Calling All Filmmakers!!

LG knows that Life’s Good, and that’s why they are bringing the Life's Good FilmFest to the people. This lighthearted FilmFest overcomes all boundaries, exposing a world of possibilities through filmmaker’s passion and inspiration from around the globe.

With four categories to choose from, including: animation, narrative, fashion/music and sports, opportunities are endless.

At no charge, LG will showcase uplifting, HD short films and videos in public spaces, encouraging us all to take a moment to embrace the simple things that make life good every day!

The most creative and inspiring filmmaker will receive a grand prize of $100,000 and LG will invite the public to enjoy winning short films at no cost.

Short films, free smiles. Life’s Good!

Please go to www.lgfilmfest.com for more details, or e-mail submissions@lgfilmfest.com if you have any questions!

StheF

The Lobster Trap

...And be sure that you do not get this confused with the mainstream chain, because The Lobster Trap, winner of the Best in Town Gold Award 2008, located at 1962 Avenue Road, five blocks south of Hwy. 401, is anything but corporate.

This small, comfortable, casual, family-owned restaurant has been in the same location for over 40 years and welcomes returning diners and families of north Toronto who are looking for an honest-to-goodness, full, hearty lobster meal at a reasonable price. Lobsters are flown in fresh from the Maritimes, ranging from 1lb to 4lbs, but that's not all the menu includes. Open for dinner seven days a week from 5:00pm, The Lobster Trap offers other high quality seafood, filet mignon and rack of lamb - something for every taste bud.

I started off with my personal favourite appetizer, the escargots. Served on a piping hot plate, the luscious escargots come dripping in a rich garlic sauce, perfect for sopping up with a delicious garlic bun, served hot for the table.
A friend of mine had the New England Clam Chowder, a delicious hearty, chunky soup with plenty of clam and vegetables. Also a perfect opportunity for dunking one of the mouthwatering garlic buns into.
Then came time for the pièce de resistance - the lobster. Ready with our bibs on, crackers in hand, we were good to go!

I didn't get a chance to take a picture of our lobsters because we dug in so quickly, but luckily the owner of the restaurant, Otto (pictured below), was more than happy to lend a helping hand in my food critique endeavors and came out with two lobsters for me to snap photos of.

The lobster was absolutely delicious, as usual. With the option of having your lobster broiled or steamed, you are served a lobster of your choice, filled with succulent, tender meat, as well as a dish of melted butter over a flame and a couple lemons for taste.

If you find yourself craving a heavenly lobster dish, head up to The Lobster Trap. The service is impeccable, the atmosphere is comfortable and friendly, and you are sure to be pleased with each and every visit to this charming restaurant. Not only are the prices reasonable, but you receive 10% of your receipt back in Lobster Trap dollars to be used on your next visit!

See you there!

Party Size: 4
Price Range: $30-45/person
Visit Again?: Of course!!
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5 (quick & totally friendly)
Atmosphere: 5/5
OVERALL: 5/5

Supermarket

I had read about this restaurant and heard good things, so we decided to head over to Kensington Market to check it out. Supermarket, located at 268 Augusta Avenue, just south of College, combines the laid back atmosphere of Kensington Market, Asian-inspired cooking from neighbouring China town and an eclectic mix of people to cook up a casual but delicious dining experience.
After long deliberation on the menu, which offers up a variety of different tastes and flavours under two categories, small or large plates, including organic mixed baby greens served with a miso-passionfruit guava vinaigrette ($5.95) and grilled jerk pork with mixed greens and a spicy scotch bonnet pepper dip ($10.95), we came to the decision to order two small dishes and two large dishes.

First came the sweet potato chips spiced with chipotle & sea salt served with chipotle mayo ($4.95), which we devoured in seconds. It was a great way to whet our starving appetites and kept our mouths watering for more.
Then came the first of our large dishes: braised oxtail and beef shank with lemongrass topped with Thai basil ($10.50). I had never tried oxtail before - the idea of eating the tail of an ox gave me the shivers - but after having a taste of this dish, I can assure you that oxtail is a tender, juicy, flavourful meat. (I apologize for the picture [or lack thereof], we were so hungry and dove into the dishes too quickly before realizing we hadn't taken a picture)
Then came the chicken & shrimp pad thai, which consisted of rice noodles, sprouts bok choy, carrots, egg, chicken & shrimp (of course), peanuts and cilantro ($10.95). You can specify when you order whether you want it to be mild, medium or spicy. I am a big fan of pad thai - when it is done right. That being said, I have to give kudos to Supermarket for making this a dish that will beckon me for repeat visits to this trendy resto lounge. (Once again, I apologize for the [minimal] picture)
Lastly, our order of sui mai, steamed dim-sum style shrimp & scallop dumplings with sesame soy dip ($7.95), arrived. We were pretty full already, but managed to taste a couple. I have to say that this is a dish I could have done without. The dumplings are open-faced and come stuffed to the brim with shrimp and scallop, making it difficult to pick them up with the provided chopsticks - not to mention the dumplings are incredibly sticky and hold on for dear life to the basket they come served in. The scallops and shrimp were rubbery and tasted as if they had been steamed for far too long. Suffice to say, I do not recommend this dish on any trip to Supermarket.
I would return to Supermarket, as long as I can skip out on the sui mai!

Party Size: 2
Price Range: $15-25/person
Visit Again?: Yes
Food: 3/5
Service: 2/5 (very slow - a little too laid back)
Atmosphere: 4/5 (a little dark)
OVERALL: 4/5

StheF

Cora Pizza

If you're feeling a bit peckish, whether it's the middle of the day or the middle of the night, try this tasty - and did I mention CHEAP - pizza spot! I can assure you it is no Pizza Pizza, or any cardboard, rubber-cheese, fast food-type pizzeria - and that is a damn good thing.

Cora Pizza, located at 658 Spadina Avenue, just north of Harbord on the west side, is open until 4 am EVERY day of the week and serves up a mean pizza to cure any hungry, growling stomach. Order one slice and you will be served almost half the pizza for a minimal $4.00 flat.
I had a slice of the Margherita pizza (cheese, tomato & basil), which I split with a friend because I simply could not finish an entire slice to myself.
The crust is thin and light, the cheese is plentiful and the dipping sauce (75 cents) is unnecessary (proof of a good pizza).

Party Size: 2
Price Range: $4/person
Visit Again?: Yes
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Atmosphere: 2/5 (close to no seating, not a place you'd want to hang around in, but more of a grab-and-go)
OVERALL: 4/5

Marinella

I realize it has been over a week now since my last posting - my most sincere apologies!

Last Friday, I went for a tasty dinner with a friend in Toronto's 'Little Italy' on College at Marinella @ 640 College Street.

After popping into several Italian restaurants along College and peering at menus, looking for something that stood out, we finally stumbled upon this charming restaurant. Drawn by its good looks, seemingly delicious menu and a tag line that assured simply Italian, we patiently sat at the bar, waiting for a seat on the packed patio.
To start, we shared the Antipasto Calabrese, which consisted of an array of homemade prosciuttino and soppressata, parmiggiano reggiano and crotonese cheeses served along with homemade crusty bread and olives in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Needless to say, this appetizer was absolutely mouthwatering.
For the main dish, my friend had the Pappardelle Giovanni - homemade sausage, miniature homemade meatballs and a hearty tomato sauce topped with reggiano cheese, and served on a fresh bed of pasta.
I had the Calabrese pizza - homemade soppressata, roasted peppers, black olives and chili peppers (I had it without the roasted peppers). Truly a delightful pizza.
Party Size: 2
Price Range: $40-50/person
Visit Again?: Yes
Food: 5/5
Service: 2/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5

A Little Behind..

I realize I haven't posted anything for a week now. I promise I have a LOT of stuff to post about, so get excited. I should have everything up by tomorrow afternoon! I've been playing catch-up with my e-mails and everything else that I've let slide for this past week, so I haven't had a chance to write up anything for you all to read. Sorry!

Stay tuned, kids.

On Another Note...

People on the TTC can be so damn ignorant!!!

Is it NOT the worst thing IN THE WORLD when you're about to exit the train or the bus, but the impatient arseholes (pardon my Français) waiting on the other side of the doors barge in and practically accost you? It drives me MAD!!

For instance, at rush hour today, I was on the train, about to exit at Bloor. The train was clearly packed and Bloor is obviously a popular station to get off at. Of course, the ignorant morons of today's society somehow knew I was coming - an alarm must have gone off at Bloor at 5:30pm - and just as I was about to exit, stampeded at me and CARRIED ME ALONG TO THE NEXT STATION! Thanks guys! You made me late for an orientation at a NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION! How does that make you feel?! Silly, I'm sure.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm sure there are some of you out there... Nodding your heads in agreement... A slow, soft tear trickling down your cheek because you relate so deeply to my biting frustration.

Over and out.
StheF

Something Worthwhile..

..And it's not even food!!

Today, I went to a volunteer orientation meeting at Street Haven, located at 87 Pembrooke Avenue (north of Dundas, west of Sherbourne), which is essentially an organization that provides shelter, food, activities and hope to women in need in Toronto. The women may have suffered, or still suffer from substance abuse, homelessness, mental health issues, etc. On their website, Street Haven's mission statement reads:

Street Haven is "...a place to heal, a place to grow and a place to live independently, in accordance with what each individual woman is ready to handle and in recognition of the varied potential of each woman."

Street Haven welcomes all types of women - and that includes transsexuals. Basically, anyone who identifies themself as a woman is warmly invited into the open doors of Street Haven. However, I was really disheartened to hear that their drop-in centre is in the process of being closed down due to lack of funding. The drop-in centre is a place where women, not necessarily the women that reside in Street Haven facilities, can freely come in and get a meal, join in on activities or seek help. Cutting this essential part of Street Haven is truly unfortunate.

That being said, I am really excited to go in for my interview and join Street Haven's team of 130+ volunteers in helping those who need it, particularly, in this case, women.

StheF

Dinner and a Movie

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love to eat while I'm watching a movie. Whether I'm at the theatre, munching on popcorn, or sitting on my couch at home, I always enjoy having something to eat while I enjoy a movie. Go figure.

In my loner days, when I had nothing better to do on a Friday night than sit at home by myself and watch TV, I used to watch Dinner and a Movie on TBS. The hosts would present a movie to their TV audience, but their 'thing' was to introduce a recipe as well. During commercial breaks, the hosts would then cook the dinner, showing how it's done.

One day, I decided I would actually try out one of their recipes.

The movie was a hit from 1997, Batman & Robin, starring George Clooney as Batman and Arnold Schwarzenneger as Mr. Freeze, to name a few from the star-studded cast. The recipe paired with the movie was "Super-Hero Sandwiches."

What You Will Need:

• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 sweet Vidalia onion, peeled and quartered
• 1 cup Spanish green olives
• 1 cup kalamata or black olives
• 1 stalk celery cut into matchstick sized pieces
• 1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
• 2 tablespoons drained capers
• 1/2 cup olive oil (preferably extra-virgin)
• 1 table spoon red wine vinegar
• salt, pepper and cayenne to taste
• 3 Japanese eggplant, thinly sliced lengthwise
• 1 lb. thinly sliced raw turkey breast
• 4 oz. thinly sliced provolone
• 4 oz. thinly sliced mozzarella cheese
• 1 French or sourdough baguette, split lengthwise

Directions:

1. Cut the top and bottom from bell pepper, pull out the core and cut open to create one large strip. Place pepper skin-side-up on a foil-lined cookie sheet and broil 2-3 inches from the flame until blackened and blistered, about 5 minutes.

2. Place the pepper strips in a paper bag until cool enough to handle, and then scrape off the skin under running water. Dice and scrape into a large mixing bowl.

3. Cut the onion into thick slices, brush with olive oil and broil until brown around the edges. Chop and add to the peppers.

4. Add the olives, celery, parsley, oregano, capers, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper to the onion and bell pepper. Mix well and refrigerate until use.

5. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brush eggplant and turkey slices with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Sear eggplant for 2-3 minutes per side. Sear the turkey slices for about 1 minute on each side.

6. Pile the French loaf with layers of cheese, eggplant, and turkey. Heat in a 400F oven for 5 minutes, remove from oven and smother with olive salad. Then eat quickly before Gotham City gets into trouble.

Serves four.

I know it's a long process and a ton of ingredients, but TRUST me, it's worth it!! In fact, I'm going to try and make it again sometime this week and I'll take a picture for all you skeptics.

Now, go save the world, one sandwich at a time!

StheF

Recipe provided by TBS's Dinner & a Movie.

My Stuff

I just posted a whole bunch of poetry I wrote between grade twelve and now. I felt like getting them out there for you all to read and maybe, in turn, get some feedback from you.

All of my poetry is written from the heart. As I have written in previous postings, writing is my passion and always comes from deep within. Some of my poems are completely fictional, whereas some are based loosely on my life. I'll leave it up to you to decide which ones you think are to be read in my voice.

I hope you enjoy them, because poetry is something that I really put my everything into.

Happy reading :)

StheF

Surf's Up

As we drove down the narrow, dusty roads,
the hot and humid air drifted through the windows
of his small, red Jeep, bringing
the warm smell of sugar cane fields,
wet grass and cows.
I gazed out at the children, laughing and playing
at the side of the road.
Their mothers and fathers sat lazily on their porches,
guzzling dark rum and looking on as
their mothers and fathers played rounds of
Dominoes.

We drove passed the fields and drove on
up a hill overlooking
The Ocean.
He hummed along - off key, as always - with the static radio.
I winced as I caught sight of the
Ragin' Surf Point,
recalling my last lesson.

I absolutely detested surfing.
I could never catch a wave, albeit
the board was ten feet long.
On that fateful summer day,
The Ocean trapped me under Its surface
exactly seven times too many.
Each time I went under,
my board sank down with me, throwing me
against the rocks and holding me captive.
I remember gasping for air
as the tide pulled me below.
Fearful and uneasy,
I retreated to the beach and sat on my purple towel,
sipping on a premium, cold bottle of beer from the cooler.
My skin was inflamed, irritated and covered in hives.
I sat on the beach as I waited for him, watching the
waves strike the shore until
the sky was covered with a blanket of stars.
When he finally sauntered up the sand,
his face was dotted with freckles,
his hair white from the salt.
'We chose a great day for surfing.'
He loved The Ocean.
He could swim in it for hours.
We were different in that way.

His humming eventually turned into
belting out the words to the songs -
off key, as always -
and snapped me back to reality.
We drove on in his little red Jeep, away from The Ocean,
until we reached the
Old Town,
bustling with people
and smells of
Hot Beef Roti, Macaroni Pie and Hot Pepper Sauce.
In the market, devious merchants sold their over-priced goods
to clueless tourists, clad in
Tommy Bahama, Bermuda Shorts and
The Infamous Fanny Pack.

We approached another hill and
I thought the Jeep would give up.
We'd be done for!
The tires gripped the sizzling tar on the road for dear life.
The engine spat and sputtered, coughed and choked.
I held onto the seat, clutched my seatbelt and
squeezed my eyes shut tight.
I could hear him laugh at me.
At last, we turned the final corner and
the Jeep rolled to a stop outside a
charming, white house.
His dog leaped and howled with glee
as we piled out, my luggage in tow and
stepped inside, enjoying the cool air that splashed our faces.

In the kitchen, he wrapped his arms around me,
pulled me in close and planted a big, wet kiss on my forehead.
'So, I take it you wouldn't like to go for a swim in the sea?'
I giggled and buried my face in his burly chest.
'Not today.'

Brilliance

They strolled hand in hand
through the peculiar passageway.
Incandescent lights danced around them
like a kaleidoscope of commotion.
She would occasionally look his way,
admiring his profile as he gazed ahead at the
wild night.
When she wasn't looking,
he would take a peak at her dazzling smile
as they walked on.
Together, they set out on a journey
through the darkness,
without a care in the world,
knowing that tomorrow will be a whole new adventure.

Exposed

I had my eye on you
from the moment you entered.
You appeared to be vulnerable -
Fresh Meat.
Your eyes flickered with eagerness.
Were you overwhelmed?
We studied your every move from afar.
What's your story?
You're clearly a misfit.

Welcome to the Jungle.
We're sorry -

The position has been filled.

The Other Woman

She glides through the glass doors -
he's on the phone
with The Wife.
She gently sets his coffee down on his desk
and twirls a slender finger in
his silver hair.
Slowly,
she
lowers
her
lips
to his ear and
teasingly tugs on his tie.
Forget Her. You're Mine.
He looks into her eyes with an impish grin,
allows the phone to drop to the floor of his office
and pulls her into his lap.

They could still hear
The Wife
rambling on the floor.

Untitled

The cold wind raged around her face
as she watched him turn on his heel
and walk towards the Greyhound.
Her fingers were wrapped tightly
around his Teddy Bear that he left behind.
The little fleece sweater
felt soft against her fingers.
Comfort in a raw moment.

In the Station

I sit motionless
on the bench against the wall
amid the unknown faces.
A delicate petal
atop a heap of
lifeless leaves -
out of place.

The train pulls to a halt.
I stand
and watch those around me
as they swarm the doors.

I'll wait for the next one.

Medusa

We sit in the shivering cold,
the cool air burns my ears.
Snow covers your concrete frame as
I drape my arms around you
and tell you stories of how
we will search for a place
where we could be alive.

I look into your
lifeless face,
while the hissing snakes
taunt my reality.

I dream of your tender lips
that should kiss my cheeks
instead of my fated
reflection that will freeze my future
and leave me still -
stone-dead.

Freedom

A shocking white, clean and clear.
Unmarked, unused, vacant, empty.
An unwritten composition -
A story untold.

Then suddenly,
your pen takes a daring dive to the page,
exploring the smooth surface with its tip.
Colourful stains begin to emerge on the page
and every corner is eventually discovered,
covering the cold, blank face.
Upside down, right side up,
side to side, back to front -
the markings on the page materialize into
magnificent thoughts.
Gradually the shackles
that closely guard and protect your imagination
are unlocked.

Lines and shapes and phrases take the place of
the alarming silence that was present before -
the frosty ice and bitter death feeling
of a white page,
a white so discomforting, it blinds the eye.
The page has,
at long last,
been informed.

Before you know it,
the white is gone
and darkness takes over.
Marked, used, occupied, full -
Your story has been told.

Apple Smiles

So, I was busy watching Run's House on MTV, when I realized that my stomach was rumbling for a quick & easy snack (as per usual)! I thought for a while about what I could make with the few ingredients I have in the kitchen, when a light bulb went off.

When I was younger, my friends and I would love to snack on Apple Smiles. All you need are red apples, peanut butter and mini marshmallows! Sounds gross, I know, but they are absolutely delicious! You could even substitute the marshmallows for raisins (known as Ants on a Log).

The steps for preparing this delicious, childhood snack are totally simple:

• Cut the red apples into wedges, approximately half an inch thick.
• On one wedge, spread the peanut butter. How much peanut butter you use only depends on how much you love it!
• Take the mini marshmallows and line them up along the peanut butter
• Take another apple wedge, spread peanut butter on it and place on top of the marshmallows (which will be sticking to the peanut butter)

The final stack should be apple wedge, peanut butter, mini marshmallows, peanut butter, apple wedge.

Enjoy!!

Recipe and picture courtesy of Recipezaar.

StheF

Cora's

This past Canada Day, I went for a delicious brunch with my mom at Cora's on Steeles at the corner of Dufferin @ 1881 Steeles Avenue West, Unit 13. It is tucked away in a small strip mall called Dufferin Corners, right beside the Seafood & Cheese Outlet Deli (interesting..).
I had been to Chez Cora's in Montreal, Quebec, where the restaurant originated, a few times and had no idea that there was one in Toronto - albeit in (sort of) the middle of nowhere.

Upon walking through the doors, we arrived at a small line-up. This was reassuring, because we hadn't heard reviews, but the place was super busy! The line-up was quick and we were soon seated at a booth, tucked away in the corner, but with a good enough view of the rest of the restaurant for people watching.
The walls are covered in colourful, vibrant paintings which showcase the variety of meal options they have available on the menu (eg: déjeuner Gargantua, déjeuner de Cora). We were sat opposite the kitchen, which at any other restaurant would be completely unpleasant, but the kitchen at Cora's was buzzing with excitement and laughter. If the staff of the restaurant are having fun, it's a sign that you're probably going to enjoy yourself here.

The menu at Cora's is mammoth - the selections are endless and they all look so good, you could practically eat the pictures. According to the place mat, Cora's customers gravitate toward their thick, juicy smoothies, but I opted for a fresh, pulpy orange juice and a water. My mom and I both ordered the Jo Tabah Breakfast, which consists of two eggs, done any way you like them (I ordered sunny-side up, a classic), four moist pieces of bacon, two succulent sausages, an abundance of savory potato wedges and a juicy orange slice, for the reasonably price of $8.00.
My mom and I agreed to share an order of pancakes, which comes with three, topped with melted butter and maple syrup, which were positively fluffy and unquestionably delightful, for an added $4.00.
Cora's, which serves all-day breakfast and lunch until 3:00pm everyday, draws an eclectic crowd: people of all backgrounds, ages and neighbourhoods arrive at this destination restaurant, all looking for the same thing - a scrumptious, hearty breakfast.

Party Size: 2
Price Range: $10-20/person
Visit Again?: Yes
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5 (Extremely hard-working, pleasant servers!)
Atmosphere: 5/5
OVERALL: 5/5

StheF