Foodie | Style Blog

WedLuxe Wedding Show 2012

Earlier this month, I attended the first annual WedLuxe Wedding Show at Toronto’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Actually, it was my first wedding show ever, and I think after this one…all other shows would pale in comparison. From the entrance, adorned with a curtain of roses, to the beautifully decorated and displayed vendor “booths”, to the Kate Spade-inspired (complimentary) high-tea room, to the Mad Men-inspired groom’s lounge, to “The WedLuxe Beauty Boutique”, filled to the brim with swag and free beauty treatments…I could stay there all day long.

And if you’re a bride, planning a wedding, there’s no better place to meet with potential vendors, and get some awesome ideas for your big day. Some of my fave booths included, Cake Opera (macaron cake, anyone?), Cakes by Konstadin (gorgeous Russian doll cakes), cute Paper and Poste invitations, Patricia’s Cake Creations’ lovely cupcakes and beautiful cakes, Cake Museum’s artfully designed edible creations, Truffle Cake and Pastry’s everything, Whimsical Wedding Cakes’ err…whimsical wedding cakes…and so many more. Obviously, I was mostly drawn to the edible booths…and how could I not be? Those cakes, cupcakes, and other deserts were so exquisite…that it actually made me doubt my own decision to get married abroad.

This year’s WedLuxe Wedding Show was packed to the brim with excited brides, wedding ideas galore, and only the best of Toronto’s wedding vendors. And considering that this was WedLuxe’s very first show, I can imagine that their future events will be even more luxurious and fun.

Have you attended the first annual WedLuxe Wedding Show this month? What did you think? Share in the comments.

See more photos on our Facebook Page.

Travel: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Hotel

I don’t know about you, but my usual hotel policy for travelling is this: don’t overspend, because you will likely spend way more time exploring outside of your room. This obviously doesn’t apply to honeymoons, and tropical vacays in general. So when looking for accomodation for our Vegas trip, le bf and I were trying to be economical, but I just could not get the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas out of my mind. Everyone kept recommending it, and it sure did look nice…so in the end, we decided to go for it, and boy, were we happy that we’d tried something new! Ever since we got back from our vacay, we’ve been gushing and raving about Cosmo to everyone who will listen, and here are some of the reasons why.

Rates: Truth be told, you could probably find a more affordable hotel on the strip. But the value that Cosmo offers (at their prices) simply cannot be beat! Plus, they do not charge the $20 per day resort fees, that most hotels add to your bill at the end of your stay, which helps cut the costs.

Check-in: Smooth and quick, with courteous reception attendants. We did have to wait in line for about 10-15 minutes when we arrived, but that was expected.

Location: On the strip, connected to Crystals shopping centre (aka the Holy Grail for shopaholics), smack dab in the middle of all the action. Paris and Planet Hollywood are both across the street, and Bellagio is just next door. It doesn’t get much better.

Room: Large and spacious, with amazing extras such as a hot tub, large standing glassed-in shower, double sinks, two flat-screen TVs, mini kitchenette, artsy Fornasetti wallpaper, and one of the best features ever – a balcony. Cosmo is the only hotel with views this incredible. Want to take a look at the Eiffel Tower? There it is! Bellagio fountains? Right in front of you. I really doubt you’d be able to find a better Vegas view anywhere.

Bed: SO damn comfortable…one of the best I’ve ever slept in. True story. Turn-down service in the evening added an extra bit of luxury to our stay.

Hotel: Brand spanking new, and gorgeous to boot. Both le boyfriend and I loved it! The entire place is designed in such a way, that you really don’t want to leave the resort – with amazing restaurants like Wicked Spoon (superb buffet), Holsteins (milkshakes, burgers, and lobster rolls…oh yeah!), China Poblano, and so many more – you really are in for a treat. And the gorgeous Chandelier Bar? Just stunning.

Casino: Can’t comment on the casino too much, because the only thing we did there was play slots…and lose. Wah-wah. But if you do sign up for their Identity Cards, you’ll get $10 of free play, which if you’re lucky, can turn into $1000 at the spin the wheel thing (a promo), but make sure to look for it before you spend your free play money.

Speaking of Identity Cards, you earn points on every dollar you spend at the hotel/casino. So if you have brunch at the Wicked Spoon, for example (highly recommended BTW), you earn points, if you play slots, you earn points, if you stay at the hotel, you earn points. And once you’ve collected 1500 points, you can use it as cash! Cha-ching!

Pools: Ok, so we’ve only been to the Bamboo pool, but I really enjoyed it, despite the 50 degree heat. There are a lot of loungers to go around, and the pool area has a nice, relaxing atmosphere. The music isn’t too loud or distracting. Perfect for soaking up the sun. And the rooftop views are just beyond!

Overall, I must admit, I really loved Cosmopolitan Las Vegas – it had everything I needed and so much more – great food, amazing rooms, gorgeous views, kick-ass location…you name it. After our 3 nights were up, we literally did not want to leave. Needless to say, this will be my Vegas base for any future trips. I simply can’t wait to go back!

More photos after the jump!

What I Wore: EXpress Yourself

Wore this little number to The Ex this year – comfortable and cute, just the way (aha, aha) I like it! Also wore my newest favorite piece of jewelry from Caroline Néron. The detailing on this exquisite necklace is so intricate…I have been wearing it with everything to everything, and get nothing but compliments. In case you didn’t know, Caroline is a Canadian actress turned jewelry designer. If you haven’t seen her pieces before, make sure to check out her website Bijoux Caroline Néron.

This year’s visit to The Ex was a lot of fun…as expected. We tried some fried cola (tastes like coke-flavored funnel cake), played lots of games (le bf won a pink Blah for me), and gorged on Tiny ~~Tim’s~~ Tom’s donuts. It’s amazing how much fun one can have shooting cork bullets at cans (fact: I have good aim), or pelting rubber chickens into pots.

Have you gone to The Ex this year? You still have a few days to get in on the EXcitement! Fried butter, anyone?

I Wore: Dress – Forever21; Clutch – Prada; Shoes – Marc (Imelda); Necklace – c/o Caroline Néron

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Style Blog, September 2nd 2011 | Tags: Caroline Neron, CNE, Events, Foodie, Forever21, Imelda, jewelry, Marc, Organic Style, Prada, Shopping, The Ex, What I Wore
Posted in Events, Fashion, Foodie, Organic Style, Shopping, What I Wore

Foodie: Le Select Bistro

Today’s Foodie post was kindly provided by a guest blogger (and fellow foodie) - Lisa Ng, of The Hip & Urban Girl’s Guide! Enjoy.

Le Select Bistro

432 Wellington St. West, Toronto

416-596-6405

Perfect For: Brunch, Date Night

If you’re looking for an elegant brunch to nurse a long week at work, throw off your PJs and head on over to Le Select Bistro in Toronto. This charming French resto is tucked away on a quiet street right in the heart of the downtown. The main dining room is warm and cozy with dark burgundy banquettes, bentwood chairs and a long bar made of zinc. Around back there is a bright and open atelier and in the summer months, make sure you indulge in a dark coffee on their gorgeous front patio filled with rattan chairs that make you feel like you’re in France.

Le Select is one of those fabulous places that serves up brunch on Saturday AND Sunday. Chef Albert Ponzo uses free-range eggs and the majority of his ingredients are now organic or sustainable. The food is fresh, with no snooty attitudes. The staff are welcoming, helpful and friendly. It’s an easy place to meet up with family or a large group of friends. The restaurant has a large capacity, takes reservations for brunch and is busy enough without a half hour wait out the door.

I ordered the Oeufs Forestiers ($15.95) with two poached eggs over a bed of sauteed mixed mushrooms and served with seared polenta, tomato jam and roasted root vegetables. All the flavours were buttery and melt-in-your mouth with a little taste of everything. I didn’t leave feeling greasy or overstuffed. If you’re looking for something heartier, try their juicy Ontario Lamb Burger ($15.95) with Morroccan spices and their crispy frites. My choice for next time would definitely be the Oeufs et Saucisses Fermieres ($13.95) with two eggs, homemade breakfast sausages and Rosti potatoes. It looked like the typical Sunday breakfast of champions with a French twist. Make sure you top it all off with a Bellini ($7.75) made with sparkling white wine and peach nectar – I mean it’s the weekend after all. If you’re starving before you even order, grab a freshly baked croissant ($1.95) to tie you over. They are rated some of the best in Toronto.

Le Select Bistro is easily one of my favourite places in Toronto due to its charm, décor, friendly staff and heavenly food. It’s a little French escape from the hustle and bustle of Toronto. I highly recommend it for brunch or even for grabbing lunch by yourself with a good book. Bon appetit!

Lisa Ng is a lover of great food and sunny destinations. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of The Hip & Urban Girl’s Guide (http://www.hipurbangirl.com)

More photos after the jump!

Windows 7 Royal Tea

Last month, the lovely Jen of She Does The City, hosted a Royal-Wedding-themed tea party at Windsor Arms. Between the yummy scones, the whimsical hats, the delicious tea, and the Wills+Kate ~~hoopla~~ talk, we watched a Windows 7 presentation, showcasing some cool new features that we, as bloggers, could definitely put to good use.

One of my favorites was the Windows 7 + Windows Live Photo Editor, which allows for quick and easy editing of photos (which I have to do on a daily basis), one click photo sharing from Windows Live photo gallery to Facebook, Flickr, or SkyDrive, and of course, the no-Photoshop-needed crop feature (which helps fuse several photos together to create one perfect image, without much effort). Basically, the tools we were shown are for the lazy bums/busy bees out there…the ones that can’t be bothered (or have no time) to spend too much time editing photos, or uploading them. And as I definitely fall into one of those categories, Windows 7 + Windows Live photo editing will definitely come in handy.

Have you tried Windows 7 + Windows Live tools yet? What are your faves? Share in the comments.

Foodie: The Slow Room

The Slow Room

874 College St

Toronto, ON

Foamy macchiatos, yummy muffins, truffle oil pizzettes, and Saturday-only Porchetta sandwiches are only a few reasons why you must visit The Slow Room…and I am kicking myself for not finding it sooner.

As most awesome discoveries, my intro to The Slow Roomwas purely coincidental. Having to kill 30 mins waiting for Phil’s BBQ to open for dinner, le boyfriend and I found ourselves hiding from the rain, deciding to run up to the nearby Starbucks, then passing by The Slow Room, and running in to give it a try instead.

Not a huge lover of muffins, I ordered the Nutella-Banana one on a whim, and it was seriously THE best muffin I’ve tried in my entire life – creamy, chocolatey, and banana-y…more like a cupcake with no frosting than a muffin. Le boyfriend’s Lemon-Ricotta was equally delicious. And the best part is – they are made in-house! Our coffees were pretty amazing too. My macchiatto was smooth and foamy, without the too-bitter taste, and complimented my chocolatey muffin incredibly well.

Another thing that The Slow Room has going for it, is the staff, which is very friendly. As we were finishing our coffees, two plates were brought to us – pizzas, on the house! It was almost closing time, and they didn’t want the food to go to waste. This is definitely the kind of an inviting neighbourhood spot anyone would want to live near.

I’ve already planned my next visit…and it won’t be for quick pre-meal coffees (a little backwards, I know). Next time I’m trying their Eggplant Meat(less) Ball Sandwich…with a Nutella-Banana muffin for desert. My mouth is watering already.

Foodie: MoRoCo Chocolat + Macallan Scotch Tasting

Last week, le boyfriend and I were invited to attend a Chocolate + Scotch tasting at one of my favorite Toronto restaurants - MoRoCo Chocolat. If you’ve been reading for a while, you probably already know that I’ve been to a few scotch tastings before, and though I am still not a big drinker, I am much more open to ordering a glass of Macallan (on the rocks) and savouring it ever so slowly.

This also was my first time pairing scotch with chocolate, and I must say that the combo is a match made in indulgent heaven. Once again, Macallan brand ambassador Marc Laverdiere led the tasting, teaching us to smell our scotch properly (mouth open), diluting the Cask Strength scotch with some water to open it up, and of course, showing us which types of chocolate go well with different types of scotch.

Both le boyfriend and I walked away happy to have participated and learned something new. It was a fun way to spend an evening together, and a great intro to scotch for someone like me, who, perhaps, has always thought that drinking whiskey was a guy thing. So next time you head out to MoRoCo or host a party of your own, consider ordering a glass of Macallan 12 (my fave), along with some yummy truffles. Way more sophisticated than a Screwdriver, and flavourful to boot. Also, check out MoRoCo’s Events Page for more chocolate tastings, and other fun events.

What I Wore: Good Morning

Saturday. Art Square Cafe and Gallery. Peach tea. Berry crepe with ice-cream. Lanvin for H&M necklace. Happiness.

I Wore: Shirt, Necklace - H&M; Sunglasses – Ray Ban

Foodie: Buca

Buca

604 King St. West

Toronto, ON

416-865-1600

Perfect For: Date Night, Girls Night Out

Ever since I saw Buca’s “transcendent” eggplant parmigiana recipe in Toronto Life last month, I’ve been itching to try this newly opened Italian resto. As a fan of good melanzane alla parmigiana, I was hoping that reviews weren’t wrong, and I would finally be able to have a piece of deliciousness, instead of the usual oil-drenched, over-fried, over-breaded mess that I usually see in most restaurants that offer this dish on the menu. Well, my fears were completely unfounded, and Buca is just as good as they say!

First thing I asked our very attentive waiter for is…you guessed it – eggplant parmigiana. Layers of thinly sliced, lightly breaded eggplant and ricotta, topped with fresh burratta cheese flown in (weekly) from Italy - scrumptious wouldn’t begin to describe this small, but surprisingly flavourful dish. Begrudgingly, I shared a few bites with le boyfriend, before devouring the rest in a few (large) bites. Yum!

Le boyfriend’s appetizer, unfortunately, was less than impressive. Having never tried fried pig’s ears, he decided to be adventurous…and ended up leaving the entire plate unfinished (which very rarely happens). The ears were too oily, too salty, and too…gristly. If you’re into that sort of thing, then by all means go ahead and order away, but if you’re just trying to be adventurous, there are a lot of other dishes on Buca’s ever-changing menu that, I’m sure, would leave you more satisfied.

On to our pastas, quoting my one and only, his goat meat and bone marrow ravioli were “the best pasta” he’s ever had in his entire life…or something to that extent. Salty, a little sweet and savoury, this pasta had a great combination of flavors and textures - definitely one of those slam-dunk successes, that we’d go back to ask for again and again.

Not to give his pasta all the glory, my duck egg tagliatelle with duck ragu was out of this world. Perfectly al dente pasta, meaty sauce – this was comfort food at its best. Triple yum!

Another reason to visit Buca, apart from its outstanding food, is the delightful service. Our waiter was attentive, knowledgeable and very pleasant. Though the snobby older man at a table next to ours was less than pleasant to our waiter, he still remained friendly and didn’t show any signs of annoyance. Now that’s professionalism!

Our trip to Buca was an absolute delight and I will most definitely be back for more! You should know that the menu changes (and is time-stamped) daily, so some of the dishes might not be available at all times. Book a table in advance, unless you want to wait for a (long) while.

Foodie: Enoteca Sociale

Enoteca Sociale

1288 Dundas St. West

Toronto, ON

416-534-1200

Perfect For: Date Night, Girls Night Out

Menu

I really don’t know what took me so long. Enoteca Sociale has been on my “list” for ages now, yet I haven’t set foot in the West End resto until last week. And I am so glad that I finally did.

First of all, I just want to say that hostesses at Enoteca are great! When my friend and I came in without a reservation, there was not a hint of “hollier than thou-ness”, just a friendly smile and a genuine attempt at getting us a table. We were advised that the wait would take around 30 minutes, and that we should grab a drink at the nearby Brockton General, which we did. Not even 30 minutes in, we got a call to let us know that our table is ready. Quick, courteous, perfect!

As we weren’t too hungry when we got in, the tasting menu on the card looked the best – we’d get to try a little bit of everything to gauge what we liked best, all at a price of $45 (split between the two of us). Not bad for antipasto, pasta, main, side, cheese, and dessert, no?

I do believe that the tasting menu gets tweaked once in a while, but whatever we did have that night was pure deliciousness. We started with chef’s choice antipasto, which included rabbit rillette, best-tasting olives ever, and some pickled green beans. All were great, and gone in a flash.

Our pasta dish consisted of a few large pieces of ravioli stuffed with duck pâté – something I’ve never tried in ravioli form. But it was taste bud explosion with every bite! Too bad my friend had to have his carbs that day, otherwise I would’ve definitely hogged well over my half of the plate.

Next, we got a plateful of Beef Tagliata with eggplant, potatoes, and corn. The meat was definitely full of flavor, but I would’ve preferred a bit more eggplant in my dish. For that reason, the ravioli were still the clear winner of the night in my books. For our Contorni, we went with Zucchini in thyme, honey & butter – lightly cooked, crunchy, and very healthy – yum.

Once the plates were licked clean, our waiter brought us some Formaggi e Frutti from Enoteca’s own cheese cave. A little bit of plum, some caramelized pecans, and I’m not exactly sure what kind of cheese we got (chef’s selection once again)…but it was all very good. If only a little too…well, little. But I wouldn’t expect much more from a tasting menu.

To finish off our meal, out came the Ricotta and Peach dessert. Not exactly sure of the name, but it tasted like a typical Neapolitan ricotta-based dessert that I’ve tried once in Switzerland. Delicious whipped ricotta cheese, laced with peach slices and syrup…with granola on top. Screw the granola, I am all about the whipped ricotta – SO. GOOD. Must try to make this at home.

Overall, I am still in a bit of a daze from our Enoteca outing, and have been shouting the restaurant’s name from the rooftops wherever I go…Ok, not exactly from the rooftops, but I am definitely planning a few more outings at this Dundas St. West restaurant. With the inviting staff, delicious food, welcoming ambiance, and apparently one of the best wine lists in the city – there’s no reason for you not to have visited Enoteca Sociale. So if like me, you’ve been procrastinating and delaying your visit, I urge you to finally get off your behind, make a reservation (or not), and RUN to Enoteca Sociale for a yummy meal/hot date/girl’s night out/whatever. It really is as good as they say.

Friday Faux Pas: Let’s Go To The Ex

If you can believe it, last year was my first time at The Ex! And of course, after the addictive games, and stuffed toys, and horrible unhealthy food – I knew I’d be back again. This year, le boyfriend and I went during the opening weekend. It was a gloomy, rainy day, but we both had an amazing time. It’s a bit scary how much fun one could have just by being surrounded by hordes of people and screaming kids, paying way too much to win a silly toy, while being rained on standing in endless lines to buy greasy, fried food! And last weekend it felt fantastic to be young and happy and in love…feeling like a little kid at a fair, eating mini donuts, looking for Snazzy Napper to make fun of, and finding this place full of tacky things and glittery lights extremely romantic. The entire place was one huge Faux Pas – and I loved every minute of it.

Foodie: Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill

Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill

33 Yonge St.

Toronto, ON

647-260-2070

Perfect For: After-work Drinks, Brunch, Lunch, Date Night, Patio

For the longest time, the coveted corner of Yonge and Front has been occupied by Shopsy’s – the restaurant that I’ve been to a few times, and which left absolutely no impression on this rookie foodie. So when I found out that its days were numbered, there was no sadness on my part – on the contrary, I was super excited to hear that Oliver & Bonacini was coming to take Shopsy’s place!

Yes, O&B is a franchise, and yes, it’s not a cozy mom and pop shop, but it doesn’t mean that it lacks personality - though it did seem like that at a first glance. The restaurant is huge. There are a few dining rooms, stylishly appointed – a far cry from its previous occupant – its minimalistic design is pleasing to the eye, and the huge patio is a godsend on hot summer nights, and for the after-office-hours crowd.

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped by for a quick Sunday afternoon bite without my camera, and last week I came back for brunch (pics below) with le boyfriend and his mom. On my first visit, I went for my staple brunch fare – eggs with bacon and toast ($12.95)…and it was, as expected, great – runny egg yolk and crispy bacon - YUM! Le boyfriend tried their Grilled Chicken Panini with Gazpacho ($13.25) and both were delicious! I am a big fan of the chilled Spanish soup, and I found it very flavourful and refreshing – with chunks of avocado and just the right amount of spiciness.

On our second visit, I opted for a dish that I usually don’t tend to order – Eggs Benedict ($13.50), which came served on scrumptious cheddar scones and covered in hollandaise. I’m not a huge fan of potatoes in the morning, but le boyfriend sure did help himself to the well-seasoned home fries on my plate. It’s ok, because his Poached Eggs ($13.95) didn’t have potatoes, but came with some polenta and veggies. Not a huge fan of polenta, I didn’t try his dish, and it wasn’t le boyfriend’s favorite either. But I guess, it’s a matter of preference.

Last, but not least, le boyfriend’s mom went with Savory Smoked Ham Crepe ($14.95), which she definitely enjoyed, and which also looked like the healthiest dish on our table.

The service was amazing. Our server was extremely accommodating and attentive, refilling our coffees even after we were done eating, and were waiting for the rain to stop. Wish more places treated their customers this way – it definitely made me want to come back again.

Overall, the proximity to my office will absolutely make O&B my new favorite after-work dinner place, and with a great menu, fantastic service, and fun decor, it surely is a great addition to the area. And judging by the daily crowds on the patio – I’m not the only one to think so.

Photo Credits: Top image – Oliver & Bonacini, all others Style Blog

Foodie: Breyers Ice Cream Party

When life gives you lemons, you’re supposed to make lemonade. But what are you supposed to do when a PR company sends you 5 coupons for free ice-cream? Throw an ice-cream party, of course! Last week a few of my friends and I got together after a looong week at the office to try Breyers new Smooth & Dreamy ice-cream (with 1/2 fat), enjoy some sunshine, and catch-up.

It all started out innocently enough…with a few cups of jello (thanks, le boyfriend!), chocolate syrup, sugar cones, some popsicles, and Mocha Fudge Brownie, Strawberries & Cream, and Dulce de Leche Breyers ice-cream. The ice-cream was incredibly smooth (just like the packaging stated), and absolutely delicious. The most popular flavor of the night was definitely Mocha Fudge Brownie…with actual chunks of brownies in it. Deeelicious! But I was also smitten with Dulce de Leche ice-cream, because of its creamy caramely taste…it just doesn’t get any better that that. I truly hope that this ice-cream is 1/2 fat, because after all of the cones consumed, I probably gained another 20 pounds that I was intending to lose. But nevermind…

It probably wasn’t such a great idea to hold an ice-cream party on a roof…because our cones were melting faster than we were able to eat them, and with Smooth & Dreamy ice-cream being especially soft, I had to keep running downstairs to refreeze it in order to avoid turning it into a milkshake. A portable freezer would’ve been handy.

Jo came over, wearing her new Marc Jacobs mouse flats…and we decided to take a shoe photo together…here’s my red vintage dead stock jelly Marc Jacobs flats from Apartment 909 and Jo’s adorable patent mouse ones. I think I want to swap!

After we were done with the ice-cream, some folks got hungry for real food, and out came the frozen beef skewers. After defrosting them in the sun, le boyfriend grilled them up, along with some fries. They weren’t fantastic, but it did the trick and maybe they weren’t cooked well enough, or perhaps we were just letting loose after the gruelling week, but the craziness ensued.

We invented a new way of eating ice-cream: cone-rings! Convenient and portable…patent pending.

Other uses for ice-cream cones included cone-noses, cone-ears, and crushed cones all over people’s heads…ahem…I think someone might’ve spiked our ice-cream with Kahlua or something. That would also explain excessive salt on the fries…and my scary facial expressions.

After the clouds threatened to soak our roof-top party, we all moved downstairs to le boyfriend’s condo and continued the party with some Rock Band and some pizza. But not before a few attempts at a group photo…I think this one turned out ok. And it only took us…10 tries?

I Wore: Dress – H&M; Belt – Zara; Shoes – Vintage Marc Jacobs; Sunglasses – Ray Ban

Organic Style: Taste of the Danforth

Taste of the Danforth might be very overrated, but I always go…the reason? Honey balls! I mean, it’s sugary sweet dough balls covered in honey – what’s not to like? Apart from the food, I also like to keep my eye on the stylish passerby, that is if I can tear myself away from gluttonously devouring chicken souvlaki, corn on the cob, and soft-serve ice-cream…yum!

What about you? Did you go this year? Which food stand is you favorite? Share in the comments.

Foodie: Harlem

Harlem East Side

67 Richmond Street East
Toronto, ON M5C 1N9

(416)-368-1920

Perfect For: Brunch, Dinner, Date Night

As an ex-Texan, I can tell you that my love for Southern food runs deep. Give me some corn bread and blackened catfish and I’m a happy camper any day! So when le boyfriend invited me to Harlem for brunch, there was definitely excitement on my part.

The moment you walk through Harlem’s doors, you’re enveloped by the warmth of colors, sounds, and smells. Motown’s best tunes lightly play in the background, as we settle into our comfy booth. There’s lots of choices, and my appetite is always bigger than my stomach, so I have to really pace myself. Le boyfriend goes for a smoked salmon/avocado/fried egg sandwich ($12), while his mom orders Harlem Benny ($12)…not wanting to copycat their orders, I go for the omelette of the day, which happens to be cheese ($10). We order a round of coffees, and enjoy our Sunday morning.

The service was a bit slow at times, but the nice lady that brought us our food informed us that the waiter had fallen ill and she was covering for him that day. Not a big deal for us, and didn’t seem to bother anyone at tables nearby. Both the chef and our server that day could not have been nicer to us!

On to the food. My omelette was simple, but fluffy and delicious, with plenty of cheese (just the way I like it), side salad was again – simple, but fresh…and the only thing I had huge hopes for – the biscuit – left me a tad disappointed, as it has gotten soggy from the salad dressing (next time I’ll ask for it on the side). Le boyfriend’s sandwich was good, but not sensational, and his mom’s eggs benny were slightly spicy, and she genuinely enjoyed every bite.

If you’re into live music, Harlem has a variety of nights for you to attend…from Music is the Answer Wednesdays, when some of Toronto’s most talented musicians, visual and spoken word artists help fundraise for disaster relief in Haiti, to Monday Open Jam nights, and to many others in between – most music lovers would find an event of their liking.

As far as brunch places go, Harlem offers a few Southern alternatives to the good ol’ eggs and bacon, but I really want to go back for dinner, instead, to try their blackened catfish – the one dish that I wasn’t able to find at too many Toronto restaurants, and their fried chicken has been touted as one of the best in the city. With a promising dinner menu, friendly service, and a nice patio for those last few warm summer nights, I am sure we’ll be back to Harlem in no time.

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