Yung Sing Pastry Shop

Rated this place:

22 Baldwin St, Toronto, ON, M5T1L2

Old school Chinese Canadian comfort : This charming little Baldwin Village shop from a bygone era has been a neighbourhood favourite for decades. Yung Sing serves an array of authentic Chinese delights with a dose of Canadian influence, which is an indicator of how long it has been around. While the bakery is famous for its big char siu buns, it should also be recognized for its sweet treats. Their Chinese egg tart (daan tat) impossibly bridges the gap between the flaky pastry version found on dim sum trolleys and the pate brisee variety found in many Hong Kong style bakeries in the suburbs. I'm a lover of both kinds of egg tarts so I was easily won over by Yung Sing's creation. The sunshine yellow custard filling is smooth on the tongue and just sweet enough to alleviate those dreaded afternoon sugar crash symptoms.

Cooney For Hair

Rated this place:

441 Queen W , Toronto, ON, M5V2A5

Hair Stylist: While I loved my cut by the salon's director and namesake, Cooney, I am newly loyal to his junior, Yumiko. Yumiko may have left Japan for Canada over 3 years ago but her style sense is obviously from her homeland. While I Yumiko is both charming and friendly, don't expect the non-stop chatter common at Yorkville salons: she's more focused on her craft than providing a salon chair shrink session. And boy, her focus sure shows! Yumiko can deftly groom my rebellious tresses into a fresh, fun and stylish 'do that suits my low-key look and lifestyle. While Cooney himself is originally from Hong Kong, his stylists are mainly from Japan. So if you've got Asian hair or want a hairstyle straight out of a Japanese fashion mag, hit this bright and welcoming Queen & Spadina salon.

7 West Cafe

Rated this place:

7 Charles St W, Toronto, ON, M4Y1R4

24 hour hangout: It is warm and inviting at any time of the day or night. Open 24/7, this charming cafe/resto/bar makes choosing a meeting spot a piece of (yummy) cake. Its diverse menu of food and drinks pleases varying tastes. Each floor has its own cool vibe but in clement weather, I always aim for a prime spot on the rooftop patio.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• 24 hour hangout

Alternative Grounds Coffee Hse

Rated this place:

333 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON, M6R2M8

Coffee roaster: The folks at Alternative Grounds are dedicated to bringing fairly traded ethical beans to the socially conscious java junkie. The small roaster is community-driven and is part of progressive collective that buys green coffee beans directly from small coffee cooperatives. Our office regularly orders freshly roasted, custom-blended coffee that keeps us buzzing without the guilt.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• coffee roaster

She Said Boom Records & Books

Rated this place:

372 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T1S6

Bargain Books: This charming shop is perfect for lazy afternoon browsing. Its laid back vibe means you'll never feel pressured to purchase. While the shop is relatively small, its keepers manage to jam in a lot of quality content. I usually skip the music & movies in favour of the book section. While I've found great fiction reads at garage sale prices, I especially love the surprisingly extensive cookbook collection that has often led me to expand my own!

Le Gourmand

Rated this place:

438 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V 3S6

Oatmeal raisin cookie: It is edible comfort. Baked fresh daily, these delicious cookies are remarkably soft and chewy. Though I pair mine with coffee, there is no need to dunk! At about three times the size of your typical homemade version, these carbolicious circles should be avoided if you are counting calories. Once you have a bite of this good cookie, you won't be able to put it down!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• oatmeal raisin cookie

Avenue Open Kitchen

Rated this place:

7 Camden St., Toronto, ON, M5V1V2

Diner: It's a traditional greasy spoon that serves more than just grease. Make like a regular & order the daily specials by number as the old school wait staff expect no less. The folks in my office go for weekly esophageal lubrication (or aterial clogging, depending on your view). Popular choices are Montreal smoked meat (from the reputable Lesters Deli) served on Silverstein's rye bread. The Friday mac & cheese is also a hit though lunchtime consumption might hamper p.m. productivity.

Pho Pasteur Restaurant

Rated this place:

525 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M5T1H4

24 hour restaurant: The beefy broth is always aboilin'. There are often some drunken dudes packing away cans of Heineken while you slurp up your rice noodle soup, but the servers are sweet and the food is divine at all hours. I'm partial to their flavourful pho, but on warmer days (or nights) I like tucking into their quality bun (rice vermicelli salad).

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• 24 hour restaurant

Cafe Maxim's Patisserie

Rated this place:

648 Finch Ave E, North York, ON, M2K2E6

Meringue cake: It is a simple classic that never disappoints. Feather light meringue with the right balance between crunch and chew sandwiches fresh whipped cream and fragrant fruit. While strawberry almond is probably the patisserie's most popular variety, the mango is great too. A true crowd-pleaser, it is a wonderful finish to a dinner party; it is sweet without being cloying and not too heavy (even with all that luscious cream!)

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

Buddha's Vegetarian Foods

Rated this place:

666 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M5T1H9

Vegetarian chow mein: It is miraculously umami even without any real oyster sauce. This signature dish is made according to traditional Chinese Buddhist principles without any pungent vegetables such as garlic but is still deeply flavourful. A variety of mock meats made out of wheat gluten (also known as seitan) add protein & punch to the glistening mountain of fried noodles & assorted vegetables. One order of chow mein is enough to feed two people with plenty of leftovers for work lunches later in the week.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• vegetarian chow mein

Banh Mi & Che Cali

Rated this place:

318 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T2E7

Cassava cake: It is wickedly delicious. Each triangle of this not-too-sweet cake makes me want to experiment in the kitchen with Southeast Asian dessert recipes. Coconut enhances the flavour of the mung beans and adds richness to the cassava root base. These little house-made snack cakes are by the cash register and labelled "Khoai Mi Nuong". At $1.50 per portion, these treats are much cheaper than a plane ticket to Vietnam.

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

Fox and Fiddle

Rated this place:

106 John Street, Toronto, ON, M5V 2E1

Jalapeno poppers: They make deviating from healthy eating on a late night seem worth it for a few delectable seconds. Mysteriously lacking in major heat, these greasy puppies still have pop as their name suggests. Crispy breading, glistening with pub oil coats a zesty green jalapeno filled with cream cheese. Incredibly, these North American bar classics bridge the gap between yum and yuck in just a few quick bites.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• jalapeno poppers

Ikea Canada

Rated this place:

15 Provost Dr, North York, ON, M2K2X9

Steamed hot dog: One bite takes me back to Montreal and old school Quebec diner eatin'. Like any good native Torontonian, I have been known to occasionally indulge in downtown street meat but after an appetite-stimulating run through the Swedish design powerhouse's mock rooms, I succumb to Montreal memories and sink my teeth into that steamed sausage nestled in soft bun.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• steamed hot dog

Loblaws Supermarkets Limited

Rated this place:

2877 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON

Diet lychee soda: It is a ready-made, calorie-free alternative to my usual liquid lychee fix that I concoct out of Ceres brand lychee juice and club soda. I've got to give props to the PC food lab folks for getting the flavour bang-on with the help of a few creepy chemicals. At only less than a dollar for a 2 L bottle and a little more for a case of cans, this pseudo-tropical treat is kind to the wallet too. Makes being a little indulgent feel a bit less bad. Good choice, Prez.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Diet Lychee Soda

Old Mill Inn & Spa

Rated this place:

21 Old Mill Dr, Toronto, ON, M8X 1G5

Country buffet in the city: There's a serious selection of classic retro delights like pickled herring & smoked trout that are best enjoyed in a charming country inn setting. Escape the city within the city limits & hang with sweet seniors who regularly delight in the decent all-you-can-eat roast beef before dancing the night away. The "Deluxe Lunch Buffet" (also hilariously referred to as "Taste of the Nations") is probably the best deal but be prepared to emerge from the dimly lit dining room

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Country buffet in the city

Le Select Bistro

Rated this place:

432 wellington street west,, Toronto, ON, m5V 1E3

Bistro brunch: There's nothing like nibbling on an authentic croque madame by a warm fireplace to transport you back to that perfect Parisian holiday. Don't do completely like the French: tone down the snootiness & just embrace the manufactured fabulousness. You don't just have to take my word--last time I was there, I witnessed Anna Olson of 'Sugar' fame sitting across from my table with her chef hubby Michael, quietly enjoying a meal, which quickly inspired their compliments to the chef.

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

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre

Rated this place:

77 Harbord St, Toronto, ON, M5S1G4

Yoga studio: They offer quality instruction in a peaceful environment to anyone (beginner to advanced) interested in deepening their yoga practice. Part of the worldwide network of non-profit International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres that were founded in 1959 by Swami Vishnu-devananda to spread yoga and Vedanta teachings for overall well-being, the Centre is a refreshingly far cry from the trendy, commercial vibe of many of the city’s studios. Yes, you can ditch the lululemon gear for regular old sweats.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• yoga studio

Zaffron Restaurant

Rated this place:

6200 Yonge St, North York, ON, M2M3X1

Persian restaurant: The delicious barbecued kebabs served with a heap of fragrant basmati rice will make the unitiated understand why the many discerning Persian families dining at Zaffron on any given night are regulars. In the heart of 'Tehranto', it's one of the fancier restaurants in the 'hood, serving up simple, accessible food that's fit for all seasons. If you're a meat eater, you'd be wise to pass on the Italian items and head straight to the charcoal barbecue section of the menu.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Persian Restaurant

Maison de la Presse Internationale

Rated this place:

2068 Queen E, Toronto, ON, M4E1C9

Magazine store: This shop allows me to hit several birds with one stone: I can flex my language muscles while enjoying guilty pleasure reading.Hola, revistas de moda. Salut, magazines féminin québécois. As the name of the store suggests, there is a significant collection of Francophone reading material; but in general, there is a large selection of (fairly current) newspapers and magazines from around the world. It's browsing heaven for cosmopolitan readers.

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

Rabba Fine Foods

Rated this place:

24 Wellesley W, Toronto, ON, M4Y2X6

24 hour convenience store: It has saved my household from many a cooking emergency. Just a short walk from my downtown apartment, Rabba stands by their slogan & is always there for me. Rain or shine, morning or night, I can depend on their well-stocked shelves when I'm in a bind. This ain't your average corner store: expect a full range of products. While their base prices are much higher than I'd generally like to pay, their specials often match those of leading grocers.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• 24 Hour Convenience Store

Senses

Rated this place:

318 Wellington St. W., Toronto, ON, M5V 3T4

Cheese scone: I love breaking through that perfect crunch to find the savoury-yet-sweet fluffy inside. There's no hint of phoney flavour--just pure buttery goodness. Neither too rich nor too large, this breakfast wonder makes one want to break new year's resolutions in January! Hey, some believe it's better to raise the calorie count in the a.m. rather than the p.m., right?

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• cheese scone

Pat McDonagh Couture

Rated this place:

11 Clarence Square, Toronto, M5V 1H1

Fashion showroom: Why go to the St. Regis Room for overpriced ready-to-wear from afar when you can get personal service & local tailor-made clothing in a charming bohemian showroom for much less? While Pat's had hit shows at many fashion weeks, her specialty is in custom wear. Whether you are looking for a sleek suit or a slinky gown, Pat can provide. While she’s been around for years, Pat’s style is ageless. Young fashionistas on a budget, indulge your couture fantasies right here in downtown Toronto.

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

R-shop

Rated this place:

433 King St. W, Toronto, ON, M5V 1K4

Japanese cafe: It's perfect in all ways: Impossibly sweet service; delicious, wholesome contemporary Japanese cafe food; and fantastic atmosphere (really, what do you expect from a King West furniture store/cafe combo). It's almost too close to my home and work. It's delightfully and dangerously tempting.

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

Sweaty Betty's

Rated this place:

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

Hidden hangout: Its cozy back room with the old chesterfields transports me back to my high school days when my friends and I would spend hours on end hanging out at the Green Room (only minus the horrible teen angst.) Ah, the power of nostalgia. It may be in hot hipsterville, but there's nothing snooty about this hangout: the music rocks, the service is pleasantly pressure-free and the atmosphere is warmly low-key.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• hidden hangout

Tequila Bookworm

Rated this place:

512 Queen W, Toronto, ON, M5V2B3

Indie cafe: It's scrumptiously geek-friendly and down-to-earth. Enjoy delicious espresso-based beverages made with rich, frothy steamed milk and served in the kind of mug--and with the type of warmth--you'd expect at a friend's house. For some, it is a cosy communal workspace where writer's block is fought over casual food and drink. For others, it's a spot for quiet reading. I think it's a great relaxed hangout for solitary chillin' or group gabbin'. It's just aces in my books.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Indie Cafe