Body Blitz

Rated this place:

471 Adelaide St. W., Toronto, ON, M5V1T1

Water spa: Women! You can swim (nudely or otherwise) in green tea! Salt water! Freezing water that makes you scream and shudder! (note: in combination with the previous two things, it's actually rather nice). AND when you're ready to pull your soakerly self back into the world, they provide a variety of scented lotions and potions to help you on your way. Merveilleux!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Water Spa

Reposado Bar & Lounge

Rated this place:

136 Ossington Ave., Toronto, ON, M6J 2Z5

Jazz lounge: It's not strictly jazz. But there is occasional jazz. And occasional jazz over a drink is 90% there. What is it about this place? I like the atmosphere, the patio, and the sip n learn tequila menu. Steer clear of their Manhattan, it's a grim affair - but if you grab a glass of something bracing and observe the contenders for best looking man in the bar, well sir, that's a fine evening. A fine evening indeed.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Jazz Lounge

Fiesta Farms

Rated this place:

200 Christie St, Toronto, ON, M6G3B6

Local garden centre: Whenever you want to make your garden sing, there's something there for you. Like herbs. Also, figurines and flowers that I and my prematurely-self ageing granny cart can collect for a homeward journey.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Local Garden Centre

Victory Cafe

Rated this place:

581 Markham St, Toronto, ON, M6G2L7

Pumpkin beer on draft: It's autumn and I'm in a pumpkin frame of mind. They're friggin versatile: throw em, carve em, bake em, drink em. Have you tried pumpkin ale? You haven't? Make haste!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Pumpkin Beer on Draft

Alex Farm Products

Rated this place:

377 Danforth Av, Toronto, ON, M4K1P1

Cheddar cheese: Apple Wood Smoked Cheddar. It's a phenomenon. Here's a hint: Go to the St Lawrence Market and buy the maple syrup glazed bacon. Then make an egg, over easy. Toast a crumpet. Layer bacon, egg and applewood smoked cheddar. Rejoice.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Cheddar Cheese

Frock

Rated this place:

97 Roncesvalles Av, Toronto, ON, M6R2K9

Vintage store: Jewelry items made of antique typewriter keys. Also, jaunty chapeaux and, yes, frocks. Here's what I like to do: bike out to Brunch at B or Easy, Frock gaze and then Polish drinking den. It's a Sunday made in Roncey.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• vintage store

Hollywood Gelato

Rated this place:

1640 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4G3B7

Pumpkin gelato pie: Because? Because? It's taking an already super key thing, and adding a whole new wave of key to it. Because if you have a slice of it alongside apple crisp, you may want to rip out your tongue and frame it to save the deliciousness. Because I like pumpkin, pie, and gelato, and the combination of all three makes me weep with joy.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Pumpkin Gelato Pie

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

Rated this place:

4 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON, M5R2E8

Manhattan: The perfect mix of sweet vermouth and bourbon (I do the bourbon variety). Trust me, I keep a running tab of decent Manhattans in the city. Offhand, this is one of the best.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Manhattan

Southern Accent Cajun & Creole

Rated this place:

595 Markham St, Toronto, ON, M6G2L7

Hush puppies: Deep fried corn fritters? Deep fried anything really, but corn fritters? Exceptionelle! And these here are super lovely examples: deep brown and crunchy on the outside, bursting with soft, warm corny goodness on the inside. Dip it in the sour cream and eat it. Just...friggin eat it.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Hush Puppies

Ginger

Rated this place:

695 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 2B2

Wednesday lunch: There's something so satisfying about #20 - the beef noodle soup. Have been told i should try the rare beef version, and I will. Whenever I order the pho, I also order a meat skewer (because I'm gluttonous). The chicken meat skewer is choice.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Wednesday lunch

B

Rated this place:

2210 Dundas St. W, Toronto, ON, M6R3A9

Sunday brunch: I have several favourites in this category. But this'un does spins on old favourites. Any brunch bar that makes duck sausage is my friend. And any brunch bar that includes a miniature 'B' made of radish to garnish the side salad is twicely so.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sunday brunch

Lee

Rated this place:

603 King St. W., Toronto, ON, M5V1E1

Dinner for five: More than five, preferably. We had 10. And the dishes were tiny, so we ordered many different sorts. And the atmosphere became festive. And there were many yummies. The combination of tastes and textures is pretty incredible. All hail the slaw.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Dinner for five

Monster Factory Inc.

Rated this place:

1071 King St. W., Suite 203, Toronto, ON, M6K 3K2

Local purveyor of monsters: I first laid eyes on Kyle at the Cabbagetown festival. He gazed unblinking with his wee beady eyes. I tried to pass by, pocketbook in death grip. I heard his voice (beep-like, but soothing) in my head. It was love.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Local Purveyor of Monsters

Riverdale Park

Rated this place:

Scarlett Rd., Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2

Farmer's market for local produce: Variety - not just fruits and veg (those too), but elk. Elk, I say! And something called Ramembert which is a sheep's milk camembert of tart proportions. Eat it. Eat it now.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Farmer's Market for Local Produce

Kalendar

Rated this place:

546 College St, Toronto, ON, M6G1B1

Alternative beverage: I wouldn't have paired kir with Blanche de Chamblis, but I decided to play it dangerously and order the Kalendar Kir. You should also order the Kalendar Kir. For to have a delishus bevvie.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Alternative beverage

Tomi-Kro

Rated this place:

1214 Queen St. E., Toronto, ON, M4M1L7

Fusion tapas: I mean, hot damn. This is actually favourite fusion 2, cause Kultura is ultra good and I went there first. Tomi-Kro. Well, the space is hep, the food is divine and I had a nice little mnahattan to boot (curiously smoky - it reminded me of sipping on a rec room). Fois Gras creme brulee? Yea. That's all i need to say.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• fusion tapas

Grapefruit Moon

Rated this place:

968 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON, M5R3G6

Brunch: It's one of my favourites, perhaps not my ULTIMATE favourite. But how can you argue with chotchkas lining the walls and local, organic sausage? How can you argue with SEVERAL takes on huevos rancheros? How can you, indeed?

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• brunch

Rich Media

Rated this place:

1533 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON, M4J5C3

Digital extra curriculars: I went to a great brainstorm course there a couple weeks ago conducted by one Jason Theodor. They have programming for digital professionals here, and elsewhere too. The Toronto chapter is run out of a fahbulous design0 bookstore to boot: http://element156.com/

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Digital extra curriculars

Spotted Dick

Rated this place:

81 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON, M4W1A9

Cobb salad: It is a chunky affair, and I'll be damned if I can get enough of that breaded chicken affair they splash around on the top. Additionally, and perhaps more deliciously, this establishment offers up deep friend macaroni squares. Yes friend, you heard me correct. Deep. Fried. Macaroni.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Cobb Salad

Windsor Arms Hotel

Rated this place:

18 St. Thomas St, Toronto, ON, M5S3E7

Manhattan: Ok. Well. It's good - a good manhattan, made with Maker's Mark as I like - good full proportions. BUT WAIT! What's that? $26 for a double? Yes, I'm not kidding. Bewarey, manhattanites. I'll remember that bill for a while.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Manhattan

Casa Loma

Rated this place:

1 Austin Terr, Toronto, ON, M5R1X8

Secret closet: When I was in 6th grade, we went on a class trip to Casa Loma. In the main bedroom, there is a secret closet, where the ne'er do well tax evader who built Casa Loma used to hide. I pressed on the wall, and there it was. And that was a good Toronto moment.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Secret Closet

Ghazale Restaurant

Rated this place:

504 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S1Y3

Take out middle eastern: Of its most peculiar location, size and use of olive oils. This the kind of Middle Eastern that you envision yourself eating on Berber hand woven rugs under the sprawling Tunisian night sky. Certainly not the kind you envision wrapped in napkins as you wander out from the Bloor Cinema. But thank the Tunisian heavens it's near my new apartment. Now I can feast and flee this wintery weather at once.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Take Out Middle Eastern

Mendocino Clothing Outlet

Rated this place:

2020 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON, M4L 1J4

Mendocino: How else could I afford it? Let's face it, Ilikea the dresses and jackets and such.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Mendocino

Winners

Rated this place:

17890 Yonge St, Newmarket, ON, L3Y 8S1

Boot sale: More boots for your dollar. Today I'm sporting a $30 pair of green kicky items. You have to be in the mood to poke around. But if you're into it, you can go heel happy, and walk out...yes...A WINNER.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Boot Sale

Cloud Gardens

Rated this place:

Richmond St (east of Bay St), Toronto, ON

Urban stroll: This is delightful - a waterfall and a hidden greenhouse flanked by the urban jungle of the financial district. It's quiet here at night. And a nice stopover to the labyrinth behind the Eaton Centre.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• urban stroll