As much as I love helping out with the children’s cooking classes on Saturday mornings, I have to admit that Evergreen Brick Works isn’t located in the most accessible place. It’s located in the Don Valley where the Don Valley Parkway and Bayview intersect. It can be very tricky to find for first time visitors (I attribute this to being part of its charm but many would argue) and since it’s located a bit off the grid, the only way to access it is to either drive, bike, walk or rely on a very infrequent public transportation system that sends busses out every 30 minutes. I have been known to miss the bus on more than one occasion – including today. I decided that I’d better pick up a quick coffee and bite to eat before heading to Brick Works where I would be volunteering (entertaining kids no less) for the next two hours.

I can be quite the coffee snob and although one of my favourite independent coffee shops (Broadview Espresso) is in the area, the last time I went there it took over 10 minutes for me to get my latte (and hence, missed the bus that time as well). I’m all about supporting independent enterprises but when I have a bus to catch I’m all about efficiency. This time, realizing that time was short, I decided to go to the McDonald’s around the corner for my morning snack.

When I arrived a Brick Works, I have to admit, I felt a little out-of-place walking in with a McDonald’s coffee and muffin but didn’t really think anything of it. However, once I arrived in the kitchen and placed my McDonald’s bag on the table, one of the Brick Works staff members pointed at it and said “What is that?!”

Yup, that’s right. I got called out on my McDonald’s. At first, I didn’t realize the reason behind the outburst. Is it because it’s corporate? Or branded? Or against the slow food movement? I later told this story to a fellow volunteer and she laughed saying “Don’t you realize where you are?” She then went on to tell me how there was a situation where someone brought a box of Tim Horton’s donuts to a potluck event and how people were making fun of it the entire evening. I guess there are better things to bring to a potluck (a farmer’s market potluck no less) but is it really that big a deal?

However, a little bit later I came across a sign that explained everything.

Ah, I see! I’m pretty sure that McDonald’s is in violation of several of those statements: regional, seasonal, sustainable food production…family farms and artisanal businesses…fair prices, fair profits and fair treatment of workers….caring for the Earth. Whoops!

I think the next time I’m running late, I’ll quickly down my coffee and eat my muffin on the bus and destroy all evidence before walking into Brick Works.

I do shop at farmer’s markets in the summer when it’s superior quality and certain ingredients are in season that aren’t necessarily available in the larger grocery stores (zucchini blossoms come to mind). I also participate in the Good Food Box program through FoodShare where I get a box of fruits and vegetables delivered to me every other week. I’m all about buying from local, smaller establishments when the product is good and the price reasonable. I even shop at St. Lawrence Market each week because of the variety and quality of products and the fact that I learn so much from the market vendors when I go there. However, my philosophy has always been that I will buy wherever there is good quality and service (whether it be from at the farmer’s market or the supermarket). Brick Works definitely has a strong environmental mission so I can see it appealing to a certain audience – one that really wants to put their dollars toward saving planet earth and making responsible choices by choosing to buy from vendors who share the same values.

But for me, it’s really hard to beat the McDonald’s coffee and muffin for $1.39 deal (especially when I have a bus to catch).

Last Thursday there was a food event called St. Lawrence Mmmarket Night that was held from 7-10pm. I am all about checking out the different food events that are happening in the city (Toronto Taste, Brickworks Picnic and Toronto Underground Market to name a few). This one caught my interest because it was being held at St. Lawrence Market and part of the proceeds were going toward FoodShare. I love shopping at this market. There is something about visiting the different booths that each specialize in something different that I find very comforting. I love the variety and the fact that the prices are reasonable for what you get.

English: St. Lawrence Market (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The only thing that I don’t like about the market are the hours. It closes at 6pm most days and is closed on Sundays and Mondays which makes it difficult for me to visit on a regular basis. Saturday ends up being the most convenient day for me to visit but Saturdays at St. Lawrence Market can be a total zoo! (although I have heard that the 5am farmer’s market in the North market on Saturdays is definitely something worth checking out).

Just the fact that St. Lawrence market would be open late (past 7pm) was enough reason for me to go. I bought my ticket (and would later find out that the event would sell out). The cost of admission was $50 which included two drink tickets which made this event a total deal. I was worried that with events like this that the food would quickly run out. Not so! There was plenty of food to go around.

St. Lawrence Market (Photo credit: Kiril Strax)

I tried smoked trout, porchetta, pulled pork, French raclette, air dried beef, proscuitto, mussels, chicken and brie panini, codfish cakes, Portugese egg tarts, panna cotta, chocolate covered strawberries and champagne, pepperets, stuffed lamb shoulder, yam fries, pork ribs, chicken skewers, cheese fondue, fruit, duck breast, duck sausage, lamb sausage, crab cakes and duck burger. They were even cooking kangaroo! Mill Street brewery was also there serving up samples of their Cobblestone Stout. And this was all included in the $50!

After about an hour in I wish that I had paced myself as I was at my limit and didn’t have any more room to try the crepes, speck, chicken cacciatore, saganaki, bagels, apple dumplings, roast chicken or kangaroo that they were also offering up. In fact, I had to start getting picky – really picky. I didn’t let myself eat anything that I had tried at the market at previous visits and I started avoiding breads entirely (I would just eat the fillings). Yes, this means I had to pass up the famous Peameal bacon sandwiches that were at Carousel Bakery and the famous veal sandwiches at Uno Mustachio (I’ve had them before and do enjoy them immensely on a much emptier stomach).

English: St. Lawrence Market (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This was such a great event. The $50 ticket sounded a little steep but the fact that it included two drinks and the event was all you can eat (and you got to learn more about the items that the vendors sell) made this event better than events like Rib Fest, Taste of the Danforth and the Food and Wine expo (where you still have to purchase drink and food tickets in addition). And you get to know your local food market purveyors and their specialty items! For me, that in itself was worth the cost of admission!

I will definitely be going to this event (and visiting the vendors at St. Lawrence market more often). Now that I know there are places that sell porchetta, pork belly and smoked trout as well as shrimp and chicken rissois (definitely, the best find of the night for me), I’m going to try to make the St. Lawrence Market one of my regular food stops.

A friend of mine has been visiting Toronto for the past couple weeks and mentioned that she felt like going for high tea while we were walking along Queen street. Aware that the Shangri-La recently opened in Toronto, I’ve been meaning to check it out (well, I’ve been meaning to try Momofuku but I could try their high tea as well).

I called the hotel to see if they actually served high tea (they did – from 2-5pm) and the cost is $36/person which is pretty standard. When my friend arrived the hotel we were welcomed and informed that high tea took place in the modern/open hotel lobby seating. Interesting…I have to admit that having high tea in a wide open area (i.e. hotel lobby felt a little strange and bizarre).  It’s not all that classy and it felt overly casual. But the worst was yet to come. We were presented with the hotel lobby menu which listed high tea at $36/person but there was also a separate tea menu where you had to buy the tea separately (at $15/pot). My friend and I decided to play it safe and place one order for high tea (they let us share the tiered tray which was very nice of them). Having said that, I’m glad we only placed on order.

The tray looked so sad and pitiful. I have never had such a sad excuse for high tea before. They say that a photo is worth a thousand words but this one left us speechless.

Worst of all, the tea leaves of the English Breakfast tea that we ordered would fall through the tea strainer leaving me with floating bits of tea leaves in my cup (and a dredge of them at the bottom when it was all done). Not a good indication as far as tea quality goes (high quality teas usually have the whole leaves so you won’t get crushed pieces).

My advice: Save your money and go have high tea at the Windsor Arms (where the tea is included in the price).

I usually plan something on the adventurous side for my birthday (kayaking, cycling around wine country, ziplining, etc) but this year I decided to relax and go to treat myself to a nice dinner at a restaurant that has been on my list for a long time – Ruby Watch Co. Most people know of this restaurant because it’s where you can find celebrity chef Lynn Crawford working in the kitchen. She is there most nights except when she is busy filming the show “Pitchin’ In” that airs on Food Network.

The interesting thing about the menu at Ruby Watch Co is that there really isn’t one. The menu is decided that week with each day offering something uniquely different. Courses are presented family style (love this) in the centre of the table where people can help themselves. The meal consists of 4 courses (one being a cheese plate) for $49 with suggested wine pairings for each course for an additional charge. I really love this concept.

The vibe of the restaurant is fun and upscale but nowhere near feeling pretentious. The servers are wonderful with some being fun and entertaining characters which totally adds to the experience. You can see Chef Lynn Crawford at the back putting the final touches on each dish as it’s being handed off to the servers.

Chef Lynn Crawford in the kitchen

And get this, Chef Lynn Crawford tweets! Every so often she would take out her iPhone and type away. The group next to us tweeted to her during dinner and she even tweeted back to me between courses. Amazing! How often do you go to a restaurant where the chef tweets back to you while you’re having dinner? Our meal consisted of a mint and chili marinated watermelon salad, coffee rubbed leg of lamb with caramalized onion jus, a raw cow’s milk artisanal Canadian cheese and a blueberry cheesecake. The sides that went with the main dish (the lamb) were a quinoa salad with lemon, mint and herb goat cheese, a cucumber and tomato salad with yoghurt dressing and roasted zucchini and eggplant with olive relish. My friends and I never knew that cucumbers and eggplant could taste so good! I think I may have actually enjoyed the sides with all the wonderful fresh flavours more than the actual main which was lamb (and I love lamb). I never knew that quinoa and something as simple as a cucumber could taste so darn good! Chef Lynn really works her magic.

I have to say that our waiter, Marty really stole the show. Such a great character, his over the top flair kept us entertained and laughing the entire evening. Ruby Watch Co isn’t a place that I would go for a weekly meal (I don’t quite have the disposable income to go there all the time) but if I want to have a great meal, be inspired and try something different (because the menu is always changing), this place is definitely on the top of my list. I really love the family style presentation and the wonderful service. I, for one, always found it a little hard to take a plate that is beautifully presented and have to make sure I manage to grab bits and pieces of every aspect to experience the combination of flavours. With family style, I don’t have to worry about that. Just dig in and enjoy! Bon Appetite!

There are a number of beer events that take place in Toronto over the summer and with the heat we’ve been experiencing, it’s a great time for beer. There are a number of small/intimate beer garden events happening throughout the city. Both the Brewer’s Backyard (at Evergreen Brickwords) and The Stop’s Beer Garden (at Wychwood Barns) are beer gardens that are held on specific Sundays throughout the summer and fall. They feature an Ontario craft brewery each week so it’s a great way to try local beers and find out more information about them. There is no admission cost. You just buy tickets if you decide to have food or beer.

Last weekend the Stop’s Beer Garden was featuring Muskoka Brewery. I discovered their Summer Weiss beer last year and it immediately became one of my favourites. I was wondering what other types of beers Muskoka Brewery offers (and I have also had some difficulty finding Summer Weiss lately) so I decided to go to the event to find out more about the kinds of beers that Muskoka Brewery offers.

At the the Stop’s Beer Garden they had a selection of three types of beer from Muskoka Brewery – Craft Lager, Cream Ale and Dark Ale for $5/473 mL can. These are three of the four beers that are offered year round (the fourth one being Mad Tom IPA). They also release seasonal beers each season which are available in 750 mL bottles at the Beer store (Spring Oddity, Summer Weiss, Harvest Ale and Dark Chocolate Cranberry Stout – can’t wait to try that last one which will be released in the winter).

It was an intimate setting located at Wychwood Barns – a converted TTC streetcar garage that is now a greenhouse, community garden and artist studio/residence space. This is a great event to go to on a laid back afternoon for a nice cold beer in an open area on a lazy Sunday. And it’s also a great way to find out more about a specific brewery that you may be interested in. The people are nice and very knowledgeable. I will definitely be heading to my local beer store to get a 2 pack of Summer Weiss. Be sure to check out The Stop’s Beer Garden website which has a schedule of the local breweries that will be featured each week.