Teatro Verde

Rated this place:

87 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON, M5R2H2

Home decor: Inspiration runs wild in the fabulously chic boutique that makes me want to decorate & re-decorate over & over again. Everything from coffee table books to the furniture on which they are displayed are all expertly chosen by home style gurus. From stationery to stemware, new finds are always coming in so there's something to discover (& desire) upon each visit. Locations at different ends of the city (Bayview Village & Hazelton Lanes) make it easy to indulge no matter where you

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• home decor

Arton Crafts Inc

Rated this place:

523 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V2B4

Bead store: There's a massive selection of quality beads, findings, gemstones and the like at fair prices. Items are well organized and prices are clearly indicated so there's no confusion at the cash. The staff may not be very warm, but they are knowledgeable and efficient. Jewellery-making addicts like me who blow their beading budget are happily rewarded with a membership discount.

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

Bacchus Roti Shop

Rated this place:

1376 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M6K1L7

Veggie roti: The squash, channa and spinach make a divinely delicious smooth roti filling that will make your tongue dance and tummy sing. Your roti is made to order at Bacchus, with loads of veggie and meat fillings that can be mixed and matched. Each packet of West Indian goodness is large enough for two meals, it's nice to eat half at the restaurant and take the rest home for later.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• veggie roti

Sam Jung Restaurant

Rated this place:

1865 Leslie St, North York, ON, M3B2M3

Hwe dup bap: All the ingredients of my one of my favourite Korean dishes are exactly how I like them: The raw fish is fresh; the salad is crisp and cool. the rice is warm & perfectly textured; and the flavourful kochujang is neither too thick nor too thin. It's a perfect one bowl summer meal.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• hwe dup bap

Allan's Pastry

Rated this place:

3447 Kennedy Road, Scarborough, ON, M1V 3S1

Jamaican patty: Fresh and flavourful, Allan's patties are perfectly seasoned. The pastry has a great flakey texture and the filling is rich and smooth. If you're looking for a more substantial (but still quick) authentic Jamaican meal, ask for coco bread with your patty. Allan's bakery--full of its wonderful scents, was my family's introduction to Jamaican baked goods. In a less health conscious time, we'd buy beef patties by the dozen and could barely keep the box closed before we got home.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Jamaican Patty

Epi Breads

Rated this place:

1526 Bayview Ave., Toronto, ON, M4G 3B4

Baguette: It's got a great texture and is made with fine, wholesome ingredients in a tried and true artisanal manner. There's a nice balance between crunchiness, chewiness and softness. If you can't trek uptown for your fresh baguette, hit your closest Fresh & Wild and let the (dinner) party begin!

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

Tabule Restaurant

Rated this place:

2009 Yonge St, North York, ON, M4N2N5

Water service: I love how the free flowing water is poured from a beautiful traditional Lebanese glass water jug high above the table and into your glass. Complimentary, refreshing entertainment to go with a delicious meal.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• water service

Cantine Restaurant Bar

Rated this place:

138 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON, M5R2H6

Quiet brunch: Even though it's a stone's throw away from some posh & pricey Avenue Rd. establishments, Cantine is surprisingly down to earth. Nestled away among the Av/Dav flowershops & another fave, discount fashion outlet, Ends, Cantine has Yorkville sophistication with Annex casualness. My fave tweak on a classic item is a red pepper, roasted pear & brie frittata. Get there early to avoid the rush & enjoy a peaceful brunch in an warm, inviting space.

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

Bulk Barn

Rated this place:

9350 Yonge St, Richmond Hill, ON, L4C5G2

Bulk food store: The stores are bright, clean & neatly organized so you can easily find what you are looking for & adequately inspect the goods before you purchase. A huge variety of products are available: everything from dried fruit to uncommon whole grains. Plastic containers with the signature black & yellow logo are provided for wet items like nut butters & honey. I love the widest selection of items for baking, which makes early December prep easy. Tip: Students & seniors get 10% off o

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Bulk Food Store

Cora's Breakfast & Lunch

Rated this place:

277 Wellington Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V 3E4

Guilty pleasure: Even though I am freaked out by the uniformity of Cora's restaurants; I'm also happy to be able to enjoy my favourite brekkie at this QC mega chain, the weird & wonderful "sarrasin surprise". It's called "buckwheat blessing" in Anglo-Canada & doesn't taste exactly the same as versions in Montreal, but it's pretty darn close. Buckwheat galettes (or crepes, if you must) rolled around breakfast sausages & cheese. Cochon! At least it comes with lots of fruit.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Guilty pleasure

Dufflet Pastries

Rated this place:

787 Queen W, Toronto, ON, M6J1G1

Key lime tart: The sweet yet pleasingly tangy whipped key lime filling delicately piped into crisp chocolate cookie crust makes my tummy happy. Big enough to satisfy a serious craving but not too large to induce post-dessert guilt.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• key lime tart

Ends

Rated this place:

140 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON, M5R2H6

Discount fashion: There's a thrill to the hunt. Think Winner's only much smaller. (Read: less junk to sift through.) Designer samples (in small *and* larger sizes) abound. Despite the bargain basement prices, many items are brought in individually or in small quantities so you're unlikely to see someone else sporting your chic new find on the TTC. In addition to the special single items, basics from international labels that are otherwise unavailable in Canada can be found in bulk at unbelievably low prices.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• discount fashion

Pizzaiolo Gourmet Pizza

Rated this place:

10 Locations in Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5V 1K4

Pizza by the slice: There's always a huge variety of slices with a nice combination of gourmet toppings on offer. $5 gets you a slice and a drink, including some Italian faves like Brio or San Pellegrino Chinotto. Meat lovers and herbivores can dine quickly and cheaply together before or after hitting the town. It's definitely not romantic slow food, but it is fast food at its finest.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• pizza by the slice

Crumpler

Rated this place:

831 Queen Street West, Toronto, M6J 1G1

Bag store: It’s a one-stop shop for whimsically stylish utilitarian bags. Crumpler makes sturdy bags with comfort and practicality in mind. I especially like their chic camera bags, but can also see why their messenger, laptop and other bags are equally popular. Bags come in all the colours of the rainbow to suit different tastes. This may be Crumpler’s first Canadian store, but you’ll often be served by friendly Aussie staff.

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

Grazie Ristorante

Rated this place:

2373 Yonge St, Toronto, ON, M4P2C8

Low-key italian cuisine: The food is delicious; the prices are reasonable; and the service is friendly and efficient. Busy without being too noisy and crowded, Grazie is a pleasant place to dine with friends who are scattered around the GTA as it is steps from Eglinton station. Try the Firenze pizza topped with potato, pesto, chicken, eggplant and tomatoes or any cheese-filled pasta. Divine.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• low-key Italian cuisine

Gwartzman's Canvas & Art Supplies

Rated this place:

448 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T2G8

Art supply store: It's crammed from floor to ceiling with quality goods that can all be had for a great price. Can't find what you want? Never fear, Gwartzman and co. knowledgeable and ready to help. For close to 40 years, my family has gone to Gwartzman's for art supplies. Hopefully, the family tradition will continue for many years to come.

Propaganda

Rated this place:

686 Yonge St, Toronto, ON, M4Y2A6

Accessories store: The store showcases the funky and fresh creations of mostly local designers. A fun place to browse even if you have no intention of purchasing, Propaganda is a quintessential stop along the Yonge St. shopping strip. While many products may be too youthfully cute for a corporate uniform, there’s an adequate selection of jewellery, attire and the like that would work equally well on a campus or in a business office.

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

Rahier Patissiere

Rated this place:

1586 Bayview Ave., East York, ON, M4G3C1

Birthday cake: No birthday is complete without a delicious cake. More than just a repository for candles, Rahier's delicious cakes are moist and are rich without being too heavy. There's nothing sicky sweet about these cakes. Everything is delicately sweetened to perfection. If you're a chocoholic like me, you'll love the fact that Rahier uses the good stuff. A bite of a heavenly Rahier creation will have you immediately fantasizing about your second piece.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• birthday cake

Sunny Cafe

Rated this place:

322 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M5S1W5

Healthy takeout: It's tucked inside another favourite spot, Noah's Natural Foods on Bloor & serves a wide variety of healthy vegan & organic meals at fair prices. Hot & cold homemade delights can be enjoyed at the pleasant (but small) bar or taken home. Even though the sun doesn't reach this windowless cafe, it's aptly named as the folks behind the counter have a sunny demeanour. The food is self-serve so you can take as much or as little of each item as you fancy. (You pay by weight.)

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• healthy takeout

Tokyo Kitchen

Rated this place:

20 Charles St E, Toronto, ON, M4Y1T1

Ebi fry: It is annoyingly difficult to get good Japanese cafe food in Toronto and absolutely thrilling when you do. Tokyo Kitchen is perfectly named as it transports its customers to Tokyo with the delicious combination plates that could just as well come from a cafe kitchen in Tokyo. The menu goes beyond the readily available donburi and includes classic Japanese curry plates such as one topped with a potato korokke. In particular, I like the ebi fry--panko-enrobed shrimp cooked to copper crispness.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• ebi fry

Cafe Michi

Rated this place:

1802 Pharmacy Ave, Scarborough, ON, M1T1H6

Unadon: Grilled to perfect softness, the sweet eel melts in your mouth and is perfectly complemented by Japanese rice cooked right. Strangely located in an ugly Scarborough strip mall next to a popular Hakka Chinese-Indian restaurant (Lin Garden), this Japanese cafe is quaintly cute and features an authentic menu of cooked cuisine (though sushi can be had in a separate area in the back.) There's a large selection of cakes in the refrigerated display for dessert.

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

Fresh By Juice For Life

Rated this place:

894 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J1G3

Banana nut pancakes: I have yet to recreate the warm and wholesome deliciousness of the pancakes from Fresh. Sweet with a hint of sourness from the buckwheat flour, their texture is also perfectly balanced with the right fluffiness to crunch (from the toasted sliced almonds) ratio.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• banana nut pancakes

Whole Foods Market

Rated this place:

87 Avenue Rd., Toronto, ON, M5R3R9

Salad bar: With a huge selection of delicious, creative salads and warm dishes, you'll find yourself filling a box with more than generic greens and toppings. A wee bit on the pricey side, I find it's worth the splurge when I just want a small taste of everything. Try some of the flavourful tempeh or seitan creations. Load up on lighter (weight-wise) fare as you pay by weight.

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

Flirty Girl Fitness

Rated this place:

462 Wellington Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V 1E3

Pilates class: I feel great during and after every pilates class thanks to the careful guidance and personal attention by the knowledgeable and fun-loving instructor, Talia. Talia's classes are unintimidating even for the absolute beginner as they are small and friendly. Talia takes the time to understand each student's body mechanics and finds ways to address any outstanding injury or tightness.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• pilates class

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

Rated this place:

145 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5A 1E8

Intermission: The foyer of the new(ish) opera house is modern without any hint of coldness. Spacious, bright and beautiful, the multi-level open space is incredible for people-watching and city viewing between acts.

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