The Reviews

• In the Toronto Star, Amy Pataki is happy with the starters, pastas and desserts at Enoteca Sociale, but she's not so hot on the mains and the spotty service.
• In the Globe & Mail, Chris Johns checks out another recently opened enoteca, Quanto Basta, where the atmosphere is lovely and the food is fine, but the presentation leaves a lot to be desired. (Not yet online.)
• In the National Post, Gina Mallet gives an almost perfect score to Pangaea, where she especially loves the housemade cheese and charcuterie created by chef de cuisine Derek Bendig.

The Rest

Star:

• Gord Stimmell spotlights a few of the lesser-known and oddball wines from today's Vintages release.
• Corey Mintz throws a pork-filled party for Bryan Lee O'Malley, author of the insanely popular Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series, and a bunch of their comic geek pals.
• Karen Von Hahn discusses the art of restaurant design with Cosimo Mammoliti, owner of Terroni and related establishments, and his regular collaborator, architect Ralph Giannone.
• Linda Barnard toasts the hot weather with The Bagheera Flower, a delicious sounding cocktail made with gin, ginger beer and elderflower cordial.
• Adrian Brijbassi heads to Chicago to profile chef Graham Elliot Bowles and his eponymous restaurant, Graham Elliot, which is a strong contender for a star in the upcoming Chicago Michelin Guide. A few other front-runners are covered in an accompanying article.
• Jim Byers explores the diverse culinary culture in Montreal's Mile End neighbourhood.

Globe:

• Beppi Crosariol shows us that there's more to Aussie wine than juicy shirazes and buttery chardonnays, as he reviews a selection of lean and crisp Australian whites from today's Vintages release.
• Gayla Trail uses her mid-season glut of homegrown herbs and flowers to make some tasty summer drinks.
• Lucy Waverman beats the heat by avoiding it altogether and preparing a fresh and flavourful no-cook supper.
• Ian Brown continues his culinary tour across Canada with a stop in White Fox, Saskatchewan to visit wild mushroom foragers Lorne and Lois Terry.

Post:

• Margaret Swaine reviews a trio of food-friendly whites.
• Sarah B. Hood has a short Q&A with Alison Fryer of The Cookbook Store.
• Adam McDowell discovers some Scotch-based cocktails that are surprisingly summery.
• Andrea Swalec reminds us that French fries aren't from France, but rather from Belgium, where they take their frites very seriously.
• A. Brouwer and A. Wilson celebrate Caribana in their latest Shelf Life column, and have their panel taste and rate jerk seasoning sauces.
• Bonnie Stern also has a Caribbean vibe to her column this week, as she shares some recipes inspired by author Ann Vanderhoof's journey through the islands.

Food Day 2010
various locations
various times
various prices
Food Day is a national celebration of restaurateurs, suppliers, growers, farmers and citizens joining together to show the world the depth and breadth of Canada as a culinary nation. Join us the 8th annual coast-to-coast-to-coast event, heralding our regional diversity, culinary creativity and world-renowned reputation for throwing an amazing party!
[more info]

Foodprint Toronto
Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street
12:30 PM to 5:00 PM
free
Foodprint Toronto is the second in a series of international conversations about food and the city. With the Toronto Board of Health having just formally adopted a new city-wide food strategy, the timing is perfect for a truly cross-disciplinary discussion that explores the past, present, and future of food and the city. From the fight for street food to the transportation infrastructure of the Ontario Food Terminal, and from the evolution of school meals to the challenge of scaling up urban agriculture, panelists will explore the forces that shape Toronto’s food and speculate on how to feed Toronto in the future. See link below for the program schedule and full list of panelists.
[more info]

Caribana Parade 2010
Exhibition Place and Lakeshore Boulevard
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
free
This showcase event of the Caribana Festival features an incredible display of colours and pageantry. Toronto will come alive with the sights and sounds of Carnival.
[more info]

Iranian Summer Festival
Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street
4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
free
Celebrate Iranian music, dance and culture.
[more info]

Island Soul
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West
free admission
Harbourfront Centre showcases Caribbean music, food, art and culture. These distinct local Caribbean cultures transmitted through music, food and art brought Canada, United States and England closer to the Caribbean. The 2010 Island Soul will bridge these worlds to capture the local to global exploration of these art forms. (Continues to August 2nd.)
[more info]

Scarborough Ribfest
Thompson Memorial Park, Lawrence Avenue and Brimley Road
Fri & Sun: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM - Mon: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
free admission
Annual ribfest featuring some of the best ribbers from around North America, and live entertainment for the whole family. (Continues to August 2nd.)
[more info]

Irie Music Festival
Queen's Park, 671 University Avenue
Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West
Yonge-Dundas Square, southeast corner of Yonge & Dundas
various times
free admission
The Irie Music Festival is a multi-media extravaganza taking place in three downtown locations, featuring dance, visual art, spoken word and of course great music from the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and North America. (Continues to August 2nd.)
[more info]

MARKETS

Brick Works Farmers Market
Don Valley Brick Works, 550 Bayview Avenue
8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
[more info]

Downsview Park Merchants & Farmers Market
Downsview Park, 40 Carl Hall Road
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
[more info]

Etobicoke Farmers Market
Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall
8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Farmers Organic Market
St. George the Martyr Church, 197 John Street
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Green Barn Farmers Market
Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Avenue
8:00 AM to 12:00 noon
[more info]

Port Credit Farmers Market
beside Port Credit LCBO,  200 Lakeshore Road East, Mississauga
7:00 PM to 1:00 PM
[more info]

St. Lawrence Farmers Market
St. Lawrence Market (North Building), 92 Front Street East
5:00 AM to 5:00 PM
[more info]

The Village Market
Toronto Waldorf School, 9100 Bathurst Street, Thornhill
8:30 AM to 1:30 PM
[more info]

Weston Village Farmers Market
Weston GO Station parking lot, 39 John Street (at Weston Road), Weston
7:00 AM to 2:00 PM
[more info]

Withrow Park Farmers Market
Withrow Park, south of Danforth Avenue between Logan & Carlaw
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
[more info]

OUT-OF-TOWN

A Taste of Burlington
various restaurants in Burlington
various times
$20 lunch - $30/$35/$40 dinner
Experience the eclectic styles and flavours of the world, as 23 of Burlington’s finest restaurants will be offering prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner options. Lunch and dinner menus include an appetizer, entrée, dessert and coffee/tea. Optional wine pairings presented by Wines of Ontario will also be available. (Continues to August 2nd.)
[more info]

For a comprehensive list of upcoming events in and around Toronto, check out our Events page.

While we're supposed to be eating less salt, it's hard when some of it is just so cool. [Food Trotter]

You can't win for losing - all those calcium supplements you take to prevent osteoporosis might actually be putting you at a higher risk for a heart attack. [Toronto Sun]

Alison Fryer of The Cookbook Store talks book signings with Sarah B. Hood. [National Post: Posted Toronto]

Mapping out our food geography - a preview of tomorrow's FoodPrints seminar. [Toronto Star]

And when it comes to food activism, let's not forget about saving those prison farms. Because they're very much needed. [Folks Gotta Eat]

Hey, did you know that you can bake stuffed zucchini blossoms? [Fiesta Farms]

The hipsters may have their barista competition, but do they have the skills to compete in the kam cha (Hong Kong style milk tea) competition this weekend? [Toronto Star]

Braaaaiiiins... the trend of eating offal is sure to attract some zombies. Just be sure to hide your brains in some freshly made pasta. [Jessicalettucetomato]

There's nothing better than finding a recipe you're looking for already typed up on someone's blog. Especially if they're for tasty homemade energy bars. [The Taste Space]

The joy of dining al fresco. [Well Preserved]

Make this - yellow plum clafoutis. [Good Food, Good Wine and a Bad Girl]

And in food for thought - aged beef, eating squirrels and yes, more food on a stick. [Save Your Fork]

Led by sommelier Taylor Thompson, enthusiastic wine students filled the lovely back patio at cafe Taste to try a variety of Ontario wines that were either graceful or full-figured.

The cool and graceful whites included a Trius Brut from Hillebrand Estates Winery, a chardonnay from Flatrock Cellars and a barrel fermented chardonnay from Henry of Pelham. Thompson explained the different processes used for the two chardonnays, explaining how the barrel fermentation created an oaky flavour with notes of honey and a creaminess in the second wine compared to the minerality and buttery flavour of the first.

Reds can be graceful too, though, and a pair of Pinot Noirs from Cave Spring Cellars and Lailey Vineyard Winery were the next to be sampled. The Cave Spring pinot noir was bright and full of strawberry notes, very light in colour whereas the Lailey pinot was darker, with a nose of over-ripe fruit, and an earthy acidity. But on Mad Men, graceful Betty is known for her cold demeanour and to my palate, pinot noir tends to leave me a bit cold as well.

Maybe it's because I am a "full-figured red", but my preference is for heartier red wines with more intriguing flavours than fresh berries, and the second set of wines to sample - 5 reds that increased in intensity - were much more up my alley. These were paired with an assortment of artisanal bread (Cafe Taste makes all their bread in-house and it's awesome!) with a plate of Canadian cheeses to pair with each wine.

We started with the 2007 Laura Red from Creekside Estate Winery. Thompson pointed out the nice legs, opaque colour and low acidity. This wine won Gold at the 2009 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair for wines under $20... after which the winery raised the price to $22. It's still a nice wine, regardless of the price, and Thompson advised that it would age well.

The 2007 Mountainview Merlot from Angel's Gate Estate Winery came across almost medicinal with softer tannins, but it was overshadowed by the 2006 Merlot Reserve from Reif Estate Winery. This wine offered up a typical merlot juiciness with lots of ripe red cherries but also notes of anise and leather. This was our choice for best overall sipping wine.

Moving through our samples, we were all startled by how much we liked wine #9, a 2007 Estate Series Cabernet Merlot from Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery. Celebrity wines, like critter wines, have a reputation as being less than stellar, but this wine was also awarded a gold medal at the Royal, and it is well-deserved. Full of the leather and tobacco notes that I love, this was our pick to pair with a big juicy steak, although it would go wonderfully with chocolate as well. It definitely won our Joan award for "favourite full-figured red".

The final wine was a Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery 2002 Reserve Cab Franc. Thompson described it as "well balanced and integrated". This was too tannic for me, giving me awful "sweater mouth", but the ageing was definitely respectable.

For years, Ontario had a reputation for not producing very good "full-figured" reds, but the one good thing to come out of global warming seems to be the warmer summers that have produced banner years for Ontario wines (most of what we tried were from 2007 and 2008, both warmer, humid summers). These reds can stand up tall against product from other regions. And fans of these big robust wines can happily buy local and still be satisfied.

This was the final class in the iYellow Wine School spring/summer session, but they will return with new tasting classes in the autumn.

Island Soul
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West
free admission
Harbourfront Centre showcases Caribbean music, food, art and culture. These distinct local Caribbean cultures transmitted through music, food and art brought Canada, United States and England closer to the Caribbean. The 2010 Island Soul will bridge these worlds to capture the local to global exploration of these art forms. (Continues to August 2nd.)
[more info]

Scarborough Ribfest
Thompson Memorial Park, Lawrence Avenue and Brimley Road
Fri & Sun: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM - Mon: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
free admission
Annual ribfest featuring some of the best ribbers from around North America, and live entertainment for the whole family. (Continues to August 2nd.)
[more info]

Irie Music Festival
Queen's Park, 671 University Avenue
Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West
Yonge-Dundas Square, southeast corner of Yonge & Dundas
various times
free admission
The Irie Music Festival is a multi-media extravaganza taking place in three downtown locations, featuring dance, visual art, spoken word and of course great music from the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and North America. (Continues to August 2nd.)
[more info]

Cultura International Street Food Festival
Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street
5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
free
Cultura will feature many of Toronto’s best food vendors gathered at Mel Lastman Square each Friday evening from July 2nd until August 6th. Cuisines represented will include Afghan, Sri Lankan, Indian/Nepalese, Ecuadorian, Malaysian, Japanese, Caribbean, Thai and Latin/Greek. The evenings will also include buskers, musicians, artists displaying their work, and a free movie.
[more info]

DINNERS

George Italian Dinner Series
George, 111C Queen Street East
7:00 PM
$75 - additional $65 for optional wine pairings - call 416.863.6006 to reserve
Returning to his Italian roots and inspired by the International Slow Food movement, Chef Lorenzo Loseto is hosting an Italian Dinner Series at George Restaurant. From March until October, each last Friday night of the month dinner will focus on featured seasonal and sustainable items.
[more info]

MARKETS

Birchcliff Village Farmers Market
St. Nicholas Church, 1512 Kingston Road
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
[more info]

Sherway Gardens Farmers Market
Sherway Gardens, North Parking Lot (across from Holt Renfrew), Etobicoke
8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
[more info]

Square One Farmers Market
Square One Shopping Centre, Northwest Parking Lot (near Zellers), Mississauga
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
[more info]

OUT-OF-TOWN

Langdon Hall Sizzling Summer BBQ Series
Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa, 1 Langdon Drive, Cambridge
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
$55 ($65 for July 2nd season opener) - call 1-800-268-1898
Langdon Hall presents a gourmet casual Friday evening barbeque series as a dinner option. Each week Chef Jonathan Gushue will co-host the series with guest chefs, foodies and other culinarians, with a weekly BBQ menu inspired by the guest host for the particular week. See link below for full list of guest hosts.
[more info]

A Taste of Burlington
various restaurants in Burlington
various times
$20 lunch - $30/$35/$40 dinner
Experience the eclectic styles and flavours of the world, as 23 of Burlington’s finest restaurants will be offering prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner options. Lunch and dinner menus include an appetizer, entrée, dessert and coffee/tea. Optional wine pairings presented by Wines of Ontario will also be available. (Continues to August 2nd.)
[more info]

For a comprehensive list of upcoming events in and around Toronto, check out our Events page.

Bacchus Roti

A report by Health Canada indicates that food manufacturers must be prepared to drastically cut salt in their products. But will the government do anything to enforce it? And how will it apply to restaurants? [Globe and Mail] [National Post]

As a general rule, there should be no WTF moments when eating dinner. Seems there are still kinks to work out at Blue Plate. [Eye]

Beet it. Great things to do with tasty beets. [Kawartha Ecological Growers]

Move over dead squirrel, the Dutch are still reigning supreme in the (okay, now it's getting kind of stupid) contest for the beer with the highest alcohol content. [Toronto Sun]

Finding a niche in the neighbourhood. Scott and Rachelle Vivian and their Beast find a place to call home. [PostCity.com]

Excuse me, the politically-correct term is "festively plump". A debate rages in the UK as to whether to call people obese or fat, with some believing "fat" to be more encouraging in terms of weight loss while others see a stigma in the F-word that they'd rather avoid. [Toronto Sun]

Got an overflowing herb garden? Mix up some cocktails. [FoodNetwork.ca]

Lemme guess... there's steak! Changes at the Windsor Arms include a new menu at Prime and a soon to open Russian tearoom. [Toronto Life: the Dish]

Make this - grilled calamari with cumin. [Kalofagas]

The lengths companies will go to in order to protect a recipe from rivals. [Toronto Sun]

Sipping South Africa. [Richie Healey]

STILTON!!! They're sampling English cheeses at Cheese Boutique on Saturday from 2-4 pm. (And if you don't get the Stilton reference, I'm taking all of your foodie points away.) [A Blog of Cheese]

And in food for thought - teeny tiny plastic food, wine writers take to self-publishing, and the oldest publican in Ireland. [Save Your Fork]

This Saturday, July 31st, Canada celebrates Food Day, a day dedicated to the farmers, fishers, food producers and chefs across the country.

Originally created by food writer and activist Anita Stewart in 2003, the event was called "The World's Longest BBQ" as Stewart drummed up support for the then-suffering beef industry hit by sanctions because of BSE-tainted meat. Opinions of the beef industry aside (Hey! Don't feed cows other cows, yo!), while the BBQ caught on in some circles, it wasn't exactly welcoming or appealing to everyone, leaving vegetarians, Hindus and BBQ-less apartment and condo dwellers out of luck.

Revamped this year as Food Day, complete with a website detailing events, and with a place where people can share their experiences, Stewart aims to include everyone from coast to coast to coast. The BBQ theme is still prevalent, but the idea is to prepare a meal out of Canadian ingredients. Or at the very least, eat a meal made out of Canadian ingredients.

To promote that goal, over 130 restaurants from across the nation are taking part, offering special menus comprised of the best of Canadian ingredients.

Here in Toronto, diners interested in enjoying an all-Canadian menu on Saturday can check out any of the following:

Epic at the Fairmont Royal York (100 Front Street West) offers a prix fixe menu featuring bison, lobster, ice wine and their own rooftop honey (full menu online).
Scaramouche (1 Benevenuto Place)
Lucien (36 Wellington Street East)
Ruby Watchco (730 Queen Street East)
Cowbell (1564 Queen Street West)
Vertical (100 King Street West) is celebrating Food Day all week and has both lunch and dinner menus featuring red fife pasta, BC salmon, Ontario lamb and venison (full menu online).
Beast (96 Tecumseth Avenue) is serving an all-Ontario burger with Matchbox Gardens green and a 600mL bottle of Beau's LugTread beer for $20. (full details online)
Crush Wine Bar (455 King Street West)
Gilead Cafe/Bistro (4 Gilead Place)
FRANK @ The Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas Street West)
Barberians' Steak House (7 Elm Street)

Of course, Canadians are also encouraged to cook with the nation's bounty at home, preparing a meal out of fresh local or Canadian ingredients, accompanied by Canadian beer or wine.

I know, I know, all of you in "the choir", there's many of you who do this every day without even thinking about it. Heck, there's many of you who preach it louder than me. But given that it's a long weekend across most of the country, there are many opportunities, whether at parties or BBQs or cottages, to spread the word about the great food we have here in Canada. Maybe we already try and support local food producers, but what about Aunt Phyllis? Get her to visit the Food Day website and check out the recipes, and then share her/your experiences.

It seems weird to designate a special day for something that we should all intuitively be doing anyway, but there's still a lot of folks out there buying those California strawberries or Chinese garlic. If we as Canadians aren't going to support our own food producers, then who is? Cook up something Canadian on Food Day and spread the word about how good we really have it.

Image: Vancouver Sun

Hart House Craft Beer Festival & Summer BBQ
Hart House Courtyard, 7 Hart House Circle
7:00 PM to 12:00 midnight
$35 adult/$25 student - tickets available at www.uofttix.ca
Hart House will once again play host to the ultimate summer event. Sample some of the best craft brewed ales and lagers that Canada has to offer while relaxing in one of Toronto’s most impressive and historic settings. Hart House Chef Marco Tucci will provide guests with an assortment of savory barbecue nibbles while CIUT 89.5 DJs spin and broadcast live from the courtyard patio. Ticket price includes 8 beer samples (additional beer sample tickets may be purchased on site), complimentary BBQ nibbles and live entertainment.
[more info]

Taste and Learn: Wines of Australia
Globe Bistro, 124 Danforth Avenue
6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
$25 - call 416.466.2000 to reserve
With over 60 wine regions in Australia and the understanding of what variety grows best where, the Australian wine industry has matured into a vastly diverse spectrum of wines: from simple patio quaffers, to elegant and sophisticated food-friendly wines. Join us in learning about their exciting and diverse wine regions that are producing some of the best wines in the world. Tickets include tasting wines and a selection of Globe canapes featuring local ingredients.
[more info]

Tasty Thursdays
Nathan Phillips Square, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
free admission - various prices for food
Tasty Thursdays is the perfect combination of delicious food at great prices and free noon-hour concerts by famous Toronto musicians featuring, jazz, reggae, roots and world music. Each week a selection of Toronto restaurants bring international cuisine to Nathan Phillips Square ranging from BBQ, juicy burgers, delicious pad thai, succulent shrimp, spicy jerk chicken, noodles, stir-fry, and fresh salads - all for $5 or less!
[more info]

Go Local: Summer Appetizers
Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Avenue East
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
$45 for TBG members - $50 for non-members - call 416-397-1341 to register
Want to know where to buy locally grown foods and what to buy? Join Sarah Elton, urban hunter and gatherer and food columnist for CBC Radio’s Here & Now, as she lets you in on all her favourite secret eateries and markets. Chef Simon Kattar will create delectable summer appetizers made from locally grown foods and selections from our kitchen garden.
[more info]

MARKETS

Apple Tree Outdoor Market
behind North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton Avenue West
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
[more info]

Bay Adelaide Centre Farmers Market
Bay Adelaide Centre Courtyard, Temperance Street east of Bay Street
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
[more info]

Brookfield Place Fruit & Vegetable Market
Brookfield Place Garden Court, 22 Front Street West
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
[more info]

Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers Market
Dufferin Grove Park, 875 Dufferin Street
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
[more info]

Guildwood Village Farmers Market
Church of the Holy Trinity, 85 Livingston Road
2:00 PM to 6:30 PM
[more info]

Metro Hall Farmers Market
Metro Hall Square, 55 John Street
8:00 AM to 2:30 PM
[more info]

MyMarket East Lynn Park
East Lynn Park, Danforth Avenue near Woodbine
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
[more info]

North York Farmers Market
Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street
7:00 AM to 2:30 PM
[more info]

OUT-OF-TOWN

A Taste of Burlington
various restaurants in Burlington
various times
$20 lunch - $30/$35/$40 dinner
Experience the eclectic styles and flavours of the world, as 23 of Burlington’s finest restaurants will be offering prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner options. Lunch and dinner menus include an appetizer, entrée, dessert and coffee/tea. Optional wine pairings presented by Wines of Ontario will also be available. (Continues to August 2nd.)
[more info]

For a comprehensive list of upcoming events in and around Toronto, check out our Events page.

How to eat dairy products if you're lactose intolerant. Best method - eat less, your body doesn't need cow's milk. [Globe and Mail]

A recap of the good stuff at yesterday's Sick Kids farmers market reveals that the first apples of the season (those super sour ones that make great pies) are ready to go. [The Cookbook Store Blog]

Chef Mark Picone knows his peaches. [Toronto Sun]

Slow Food Toronto are looking for volunteers to help out with this year's Picnic at the Brickworks on October 3rd. [Slow Food Toronto]

More about the Atwood blend of coffee we mentioned yesterday. [Toronto Star]

Some things were just not meant to be cooked. [Cottage Feast]

A buttery blue cheese and a great story about how it came to be. [Globe and Mail]

Eager Beavers gear up for the Canadian Chefs Congress. [JamesChatto.com]

Old world wines are just fine - if you can get your hands on them. [Toronto Sun]

Cognac's urban street cred. [Globe and Mail]

Can you guess all of the ingredients in Meghan's soup? [National Post: The Appetizer]

We love a lot of the stuff from the Kiuchi brewery, and not just because of their cool owl logo. This ginger beer that Josh Rubin writes about today is quite lovely. [Toronto Star]

Jam-a-lama-ding-dong. Recipes and tips from Elizabeth Baird. [Toronto Sun]

Greek food made by a mangiacake still makes for a great lunch. [Toronto Star]

And in food for thought - milk consumption linked to prostate cancer, healthy soul food, and don't rinse that raw chicken. [Save Your Fork]

Based out of Toronto, comedian/food enthusiast Jeffrey Danson travels across North America performing stand-up and eating at select restaurants in effort to raise awareness towards laughter and the idea that tasting and cherishing food is more important than just consuming it.

While gaining a growing reputation as a respected food writer, Jeffrey has started to venture out into food styling, along with involvement in a family-based importing/exporting business. "I’ve mastered the art of eating at a restaurant," he says, "and it’s time I take what I’ve learned to please people’s eyes. Fine food has fueled me to learn more about the process of what happens from the source to the table."

Where do you head when you need something cheap & cheerful for lunch?

A couple places come to my food-filled mind when asked this simple yet difficult question.

Café Doria (1094 Yonge Street) has a great patio and is perfect for a light Italian lunch or casual dinner. The sandwiches, lasagnas, salads, crispy pizzas, authentic espressos and coffees make Italy seem close. However, the Rosedale moms don’t compare to the Italian bellas that run the streets in Italy.

Another gem that I like to frequent is The Grilled Cheese (66 1/2 Nassau Avenue) in Kensington Market. Ever since lunch hours with the Flinstones and the Jetsons, grilled cheese has been a go-to at lunch. Funky staff making the best grilled cheese in the city serve the golden sandwiches to foodies like me who don’t know how to grow up. All I can say is get the classic with bacon. You won’t regret it.

What restaurant comes to mind when you’ve got something special to celebrate?

Scaramouche (1 Benvenuto Place) is one of my favorite restaurants in the city and there’s no better place to celebrate life and fine food. Knowledgeable, comforting staff serves perfectly prepared produce, which makes me contemplate starting a house account after every meal. No matter how many new restaurants open in Toronto, classic dishes like succulent calamari and the warming atmosphere at Scaramouche will forever reign supreme.

And a reliable stand-by for a casual dinner?

Despite only being open for just over a year, the wonderful, unhealthy but tantalizing Southern style smokehouse The Stockyards (699 St. Clair Avenue West) is quickly becoming an institution. Slow smoked ribs and whole smoked chickens running on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays bring the dreams of Torontonian meat lovers to fruition with every order. And awesome dishes like buttermilk-soaked fried chicken served with freshly cut fries, crunchy creamy coleslaw and hot sauce bring joy to my life on a constant basis.

One of my favorite Japanese spots is Japango Sushi (122 Elizabeth Street), just off Dundas West. They have a crispy spicy tuna maki that will flabbergast you with its deliciousness, not to mention some of the best butterfish nigiri in the game. Long story short: you can’t make reservations, however the sushi is so tasteful that you’ll feel like a dumbbell eating sushi anywhere else other than maybe Yamato (24 Bellair Street) in Yorkville, which has amazing green garlic butter for the tapanyaki dishes.

I also can’t get enough of the brunch at Hoof Café (928 Dundas Street West). Make sure you ask for the mini donuts, and remember that everything from the foie gras French toast, to the baby suckling pig Eggs Benedict, to the chocolate waffles with caramelized bananas and bacon will have you converted to a regular quicker than I can say “Grandma, can I have another latke?”

What are some of your favourite food shops to stock up on anything from the staples to the splurges?

Alright, this is going to take a minute. I think its easiest if I just make a list of my favorite specialty shops in the city:

Gryfe's (3421 Bathurst Street) - bagels
Ezra's Pound (238 Dupont Street) - croissants & chocolate caramel sea salt brownies
Wychwood Barns Farmers Market
Brick Works Farmers Market
Harbord Bakery (115 Harbord Street)
Olliffe (1097A Yonge Street) - selected meats
Pisces Gourmet Seafood (1097 Yonge Street) - selected fish/seafood
City Fish (2929 Dufferin Street) - selected fish/seafood
The Epicure Shop (473 Parliament Street) - house blend coffee
Rahier Patisserie (1586 Bayview Avenue) - pastries
Alex Farm Products (377 Danforth Avenue & other locations) - selected cheese
Dave Young Fruit Market (494 Eglinton Avenue West) - fruits and vegetables
Pusatari's (1539 Avenue Road & 57 Yorkville Avenue) - general groceries

Those sum up the majority of the specialty shops and markets I frequent.

On those nights where you barely have the energy to turn on the stove, where do you call for delivery or take-out?

I don’t usually do delivery. However, Lee Garden (331 Spadina Avenue) provides satisfaction for all my craving of Chinese food, while local gems like Burger Shack (233 Eglinton Avenue West) offer the best quality fast service food in the game, with everything from chicken souvlaki dinners to homemade banquet burgers, milkshakes, freshly cut fries and great memories especially late at night.

For liquid refreshment (alcoholic or otherwise), where do you go?

Whenever I feel like treating my palate to an afternoon pint, I’ll usually roll to the Danforth to one of my favorites, Allen’s (143 Danforth Avenue). The wide selection of European beers combined with a summer breeze on the tree-covered patio creates an optimal setting for a food enthusiast like myself. I know this question is about drinks, but I can’t help but mention the food. Everything on the menu from the burger (my go-to), to the chicken wings, to the braised lamb shank served on a bed of mashed potatoes with Guinness gravy is simply awesome.

At night, I like to frequent the Thompson Hotel (550 Wellington Street West), Ultra (314 Queen Street West), Cheval (606 King Street West) along with other venues that combine funky, classy and comfortable décor with a respectable good-looking crowd and quality live music. Other than that, I’m usually taking shots of tequila gold and drinking beers at comedy clubs.

What’s coming up?

My website/blog will be featuring 30+ restaurant reviews from restaurants in Montreal, Chicago, New York and Toronto over the next short period. Keep a look-out for a short comedy film being made by Toronto film director Joseph Zentil and myself. Canadian and American University comedy tours are in the works, along with an assortment of acting opportunities that I’m eager to tackle like a thief trying to steal an old woman’s purse.

Tasting T.O. is a regular feature where we ask local artists, writers, musicians, food nerds and other personalities about their favourite places to eat and drink in the city. If you or someone you know would like to be featured in an upcoming installment - especially if you have an upcoming event, gig, release, etc. to promote - please get in touch.

Sip, Celebrate & Support Scotiabank Aids Walk for Life
Tequila Bookworm, 512 Queen Street West
8:00 PM
$5 - see link below for RSVP details
iYellow Wine Club, The Schiralli Agency, and Santa Margherita Wines present a tasting event in support of Scotiabank Aids Walk for Life. Admission includes 2 samples of wine (Santa Margherita Prosecco & Pinot Grigio), food & live music, with additional drink tickets available for purchase.
[more info]

Longo’s Free Flicks 2010: In the Mood for Love
SIRIUS Stage at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay East
9:00 PM
free
Harbourfront Centre welcomes back its popular outdoor Free Flicks film series. This year’s theme is food, presented in partnership with Longo’s, and these culinary-based films are sure the keep the public coming back for more. This week's film: In the Mood for Love, directed by Wong Kar-Wai, explores the relationship between two married neighbours whose spouses are having an affair. Food plays a central role in the film and helps to carry the narrative through its most simple dishes (lonely noodle) as well as the more elaborate dinners with the elderly neighbours who nurture the couples through food.
[more info]

DINNERS

Chef's Call Dinner Series with Chef Paul Benallick
The Chefs' House, 215 King Street East
6:30 PM
$100 (food, wine, taxes & tip included) - call 416-415-2260 to reserve
When the Head Chef beckons for all kitchen and service staff to gather 'round, it is time for the "Chef’s Call"! This is when each dish the Chef has created is explained in detail, from ingredients and origins to presentation. It is the "Chef’s Call" to which you are invited for these special multi-course dinners which showcase the talents of prominent Master Chefs. This month's chef is Paul Benallick from The Chefs' House.
[more info]

MARKETS

City Hall Farmers Market
Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West
8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
[more info]

Montgomery's Inn Farmer's Market
Montgomery's Inn, 4709 Dundas Street West
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
[more info]

MyMarket Bloor-Borden
"Green P" Parking Lot #51, Lippincott Street south of Bloor Street
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
[more info]

OUT-OF-TOWN

A Taste of Burlington
various restaurants in Burlington
various times
$20 lunch - $30/$35/$40 dinner
Experience the eclectic styles and flavours of the world, as 23 of Burlington’s finest restaurants will be offering prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner options. Lunch and dinner menus include an appetizer, entrée, dessert and coffee/tea. Optional wine pairings presented by Wines of Ontario will also be available. (Continues to August 2nd.)
[more info]

For a comprehensive list of upcoming events in and around Toronto, check out our Events page.

We shall call it "a cup of Peg". Margaret Atwood has her own blend of fair-trade organic coffee, available at Balzac's with a portion of the profits going to bird sanctuaries. [Toronto Life: The Dish]

Ian Brown hits Saskatchewan for a Chinese breakfast with Lutherans. [Globe and Mail]

A reminder about the Slow Food-inspired Italian dinner series at George that happens on the last Friday of every month. Next month's menu (August 27th) looks mighty fine. [Slow Food Toronto]

More on the issue of energy drinks, proper nutritional labelling and advertising the products to kids. [National Post]

The buzz about Origin died pretty fast after the place opened, but the food is looking better than ever. Maybe worth another visit some time soon. [Food and Co.]

Apparently we're not tired of cooking shows or Gordon Ramsay just yet. Enter MasterChef where amateur cooks face off. Oh... goodie. [National Post]

The Oliver & Bonacini group have issued a press release about the restaurants in the new Bell Lightbox. Between this info and the conversation I had with Chef Jason Bangerter last week, it sounds like the two restaurants are going to be quite amazing. [Oliver & Bonacini Blog]

Pulled pork in the slow cooker? It can be done. [Well Preserved]

In the summertime, you can't beat beans. [National Post: The Appetizer]

And in food for thought - dog-friendly pubs and restaurants, food-themed books for kids, and Jamie Oliver hosts a dinner time 30-minute meal show. [Save Your Fork]

The first of these I usually deflect by listing the many variables  (the season, the weather, food pairings, etc.) that I take into account when selecting a beer. The second is easier to answer: based on adding up the number of beers I've ticked on RateBeer, plus the backlog of several notebooks I've got filled with tasting notes that aren't yet entered, the current tally is running close to 3000.

This latter answer is usually qualified with an explanation that for many of those, I only had a sample, sometimes as small as an ounce or two. Which isn't to say that I don't prefer having larger samples of the beers I try. Working through a dozen Dixie Cup sized samples of new beers at a tasting or festival can be fun, but so is spending an evening drinking a pint or three of an old (or new) favourite.

In fact, it can be argued quite validly that many beers are best enjoyed in full servings versus blink-and-you'll-miss-it samples. Based on recent experience, I'm pretty confident in saying that Boneshaker IPA from Toronto's own Amsterdam Brewery is one of them.

My first taste of Boneshaker came in late May at C'est What's Spring Festival of Craft Breweries, where the samples come in small plastic cups and there's always a lot of new things to try - in other words, not an optimal situation for forming a full opinion of a beer. My notes indicate that I found the aroma "hot" with notes of "booze and nail polish remover", the body thin, and the flavour "unbalanced - and not in a good way". In other words, I didn't really dig it.

A few weeks later, I was asked to sit on the judging panel for the first round of Volo's Cask IPA Challenge, which meant blind tasting small samples of 22 different beers over the course of a couple of hours. Cross-referencing my notes with the beer list provided afterward, I found that my opinion of Boneshaker had changed considerably. While I described the aroma as "medicinal, green & a bit weird", I praised the "lingering grapefruity hops" in the flavour, giving it a "very good" rating overall.

So, what's the story here? Were the samples from different batches, one better than the other? Did the different times of the tastings (C'est What in the evening, Volo in the morning) play a role? Perhaps the beers I had directly preceding each sample caused my palate to be aligned differently? Or is it just not possible to make a truly reliable assessment of a beer based on quaffing a couple of ounces?

Whatever the reason(s), it seemed only fair to try a full pint or two of Boneshaker before making a final judgment. And having now done so, I'm pleased to report that my ultimate opinion is more in line with the notes from my second sample than my first.

Boneshaker is labelled an "Unfiltered India Pale Ale", and this is proven to be true by the pour, which brings a hazy reddish-orange body with a thick and persistent head of not-quite-white foam. The aroma has a hard time cutting through the head, but what does make it through is pleasant and fruity, with nice hints of pineapple and grapefruit, and not even a hint of nail polish remover. The body is medium full, and the flavour is chock full of hoppy goodness, with loads of citrus and tropical fruit, a bit of pine, and a long finish of grapefruit and orange zest. The malt definitely plays second fiddle, but offers enough caramel sweetness to be noticed.

Boneshaker IPA is available now in 500 ml bottles at the Amsterdam retail store, and on draught at select bars around town. In either format, it's worth having a full one - just act fast, as it's a limited release and won't be around for long.

iYellow Wine School: Full Figured & Graceful
Cafe Taste, 1330 Queen Street West
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
$35 - see website for enrollment details
A special weeknight edition of iYellow Wine School's "VQ'EH! 100% Local" series of courses focussed on Ontario VQA wines. "Full Figured & Graceful" will feature some sexy full-bodied reds, elegant and graceful Chardonnays, and more, all paired with food.
[more info]

DINNERS

Cowbell Farmers Night: Purdy Fisheries and Everspring Farms
Cowbell Restaurant, 1564 Queen Street West
7:00 PM
$150 plus tax & tip - call (416) 849-1095 to reserve
Cowbell farmers nights are truly unique evenings where Chef Mark Cutrara will create a five course menu using ingredients from his favourite farms. The menu will also feature a wine pairing from an Ontario winery. Our farmers will be present for the dinner so come and break bread with farmers, neighbours and new friends at our communal table. This month: fish from Purdy Fisheries, duck from Everspring Farms, and wine from The Grange of Prince Edward County.
[more info]

MARKETS

East York Farmers Market
East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Avenue
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

MyMarket SickKids
SickKids Hospital, 555 University Avenue
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
[more info]

Riverdale Farmers Market
Riverdale Park West, 201 Winchester Street
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
[more info]

Scarborough Civic Centre Farmers Market
Albert Campbell Square, 150 Borough Drive, Scarborough
8:00 AM to 2:30 PM
[more info]

Stonegate Farmers Market
St. James Anglican Church, 194 Park Lawn Road
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
[more info]

The Stop's Good Food Market
Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre, 1900 Davenport Road
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
[more info]

Trinity Bellwoods Farmers Market
Trinity Bellwoods Park (North West end), Dundas Avenue between Shaw and Crawford
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
[more info]

OUT-OF-TOWN

A Taste of Burlington
various restaurants in Burlington
various times
$20 lunch - $30/$35/$40 dinner
Experience the eclectic styles and flavours of the world, as 23 of Burlington’s finest restaurants will be offering prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner options. Lunch and dinner menus include an appetizer, entrée, dessert and coffee/tea. Optional wine pairings presented by Wines of Ontario will also be available. (Continues to August 2nd.)
[more info]

For a comprehensive list of upcoming events in and around Toronto, check out our Events page.

Kids bouncing off the walls? You might want to cut down on their intake of energy drinks, which contain far too much caffeine for kids. [Globe and Mail]

He didn't mean anything by it! Chef Scott Conant talks to Lauren Wilson about the new Scarpetta and the letter he can't live down. [BlogTO]

In season, right now - peaches and blueberries. And more peaches.  [Kitchen Vixen] [Toronto Tasting Notes]

How do you like them apples? Checking out the little green ones (and red and yellow ones) in Grey County. [Gremolata]

Eye candy and a belly full at Yuzu. [Toronto Life: The Dish]

Got smoker's lungs? Eat some broccoli. Turns out broccoli contains sulforaphane, a protein that helps produce anti-oxidants that ward off cancer. [Toronto Sun]

You can see the difference. Which berry looks better to you? [Joshna Maharaj]

Food facts about the famous. [Toronto Star]

More for me! Tips on being a greedy foodie foodster (foodster is the new word I've seen used in place of the derogatory "foodie". Reminds me of "jeepster" and makes me wander around singing T Rex all day... which isn't a bad thing, we should never forget about T Rex.). [Food Trotter]

You'll still pay way too much for a beer and a hot dog, but food prep areas at the ACC and Rogers Centre are some of the cleanest in the sports industry. [Toronto Star]

In food for thought - tea with the Queen, chicken sitters and why chocolate yogurt is so rare. [Save Your Fork]