Body Blitz

Rated this place:

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

Water spa: This place is like a second womb really. Float in salt water or steep in green tea. Leave feeling brand new again.

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

Eco Flora

Rated this place:

1982 Islington Avenue, Toronto, ON, M9P3N5

Green florist: Scott Graham is a floral designer that works with a mix of locally grown, organic, fair trade and wild flowers to produce wonderful bouquets and arrangements that you can feel extra good about. He also uses biodegradeable cellophane (real cellophane) and either makes his containers himself or sources them out locally from GTA potters. Cool blooms.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Green Florist

Fressen Restaurant

Rated this place:

478 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V2B2

Gluten roast, Menu category: It is so delicious. Tender, flavourful, and beautifully presented in a red-wine reduction with shitake musrooms and roasted root vegetables. It would please any lover of yummmy stuff, vegan, veg, or omnivore.

They have a category called "Crispy". I love that. Only crispy things need apply. Fried tempeh "fish"? You're in. Eggplant pizza tartlet on flax and cornmeal shells? You've got what it takes. Spinach blinis? Please move to "Starch". You're just not crispy enough.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• gluten roast
• menu category

Okonomi House

Rated this place:

23 Charles St W, Toronto, ON, M4Y2R4

Okonomiyaki: These delicious savoury pancakes, chock full of your choice of meat or veg, and garnished with bonito flakes, nori, okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise, are a true taste of japanese pub grub.

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

P.A.T Central

Rated this place:

675 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M6G1L3

Asian market: This Koreantown Asian groceteria has a great selection of Korean and Japanese food items including fresh produce, meats and seafood, bakery items and frozen foods, and all kinds of packaged goods and prepared foods. Also some housewares. I can find everything I need for Japanese cooking, and a few things I don't need at all - like sweet rice dumplings and pocky.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• asian market

Oasis

Rated this place:

**CLOSED**, Toronto, ON

Spa: This new Distillery District gem is the biggest spa in Canada, and without a doubt the best in Toronto. Totally holistic, amazingly beautiful facility, full full service, and great business philosophy.

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

Concord Billiards

Rated this place:

937 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M6H1L5

Chilean brunch: Ever had an omelette with onions, raisins and olives? Neither had I. Delicious. Other interesting picks: pancakes al gusto, lemon scrambled eggs, and the homemade empanadas.

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

Free Times Cafe

Rated this place:

320 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T1S3

European style cheesecake: This is cheesecake as it's meant to be. No cream cheese North American version here - this delectable recipe is made with dry cottage cheese, or farmer's cheese, for an authentic euro taste and texture.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• european style cheesecake

West Camera Ltd

Rated this place:

514 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V2B3

Photo developing: They do a great job. Whether you're developing film in conventional or unconventional ways, or printing too, these folks will do exactly as you ask. Great, quality service.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• photo developing

Nova Era Bakery

Rated this place:

200 Geary Ave, Toronto, ON, M6H2B9

Custard tart: I will never sicken of these Portuguese standards, with those flakey pastry crusts, creamy pudding middles, and carmelized tops.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• custard tart

Terroni

Rated this place:

720 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON, M6J1E8

Bresaola, Mushroom salad: The thing with Terroni is their food is simple, but the ingredients are excellent. This dish of thinly sliced cured beef, parmesan cheese shavings, olive oil and capers show that great food needn't be complicated.

The funghi assoluti (sp?) practically brings me to tears. Oyster mushrooms tossed with garlic, breadcrumbs and balsamic then baked in the oven and served over baby arugula.... I'm welling up right now.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• bresaola
• mushroom salad

Pho Phuong Fine Vietnamese Cuisine

Rated this place:

1603 Dundas St. West, Toronto, ON, M6K1T9

Vietnamese restaurant with a little ambiance: The food is great, and that's always number one, but as well as great traditional viet dishes, you get atmospheric surrounds not typical of the mostly perfunctory pho resto set-ups around town. Brilliant.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Vietnamese restaurant with a little ambiance

Pikto Studio & Gallery

Rated this place:

55 Mill Street, Bldg. 59 - 103, Toronto, ON, M5A 3C4

Photo displaying paraphenalia: There's so much fun stuff here to show off your snaps - different albums and portfolios, unusual and whimsicle frames and frame stand-ins, photo clips, tote-bags with clear pockets that show off fave shots, and more. Great place to browse if you're trying to work more photos into your living space creatively, or if you're keen to make some photos into a gift.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• photo displaying paraphenalia

Sweaty Betty's

Rated this place:

13 Ossington Ave., Toronto, ON, M6J 2Y8

Collection of vintage tattoo photos: If you go into the cozy back room at this Ossington St. watering hole, you'll find a really fascinating collection of photographs of tatooed men and women from earlier this century - read: when tatooed skin was a sure sign of life outside of the mainstream. Captured in this series are a curious mix of circus performers and other entertainers, prostitutes and strippers, and sailors, as far as I could tell. Have a peek next time you're in.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• collection of vintage tattoo photos

Linh Restaurant

Rated this place:

1156 College St, Toronto, ON, M6H1B6

Pho: Though the atmophere is typically no-frills, the soup stands out. The beef and chicken pho is my fave - lots of delicious and lean meat, and of course, all those aromatic fresh herbs. Also, the Hue style spicy pho, available only on weekends, is super.

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

Rodney's Oyster House

Rated this place:

469 King St. W, Toronto, ON, M5A1M8

Oysters: These are oysters fresh and delicious enough to rival any I sucked back while living a stone's throw away from the ocean. The staff can rattle off mollusk creds like you wouldn't believe, and the condiment selection is impressive.

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

Segovia Meats Inc

Rated this place:

218 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T2L6

Fresh chorizo sausage: I don't even like sausage typically but I fell in love with the Segovia House sausages from Kensington's Casa del Chorizo. Pick from a selection of homemade sausages representing recipes from the Americas and Spain. After 30 years, this Chilean family know what they're doing.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• fresh chorizo sausage

Ajisen Ramen

Rated this place:

5229 Yonge St., Toronto, ON, M2N 5P6

Japanese ramen: It's the authentic deal yo. I lived in Japan for 3 years, this place impresses with authenticity and selection. Amazing white broth. And really reasonably priced.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Japanese ramen

Furama Cake & Desserts Garden

Rated this place:

248 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON

Egg tart: I thought old fashioned custard tarts like this had all but disappeared - until I discovered the Chinatown version. Yummy yummy!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• egg tart

Queen Video

Rated this place:

412 Queen St. W, Toronto, ON, M5V2A7

Dvd rental store: I always find something worth watching there, and if you need advice, you're dealing with some enthusiastic cinephiles behind the counter.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• DVD rental store

Ten Thousand Villages

Rated this place:

2599 Yonge, Toronto, ON, M4P2J1

Reasonably priced fair trade coffee beans: I've been all around the fair trade coffee bean block, the the prices here are really great. Several brands are sold, in numerous blends and roasts.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• reasonably priced fair trade coffee beans

Cafe Taste

Rated this place:

1330 Queen St. W, Toronto, ON, M6K 1L4

Green cafe, Wine & cheese: Jeremy, the owner, is a great barrista. he really knows his stuff, and takes great care to drip or press your coffee with attention to detail and quality. but, even cooler, he uses only shade-grown, organic, fair trade beans from a local roastery, in his own special blend. and, he doesn't even have take-out cups. he's actually invested in resuable travel mugs that he'll give you if you absolutely must to-go. just bring it back for another coffee, and another, and support a great cafe.

Jeremy, the owner is a master at pairing, and has this encyclopedic knowledge of all things related to potent potables. Plus, the prices are unbeatable. Try a tasting event!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Green Cafe
• wine & cheese

Casa Acoreana

Rated this place:

235 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T2L8

Cafe for people watching: Though more shack than cafe, this place lends a great view of lively Kensington Market. Cradle a cup of top notch steaming joe, and watch the world go by.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• cafe for people watching

Churrasqeira Do Sardeinha

Rated this place:

1213 Dundas St. W, Toronto, ON, M6J 1X3

Portuguese chicken: It is tender and juicy and the hot sauce is delish. I also kinda like how the folks behind the counter are always engaged in some kind of heated argument. It lends to the charm.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• portuguese chicken

Saving Grace

Rated this place:

907 Dundas W, Toronto, ON, M6J1V9

Brunch spot: The decor is charming and warm, the waitstaff scooch in with you while they take your order, the "eggs of the moment" never disappoint, and the coffee and baking are great.

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