the error in our ways. Unfortunately, only one glass of Riesling was ordered — costing a reasonable $11 — and it was relished by Karolyne, who, unlike Caroline, hadn’t been recently struck down by that ubiquitous flu. 

The picks
Gleefully mopping up olive oil with bread, plentiful (and free!) in the table’s basket, we perused the menu with the remainder of the hundo. Two things were a must: something done up in cuttlefish ink and seafood from the grill. With two sepia options available — the giant risotto and the far more manageable spaghettini — it was clear that the $28 pick was ours (the risotto would’ve gobbled half the budget!).  

 

After we inquired about the fish of the day, the server sauntered over with a silver tray heavy with today’s varietals. There were oysters, squid, octopus and a myriad of fish from various seas. Rather than embarrassingly asking the price of each fish, we opted for the orata (sea bream). We threw in some swiss chard for good measure and good health. With those three items, our money was swiftly eaten up. 

The main event
The spaghettini arrived first: Strands of the stuff swimming in a black sea. It took about two bites for our faces to be splattered with ink. By the bowl’s end, our napkins had become Rorschach tests. A first date dish this is not (our tongues and gums remained stained well into the next course). 

Next was the fish, with golden skin and fork-tender flesh. We divvied up the night’s perfectly grilled star, which looked slightly less glamorous after our botched attempt at deboning. Regardless, it was delicious.  

As we prepared to depart, Croatian crooner Oliver Dragojević serenaded us at the end of our (surprisingly) filling meal. It wasn’t quite a trip to Dubrovnik, but for a moment we forgot we were on Davenport.

Talking Shop: 6 beloved businesses north of Bloor

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We all have a favourite local business that we've been frequenting since the day we moved into our nabe — whether it's a one-of-kind clothing store, an independent grocer's or a spa that makes us feel a million bucks.

But did you ever wonder what goes into the making of these friendly neighbourhood spots that make us want to shop local?

For these St Clair, Bathurst and Dupont business owners, it's a combination of tailored services, loyal customers — and a lot of hard work.

We chatted to six of the area's favourite businesses to find out what makes them so unique.

Urban Fare Food Shop
Paul and Eva Jannetta, Owners
1415 Bathurst Street (just south of St Clair), 416-532-1010

What’s going to be hot this spring? Vacuum-packed marinated meats and fish ready for the BBQ, healthy gluten free salads, and a new gift line from Italy!

Do you have any celebrity customers? We consider all our customers to be celebrities!! Many news anchors, also, NHL and OHL players frequent our shop in the summer for healthy meals, as well as many popular Toronto designers that come to find great unique gifts.

What has been your proudest moment in business? My family has been in business in this neighbourhood for 90 years. I’m very proud to continue our family legacy as a successful entreprenuer in the Hillcrest Area.

Greatest advice you ever received? Keep doing what you love, and don’t cut corners.

What makes your business unique? Our food shop is filled daily with freshly prepared and frozen foods, a remarkable selection of unique house wears, gifts, with a sit-in cafe, take out counter… and full service catering for home and office. 

Ayurveda Rituals
Andrea Olivera, Owner
1081 Bathurst Street, 416-504-6049

What's going to be hot for spring? Ayurveda Abhyanga bodywork with Indian Head massage and Shirodhara, known as the drip of peace. Warmed herbal oils continuously pouring over your third eye for the ultimate meditative state. I personally offer these treatments and am known as the Ayurveda Red Carpet Facial experience of Toronto by my celebrity clients.

Do you have any celebrity clients? Lately I have been servicing the cast from Designated Survivor & Taken. Maggie Q & Jennifer Beals have experienced my Goddess Ayurveda Rejuvenation Spa Day. In the past: John Taylor of Duran Duran, Tom Selleck, Dylan McDermott, Marcia Gay Harden, Joseph Fiennes and many others.

What makes your business unique? Creating rituals that address each persons needs. From Love attracting to forgiveness healing ceremonies for the Soul.

Describe your team: Each person has their special healing gift. Our Ayurveda doctors bring ancient wisdom to a modern world.

Graduates from my Ayurveda Spa Specialist program offer relaxing nurturing experiences that leave you feeling like you spent a day on a beach! Counseling and guidance from our homeopath brings emotional support and care. My team are caring individuals who love what they do! 

Forest Hill Ordothontics
Dr. B. Vendittelli and Dr. T. Hendler 
72 St Clair Avenue West, 416-921-6772

What’s going to be hot this spring? Straight teeth are always in style! Nothing says summer selfie like a beautiful smile 🙂

Do you have any celebrity customers? We can't say for confidentiality reasons… but there are some sports players in the city whose teeth are getting straighter as they score points for our teams!

Greatest advice you ever received? Be true to yourself.

What makes your business unique? Our practice has been a part of the community for over 60 years! We have two board certified orthodontic specialists who use all orthodontic appliances — outside braces, inside braces and clear aligners — for children and adults.

Who is your inspiration/role model? Bill and Melinda Gates — they use their position of influence to help so many people with their Foundation.

Describe your team: We have the best team! Our team is energetic, friendly and hard working. They put our patients at ease. We are so thankful for them every day, and couldn't do what we do without them. 

Catherine Curtis & Studio
Catherine Curtis, Owner
940 Bathurst Street, 416-979-9244

What's going to be hot this spring? Our ready to wear statement style for spring is chic tailored dresses in limited edition linen prints from Italy. Crisp collars, ruffled cuffs and penciled to the knee. Vintage inspired with modern clean proportions. We are still showing our signature jersey print day dresses and our special occasion dresses.

What has been your proudest moment in business? We are most proud when our styles are coveted from teens to seniors. When you love your dress you keep them for a long time and with great quality fabrics your able to. We have resized some of our garments that are up to 10 years old. It’s really nice to see that they still love them, wear them and they still look great.

Greatest advice you ever received? The best advice I was given was to be yourself, do your best and never give up. 

What makes your business unique? Not only are our styles unique, but our shop is unique in that you can have one of our styles made up special for you. We also do our own alterations and fittings. There are not many stores who produce in Toronto and offer these services in this fast fashion and mass produced world we live in now. I love having a dress that no one else has and that fits perfectly. 

Tosho Knife Arts
Olivia Go, Owner
934 Bathurst Street, 647-722-6329

What's going to be hot this spring? We have a collection of rare lines coming from Konosuke Sakai that haven't yet released. These include knives that my business partner Ivan has created with famous blacksmiths and sharpeners from Japan. It's been about three years in development for a couple of these new lines.

Do you have any celebrity customers? Anthony Bourdain has brought us many of our customers. He featured us on The Layover in Toronto a few years ago. Susur Lee's son Levi bought a knife from us, and Susur had us rehandle one of his knives. Matty Matheson is a personal friend. We have a lot of chef friends who are celebri- ties on their own.

Greatest advice you ever received? "Enjoy every moment." That’s what I was told when my son was born. And it wasn't easy at first, but enjoying every moment has become a well-earned life lesson. The other great advice I received was to treat a business partnership like a marriage. It's never going to be 50/50 amongst business partners, the way you hoped it would be at the beginning. We've managed to pull through a lot of different challenges together and have grown together and, like a good marriage, we're now able to communicate and express what we need in the business. 

Smilesolvers
​Dr. Gary Klein
1268 St Clair Avenue West, # 200, 416-658-8885

What sets your practice apart? My team and I have made it our mission to eliminate fears of going to the dentist.

How can you achieve this? Trust. Where there is trust, fear can’t sustain itself. Which is why we pride ourselves on building strong relationships with all of our patients. Every consultation begins with a lengthy discussion so the patient can share his or her concerns. We believe the first step to alleviating these fears is ensuring the patient feels heard. With this information, we then customize a treatment plan and provide them with multiple options best suited to their needs. It is pivotal that the patient knows they’re in full control of how we move forward. Also, our chairs have back massages… our patients love that.

What’s been an important development in your career? We realized that when people felt comfortable at our practice, they wanted to maintain their relationship with us beyond General, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry. That’s when we knew it was time to expand our offerings; so we brought on a Orthodontist and Gum Specialist. As the needs of our patients change, we choose to grow with them. 

First Look: Frankie's Italian brings all-day brunch to Leslieville in Lil' Baci's former spot

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Frankie’s Italian brings fresh pasta and pizza back to Leslieville in the space formerly occupied by neighbourhood Italian standby Lil Bacci, which closed in February after more than ten years of serving hungry eastenders. On Good Friday, the owners of Lil Bacci (as well as Anabelle Pasta Bar and Bob Coffee Bar) opened up the renovated restaurant under its new name.

The cosy interior features exposed brick, cheery pink accents and a bright window looking out onto Queen Street East. Midday regulars are greeted by friendly waitstaff as they roll in for the all-day brunch, fresh sandwiches and Caesars.

Executive Chef Brandyn Koester, who shares his time between Frankie’s and Anabelle, says that the concept for Frankie’s is similar to Annabelle, but with pizza.


(IMAGE: KAREN STEVENS)

 


(IMAGE: KAREN STEVENS)

 

“Annabelle’s concept really worked for us and we wanted to change things up with a more dynamic menu,” he says. “It’s exciting for people to come and check what we have on special every day.”

Those daily specials are up on chalkboards around the dining room. Each fresh pasta dish, like the spicy bucatini amatriciana, is made in-house and is only $10. “This forces creativity. Every day you’re challenged to come up with a new menu,” explains Koester.

Along with the fresh pasta, there’s a menu of staples like fried baby octopus ($14), pan fried mortadella ($6), and a parmesan cheese-laden kale and treviso caesar salad ($13), where the bitter greens pair perfectly with the creamy sauce. The menu items are meant to share: Brandyn describes them as “Italian tapas.”


​(IMAGE: KAREN STEVENS)

 


​(IMAGE: KAREN STEVENS)

 

Frankie’s also has a brand new coffee program featuring beans from Halo, which are roasted in Toronto. Ask the staff to whip up a frothy latte to go, or enjoy a hot cocoa (complete with real cocoa and a toasted marshmallow on top).

The renovation is not without a touch of whimsy. The coffee and pasty menu board features a unique item: unicorns, for the bargain price of 906, 780 euros. When asked whether they were organic free-range unicorns, Koester answered, “Of course.”

Frankie's Italian, 892 Queen Street East


​(IMAGE: KAREN STEVENS)

 


​(IMAGE: KAREN STEVENS)

 


​(IMAGE: KAREN STEVENS)

 


​(IMAGE: KAREN STEVENS)

 

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