Announcements
How does the food stack up at new Ossington brewpub?
Another exciting new addition to Lower Ossington, we already know that this brewpub has the quality control covered on its beer, but what about the food? With Guy Rawlings in the kitchen my expectations were high, and I was anything but disappointed.Read my review of Bellwoods Brewery in the restaurants section.
Eat & Drink
2012 Terroir Symposium fetes socially conscious chefs
The sixth annual Terroir Symposium at the Arcadian Court drew over 400 guests, including chefs, food writers, wine and food experts and business leaders. Organized by the Brick Work's Arlene Stein, the annual shindig is becoming one of the top hospitality industry events around. With an incredible daylong menu, including a Chinese-Canadian lunch with the quippy title Wok & Roll, curated by Ivy Knight, and a line-up of international speakers talking about integrating food sustainability with haute cuisine, guests came for the lectures and stayed for the food. Or maybe it was the other way around (yes, the food was that good).Eat & Drink
Where to host a dinner in Toronto when you lack space
Belly Catering + Kitchen Rental is the urban dweller's antidote to tiny kitchens and miniscule dining areas. So next time you're considering making a group of dinner guests balance their meal on their laps, crammed together on your livingroom floor, eating off paper plates because you don't have a dishwasher and even though you care about the environment, you don't care enough to bother washing 15 plates and glasses — know that there is a solution for your dinner troubles. In a charming storefront on Queen West in Parkdale, right next to Parts & Labour, is Belly Catering + Kitchen Rental, a space to host dinner parties with access to a fully-equipped kitchen where guests can prepare their contributions to the meal, all without the stress of a major clean-up because Belly provides a staff dishwasher.
Announcements
Kensington Market gets in on the Neapolitan pizza craze
Neapolitan Pizza joints are sweeping the city, with neighbourhoods throughout Toronto getting in on the trend on what seems like a monthly basis. This new addition to Kensington Market won't win any awards for decor, but it might just set itself apart based on the pedigree of its pizza makers. Read my review of Pizzeria Via Mercanti in the restaurants section.
Announcements
Art galleries continue to flock to Blansdowne
When the Mercer Union migrated to Bloor and Lansdowne back in late 2008, it signaled the beginning of a trend for galleries looking to escape the high rent and and smaller storefront spaces on West Queen West. Three years later, and the industrial area to the south of the Mercer is starting to attract some solid art spaces. Read my profile of Daniel Faria Gallery in the galleries section.
Announcements
Little Italy gets another second-hand bookshop
Despite the doom and gloom that often seems to surround the Toronto book market, once in a while there are some bright spots. Case in point: this recently opened used shop in Little Italy, which is the by-product of its owners' collection of 40,000 books. Want to get your hands on the first paperback edition of On the Road? They got you covered.Read more in my profile of Sellers & Newel in the bookstores section.


