Our Faves

Pizzeria Libretto

221 Ossington Ave., Toronto, ON, M6J 2Z8

Rated this place:

posted Mar 25 2009

Now this is real pizza!: Favourite ECO-ASPECTS 1. supporting local and sustainable food - try the margherita pizza to understand what using the best ingredients does for a simple dish! 2. They filter our Toronto water on site and fill simple glass bottles and serve...happily…without charge. Make sure you get to their door early (read as: right when they open, check website for times) because it’s the only way to get a table without waiting, no reservations are taken. Libretto deserves the success…delicious and unpretentious real food at real prices. They claim to be “Simple, Natural, and Honest.”, I couldn’t agree more.

True Restaurant

69 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5R 1B8

Rated this place:

posted Apr 6 2009

Being True to True for Lunch: It's really exciting to find a restaurant that calls itself organic, and actually seems to be organic right down to their condiments and their drinks. The space is clean and absolutely beautiful. We frequent True on weekends with the family (ranging from 6 to 20 people) and although the service is not the most attentive (especially with kids), the food is consistently good. The arugula salad and the pizzas are delicious, especially on thin organic spelt crusts. It's convenient, healthy and simple...now if they can get more people into their large space, they will do better...i just hope i'll still be able to get my reservation...try it!

The Healthy Butcher

565 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V2B6

Rated this place:

posted Apr 12 2009

LIVE TO EAT on Eglinton!: What a pleasure it is to shop on Eglinton West at the Healthy Butcher. Even though their store name implies meat, they are my stop gap measure in between farmer's markets for local and organic fruits and veggies, fish, cheese, bread and eggs. In a very small store (compared to a grocery store), you can buy everything from safe cookware, spices, organic condiments + flours, delicious artisinal cheese and crackers (monforte sheep's cheddar and evelyn's crackers...yum!), the best popcorn (passion popcorn from Ontario) and lots of nut-free and organic products (if you haven't already tried Mapleton's Organic Cappuccino Ice Cream, you must!). The staff are absolutely wonderful and very accommodating for any special requests. Even though there is no "easy" parking, it's easy in and easy out (they will carry their groceries to your car)...and open 7 days per week. 2 other locations also...it's worth the drive.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• organic butcher
• staff
• organic + local produce
• mapleton's ice cream

JK Wine Bar

9 Church Street, Toronto, M5E 1M2

Rated this place:

posted Apr 12 2009

THE Toronto Eating Experience: Embrace gastronomy and enjoy the best our Ontario has to offer! the menu is comprised of tasting-size portions for sharing (thank goodness, because you must try many!) and even their wines come by the glass and half glass (and are paired with each dish on the menu). Because their menu changes twice daily and supports what is seasonal and fresh, you can go everyday without eating the same thing..except the frites, which are really hard to avoid ordering! If you are lucky enough (no reservations), you should sit at the Chef's Bar and watch Chef Dan and Jordy assemble all dishes...better and more fun than Iron Chef. :)

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• local menu
• frites
• staff + service
• chef's bar
• ever changing menu
• sharing-size dishes

LPK’s Culinary Groove

718 Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4M1H2

Rated this place:

posted Jun 10 2009

ECO YUM!: The trademarked claim of LPK is "beautifully cultivated desserts", but I think that's a shame because there are many desserts out there that look phenomenal and don't live up to expectation when they hit your taste buds. Well, it's worth the drive and the price at LPK. If you appreciate good food (they use organic, seasonal and local ingredients), you will overwhelmingly appreciate their desserts. Their lemon tart was the best lemon tart I have ever eaten, I enjoyed a phenomenal pecan caramel tart, delicious chocolate sandwich cookies aka myloreos(ate all 3 in the car ride home, oops) and I'm thrilled that I sampled the Spicy Chèvre Noir Shortbread Cookies to know that I needed a bag. Although, I may have to return quickly for more, and to argue that they need not be termed a "cookie" and should fall under an entirely new category of their own. LPK Culinary Groove is inventive and beautiful, yes, but also delicious and deserving of your palate.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Vegan
• organic desserts
• gluten free
• spicy chevre noir shortbread

Veritas

234 King Street East, Toronto, ON

Rated this place:

posted Jun 19 2009

BEAUTIFUL SPACE AND PLATES: Brad Long needs you to eat here. You need you to eat here. Veritas offers true, fresh, local, sustainable and organic foods and drinks in the Vertias bar, dining room, private dining or great courtyard patio. The menu is simple, the food is good, the service has been great (very accomodating since all is made fresh), but the space needs to be busier. A quiet restaurant is not fun for anyone. The starters are outstanding and worth every penny - non-carnivores will enjoy the herbivore "charcuterie", something unique and beautifully presented. The lounge/bar menu and starters make for a fun meal with friends explore what's seasonal. Once you all frequent Veritas, I'm confident that we'll all benefit from even more of a commitment from Brad Long to local and organic ingredients.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• service
• appetizers
• brussel sprout salad
• sweet potato waffle fries

The Harbord Room

89 Harbord St., Toronto, ON, M5S 1G4

Rated this place:

posted Sep 13 2009

Hurry to Harbord: It's so important for us to be connected to our food, and thanks to The Harbord Room and those brilliant foodies behind the restaurant, as we order, we are privy to knowing where everything comes from. The servers are very well informed and understatedly enthusiastic (in a good way) about the menu. Each appetizer sounded delicious, the cold tomato soup (read: gazpacho) was simple yet outstanding. The presentation of each dish was great, and it was all smiles as the dishes were served. Around our table was, "best burger ever", "wow", "yum", "try this", the marniated honey mushrooms just as garnish were fantastic. The prices are very reasonable for what you are being served. The wine list included some good local labels, and it would have been nice if any of their cocktails had the same commitment to local, organic or fresh flavours! Please DO NOT pass on dessert, especially if they have Churros on the menu. Request the booth by the window, or get there early during patio season to grab a seat, eat, drink and savour.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• patio
• Burger
• Atmosphere
• organic dishes
• local eating