Presenting The Toronto Brunch Map 2.0

December 8, 2011 in Brunch by Plato Putas | No comments

Previously on the blog we interviewed my pal Lindsay Zier-Vogel, originator of the popular Toronto Love Lettering project and fanatical brunch lover, about The Toronto Brunch Map she hand-drew for me exactly a year ago. Now there’s a revised version that’s so much better because everyone can get their own copy to post up on their fridge or kitchen wall.

Filled with over 20 of Lindsay’s favourite brunch spots in the city with notes about the best dishes and must-orders, The Toronto Brunch Map is essential for any brunch lover. It’s inspired me to visit Saving Grace, Lady Marmalade and Bonjour Brioche, some of the most memorable weekend morning meals I’ve had. The map also comes with a checklist of the featured restaurants and an “I love brunch” pin, so you can go about your quest of making that meal between breakfast and lunch the best you’ll ever have.

The Toronto Brunch Map is available for $12 on Lindsay’s etsy page.

Take-Home Treat from Keriwa Cafe

November 30, 2011 in Queen St West by Plato Putas | No comments

After a delicious meal at Keriwa Cafe (1690 Queen St. West, east of Roncesvalles), my dining companions and I were each handed a stapled-shut brown paper bag. The waiter explained it was a gift, and told us to enjoy its contents tomorrow morning. The small but very thoughtful gesture easily extended our already great impression of the meal. Of course, none of us were patient enough to wait until the next day so as soon as the waiter was out of earshot my friend tore open his bag and we each had a peek. What we found inside had us grinning from ear to ear.

Read on and get a peek inside my paper bag.

Filleting O’ Fish at Hooked

November 29, 2011 in Queen St East, Store Profile by Plato Putas | 2 comments

Last week I filleted my very first fish, this poor rainbow trout. My rookie fishmongering skills and tentative knife strokes did him no favours. But last week I also filleted my second fish, and that turned out to be, well I wouldn’t call it a success, but the results were much better and it filled me with pride…and a delicious meal. It’s all thanks to Hooked (888 Queen Street East), a fish store in Leslieville that offers a Fishmongering 101 Class.

Read on to find out how my fillets turned out and what other lessons and treats we learnt during the three-hour class.

My First Gandhi Roti

November 22, 2011 in Downtown, Indian, Lunch, Queen St West by Plato Putas | 1 comment

We sang the praises of the roti from Gandhi Indian Cuisine (554 Queen St. West, at Bathurst) way back during our blog’s first year. That post was written the other Double P, Jaspal, who heeded a serious warning against ordering anything spiced medium or higher. In fact, her specific words were: “Don’t say I didn’t warn you to be prepared to hold onto your pants (if you know what I mean, and I think you do).”

Gross, yes. But it stuck with me. So when my co-workers Kailey and Angie suggested we pick-up Gandhi for lunch on Friday, the only thing I knew was my first roti shouldn’t be medium-spiced. Then on twitter, chef Roger Mooking dared me to try it hot, but he’s clearly confused my life with an episode of his popular Food Network show Heat Seekers. No, thank you.

Find out which spice level I got, and whether my pants stayed on.

Good Food in a Box

November 6, 2011 in Budget Eats, Grocery Store by Plato Putas | No comments

I’m one of those people who’s constantly proclaiming: “I should eat more fruits and vegetables.” So when I saw some of my co-workers bring in piles of apples and pears, creating a makeshift fruit bowl on their desk, I got inspired. They made it even easier by telling me that their produce pusher was actually the Good Food Box program run by FoodShare Toronto. I’m now a proud participant and pictured above is my first bounty, the contents of a Small Good Food Box, a great deal for $13.

I obviously still have to supplement this with other produce, so it’s not like it saves me a trip to the grocery store. But I’m absolutely 100% convinced this is way more than what $13 would get me at Longo’s or Loblaws. Now, only two boxes in, I’m definitely eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, trying new recipes with the items I wouldn’t normally purchase and finding all sorts of creative ways to cook up apples and pears (I’m allergic when they’re fresh, so during the first week I whipped up some homemade applesauce).

Find out the process of ordering a Good Food Box and see what I got when I ordered the small organic box next.

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