West Camera Ltd

Rated this place:

514 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V2B3

Photo developing: Only complaint would be that they're shut down on Sundays but otherwise it's fab service with fab results. They're very friendly and helpful and great on the wallet. If you're not entirely satisfied with how things turned out, they'll redo it for free!

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

Donair Kebab House

Rated this place:

391 Yonge St, Toronto, ON, M5B 1S1

Donair: Juicy crispy meat with a variety of creamy and spicy housemade sauces make it the best donair. Usually smothers all the tasty shawarmas too! Try it for a cheap and protein filled fix along the Yonge St strip or bring it down to Yonge and Dundas Square to enjoy while watching the people go by.

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

Eat to the Beat

Rated this place:

60 Simcoe St., Toronto, ON

Charity event: Research into Breast Cancer is important, but sometimes we need to look at the now and focus on how it is affecting people as we speak. Willow provides support services to relatives, co-workers, those afflicted, and everyone else in between who are dealing with Breast Cancer. They can provide you information on finances to scientific research. Help support their efforts! It doesn't hurt that the event has 60 female chefs dishing up tasty treats alongside 15 breweries and wineries pouring freely.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Charity Event

Il Gelatiere

Rated this place:

647 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Toronto, ON, M4S2N2

Gelato: Smooth, rich, flavourful and delicious. So few places can get the texture and the true flavour out of nuts and fruits the way Il Gelaterie does tribute to them. All others will taste greasy and thin in comparison. They also do up fun flavour combinations.

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

Umbra Concept Store

Rated this place:

165 John Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1X3

Affordable art: It shouldn't be surprising that among all the heavy hitter designers displaying their wares in this shop that they also sell limited edition art from them too. Pick up interesting pieces and check out the rotating monthly displays at the umbra concept store. It may only set you back 50 bucks and you'll have a bonafied piece of art from a known artist. All artist info is available on the website.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• affordable art

Kim Moon Bakery

Rated this place:

438 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M5T1G7

Bubble tea, Dim sum downtown: Recently opened, bubble tea in all the basic flavours but with all the fancy little gelatins can be had at the front of Kim Moon Bakery. There's even an opening in the front window for quick walk-by refreshment. Love the richness of their taro shake and the tenderness of their tapioca. Only $3.50 for a large as well, might cheap in the add-on expense world of bobo cha!

At first peek the bakery looks like... a chinese bakery. But behind the bahn mi counter and display cases of sweet and savoury buns lies several tables and the waiting dim sum menu. The har gow have the thinnest of skins but beware that they might break. Fried eggplant stuffed with fish paste is crispy and delicious. Gigantic chicken feet and nice tasty bowls of rice with chicken and mushrooms on top. Nice people, no strong smell clinging to you when you leave, it's great!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Bubble Tea
• dim sum downtown

King's Noodle Restaurant

Rated this place:

296 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T2E7

Chinese fast food: We're not talking dirty north americanized breaded chicken balls and sweet and sour everything, but that stuff that you would get dished out on a daily basis by a chinese grandmother who would scold you for not finishing all your grains of rice because it would mean your husband would have that many pocks in his face. always have to ask for the rice noodles made fresh at the front for soups and get the long fried dough sticks for congee. maybe it's not that homey but it's good enough for me.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• chinese fast food

NASR Foods

Rated this place:

1996 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough, ON, M1R2Z1

Bamieh, Lahmacun, Middle eastern grocer: The helpful ladies at the pastries counter will help you pick out these wonderful things. Crisp bullet shaped fried nuggets with threads of saffron all throughout are soaked in a honey concoction for a sickly sweet treat. Theirs remain crisp and are full of that delicious saffron flavour, you can't find any better.

Otherwise known as a Turkish pizza, only the round flat of dough and putting the toppings on top are the only things that make it remotely pizza like. No dairy makes it great for the lactose intolerant and an amazing easy snack for everyone else. NASR gets them in from a master making them in his own home and reusing bread bags to package them for sale. Great meat, great spices and great crisp crust after a visit into a toaster oven. Perfection.

They have every Middle Eastern ingredient you need and much much more. Whether it be the tasty and fresh lahmacun that runs out each day or the green dates in the bins, what you need will be there unless they run out. Also love their bahmieh, crisp nuggets of fried dough infused with small threads of saffron and soaked in honey. Perfect poppable dessert.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• bamieh
• lahmacun
• middle eastern grocer

Cafe Michi

Rated this place:

1802 Pharmacy Ave, Scarborough, ON, M1T1H6

Set plate sushi: The pricing can be sky high for a-la-carte ordering of their delicious recommended daily fish, but ordering up a cafe au lait will get you all the best goodies at a great price plus a slice of cake. It's also fun to stick around during the odd hours between lunch and dinner, watch Toshi pull apart a whole Kanpachi and see his knife skills at work. Bonus that they're open for lunch and dinner nearly daily.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• set plate sushi

Bagel House

Rated this place:

1722 Avenue Road, North York, ON, M5M3Y6

Bagel shop: Walking down Bayview there's nothing like the delicious smells coming out from the Bagel House. They knock St Urbains socks off any day with deliciously chewy and slightly sweet bagels. It's so easy to gobble a nearly half of the dozen I take to go before getting home.

Bosna Burek and Cevap

Rated this place:

3333 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M6P 2A6

Cevapi: Think breakfast sausages... but not as greasy and full of wonderful spice and as the perfect drinking sandwich. Several pieces of cevapi are stuffed into a fluffy chewy white bread and shares the space with a few rings of raw white onion. A little oil drizzle and few sprinklings of pepper on top make one of the dishes on the menu at Bosha. It's delicious and one of a kind. Be sure to try out their bourek as well and they'll sell any of it to you frozen to make at home!

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

DESIGN WITHIN REACH

Rated this place:

435 King Street West (at Spadina), Toronto, ON, M5V 1K4

Midcetury modern reproductions: It might be all reproductions with a smattering of new great design dotted within, but it's the attitude about the furniture that I love. Bring your kids, dogs and whole family to try out the beautiful and well made furniture, it's more than ok that it's even suggested!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• midcetury modern reproductions

Nguyen Huong

Rated this place:

322 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON, M5T 2G2

Bahn mi: Absolutely the cheapest and best snack possible at $1.75. The assorted cold cuts are the way to go. always ask for extra cilantro!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• bahn mi

Japango Sushi & Noodle Rest

Rated this place:

122 Elizabeth St, Toronto, ON, M5G1P5

Sushi downtown: I'm in a love-hate phase with their odd service and sometimes ill-cut pieces of fish, but nowhere else in the downtown area can you find a more authentic sushi joint. The deluxe sushi dinner has been upped in price but for $26 you will get the most delicious and interesting selection in town. A lightly seared albacore tuna is a staple and beautiful pieces of scallop will sometimes grace that plate. It was here that I got my introduction to kampachi. You'll also never look at rice the same again.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• sushi downtown

Aveda Environmental Lifestyle

Rated this place:

95 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M5S1M1

Face cream: Addicted to their all-in-one moisturizer that's light and smooths on wonderfully. No heavy residues or oiliness but pefectly moisturized skin.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• face cream

Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill

Rated this place:

100 Adelaide St E, Toronto, ON, M5C1K9

Oyster bar: It may be a seafood restaurant but the oyster bar is where the best action happens. They've been slammed for off service before but the bar will ensure a great time as you watch the shuckers masterfully pull apart some beautiful bivalves. This fall season is my favourite time of year, plump crisp and gorgeous oysters from France with mineral melon and sweetness that will have you asking for a half dozen and probably more.

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

Omi Japanese Restaurant

Rated this place:

243 Carlton Street, Toronto, ON, M5A 2L2

Sushi: CLOSED! such disappointment. my previous place let me down and after a week of bad sushi at various places around the city, omi was a bright light. fresh beautiful flavours not muddled with extra fuss or watered down into a state of blandness. excellent selection of sake and amazing rice (wonderful sweet and sour flavour). his brown sugar cured salmon is to die for.

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

Pasquale Brothers Downtown Ltd

Rated this place:

217 King St E, Toronto, ON, M5A1J9

Cheese shop, Sandwich combo: There is a limited selection of cheese but the rotation is often and the prices unbeatable. Roquefort is always my price comparison point and at approx $36/kilo it knocks the socks off every other place selling at $45. You do have to buy quite a bit at a time but grab a bottle of wine and share it with friends, they'll love you for it. House aged balsamic and a dizzying array of beautiful imports make it a go to place for sure.

Gourmet goodies line the shelves here and for $6 you can get a sandwich filled with their selection of beautiful deli meat and amazing array of cheese. No fresh product unfortunately because they only use what's in the shop, but ultimately that's not a bad thing! Then grab one of their premium drinks included in the combo. Taxes are already in! Dare you to find anything better than that.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• cheese shop
• sandwich combo

Scheffler's Delicatessen

Rated this place:

93 Front St E, Toronto, ON, M5E1C3

Cretons: I haven't been able to find it anywhere else in Toronto except Cora's (and they're definitely not a fave) so the fatty pork product is perfect the way it is. Originating from Quebec it is a catch all recipe to keep the farmers going all day. Spread it over bread (I prefer paris toasts) for some good eating. Not exactly for the faint of heart.

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

Brazil Bakery & Pastry Ltd

Rated this place:

1566 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M6K1T8

Brioche, Pasteis natas: After falling in love with the Croque Madame at my favourite croissant hang out, I've been hunting down the best brioche to recreate the fabulous dish at home. Brazil Bakery hits it right on the spot with a brioche from a Portugese bakery a few doors down. Don't miss their lemony, sugary, chewy awesome house made "doughnuts" especially when they're fresh. The crisp crust on the natas make them my faves.

Some might fave Venezia on Ossington but this place does it the way I love it. Crisp shell that's well baked and not lardy with a good creamy and eggy interior that's just a touch less sweet than the usuals. It's great with a coffee in the morning.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• pasteis natas
• brioche

Caffe Volo Ristorante

Rated this place:

587 Yonge St, Toronto, ON, M4Y1Z4

Imbibing locale: Beer is so underappreciated but a careful peruse of the Volo list will have you thinking twice. Keeping in stock what you rarely see at the LCBO, it makes obvious the dearth of good drink in the rest of the city. A good American microbrew is something to behold and you'll gain an understanding when you sample some here. The cultivated wine list has been very carefully picked for a delicious selection of Ontario and international options. You can't go wrong except for the food.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• imbibing locale

Ten Ren Tea Co Limited

Rated this place:

454 Dundas Street W, Toronto, ON, M5T 1G9

Bubble tea: Those little black tapioca balls might not have entirely caught on but maybe it's just because it's not done right at most of the places pouring out tasty fruity tealishy drinks. Ten Rens knows how to do it right with a good soft and chewy ball that's not at all mushy or hard at the same time. Love me some taro black milk tea these days. It's rich and somehow refreshing all at once with a nice mild bitter edge to balance the sweet.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Bubble Tea

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival

Rated this place:

401 Richmond St. W, Toronto, ON, M5V 3A8

Film festival: It just passed this year but the film festival is a fantastic offering of international and local work focussing on Asian culture and the creators of interesting, quirky and heart felt films. Any films I missed from the line-up is definitely on my list to download or rent.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• film festival

The Citizen

Rated this place:

730 Queen St. E., Toronto, ON, M4M 1H2

Leslieville restaurant: After some issues with salt, this place has definitely proven itself. Dishes have a homey modernity to it and the portions are definitely healthy. My favourite dish has been the gnocchi with braised rabbit but the chef boy-rod-ney section will keep you coming back for more. The caesar is gigantic and so classic with a beatifully perfect poached egg. Thankfully the great selection of beers never passes that $6 mark because they could easily become a great watering hole too.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Leslieville restaurant