Undoubtedly, the most spectacular winery in Canada is Mission Hill in B.C. Winemaker John Simes has a way with Pinot Gris. His 2010 is light straw in colour with a minerally, peach-pit nose. The wine is dry and medium-bodied, with white peach, pear and citrus flavours that sustain well on lively acidity.
If the name is any indication, Against the Grain doesn’t do the expected. After all, there are pubs and then there are urban taverns, and Against the Grain bills itself as the latter. The upscale bar opened its first location in 2011, and now it’s opening a second location in Leaside, according to its website.
If there is one area of Toronto that deserves a rethink, according to one group, it could be the back laneways that snake through the city’s urban neighbourhoods. Instead of sketchy, rundown alleys with rusted-out garages and an atmosphere of impending doom, a local group would love to see the largely ignored areas put to good use as sites for laneway homes, public art and community engagement.
Full House may have painted a pretty picture of Bob Saget, but his standup will give you a fresh perspective. The edgy standup comic is nothing like the persona that made him popular, which makes his show as much of a surprise party as it is a comedic act. He hits Toronto on March 3.
This March, let’s agree to not force our beer into the indignity of wearing green. Instead, beers like the Chaman imperial pale ale from Quebec’s Dieu du Ciel!, which have the ever-green flavour of hops, seem like a more appropriate way to celebrate spring.
If ’60s mod is the look you’re going for this spring, you’ll be pleased to know that Banana Republic’s third Mad Men collection hit stores yesterday. This time around, the women’s collection is mainly inspired by the mod-tastically dressed character Megan Draper, played by Montreal-born actress Jessica Paré.
Though Los Angeles designer label James Perse already has two locations in Canada (one in Vancouver and the other in Montreal), the recently opened Toronto location is considered the flagship store of the true north strong and free. Found a little off of the main strip in Yorkville, the store, which opened Nov. 7, has two floors and 2,100 square feet of retail space housing various items of the casual-chic nature.
If you ever wondered what the ’80s smelled like, then you might want to check out this Toronto comedic quartet, Smells Like the 80s. Okay, so maybe their B.O. doesn’t smell like Corey Hart, but their comedy sure doesn’t stink either. Double award winners at the 2010 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, they’re headed there again next month.
It’s shaping up to be a good year for Guu fans in Toronto. First, the restaurant started taking reservations at both of its Toronto locations, and today, it announced that both of those locations now serve lunch (on weekdays, for now). Choices include the likes of sashimi, udon noodles and shoyu ramen (because everyone knows there’s a shortage of ramen in the city).
Although Hogtown’s hottest taqueria has yet to open up that elusive second floor, Grand Electric’s new lunch hours mean that waiting in line no longer comes part and parcel with the experience — well, not always. Lingering guilt-free is now possible, and those Baja fish tacos and pork tinga tacos need not be wolfed down with haste (not that this’ll stop us).
By lindsaylow
Richmond Station is like the best of the British gastropubs — cozy, friendly, and the food is robust and honest, without gewgaws and highfalutin constructions and garnishes. It’s normal, not food as architecture or artwork. And unlike at most of our hot new places, the people in charge actually seem to care about their guests’ … Continued
A new Spanish restaurant from the team behind Torito is set to open soon on Queen West, near Shaw. Torito’s chef, Luis Valenzuela, has financially partnered up with Torito’s owner, Veronica Laudes, for the new venture. The restaurant is slated to open in late March.
