Style Blog | Canadian Fashion and Lifestyle News

Blog about Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle, Shopping, and Everything That is Stylish

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!

[Read more…]

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: 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.

Foodie: Hoof Café

Hoof Café
923 Dundas St W
Toronto, ON M6J 1W2
(416) 792-7511
Perfect For: Brunch

Was originally going to post Capocaccia review before this one, but then decided that reviewing mediocrity and poor service is less of a fun task, than writing about the yumminess of the Hoof Café! Am I right or am I right?

As a long-time lover of the Black Hoof, I’ve been curious about its little sister the Hoof Café for a while now. And this Canada Day, when Al and I decided to venture out to Saving Grace for brunch, which was closed, we ended up at the Hoof Café instead and I am happy that we did.

Instead of being adventurous this time around, both of us went with Brioche French Toast ($12), which was quite small, compared to other portions of French toast around the city, but definitely full of flavor, and so yummy, that no crumb was spared in its devouring.

And since we still had room for more, and since both Hoofs are famous for their charcuterie, we got us an order of Ploughman’s ($14). A little bit of prosciutto, duck, mortadella, terrine,  some crostini, and much more, and I am transported right back into my childhood, where breakfast would consist of salami or mortadella on a piece of toast with cheese and butter. Homemade and delicious. Just like the lovely Hoof Café.

The service is knowledgeable, friendly and consistent. The atmosphere is airy, and comfortable. We both leave happy and satisfied, ready to take on Toronto on this lazy afternoon. Certain that we will definitely be coming back for more.

Foodie: School Bakery & Café

School Bakery & Café
70 Fraser Ave
Toronto, ON
(416) 588-0005
Perfect For: Brunch

School’s out for summer, but a couple of weeks ago, I gladly (and voluntarily) went to School…School Bakery & Café that is. Though I originally thought that a visit to SBC would be a cool surprise for le boyfriend, he went on to inform me that he was the one who suggested this place months ago, and I was just probably not paying attention. Well, it didn’t matter who discovered the place, School Bakery & Café is one cool restaurant – and is perfect for brunch!

First of all, there are a lot of tables – it is crucial to have generous seating for the hungry masses on Sunday afternoons, when most brunch places have snaking line-ups. We waited for 5 minutes before getting a table, and another 15 to get the menus – it seemed that they were a bit understaffed. Needless to say, when food arrived, taking photos for the blog escaped both our minds and we all but licked out plates clean.

One of my favorite things about SBC brunch was the variety of dishes on the menu. It’s not just your regular eggs and bacon and toast. No, at SBC you are treated to tempting dishes such as “Overstuffed Croissant of Smoked Salmon and Spicy Scrambled Eggs”, “Super Cheesy French Toast”, and “Chipotle Biscuit Sandwich”. And though I wanted to sample every dish on the menu, I settled on Caramelized Banana Pancakes ($15) with a side of bacon ($3), while le boyfriend went with the Overstuffed Popover with Gruyère, Smoked Bacon, and Greens ($11). Both were delicious, though I must add that the bananas on my pancakes were not at all caramelized and the coffee was sub-par. But even that didn’t change the fact that I want to come back to SBC for brunch, lunch, and dinner, as all three menus are permanently etch-a-sketched in my mind.

And the decor…it’s almost worth a trip to School just for the ambiance. Pencils, and blackboards, and apples…oh my! There are flat-screen TVs to watch the World Cup, patios to enjoy the sun, and baked goodies to round out your meal…what’s not to like? If you find yourself looking for a new place to try in the Liberty Village, try going to School…you might enjoy it for once.

What I Wore: Sunday, I’m In Love

Back when I used to work 50-60 hours per week, just a thought of going to work on Mondays ruined my entire Sundays, and made me despise them all together. Now that I love like my job, going to work is no longer a daunting task, which makes Sundays that much more enjoyable.

Sunday brunch in particular, is one of those things that I totally cannot live without. And discovering new brunch places has become a hobby of sorts for le boyfriend and I. A hobby and a competition to boot. Last Sunday, I wanted to surprise him with a totally new and undiscovered brunch place (post coming soon), but apparently, he had suggested that same place months ago, it’s just that we’d never gotten around to checking it out.

But then again, I guess it doesn’t matter who wins the brunch game, because in the end, both of us get to enjoy the yummy goodness of pancakes, eggs, and fresh hot coffee on a sunny Sunday afternoon, lazily lounging in the sun, and being in love.

What I Wore: Tank, Skirt – Forever21; Rings, Hat, Sunglasses, Men’s Bracelet – H&M; Shoes, Turquoise Bracelet – Urban Outfitters; Bag – Longchamp

Foodie: Saving Grace

Saving Grace
907 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
(416) 703-7368
Perfect For: Brunch

I’ve been a terrible girl, I completely forgot about this Saving Grace post, and now it’s been literally months since my last visit. Well, we’re heading into the long weekend, and if you’re staying put in the city, perhaps trying a new brunch place is in order?

Saving Grace is a teeny-tiny eatery on Dundas St. West, that does not take reservations, and seats about 20. They have a clipboard, hanging by the door, for you to put your name down (with about 15 other names waiting ahead of you), and then you can wander off for an hour or so (2 hours in our case) before it is your turn to be seated. I know this doesn’t sound very appealing, because noone likes to wait for their food on a Sunday morning, right? Well, in Saving Grace’s case, the wait is well worth it!

By the time we got a table, both le boyfriend and I were desperately hungry…and smelling and seeing delicious somethings on other people’s plates definitely did not help. The blackboard inside the restaurant showcases daily specials and all-time favorites. Having heard that their Caramelized Banana French Toast was delish, my sweet tooth ordered just that, while le boyfriend opted for Poached Eggs with Coconut Black Rice, served with some veggies and toast.

The toast, the caramelized bananas, the maple syrup…it was all perfection. Gooey, sweet, crunchy, soft perfection. I almost bit le boyfriend’s hand for trying to steal a piece of toast off my plate…that’s how freaking delicious that toast was. The.Best.I’ve.Ever.Had. His rice and potatoes, too, were something extraordinary! Smooth, flavorful and delicate…I wish more of my meals were this good.

The service at Saving Grace is efficient and friendly, the setting is quirky, and selections are vast. It was definitely one of my most memorable brunches ever. There’s nothing bad to say about this place whatsoever…except for the wait. But if we could do it in the midst of the freezing cold winter, I think waiting around in the summer should be a piece of French Toast cake. Especially, with The Communal Mule Espresso Bar just down the street, where you can grab a coffee, read the paper, relax at one of their cool wooden tables, before heading back to Saving Grace to see if your table opened up. After all, good things come to those who wait.

Foodie: Lola’s Commissary

Lola’s Commissary
634 Church St.
Toronto, ON
416-966-3991
Perfect For: Brunch

A few weeks ago, the girls and I have finally broken our “Fran’s Rut” and met up for our brunch date at an entirely different place. No diner vibe here, just an airy, welcoming space, and “Better Than Your Momma Made It” dishes. Well, the last statement may or may not be true, but we sure did clear our plates!

First of all, as a regular brunchee (don’t care if that’s not a word), I am used to waiting for my food on Sunday mornings…it’s just the way most places are – no reservations, and limited seating (cough*Saving Grace*cough). Well, at Lola’s they do take reservations, and what’s more – they have plenty of seating (indoors and out)! Plus, apparently Saturdays aren’t as busy as Sundays, so the day we went, we didn’t have to wait at all! Unheard of, no?

On to the food…Upon spotting Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast ($12), I immediately knew that there would be nothing else to order that day (diets be damned!). Al went with her fave – Eggs Benny ($11) with some frites, and Love, going against the brunch grain, asked for…gasp…a BLT Wrap ($10) with some sexy potatoes (a mix of sweet and regular potato wedges).

Perhaps due to my high expectations, the French Toast was not all it was cracked up to be in my head…It was definitely tasty, but not KABOOM (that’s short for taste explosion), as I was hoping. Not sweet enough, or something, but I still gobbled it up…down to the last crumb. Al was very happy with her Eggs Benedict, and Lovelys with her wrap…I snacked on their frites and sexy potatoes…and loved the sexy potatoes! I make mine similar, but have not called them sexy until now…sounds much better than just POTATOES, no?

The service was great, and my request for a table in the back was met with understanding. The location is also great, not too far from the bustle of Bloor Street, yet cozy enough to be a relaxed place to eat and chill on a weekend afternoon.

Overall, Lola’s Commissary was a pleasant find, coupled with good food, great service, and availability of reservations – I will definitely be back for more!

Foodie: Oddfellows

Oddfellows
963 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON
416-534-5244
Perfect For: Brunch

While I’m sure many of my Toronto readers have experienced Oddfellows for themselves at least once in their Toronto existence, le boyfriend and I haven’t had the pleasure until a few weeks ago. I was very glad that we did! Saturdays and Sundays, Oddfellows offers a great brunch menu from 10am-3pm, which includes general population staples such as Eggs Any Style ($10, including toast, homefries, and choice of meat), and Nelly staples, such as brownies, apple pie, float, and banana split ($6-$9).

This time around, however, I settled on the “boring” eggs overeasy (perfectly done), which came with fruit garnish, and crispy succulent bacon. One of the things le boyfriend and I have in common is our love for…wait for it…dipping chunks of toast into the egg-yolk of the overeasy eggs. So delicious! No brunch should ever be without some toast dipping! And dip I did! The coffee was quite good, but nothing crazy or special…though mine was served in a “30 and still a wild child” cup. I should’ve taken offense, but I decided not to…I don’t look 30…no way-no how…so the cup was probably meant for le boyfriend. Haha! He ended up ordering Rebekah’s Buckwheat Cakes ($12) with some sautéed bananas on top of three pancakes, which is really not enough to satisfy most guys, so he had some of my bacon and eggs too. I really, really liked the flavor of his dish, but that could’ve been due to the fact that I love sautéed bananas!

The decor itself is reason enough to pay Oddfellows a visit. Little knick-knacks all around the dining room are indeed odd, but blend well into this tiny space. Service was good, and our cups didn’t go coffee-less for too long. Our bill was presented inside a Harlequin Romance book, and noone ever yelled at me for messing up the lettering on the magnet board to shamelessly self-promote. All in all, if you are looking for a decent and fun-looking brunch place in the heart of Queen Street’s shopping stretch, Oddfellows is a great choice – with tasty food, good service, and fun things to look at.

 

 

Patio Sunday!

toronto distillery district distillery may-anniversary-distillery-090

Went to the Boiler House for their famous Sunday Brunch yesterday. The food was meh (selection at Hot House is way better), but the ambiance was pretty awesome! Lots of exposed brick, flowers, sunshine, and jazzy sounds flowing all around. What a fantastic way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

WHAT I WORE

LET’S GET SOCIAL!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.