Cuisine is one of the main focuses of this Europe trip. This new itinerary combines the most delectable foods and treats from Paris, Provence, and soon Rome and Tuscany.
Between Trafalgar‘s Be My Guest and Hidden Treasure experiences you not only get to see incredible insider locations off the beaten path, but you get to taste some of the most delicious food the country has to offer.
Enter: the macaron.
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I often find it difficult to choose a place to eat or grab a drink. Not because there’s nowhere to go, but because Toronto has SO many options it’s hard to pick just one!
I love discovering new places and my latest adventure was to Cafe Taste.
If I showed you around my house today, you would find dozens and dozens of cookbooks stacked on my bookcases, kitchen shelves and side tables. I really treasure each and every one of them and have hand-picked them all individually, creating what I consider to be a pretty perfect cookbook collection!
Ancient Grains for Modern Meals is one of those great cookbooks you want to browse just before deciding what meals to make for the week. For anyone a little weary of cooking with whole grains … this is the book for you! Author Maria Speck gives readers useful tips to use whole grains in a variety of recipes, from savoury to sweet – and we’re giving away a copy!
To enter the contest: Leave a comment below and tell us which of the three following recipes from this cookbook you are most looking forward to trying. Read the rest of this entry »
Having lived in Toronto for only a handful of months, there are a lot of places that I have not yet had a chance to visit. I was told by a myriad of people that going to the CNE was a must. With only a few weeks of warm weather left, I finally made my way to the Ex this past Sunday. I saw the farm animals, walked through all the attractions and games and, maybe most importantly, had my first bite of a deep-fried Oreo.
Being pretty new to Toronto, I’ve been exploring the city left and right for the past couple of months. The best place to start for me has been the farmers’ markets. My favourite, so far, has been the one at Evergreen Brick Works.
Filled with all the seasonal produce you can think of, local artisans, a garden market and plenty of homemade goods to nibble on, it’s a great place to spend a few hours on a Saturday morning.
If you shop at supermarkets most of the time, it’s sometimes hard to remember that fruits and vegetables are not meant to be perfect round and shiny. The produce at the Evergreen market is a great reminder of what food should taste and look like! The tomatoes are beautifully uneven in shape, the lettuce is organically grown and the carrots are bountiful and filled with different hues of orange and crimson. Here are a few of my food photos from this past weekend.
Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market
Saturdays from 9AM – 1PM
550 Bayview Ave, Toronto, Ontario
Jennifer Bartoli is a Toronto-based food writer, photographer and recipe developer who grew up in Paris. Her longstanding passion for food took her to New York City, where she studied at the French Culinary Institute. For delicious recipes and more, check out Jennifer’s blog Chocolate Shavings.
When I first ventured into baking (and I can sadly say I’m still venturing), I thought a blender and a food processor essentially did the same thing. Whenever a recipe called for a food processor, I didn’t have one, so I just thought, “Meh, this blender will give the same effect.” Wrong, Lauren. So very wrong.
And that, my friends, is why I’m thrilled to be giving away this top-of-the-line food processor from KitchenAid. Their Architect Series is made up of professional quality small appliances (think of the classic KichenAid stand mixer), and this 12-cup processor is no different.
To enter, leave a comment below sharing your favourite summer food (or drink!).
*Contest closes May 25th, 2011 at 12pm EST. Open to all residents of Canada, except those in Quebec. Not open to any Transcontinental Media employees, their families, or any other persons with whom they reside.
Typically, Easter is a big family affair at home – a home cooked meal around our large dining room table. But this year, we decided to try something different. This year, we opted to go out for Easter brunch.
But where to go? The city is filled with options, of course. There’s no shortage of restaurants in Toronto. But we wanted to try something new and someplace that would feel special for Easter. Good thing the Ritz-Carlton just opened downtown!
I never think about hotel restaurants when looking for a dining option but what a great idea. The newly opened Ritz-Carlton Toronto has two restaurants and a bar: Toca by Tom Brodi (where we had brunch), Toca Bar and Deq, an outdoor patio perfect for summer evenings.
The restaurant is stylish and intimate. There’s a modern rustic feeling – the wide-planked unfinished wood floors and glazed brick walls lend a welcoming feel to the space. The extensive wine cellar is in full view behind glass doors adjacent to a large private dining area. But the best part?
The glass-enclosed cheese cave is truly one of a kind. Here, a selection of cheeses are given time and privacy to age to perfection. At any given time, three cheeses that are ready to be devoured are selected and served to diners. The cheese cave is home to about $250,000 worth of cheese. There’s currently a block in there worth about $10,000!
The brunch menu was select but the options were wonderful. Here’s a sampling of what you missed:
Brunch starts with a virgin Caesar shooter followed by two Bellinis in your choice of flavours: Peach, raspberry, mango or lychee.
No surprise here: I opted for the French toast. It’s served with a fruit compote on the side and maple syrup. It’s got a cream cheese filling inside – an unexpected but yummy surprise!
My sister opted for the oatmeal pancake with rhubarb and vanilla.
My mom and brother-in-law sampled the signature item: Eggs Benny on Brioche. They’re served eight different ways so there are options for everyone.
Every order comes with a side of fries, greens or poutine. We had to try the avocado frites. Breaded, then fried, they were delish!
Brunch Therapy at the Ritz-Carlton Toronto, $49 per person; view full menu here. For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com or call (416) 585-2500.
I have to say: I haven’t exactly been gripped by royal wedding fever. But as the date of Kate and William’s wedding draws closer, I find myself reading more blogs about the upcoming nuptials, flipping through tabloids at the newsstand and wondering (gasp!) what Kate’s dress is going to look like.
So in honour of the big day, here are some things to put all of us in the mood:
William and Kate: A Royal Love Story, chapters.indigo.ca, $19.79.
Fortnum & Mason Earl Grey Classic Tea, Williams-Sonoma, $14.95.
Amelie Teacups, chapters.indigo.ca, $49.99.
And what goes better with the perfect cup o’ tea than delicious biscuits? Try this recipe for Lemon Spritz Cookies, developed by Aran Goyoaga of Cannelle et Vanille.
For more fun, check out these 15 royal wedding-inspired decor finds!
I don’t think I’m getting up at 3am to catch the pre-wedding festivities. Are you?
One of my favourite dessert recipes for last-minute entertaining is making your own ice cream sundaes. For a casual get-together, it’s really a fun way to have every guest build their own sweet treat, ready in minutes. There are a few very easy steps to this recipe. The real key is toasting slivered almonds (toasting them releases the nutty flavour). Almonds are one of the items I always have on hand in my pantry. I use them in salads and cakes, and they add that perfect crunch atop a velvety bowl of ice cream. I lay them out in an even layer on a baking sheet and toast them at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden.
The other elements of this ice cream dessert are some good quality vanilla bean ice cream and some chocolate sauce made by simmering heavy cream and pouring it over some dark chocolate chips.
Chocolate Sauce
Place the chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a light boil. As soon as it boils, pour it over the chocolate. Let it rest for 30 seconds and stir until the mixture is homogenous. If you want the sauce to have a thinner consistency, add another couple teaspoons of heavy cream. Serve immediately.
To build the dessert, place 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream in a bowl, top with a couple spoonfuls of the chocolate sauce, slivered almonds and a few sprinkles.
Jennifer Bartoli is a Montreal-based food writer, photographer and recipe developer who grew up in Paris. Her longstanding passion for food took her to New York City, where she studied at the French Culinary Institute. For more delicious recipes like this, check out Jennifer’s blog, Chocolate Shavings.
Fab find
Ceramic spice jars, $4 each; anthropologie.com.
Guest post by Elaine Song
I have completely fallen in love with these adorable spice jars. They’re airtight and come in four pretty, pastel colours – perfect with Easter just around the corner! Each jar is numbered and impressed with the phrase “Plein de Bonne Choses” (Full of Good Things). It’s these little details that make them all the more precious.
Médias Transcontinental
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