Sadie the Foodie

American Thanksgiving in NYC!

2011-10-12T19:05:00.000-04:00

At the end of November, my mom, Deborah, and I are heading down to NYC for a long weekend of shopping, sight-seeing, and of course, eating!

Naturally, my mom put me in charge of putting together a list of restaurants to eat at while we're there. Thanks to friends on Facebook, Twitter & good old fashioned research, I compiled a pretty tantalizing list. That being said, I am still welcoming suggestions from you guys! Please comment if you think I'm missing any "must-eats."

Restaurants:

1) Cafeteria (119 7th Ave, 7th & W 17th)
2) Momofoku (Noodle Bar or Ssam Bar)
3) Babbo (110 Waverly Place, NW corner of Washington Square)
4) Shake Shack (Madison Square Park)
5) The Spotted Pig (314 W 11th St at Greenwich St.)
6) DuMont (432 Union Ave, Brooklyn)
7) Fatty Crab (West Village, 643 Hudson St, between Horatio & Gansevoort)
8) Boqueria (171 Spring St, Soho)
9) Balthazar (80 Spring St, Soho)
10) Pearl Oyster Bar (18 Cornelia St)
11) Prune (54 E 1st St, between 1st & 2nd)
12) Barney Greengrass (541 Amsterdam St at 86th)
13) Katz's Deli (205 East Houston) **Definitely eating here - a scene from my fave movie was filmed here! Hint: "I'll have what she's having!"**
14) Maialino (2 Lexington Ave)
15) Di Fara Pizza (1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn)
16) Buddakan (75 9th Ave, 9th & W 16th)
17) Corner Bistro (331 W 4th St, Jane & W 4th)

Sadly, I had to narrow this list down from a much longer one, and we won't be able to eat at all of these.. But these restaurants look absolutely delish!

Like I said, still open to suggestions! Happy eating! :)

Baked Grown-up Mac and Cheese!

2011-09-16T12:20:00.000-04:00

Since I've joined the gym this past week, I've been making (very) minor adjustments to my life to sort of gear toward a healthier, not to mention less expensive, lifestyle. For starters, I've totally cut eating out at restaurants (okay okay, I ate at Poutini's this week... but we were in a pinch for food before the Warren Haynes Band concert!!), so I've been cooking a lot more.

Yesterday, I sat brainstorming for a while ideas of what to make for dinner for me and my boyfriend. I was in the mood for something super flavourful and fairly epic. I perused the internet for ideas for quite a while and decided on baked mac and cheese. I compiled a bunch of different recipes and came up with my own!

INGREDIENTS:
Serves 6

-1 lb Large Shell pasta (or any pasta that you like, really. Most websites recommend elbow mac)
-1/2 cup, or one stick, of butter
-1/2 cup all-purpose flour
-4 1/2 cups milk
-2 cups grated sharp white cheddar (1/2 cup for the top)
-2 cups grated sharp orange cheddar (1/2 cup for the top)
-2 cups grated gruyere (1/2 cup for the top)
-generous amount of salt, black pepper, paprika
-chili flakes (optional, but adds a nice kick)

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First, I boiled the large shell pasta in salted water until it was about two minutes outside of being cooked (it would cook in the oven anyway, and nobody likes mushy pasta - especially not me!). Then, I strained it and put it in a large bowl to sit.

Then, I preheated the oven to 350 degrees while I prepared the sauce.

First, I melted the stick of butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Then, I whisked in flour, and slowly added the milk, whisking continuously until it reached a boil. Then I reduced the heat, cooked for about 5 more minutes, whisking constantly. After 5 minutes had passed, I added in the cheese, salt, pepper, and paprika. I kept whisking the sauce until it was completely smooth (no chunks), and removed it from heat. I then added the sauce to the pasta in the large bowl and mixed it well.

I coated a large baking dish in low cal Canola Oil spray (cuz I need to be watching calories at this point, right? Ha!), poured in the pasta and sauce, and topped it off with the remaining grated cheese.

I baked it for 40 minutes, when the cheese was bubbling around the edges and the top was a beautiful golden brown colour.

----------------------------
Holy COW! It was so so sooooo delicious! I had a large helping, as did Chris. It went really great with dollops of Sriracha Chili Paste.

Stay tuned for my next cooking adventure :)

Happy eating!

Homemade Delicious Guacamole!

2011-06-11T21:13:00.001-04:00

Chris (@tman41) and I decided to head up to the cottage for a night so that he could take inventory of his camping stuff before heading to Bonnaroo this weekend. We’re always looking for something fun to do together, and we had so much fun cooking together before, so we decided to come up with a superb guacamole recipe and get to work with the ingredients.

We stopped at Zehrs in Keswick and picked out our ingredients:

6 ripe avocados, peeled & pitted
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 large garlic clove, crushed
1 small tomato, diced
6 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, grated
1 jalapeno pepper, diced
1 cubanelle pepper, diced
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp salt

In a large mixing bowl, mash the avocados, leaving some chunks. It’s best to do this by hand, rather than by blender, because you don’t want the avocado to be like a purée. The chunks add a different texture, as well as keeps the delicious flavour of a ripe avocado! We used a potato masher and a spoon.

Once you’ve mashed your avocados, you’re ready to dice, chop and crush the rest of your ingredients!

Last but not least, add all of your ingredients into the bowl and mix to blend it all together.

As you stir it, your taste buds will be tickled by the incredible smell alone. Get out your favourite nacho chip (we used President’s Choice Sea Salt Kettle Style Tortilla Chips, which were really yummy!) and enjoy!

Because we made our guacamole right before dinner, we decided to incorporate it into our dinner and make homemade burritos.

Chris marinated the chicken in a smoky chipotle salsa and fried the slices in a pan. He used the leftover cilantro and lime from our guacamole recipe to create a cilantro & lime rice. We grated what was left of our Monterey Jack cheese, and voila! We had delicious burrito ingredients. Add lettuce, sour cream and any other of your favourite toppings, and enjoy!

But we weren’t done yet!

Our guacamole was so delicious, and there was so much left, that the next morning, as we were making cheesy chorizo scrambled eggs, we decided to make breakfast burritos!

Using basically the same ingredients as the burritos from the night before (I added bacon bits and Franks Red Hot Sauce), we made scrumptious, savoury breakfast burritos.

All in all, the guacamole was a tasty, fun and easy dish to make!

(Prep time: approx 15-20 mins)

Technology That Empowers Me

2010-11-18T18:28:00.001-05:00

Recently, I’ve been having a bit of a writer’s block when it comes to blogging, journal-writing, as well as writing for school. Thus, I looked up “what to write about in a blog” on Google, came across Chris Brogan’s 100 Blog Topics, and a light bulb went off.

The title that jumped out at me the most was “Technology That Empowers Me.” To me, I believe that all technology can be empowering, if used correctly. Along with the internet comes a wealth of information being shared between users across the globe. This information comes in a variety of mediums, such as blogs, websites, photos, games, applications, e-mails, texts, BBMs, social networking tools (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), and many more. All of these valves of information can be attained by using almost any tool, such as a laptop, desktop, iPad, iTouch, cellphone, smartphone, among others.

What amazes me, and I suppose empowers me as well, is how quickly information can be shared with anyone and anything in any small corner of the globe. This blog post, for example, can be read by someone sitting behind their computer in Jakarta, someone flipping through their Blackberry in Helsinki, or someone walking down the street with their iPhone in La Paz.

I can come up with a funny thought, punch it out on UberTwitter/HootSuite/Tweetdeck/Twitter for Blackberry/Twitter for iPhone/Panoramic moTweets/CoTweet, and have it retweeted by 17 people in a matter of minutes, reaching a whole slew of people I never could have reached otherwise.

The fact of the matter is, there is not merely one technology that empowers me, but technology as a collective whole that empowers me, as well as everyone else in the world. I’ve got the world at my finger tips, and at the rate we’re going, I have the distinct feeling we’re going to be a whole lot more empowered in years to come.

What technology empowers you? Why?

21 Years & Counting.

2010-07-28T23:23:00.000-04:00

With my 21st birthday fast approaching, I've commenced the organizing, inviting and planning for my (fabulous) party I'll be throwing on September 2nd (my b-day). While writing out my Facebook invite, I decided to compile a list of 21 Things That You Don't Know About Me, and I thought I would share it with all of you as well!

21 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ME:

1) My favourite colour is green.
2) I still have all my 500+ Barbies.
3) My thumbs, pinkies, and elbows are double-jointed.
4) I've attended six different schools (so far).
5) I had a goldfish named Spotty who lived for seven years.
6) I used to prefer KD for breakfast, as opposed to.... anything.
7) I placed first in the province for High Jump in grade 6.
8) I went on a student exchange to Japan when I was 14, where I learned how to perform a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
9) I'm horrified by human statues (see: La Rambla in Barcelona).
10) I'm pretty damn good on the Flying Trapeze and the Spanish Web.
11) I went to Britney Spears' first ever concert in Canada, and stood on my chair in the 3rd row.
12) I work at West Elm... Come buy a sofa (and perhaps a bed) and I'll be your BFF.
13) I bumped into David Suzuki in a forest while portaging on a canoe trip. No joke.
14) My favourite trip was to Istanbul, Turkey.
15) My favourite movie is When Harry Met Sally.
16) My favourite place to relax is Mont Tremblant.
17) I used to listen to opera and classical music to fall asleep.
18) I designed and invented the "Sadie" La Senza Girl sweat pants when I was 12, based on the "Jewcamp" sweat pants I always wore.
19) I was a member of the Bishop's College School Number Two Cadet Core and a member of the Colour Party.
20) I'm a published author in the Montreal Jewish Public Library's 2007 edition of First Fruits.
21) I went dog-sledding and slept in the snow for a week, so now I have my Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Well the sun is surely sinking down, but the moon is slowly rising.

2010-06-30T00:01:00.002-04:00

I'm lying in bed, listening to the soothing sounds of James Taylor, and reflecting on this past year of my life. The good, the bad, the ugly. New friends, old friends, experiences, opportunities, love lost and love found.

I've gone through a lot in the past little while. While I may have had some hardships at times, everything I've experienced has been a learning adventure. I've developed some amazing friendships with people I have had the absolute fortune of meeting. Some friendships may have fallen by the wayside, but it's never too late to pick up where we left off. As they say, better late than never.

I guess the point of this post is to just assure myself, and maybe some of you, my dear readers, that although times may be difficult, don't take anything for granted, whether it's good or bad. Anything and everything you go through helps you grow as a person, and I have firsthand experience of this.

As long as you have a core group of people who love and support you, who can understand you and you can relate to, you are golden. I'm lucky enough to have the best friends and loved ones who care so much about me, and only want the best for me. I want all of you to know, if you're reading this and if I haven't told you already, you mean the world to me and I couldn't ask for more!

I suppose I'm in a bit of a corny mood, and listening to James Taylor may fuel this mood a little, but I just felt like writing a note to the world to get some lovey dovey feelings off my chest.

Every day is a beautiful day. Carpe diem, my friends!

In the words of James Taylor,

When your down and troubled,
And you need a helping hand
And nothing, whoa nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me ,
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest nights.
You just call out my name,
And you know where ever I am,
I'll come running, oh yeah baby,
To see you again.
Winter, spring , summer, or fall,
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You've got a friend.

xoxoxox,
Sadie

So Much Going On!

2010-06-23T16:14:00.000-04:00

Hello friends!

So much has happened in the past little while that I've got so backed up on my writing.

FIRST: WORLD CUP 2010!!!! I don't know about you, but I'm a football fanatic, particularly when it comes to World Cup/Euro Cup/Premier League Championships. As always, since I was a little girl, I'm rooting for none other than BRAZIL! They are playing incredibly this World Cup. I am also very impressed by the effort put forth by the underdogs this year. The favourites are making some shocking moves, and lack of goals (achem - Spain vs Switzerland, Portugal vs Ivory Coast, Serbia vs Germany, to name a few). I think that's one thing I love about tournaments like this on the world stage. Anything can happen! It is very unpredictable, keeps us guessing, keeps us on our toes. It's great excitement!

If you're looking for a great place to watch the games with a few friends, some drinks, good food, and a great atmosphere, check out The Football Factory. I watched the Brazil vs North Korea game here and the energy was phenomenal! One of the co-owners, Chrissie Whittick, even gave me a Brazil tshirt and a World Cup bottle opener key chain.

Happy World Cup everyone!

SECOND: This past weekend, I volunteered at The Field's MMVA Pre-Bash at Tryst nightclub. I was working the VIP green carpet alongside my good friends, Bridget and Julia. Whenever a celeb walked into the party, I would scribble their name down on a white board, and hold it up for the media to see while the artists posed in front of the media wall/step & repeat.

Sponsors such as Yellow Tail, Pizza Hut, Boris, Eska, PS3, World Vision, FitFlop, and more sprinkled the club with samples and reps for everyone to try. Free wine, free beer, free pizza and free burgers from our friends at South St Burger Company (yum!!) - how can you go wrong!!!!??

This was probably one of the most fun volunteer opportunities I've taken part in! I got to meet and mingle with Canadian celebs such as Stereos, Karl Wolf, These Kids Wear Crowns, Ten Second Epic, Crush Luther, The Danger Bees, The Blue Print Crew, Elise Estrada, Giovanni & Solitair, Ray Robinson, and many many more. I was a little bummed that Dave Navarro, Adam Lambert, and Ke$ha (who all RSVPed 'attending') didn't show up, but I was still thrilled nonetheless!

I wore a cute little summer dress from Urban Outfitters, my killer nude Browns heels, and a gigantic smile the entire time! Can't wait for next year's pre-party. Trust me, I will do what I can to volunteer again!

THIRD: This past Monday, June 21, I attended my first Tweet Up at Caplansky's Deli, along with 20 other Twitteraholics relatively in the food realm. It was great to put faces to names with people I've been Twittering with for months now.

I met Bridget to the Adelaide Street Pub beforehand to gain a little liquid courage over some beers before heading over to the #DeliTweetup. When we arrived at Caplansky's, the patio was packed with live Tweeters, sampling pickled platters of pickles and tomatoes. Bridget and I pulled up a table and joined in on the sampling.

Zane, the owner of Caplansky's, then brought out little plates of chopped liver, schmaltz, rye bread and tomato for us to try. He gave us a spiel about how it was his mother's delicious chopped liver recipe, so I dug in. It was very tasty. Chopped liver has a very distinctive taste, and sometimes, if made the wrong way, can turn out too sweet. Here, it was done just right. Delicious with tomato.

Then came out the potato knishes. I am a huge fan of all things knish, as my grandmother is a pro-star at baking them for me (cheese and potato). The ones at Caplansky's were okay at best, but I hated the "signature" smoked meat gravy that was doused all over the plate. Knishes are best served by themselves, or with sour cream. The salty, watery gravy made for an awful topping.

We were then told to split up into groups of four and order things to share. Bridget and I ordered the Matzah ball soup (a favourite of mine), and the famous smoked meat poutine. After one taste of the matzvah ball soup, I was ANYTHING but impressed. The spices were all wrong. The soup had a very strong taste of dog food, which I found absolutely appalling. The matzah ball may have been tasty, had it not soaked up the horrific broth it sat in sadly. Then came the poutine. Where were the cheese curds? We counted three. The smoked meat was the same smoked meat gravy that was served with the knishes, which I was utterly disappointed with. The portion was WAY too big, even for two people to share.

All in all, I had a an absolutely great time meeting new people, but I will NEVER EVER return to Caplansky's Deli. The food is 100% awful, which my mother warned me of before my visit, and I now agree with her.

I'll take my regular order at Yitz's ANYDAY!

Sorry for the all-at-once blog post, but I figured it was easier than separating it into three!

Cheers,

StheF

A New Chapter

2010-06-08T12:39:00.002-04:00

There have been some big changes in my life recently. Usually I am absolutely terrible with dealing with change, but this time, I am embracing it with open arms. This time around, it is the kind of change that will bring happiness, comfort, a little bit of sadness, but ultimately, it signifies a new chapter of my life.

My diet that I spoke of in an earlier post has been somewhat unsuccessful so far, but that is because of two family weekends in a row. Two weekends ago, I was in London Ontario for my cousin's Bar Mitzvah. These sort of weekends are always a blast! The drinks were flowing, the conversation was at high volume, there was a Mariachi band, and to top it all off, we ended the night at the Barney's Patio in downtown London!

This past weekend, I was in Boston, or more specifically Andover, for my other cousin's high school graduation at Phillips Academy Andover. It was a beautiful weekend, filled with close family, good food, a gorgeous ceremony, amazing seafood (copious amounts of oysters!!), and a night out in Boston with an old friend at Ned Divine's. The only downside was a ton of rain and humidity - which didn't help in the hair frizz control department.

Now that all of the chaos is done, I am putting my life in order. Back onto the 10 Steps to Success! And I'm making more time for friends. With the new changes comes more time to myself, and I'm going to spend it wisely with people I've sorrily neglected.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

StheF

Sex and the City 2 Premiere Party

2010-05-28T13:15:00.002-04:00

Last night, Bridget and I attended the What Women Want Sex and the City cocktail party at the 99 Sudbury event space. Earlier in April, I had entered a contest on this blog to win two free tickets to this party, and I won! So naturally, I called up Bridget and asked her to come along with me.

The anticipation for this party was immense. The build-up of it all was great. I find, before any party, I get so excited with the preparation for it: the manicures/pedicures, cocktail dress selection, new shoes, accessories, drinks prior to the party, and just how fashionably late should I be?

I ended up wearing a strapless Betsey Johnson (pale yellow with tiny white dots, corseted, then flowy) dress, Browns nude-coloured platform stiletto-heeled pumps, and a nude clutch with gold buckles by Jennifer Scott. (Sorry for the poor quality photo, it was taken on my Blackberry, and I promise that the dress looks better on than off!)

I started my night out by going to meet Bridget at her place, and then out to get some drinks and a little something to eat. We ended up at Fuzion on Church Street, one block north of Wellesley. They have the cutest patio and totally friendly staff. We each had a 'Big Red', which is a fabulous drink, comprised of Absolut Mandarin, Alize Passion Fruit Liqueur, cranberry juice and Red Bull. It was so delicious, I had to have more than one!

We also ordered a few tapas dishes. We had the Fuzion Frites with avocado-scallion aioli, and Rice Balls. The frites with the dip were yummy... The rice balls? Not so much. Essentially, they were just deep fried balls of rice with what seemed like melted mozzarella cheese, and a tomato paste dip. I do not recommend this tapas choice! (Editor's Note: I'm aware that these are most certainly not part of my new diet, but I mean, it's only been one day! I'm bound to slip up and forget at the beginning! Back to dieting....)

We then decided we were fashionably late enough to head over to the party at 99 Sudbury (Liberty Village, one block south of The Drake hotel).

Upon arrival, we were greeted by scantily-clad women, and were given one drink ticket for a Carrie-themed Cosmo. After a quick pit-stop in the bathroom to adjust make up, and rest sore new-shoe feet, we headed into the main room.

We soon came to the realization that you had to collect your goodie bag as you enter the party. This, we both found to be very unfortunate. Nobody wants to mill around a party carrying a massive, heavy bag from The Bay, filled with perfume, juice drinks, and cosmetics. This was definite poor planning on the party committee's part. I would suggest in the future, they dole out the gift bags as people are leaving.

As we entered the main room, it became apparent that this "party" was more of a trade show, than anything else. I was aware, from the mass amount of messages I received via Facebook regarding this party, that there would be many SATC-themed vendors, but I didn't realize that it would be one giant room, filled wall-to-wall with vendors! There were bikinis, dresses, manicures, purses, jewelry, false eyelashes, the works! But where was the dance floor? Where was the great music and fun, party people?

All around the room, there was an eclectic mix of women, that's for sure.... and approximately seven men - two of whom were straight. There were some very fashionable women, wearing gorgeous cocktail dresses and amazing shoes, and then there were the tragically dressed women who just have no clue how to dress for a cocktail party - SATC-themed, no less. I know this sounds mean, but there are blogs you can read, and websites you can scan - magazines, even! - that can tell you exactly how to dress for a party of the like. Even an LBD will do! For those of you who do not know, an LBD is a little black dress. They are perfect for any event, if all else fails.

After about 30 minutes, and one free cocktail later, Bridget and I had had enough people-watching, and decided to head for a little Queen West action. Because of the whole new-shoe-factor, we hopped in a cab and arrived at The Drake a mere two minutes and $4 later. After a quick flash of the ID's, we traipsed up the stairs to the stunning Drake Sky Yard, a personal favourite of mine among nighttime patios in Toronto. We grabbed our vodka-sodas-with-a-wedge-of-lime, snagged two seats by the bar, and resumed our people-watching, albeit a little more interesting than the all-girls party we were just at down the street.

Four vodka sodas and two doubles later, we headed back down to the street and hailed a cab. Our funny little Thursday night adventure had come to an end, but not regrettably.

All in all, it was a fun night (as soon as we arrived at the Sky Yard). No goodie bags to brag about, no new toys from any of the vendors, and certainly no real gossip after such a quiet night. Tonight, I have a fun-filled evening of work from 4.30pm-10.30pm, and a Bar Mitzvah in London Ont all weekend!

Tata for now, lovelies!

StheF

"On the whole, human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time."

2010-05-26T18:29:00.003-04:00

The title of this post is one of my favourite quotes. It was said by famed and acclaimed author, George Orwell. It's one that I find relatable, and definitely applicable to our society, and societies around the globe, in this day in age.

This afternoon, I went for a run under the piping hot sun. The Weather Network (I live by it) informed me that it was a sunny day, 31 degrees - feels like 38. These kinds of days are my favourite to run. You really get to push yourself in the heat, sweat it all out, stop in the park to stretch out and bask under the rays for 15 minutes, then carry on your way.

My favourite part about running is no matter how many people are around, no matter how many cars drive past, no matter how many construction men whistle, I am in my own world. Running is an escape for me. It is one of the reasons I look forward to summer the most. It is the best way to organize my thoughts, reflect on what's going on in my life, and just clear my head.

Lately, a lot has been going on for me in my life, personally speaking. It's just so great to let loose and run for miles, without a care in the world at long last. Do you ever feel like you just want to rip your brain out because it won't shut off, or even shut up for one minute? The greatest thing to do on days like that is to hit the ground running and never look back.

Writing has always been an outlet for me as well, but it just doesn't compare to the sound of my running shoes smacking the pavement, my deep, heavy breathing - in through the nose, out through the mouth - and the silence and clarity in my head.

When I woke up this morning, I wrote out a draft of a diet/new lifestyle plan I'm going to try. I call it,

10 STEPS TOWARD SUCCESS

Step 1: NO MORE JUNKFOOD! (Chips, fast food, candy, deep-fried food, ice cream, etc.)
Step 2: NO MORE POP OR SUGARY DRINKS!
Step 3: EAT VEGETABLES WITH EVERY MEAL!
Step 4: EAT BREAKFAST! (Wheat or bran cereal, fruit, and a glass of juice)
Step 5: NO MORE SLEEPING IN! (Must be out of bed by 10.30am latest)
Step 6: RUN AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK! (Make a schedule and stick to it)
Step 7: NO MORE BEER OR SUGARY DRINKS! (Only clear drinks or white wine)
Step 8: QUIT SMOKING! (By the end of June - Permanently)
Step 9: SPEND TIME OUTSIDE EVERY DAY! (Go for a walk, go window shopping)
Step 10: DO SOMETHING FUN EVERY DAY!

I really don't think any of these things are unattainable. I even gave myself a realistic date to quit smoking. That's going to be the hardest task on this list, but I know that with enough will power and support from friends, I can do it!

Well, it's time to hop in the shower after being outside all day in the heat!

Until next time,

StheF

Hot Damn, Summer in the City.

2010-05-24T15:52:00.002-04:00

When summer rolls in, the city buzzes with excitement, and last Thursday was no exception.

I took a stroll (and by stroll, I mean car ride) down to Kensington Market with Hamir to fix his bike. He had left it in Kingston, and it was stripped down to the frame. They took everything from the back tire to the pedals. He found a tiny, little nook in the back of an alley beside Segovia called Parts Unknown, where he could find used bicycle parts for cheap, and build up his bike.

As he was rummaging through old bicycle parts, I walked through the streets of Kensington Market to kill some time. I've got to say - people-watching in this part of the city is pretty amazing. The most eclectic crowd can be found milling about the streets. People from all walks of life are popping in and out of shops, restaurants and cafes, perched on steps, wandering the one-way streets that make up the market. Hand-in-hand, laughing, smoking, chatting, drinking - you name it!

I think my favourite part of people-watching is catching the tail-end of people's conversations. For example:
"...and then he fell in a ditch!"
Or,
"..she said her nipple turned purple and..."

The weather this weekend has been incredible. Gorgeous, sunny days, parties, patios, friends, family.. I love the summer! And it only gets better from here.

I have to sign off now, as I must get ready for work! Yes, that's right. I'm working on Holiday Monday.. But I get those holiday dollars $$$$, which are significantly higher than my regular hourly pay! :) Super happy about raking in the mula!

Hope you all had a fabulous, sunny, patio-filled, hopefully cottage-filled long weekend! I would love to hear about it, so comment away with the fun things you got up to!

Tata for now,

StheF

How could I forget?!

2010-05-20T00:14:00.000-04:00

I almost forgot to tell you!

I cooked a feast last night for Hamir and a friend. I started prepping around 3.30-4pm, and it was all ready to eat by 7.30pm. Longest I have ever spent slaving away in the kitchen... but so so worth it!

The meal started with a delicious Asian sesame salad (iceberg lettuce, red peppers, cucumbers, celery, Asian sesame dressing). Hamir is super picky about veggies, but for some reason, whenever I make a salad - which is rare, seeing as I never make a home-cooked meal - he always eats it!

I made some fusilli with a tomato & mushroom sauce as a side.

The entree was a buttermilk oven-fried chicken breast, which turned out amazingly; however, it was an incredible process to make. First, I had to make my own buttermilk, as I didn't have any. It's really simple, you just need 1 cup of whole milk and 1-3/4 tablespoon of cream of tartar. Let it stand for 15 minutes, and voila! Homemade buttermilk. After that was ready, I poured it into a bowl, added some salt and pepper, and dropped four chicken breasts in to marinate for 2.5 hours in the fridge.

Then, I put flour, paprika, salt and pepper in a double paper bag. When the chicken was finished marinating, one by one I dropped a breast into the paper bag and shook it around so it was fully coated in the flour mixture.

I then pre-heated the oven to 425 degrees, poured a little oil in a baking pan, and placed the chicken breasts inside. I baked them for 30 minutes, and then flipped them with some tongs and baked them for 15 more minutes.

They turned out perfectly! They were actually so good, I received rave reviews!

I'll keep you updated on my next home-cooked meal. It was a lot of work to prepare, but a lot of fun, and it's always great when your company enjoys your cooking!

Anyway, I'm exhausted. I just got home from a seven hour shift at work! Busy night.

Sweet dreams, lovelies.

StheF

Oh..Hi!

2010-05-19T11:46:00.000-04:00

Well it seems it's been a while since my last post. I kept telling myself that I would get back onto the blogging train and organize my life, but I only did the ladder. I think it's time to start writing again, seeing as it's summer and it has been a year since I began this thing.

So what has transpired in the life of Sadie, you may ask? Well, I have completed my first year in the Humber College Public Relations program, which was an absolute blast. I have met some incredible people, learned a ton, and had many amazing experiences.. And it's only the beginning!

I picked up a summer job (although it's sadly only part-time) as a court steward at a tennis club in Toronto. Sounds glamourous (haha), I know! I change the balls every two hours, clean the clubhouse (that includes toilets!), answer the phone, sweep the patio, make coffee, make juice, and chat with members. The best part is I get to be outside for at least six hours, so it's a lot better than a desk job!

The most exciting news right now, is I just returned from an incredible, life changing, trip of a lifetime to the land of milk and honey - ISRAEL! Because I am Jewish, I had the privilege of taking what is called a Birthright trip to Israel. That means an all-expense paid trip to learn more about my religion, the only Jewish state in the world, the conflict that is sadly taking place in that part of the world, and meet some outstanding people.

I've gotta say, if you're Jewish, and between the ages of 18 and 26, you HAVE to do this trip. It's honestly one of the best opportunities to travel for free, see some amazing sites, and make some life-long friends. I traveled all over the country, south to north, slept in bedouin tents in the desert, rode camels, swam in the dead sea, hiked up Masada, toured Yad Vashem (Holocaust memorial), saw Mt. Hertzl (IDF soldier cemetary), and so much more. Not to mention - the FOOD is TO DIE FOR!

The above picture is THE best falafel I've ever had in my life. I had it in the Old City of Jerusalem in the Jewish quarter.

This is how we ate in the bedouin tents in the desert. It was four to a table, and we all sat on mats on the floor. Inside the silver pan, there was what sort of resembled naan bread, with rice and meat. On the side, there were fresh cucumbers, tomatoes and green peppers, cabbage cole slaw, and tahina sauce. We used the bread to eat and dip in the sauce. It was absolutely delish!

In the mystical city of Tzvat, we ate these yummy sandwiches prepared in front of us by a Yemanite man. It was almost like a crepe, but a little thicker. He poured what looked like pancake mix into a pan, then added feta cheese, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and some spices. After it was ready, he would flip it out of the pan onto a wooden surface, then fold it over as a sandwich. My mouth is watering just thinking of it!

All in all, the trip was incredible! I can't wait to return to Israel.. Hopefully sooner than later!

Anyway, I hope this is the beginning of my return to the blogging world.
Catch ya later,

StheF

My Personal Brand

2009-12-09T02:04:00.000-05:00

Hey guys,

Click this link to check out my personal brand!

It's been a long and tedious process, but it's complete, and I'm feeling pretty proud of it.

Cheers,

StheF

Ethiopian House

2009-12-06T16:13:00.009-05:00

If you're in the mood for some ethnic food, but are looking for something new, try Ethiopian House at 4 Irwin Ave. (just south of Yonge and Bloor). The authentic Ethiopian dishes are absolutely delicious, healthy and include many vegetarian options.

When you first arrive and are seated at your table, you'll first notice something sort of strange for a restaurant. There is no cutlery on the tables. That's because this food is meant to be eaten with your hands, and sopped up by the native bread from Ethiopia, known as injera. Injera is a pancake-like bread, made out of teff flour, with a very spongy texture. Rather than using a fork, tear small pieces of injera and soak up the food with it. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Because I had never eaten here before, I was very new to the menu, but that was no problem at all. The servers here are very helpful and can guide you in the right direction and are happy to explain anything, depending on what you feel for. We decided to go for the mixed platter of veggies and meat.

For $12.95, this platter comes with dollops of Tibs (pan-fried beef), Tikil Gomon (cabbage & carrots), and Atakelet Wot (string beans, potatoes & cottage cheese). This platter is extremely filling, so be sure to share with someone. Each dollop of veggies or meat has its own distinct and delectable flavour, ranging from sweet and savory, to spicy and rich.

Be sure to stick around for the traditional coffee ceremony at the end of your meal.

Party Size: 2
Price Range: $10-20/person
Visit Again?: Hopefully sooner than later
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
OVERALL: 4/5

Fulfill Your Cravings Any Night of the Week

2009-12-06T15:00:00.008-05:00

Surrounded by Yonge Street’s traditional trattorias, Cravings (3393 Yonge Street), an Asian fusion resto, brings modern flare to North Toronto’s Lawrence Park neighbourhood. The menu offers up a delicious, affordable selection of Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese dishes, with a waft of Indian influence, in tapas style, or larger sharing portions.

I went on a Sunday night, which was surprisingly very busy, and I managed to squeeze us in for a 7 p.m. reservation. (Note: Reservations are definitely recommended, if you’re hoping to get a table.) Comfortable, clean and modern, the restaurant consists of a main room, linked by a corridor of five white upholstered booths, to a back room, featuring a sushi bar. Lit throughout with beautiful glass Murano chandeliers (they sure could use a dusting), patrons dine in an intimately pleasant atmosphere.

Because the dishes are so small, we ordered quite a few:

-Gyoza – pan-fried, veal dumplings with sweet soya dip ($7);

-Chicken Thai spring rolls – served with sweet chili dip ($5);

-Hot and sour soup – with tofu, bamboo shoots, egg and black fungus ($5);

-Thai mango salad – mango, red pepper, red onion, carrot, served in Thai fish sauce vinaigrette with a hint of mint ($8);

-Dynamite sushi rolls ($7);

-Spicy tuna sushi rolls ($7);

-Spicy salmon sushi pizza ($9);

-Butterfish sushi ($5);

-Shanghai fried noodles – wheat noodles, chicken, shrimp, stir-fried with Chinese soya sauce ($12);

-Ginger and scallions stir-fry – simple, yet flavourful Chinese traditional dish with the option of chicken, beef, seafood, or vegetables ($11);

-Coconut sticky rice ($3);

-and Steamed Jasmine rice ($2).

If you are looking for a restaurant that serves popular dishes from a variety of Asian countries, this is the place for you. Many of the menu options are familiar, with a few surprises. Everything is very fresh, which is certainly important when it comes to sushi, for example.

The Thai Mango Salad was deliciously sweet and perfectly crunchy. The ginger chicken and scallion dish, however, lacked flavour, and the chef went a little heavy on the cornstarch. The Hot and Sour Soup ranks among the best in the city, boasting great flavours and fresh ingredients, unlike Chinatown, where more often than not, you’re served a bowl of goop. My favourite was the Spicy Salmon Sushi Pizza, which was generously loaded with salmon, wasabi, and tobiko, on a yummy bed of crunchy, deep-fried rice.

Service throughout was friendly and accommodating, but a little too fast for our liking. Piping hot dishes arrived one after the other at a pace that made it difficult for us to keep up, without everything going cold.

The menu is reasonably priced, which makes Cravings a real find in this upscale part of town. Our total came to $92.50 (plus tax, tip, alcohol) for three people.

Overall, I would certainly return to this restaurant, as well as recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, fast and reliable Asian meal in the Yonge-Lawrence area.

It's Always Breakfast Time at Easy Restaurant!

2009-12-03T17:04:00.006-05:00

Despite its location, Easy Restaurant, 1645 Queen Street West @ Roncesvalles, is not overrun by the ever-present hipsters that have taken over Queen West. An eclectic mix of people can be seen dining in the classic, cozy diner atmosphere. Small, orange booths line the west wall, while small, wooden tables-for-two line the east. Posters of old action movies hang on the walls, include one of Peter Fonda's famous "Easy Rider," which displays an obvious theme that encompasses the name of the restaurant.

The menu offers a wide array of breakfast food, ranging from more typical breakfast meals (eggs, bacon, etc.) to delicious, and often more lunchy sandwiches (offered on spelt bread - naturally leavened, organic & yeast free), as well as Easy's signature breakfast dish, Huevos Divorciados (2 sunny eggs on a corn tortilla with spicy green & red salsa, re-fried black beans with side guacamole, ancho jam, toasted baguette - with salad or homefries - $12.50).

Out of all the places I've had brunch at in Toronto, Easy has to be one of my favourites. I went on a Sunday afternoon, around 3 p.m., and the place was more or less empty. I liked it like that though, because the service was great and speedy.

After a long deliberation over the amazing choices on the quite extensive menu, I decided, because it was lunch time, I was more in the mood for one of the many sandwich options on the menu. I went for the BBQ Chipotle Chicken on Spelt Toast, which was absolutely mouthwatering, to say the least.

For $11.95, this sandwich comes with sliced avocado, fresh tomato, lettuce with chipotle chicken breast on spelt toast, and chipotle mayonnaise (on the side) - with salad or homefries. I chose to go with the homefries, which were perfectly seasoned, a bit crispy, and truly delectable.

To drink, I had the Classic Smoothie (Easy has three other smoothies to choose from). It was incredibly refreshing and fruity, with strawberries, bananas and OJ.

Overall, I highly recommend Easy Restaurant for breakfast, lunch or brunch. It's open every day from 9-5 p.m., with free wifi from Monday-Friday!

Party Size: 2
Price Range: $10-25/person
Visit Again?: Can't wait
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5

It's just about that time...

2009-10-09T16:25:00.005-04:00

I kick myself everyday for letting my blog slip onto the back-burner. This past September, I've started my three year Public Relations diploma program at Humber College, which has been, needless to say, incredibly busy. From excessive readings, assignments, to tests, and midterms galore, I haven't had a chance for my leisure writing!

So far, this program has been great, especially when you put it in comparison with Guelph. I've made tons of friends, the material is so very interesting, it's in Toronto (huge plus) and, to top it all off, I'm doing so well! Combined, it's a recipe for success, and I couldn't be more thrilled.

Right now, we're focusing on grammar, spelling, and punctuation (parts of speech, commas and semicolons, and sentence elements) in my College Writing Skills class, and one of our first assignments of the year was an autobiography. The angle we were to take was to position ourselves as PR practitioners and tell a bit about ourselves, past experiences, ambitions and objectives for the future. I got 100% on this assignment, and I am pretty damn proud of myself for that, so I thought I would share it with those of you who were curious enough to read it:

Indulging in Creativity with a Divine Passion for Writing

I’ve resisted working in Public Relations all of my life. My mother had a stack of news releases waiting for her to approve when we returned from the hospital the day after my birth. I’ve heard about brand building, reputation management, strategic initiatives, crusty or cooperative media contacts, visionary clients and clients who don’t get PR at all… since day one.

My mother leads a big Public Relations agency in Toronto, and I’ve had the chance to work there for three summers in a row. To be honest, I did not enjoy it there at all. Maybe that was because I was an unappreciative teenager, or because I never thought I’d follow in my mother’s footsteps. Because of past experiences and personal interests, I know now that this is the profession I belong in.

I’ve always enjoyed expressing myself through writing - from poems to short stories, non-fiction, and newspaper articles. After an incredible and stimulating three-week student exchange to Tokyo, Japan, at the young age of 14, I decided to write a short book. I filled it with my wonderful experiences in the form of poems, e-mails I, had sent to friends and family, short anecdotes, and summaries of each place I visited and every kind of food I tasted. Parts of it were sent back to the school I was studying at in Tokyo, while the rest went into a scrapbook I made about my trip. This was a great accomplishment for me and encouraged me to stay on the writing train.

My strong interest in writing led me to a creative writing course in my final year of high school. Through this course, I improved my writing greatly, and had the chance to have two poems published in the Montreal Jewish Public Library’s edition of First Fruits.

Through my high school years, I wrote for my high school newspaper, wrote articles for my mother’s company website, as well as started a restaurant critique blog to channel my excess creative energy.

I would really love to have a career in which I could put my love for writing and creativity to good use. After two years of studying at the University of Guelph, in Sociology, a program of very little interest to me, I did a great deal of research to find a program that best suited my interests. Low and behold, Public Relations seemed to be that program!

My dream has always been to be the food editor for Toronto Life magazine, but now, after learning more about the field of Public Relations, I’ve discovered that I would also love to work in PR. Perhaps falling into my mother’s footsteps wouldn’t be so bad after all.

...Well, I'm off to the first family dinner of the long weekend!
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, everyone!

StheF

I"M BACK!

2009-08-31T10:49:00.001-04:00

It's been a LONG time since my last post, but that's because I've been out of town. I have been in the Greek Islands and Turkey for the past three weeks, so my access to the internet was minimal.

Prepare yourself for many posts to come!

Ciao for now,
StheF

Mildred's Temple Kitchen

2009-08-03T16:47:00.011-04:00

Last week, my mom took Hamir and me for a truly remarkable Sunday brunch at Mildred's Temple Kitchen @ 85 Hanna Avenue in the blossoming, yuppy-filled Liberty Village.

I had heard good things about this popular brunch spot, so I was pretty excited to eat there. We tried to call ahead and make a reservation for 12:45pm for three, but unfortunately we were told that tables are given on a first come, first served basis. When we arrived, we were informed it would be a half hour wait for a table, but to give the hostess our name. (The restaurant was completely cleared out by 2:00pm, so if you feel like getting a little extra sleep on a Sunday morning, it may be wise if you plan on eating brunch here!)

We decided to walk around for a bit and check out the cute little plaza that this restaurant is tucked away in. We killed some time in West Elm, which is essentially a more upscale Ikea for the condo dwellers in the area.

When we returned, we were seated at a small booth table in the back of the restaurant.
Upon looking at the menu, I soon realized that my brunch decision would be a VERY hard one. Literally everything on the menu looked absolutely divine. Eventually we settled for buttermilk biscuits with butter and black current jam for starters, which were indescribably amazing.

For the main course, Hamir and I both had "Veda's Choice", which was two poached eggs on croissant with smoked salmon, béarnaise & crispy oven roasted potatoes.
My mom had "Mrs. Beiderhofs pancakes", which were blueberry buttermilk pancakes doused in Lanark county maple syrup and whipped cream.
Needless to say, everything was amazing. I CANNOT wait to go back and try everything else on the menu because not only is the food fantastically delicious, it is incredibly reasonably priced at approximately twelve dollars a dish.

Cheers to Mildred!

Party Size: 3
Price Range: $12-20/person
Visit Again?: Definitely.
Food: 5/5
Service: 3/5 (it's pretty busy at brunch time, so service is kind of slow.)
Atmosphere: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5

Calling All Filmmakers!!

2009-07-28T16:18:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-18T19:44:00.013-04:00

...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.
Hamir 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

2009-07-18T13:58:00.010-04:00

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

2009-07-17T23:00:00.004-04:00

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 Hamir 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

2009-07-17T22:24:00.008-04:00

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

Last Friday, to celebrate Hamir's return from London town (the real one, not the Ontario one), we went for a tasty dinner 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, Hamir 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..

2009-07-16T17:48:00.001-04:00

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...

2009-07-08T23:31:00.004-04:00

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..

2009-07-08T23:04:00.008-04:00

..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

2009-07-07T00:12:00.008-04:00

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

2009-07-05T20:47:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-05T20:33:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-05T20:31:00.001-04:00

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

2009-07-05T20:27:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-05T20:23:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-05T20:21:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-05T20:18:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-05T20:16:00.001-04:00

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

2009-07-05T20:10:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-05T17:57:00.005-04:00

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

2009-07-04T16:43:00.010-04:00

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

Layout :(

2009-06-30T18:11:00.002-04:00

Hey guys,

I had to get rid of my old layout (sad day..) because, for some reason, the comments weren't working - i.e.: nobody could leave comments! Unfortunately, I am a total tech newbie, so I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to fixing html codes. Looks like I need a tech tutor.

Anyone care to lend a helping hand?

StheF

Third Tuesday Toronto Meetup

2009-06-30T16:42:00.014-04:00

Last Tuesday, I went to an event hosted by a meetup group called Third Tuesday Toronto with Max and my mom, Deborah, at the Berkeley Church on Queen East at Berkeley (@ 315 Queen St East).
Every third Tuesday, a group of social media and PR people meet up to hear a speaker and discuss current social media topics. This event is organized through the website, MeetUp, and hosted by social media guru, Joseph Thornley, CEO of Thornley Fallis Communications, 76design and Chair of the Canadian Council of Public Relations Firms (CCPRF).

Last week's speaker was Nora Young, a host on a CBC Radio 1 show called Spark (former host of Definitely Not the Opera), which discusses technology, trends, fresh ideas & culture and the ethics of how to use social networks/media.

It was so hot, even my camera wouldn't focus!

Because it was SO hot in the Berkeley Church (I thought I would actually melt to death - I made up-to-the-minute posts, if you were following me on Twitter), I found it really hard to concentrate on what Nora was talking about. But (I think) basically she discussed her podcast, blog and radio show and how it reaches the public, what effect it has on people, as well as how social media can be used as a great tool to interact with and get a rise out of people.
At the end of her presentation, there was a Q&A period, where people in the audience of approximately 100 or so asked Nora challenging questions about radio versus television, comment moderation policies, joining a social media community, if people she had interviewed actually joined in on the discussions on the blog, whether or not she has done Twitter or blogging workshops, creating a Twitter following and so on.
Out of the estimated 100 plus people in attendance at this event, there were a few names I recognized on name tags from Twitter, the PR world and blogs: Terry Fallis, Martin Waxman, Eden Spodek, Dave Fleet, to name a few.
I'm not entirely sure whether or not I'll be attending any future Third Tuesday Toronto events, as I'm not sure it really pertains to me (not to mention, I was most definitely the youngest one there! What is with all the geeky, dweeby, dorky, nerdy, older people in social media? You don't have to be a techy with pocket protectors to enjoy social media, do you?). Maybe it was just this speaker, as I'm not really all that interested in podcasting and radio, combined with the insane heat in the Berkeley...

For those of you that are interested in attending these events, create an account at MeetUp, join the Third Tuesday Toronto group and you will get up-to-date info about future events.

The next event is on Tuesday, July 7 at 6.00pm at the Berkeley Church, featuring Bob Pearson, Dell's former Vice President of Communications and Conversations, now President of the Social Media Business Council.

Looks interesting, maybe I'll see you there!

StheF

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

2009-06-30T15:47:00.020-04:00

Last week, the weather was gorgeous. The sun was shining, people were out walking around, there was not a cloud in the sky! So we decided to go for a little, relaxing drive. Soon enough, we found ourselves around Union Station, watching tourists struggle with their giant maps of the GTA, taxis crawling in and out of traffic, TFC jersey-clad soccer fans and of course, Toronto baseball fans decked out in Blue Jays attire.

Can you tell which Harvey's this is? I'll give you a hint, it's on Jarvis and ladies of the night hang around here...

I got a little camera-happy on our drive downtown. I was taking pictures of everything and trying to be all artsy - epic fail.

As we drove down Jarvis, we were stopped at a red light right beside this car. The dog seemed to be staring me down the entire time. Despite the semi-creepiness of it, the dog was so cute! So I took a picture of my new compadre.

As I was saying before, we made our way down to Union station, where we spontaneously decided to buy some tickets to the Toronto Blue Jays vs. Cincinnati Reds game from a scalper. We bought two tickets for a total of $15.00 for the 500 level (aka: nose-bleed section).
Through the Skywalk, we took some pretty touristy pictures... It was hilarious because actual tourists were staring at us like we were absolute lunatics. We had fun, nonetheless.
We finally made it to the Skydome - where the roof was open! We went in through gate 6 so that we could easily make our way up to the 500 level, but decided to stick around on the 100 level for a bit. Then music started playing and all the ushers walked down the stairs to the front of the field, so Hamir and I took this opportunity to sneak down into the 100 level section - into GREAT seats, might I add!
Some nice Cincinnati fans took a picture of Hamir and me, because we were clearly struggling to take one ourselves. Thanks! Unfortunately, I resemble a beluga whale, but it ain't no thang.
After eating some delicious ball game hot dogs and sipping on some Coors Light, the Jays trumped the Reds 8-2 and we headed home. Great game, great day, great weather, great company!

StheF

You Can Only Live For So Long: A Tribute

2009-06-26T01:48:00.008-04:00

On Thursday, June 25, 2009, you and I woke up, just like any other day.

Reluctantly rose out of bed, groggily meandered to the bathroom, brushed our pearly whites, slumped back into bed, grappling for a few more hours' sleep, which, naturally, lasted all of a few minutes... But most importantly, we unknowingly cherished yet another day of life.

Others, however, were not as fortunate as you and me.

As I'm sure most of you have been made aware, maybe not by choice, by the constant stream of media throughout the day, the world has lost two fabulously talented stars: Charlie's Angel and sex icon of the 1970s, Farrah Fawcett and the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. These two people have touched the lives of many and captivated the masses.

Known for her stunning good looks, feathered hair and incomparable zest for life, Farrah Fawcett, after being diagnosed three years ago with cancer, regrettably lost the fight at age 62.
Michael Jackson was a man of unparalled dance moves, a dominant figure in pop culture and an incredibly accomplished entertainer who grievously and unexpectedly suffered from a fatal heart attack at the age of 50, leaving behind an unbelievable legacy.
Though I cannot say that I was either of the superstars' biggest fan, I felt I had to write something. I'm not even sure I know what exactly to write, but hearing about these two deaths today hit something inside of me.

It may be entirely cliché to say that I have been encouraged to appreciate that life is a privilege, not a gift and we must embrace each given day, but it could not be more true. You never know... The following day could be your turn to leave your legacy behind.

Today is yours! What will you make of it?

Year One

2009-06-25T14:06:00.003-04:00

The other night, I went to go see the much-anticipated movie, Year One, starring Jack Black and Canadian actor, Michael Cera.

I had been waiting to see this movie for a while and finally went this week at the Scotia Bank Theatre on Richmond. The trailer for this movie was absolutely hilarious, much like the film itself.

Zed (Jack Black) and Oh (Michael Cera) are banished from their primitive Hunter-Gatherer village and together, set off on a hysterical journey through ancient times.

I found myself laughing out loud during several moments in the funny flick. This is certainly not a movie of much substance, but definitely a must-see movie if you are fans of either actor. Paul Rudd and other well-known stars make uncredited cameos, so you will be kept constantly entertained.

I recommend seeing this movie with a few friends who enjoy silly, obvious jokes, but if you don't make it out to this movie in theatres, that's okay. It may make a better rental for home viewing.

To My Readers...

2009-06-22T15:21:00.005-04:00

It has been brought to my attention that in a previous post of mine, I used a term that was offensive to some of my readers, unknowingly. I don't need to repeat it, as it obviously caused quite a stir, but I made sure to check the definition of it today to see just how offensive it was (definition: an inner-city dweller who dresses, speaks and associates with urban or hip hop culture). Of course I can see how this would disgruntle people and I just wanted to sincerely apologize. I am deeply sorry to anyone I angered or insulted.

That being said, I would just like to address something. If, at any time, I post or refer to something that upsets you, I would love for you to inform me, rather than approaching someone else to talk to me about it. I would be more than happy to discuss it with you and remove it from my site, if that happened to be the case. There is no sense in going around and gossiping about something so minor - that is entirely juvenile.

I am old enough, mature enough and strong enough to deal with issues that involve me in particular and can hold my own ground. People are entitled to form their own opinions of me, specifically based on my writing, but if something I have written seems distasteful, I would greatly appreciate the feedback so that it can be revised. I believe that is one of the purposes of having the ability to leave a comment under a blog posting. Whether you leave your name, or leave your comment anonymously, I will get the message either way.

Also, I have been told to be cautious because people are reading my blog "for a good laugh" or "as a big joke." There's nothing I can really do about that. The fact is, they are reading it and if they truly didn't care, they wouldn't waste so much of their precious time. If people don't enjoy reading what I write, then that is their prerogative.

I've dealt with gossip for what seems like my entire life, but I can only interpret my blog causing such a stir as publicity - whether it is good or bad. Let people talk! That is what writing is. You absolutely cannot always please everyone and I acknowledge that and accept it. If people want to read my blog, then they will read what I write. Not everyone will like what I have to say, not everyone will always be happy with what I have to say, but I am simply not out to please everyone - I am writing for myself.

I have always felt strongly about writing - especially mine and I will not back down or cater to anyone exclusively.

Thanks for hearing me out and please e-mail me with any concerns at sadie1235@gmail.com,

StheF

The Proposal

2009-06-22T02:41:00.005-04:00

Tonight, Jessie and I went to see The Proposal, starring Ryan Reynolds (Van Wilder, The Amityville Horror) as Andrew Paxton, an aspiring book editor/executive assistant to Sandra Bullock (Miss Congeniality, Speed) as Margaret Tate, a total bitch boss from hell.

Margaret is about to be deported to Canada, but decides to blackmail her executive assistant, Andrew, into marrying her so that she can stay in the States and keep her job as head-hauncho at the editing company.

I did not necessarily have high hopes for this movie initially, but had heard some good reviews from friends. I could classify this film as a chick flick, or well-rounded comedy - both genres come together to create this absolutely hysterical, feel good movie of the summer for everyone. The humour is witty, dry and sarcastic - just the way I like it - with a hilarious, entertaining and totally original story line to keep the audience laughing at/with and feeling for every character in the movie.

Even if you are not a fan of chick flick movies, this movie is still for you! I very highly recommend this movie to anyone looking for a good laugh.

Two ecstatic thumbs up for The Proposal!

High School Graduation

2009-06-22T01:56:00.017-04:00

...Not mine! My lovely cousin (basically sister - we've lived next door to each other since we were babies!) Jessie experienced an important and huge milestone in her life on Friday, June 19. She graduated grade twelve from Greenwood College School on the honour role, with her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award. She looked absolutely gorgeous in (my) pale yellow Betsey Johnson dress with small white stitched polkadots.
We all met at Pallucci for a pre-ceremony lunch and endless photo shoot before walking down the hill to the school to watch Jessie stride across the stage and receive her high school diploma.
Sitting in Greenwood's gym, I felt a simultaneous surge of excitement, pride, nostalgia, butterflies and some sadness. Excitement for Jessie to finally be done with high school and moving on to bigger and better things; pride for being related to such an amazing girl - woman! - who graduated with amazing grades and a prominent future; nostalgia for my own high school experience; yet some sadness because, though I did graduate from high school and received my diploma, I unfortunately and sadly did not attend my graduation ceremony.

Watching Jessie sitting up on that stage, my emotions were at an all-time high. Thankfully, before the ceremony commenced, a woman walked around with a cardboard box full of kleenex packages - I used a full pack!
The ceremony was incredibly long - we were there from 2.30pm - 5.30pm (holy cow), but every chance I got, the waterworks would turn on like a switch. As Jessie walked to the left of the stage, getting ready to have her name called, on cue, I burst into tears (not quietly, embarrassingly enough!).
And then her name was called. My mom and I let out some woop's and woo-hoo's while the tears poured out of my eyes. I couldn't help it. I didn't even get to hear what her advisor had to say about her because my sobs were more or less drowning him out!
Despite the incredible length of the ceremony, it was beautiful.
I am so proud of you, Jess! You're a beautiful, talented, intelligent girl who's going places, without a doubt.

Here's to the next chapter!

StheF

Pallucci

2009-06-22T00:59:00.016-04:00

This past Friday, June 19, my cousin (may as well be my sister), Jessie, graduated high school at Greenwood College School. Before the ceremony, our family, as well as Jessie's friend and her mother, went for lunch at Pallucci, a small restaurant just north of Davisville on the east side of Mount Pleasant @ 523 Mount Pleasant Road.
As with The Keg Mansion, I have passed by Pallucci several times, yet have never even thought to go in for a meal. It's a very narrow, subtle restaurant, mingling with other restaurants and bars along the Mt. Pleasant strip between Davisville and Eglinton. Inside, the decor is very fresh. By fresh, I mean it felt very airy, light and comfortable. There was what looked like a blue, red and steel colour scheme, with many tables lined along a bench, as well as small tables lined against the wall with blue sofa chairs (according to their website, the most popular seating choice).
When we were seated, we were promptly served with plates of sweet potato fries, with a balsamic reduction drizzle on top and a roasted garlic aiolli to dip them in:
As well as plates of the fries without the balsamic reduction drizzle, as it was a bit bitter:
Because there were so many of us (13 people), there was a pre-selected prix fixe menu that we were able to choose from. For the appetizer course, we had the option to choose from grilled calamari with sun dried tomatoes, red onion on a bed of baby arugula tossed with a warm balsamic reduction; mixed organic greens tossed with a light wild berry vinaigrette; or a gazpacho soup. I had the organic greens salad, which was really good.
Saul had the grilled calamari, which created an unmistakable fishy aroma in the air (almost sickening), but I was told it was delicious.
Charlie, being a picky salad eater (i.e.: will only eat caesar salad), ordered a caesar salad, which he (typically) devoured in seconds! But I was quick to get in a photo before he inhaled it.
Then came the main courses. We had the option of choosing from a maple glazed Atlantic salmon served with roasted potato and fresh daily vegetables; linguine a olio with black tiger shrimp, brocolli and chili peppers; veal parmigiano served with roasted potatoes and fresh daily vegetables; or gnocchi with fresh vegetable and tomato sauce. I had the gnocchi, which was totally scrumptious, but totally filling, as gnocchi normally is.
My mom and Charlie had the veal, which looked so delicious! I almost regretted my gnocchi decision - almost.
My Auntie Annie had the salmon, which also looked great and apparently tasted just as great as it looked.
As you can probably tell, I am only reporting on the meals of the people who were sitting around me. At the other end of the table, I'm sure there were different dishes being devoured.

As usual, nobody had room for the desserts: chocolate raspberry tartufo; shortbread lemon tart with blueberry coulis; or biscotti with fresh berries.

Me with Charlie, Jessie and Saul

A great restaurant for a large lunch party or one-on-one quiet dinner. Reservations aren't necessary for lunch (although it was a Friday), but a good idea for dinner or large lunch party.

Party Size: 13
Price Range: $25-$35/person
Visit Again?: Yes
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5 (Fabulous service! Totally hospitable!)
Atmosphere: 5/5
OVERALL: 5/5

StheF

The Keg Steakhouse Mansion

2009-06-20T18:31:00.012-04:00

Sorry I've been slow on the blogging front. I've been pretty busy this week.

This past Tuesday, I went for dinner at The Keg Steakhouse Mansion, just north of Wellesley on the east side of Jarvis @ 515 Jarvis Street. After a long day of running errands with Hamir's mum, we decided to meet up with Hamir and head for a nice, hearty dinner at The Keg.

I have driven by The Keg Mansion too many times to count, but I have never actually been inside. I never really thought of it as a place to drop in for a quick dinner if I was feeling peckish, but more as a tourist trap or somewhere to go for a special occasion. Needless to say, I was wrong. Inside the intimidating doors to the mansion sat an array of people from what seemed like every corner of the city in the main dining room. There were people dressed up sitting at a long table; there was a quiet couple celebrating at a small corner table; there were two thugs clinking beer bottles with one another; there were the obvious tourists, with their white knee socks, khaki shorts and fanny packs (you can't get more stereotypical than that); and then there was us, sitting at a table by the window with a perfect view of the rest of the restaurant (i.e.: perfect for people watching).

We each ordered different appetizers so we could sample a few things (the options all looked so tasty!). Shobha ordered the escargots in a creamy garlic sauce:
I ordered the fried calamari with an Asian-inspired roast garlic and chili sauce:
And Hamir ordered the Atlantic soft-shell crab legs:
Each appetizer was delicious. We haven't had luck lately with escargots. Although they were delicious, they could have used more garlic and the sauce could have been less like a soup. The calamari was well-prepared with an abundance of flavour. The sauce the dish came with had a combination of a sweet and spicy taste. The soft-shell crab, though I only had a small taste, was savory, sweet and tasted absolutely divine with a short dip in the melted-by-way-of-candle butter dish.

For the main course, Shobha and I both had the Filet Mignon, wrapped in smoked applewood bacon, accompanied by roasted garlic mashed potatoes, a grilled tomato with melted cheese and a small pot of buttery garlic dip.
Now, I am normally not a steak eater, or an eater of any red meat for that matter, but I have to say that I was impressed by my filet. It was incredibly tender and The Keg's signature steak spices that the steak marinates in prior to grilling creates a memorable taste. Shobha's steak, on the otherhand, was done a little too well for her liking.

Hamir had the New York Striploin, along with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and an assortment of grilled vegetables.
Our server came to clear our plates at the end of our meal and to ask us how we enjoyed our time at The Keg. Hamir and I were both very enthusiastic, but Shobha informed our server that her steak was a little too well-done than she's used to, but everything else was great. The next thing we knew, the manager was at our table making sure we were alright, if there was anything we needed, anything she could get for us, "perhaps a dessert?" But as per usual, we were a little full for the dessert menu.

But despite our many "thank you's" and "don't worry's", our server comes to our table with a plate with three dessert samples: carrot cake, chocolate mousse, and cherry cheesecake.

Despite the little steak incident, I have to say that I would return to The Keg Steakhouse Mansion. The appetizers were great, the mains were really good and the desserts, or the small tastes we had of them, were delightful.

Party Size: 3
Price Range: $40-$50/person
Visit Again?: Yes
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Atmosphere: 4/5 (the lighting is a little poor, but the story behind the mansion is great! ask the hostess in the front of the restaurant for some chilling stories!)
OVERALL: 5/5

Be sure to knock three times on the bathroom door to hear a ghost flush the toilet!

StheF

Another Movie Review

2009-06-15T14:53:00.004-04:00

After our delicious oyster dinner at Big Daddy's Crab Shack & Oyster Bar last night, Hamir and I went to watch a new movie that has just come out: Away We Go.

Away We Go is about a couple, Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph), who are a few months shy of having a baby, yet still haven't found a place to call home yet. The entire movie is spent watching the couple go from city to city (even with a stop in Montreal.. Canada, represent!), visiting friends and seeing if they could see themselves living and raising a family in each particular city.

The acting in Away We Go is great. Each actor plays their quirky, original part well and manages to make the characters seem realistic. That being said, I can't say the same about the script and story line. The concept is interesting, but unfortunately, the story is drawn out for so long and makes for an incredibly boring movie. In fact, I was more or less bored to tears. There were a few funny moments (emphasis on few), but all in all, I was thoroughly unimpressed.

I even considered asking Hamir if he wanted to leave at the halfway point, but decided to stick it out.

Overall, I highly do not recommend this movie unless you feel as if you just have to see it. You are not missing out on anything!

Big Daddy's Crab Shack & Oyster Bar

2009-06-15T13:50:00.017-04:00

Last night, Hamir and I celebrated our two year anniversary with a dinner at Big Daddy's Crab Shack & Oyster Bar, just West of University, on the North side of King Street @ 212 King Street West.

We had been here previously with Hamir's dad and sisters and loved it so much that we have been trying to go back for a while now. The only problem was they were either too busy (long wait for a table), or they were closed (we went too late). At around 7:30pm last night, we decided it would be the perfect place to ring in the new year, so to speak, and headed over.

When we arrived, the hostess informed us that there would be a ten minute wait for a table. We decided to stick it out and went outside to enjoy what was left of the beautiful day on Big Daddy's outdoor patio. The minutes passed by quickly and soon enough, we were seated at a great table for two in the main dining room.

Our very helpful server advised us on the wine list, pointing out which white wine she recommended, as we didn't recognize any of the names. I ended up with a glass of Peller Estate Chardonnay - a nice and light white wine, bottled in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Hamir ordered a Chardonnay from South Africa (I can't remember the name), but unfortunately it tasted a little sour.

Can you tell I used the iPhoto red eye reduction tool?

Then came time for the food. We decided to take advantage of the delicious oysters that Big Daddy's has to offer and ordered basically a full meal of them, as well as an order of escargots, which we started off with.

This is only the first side of Big Daddy's extensive menu.

Unfortunately, we didn't realize how hungry we were and dove into the escargots before I got a picture of the plate! But after we were more or less finished, I remembered to get a quick shot in. The escargots were in a mushroom and roast garlic sauce, mingling with mushrooms and garlic cloves and topped with three thin slices of garlic bread. We were both fairly unimpressed with this dish, as we felt there could have been more of a garlic taste. We found it to be a little bland, but enjoyed it nonetheless.

Then came the Crabshack Oyster dish.

These oysters were baked with snow crab and cheese on top. They were pretty good, although had a distinct taste of mayonnaise, which was sort of unsettling. Luckily, Big Daddy's provides a platter of jars of different sauces you can put on your oysters to give them more flavour.

The sauces range clockwise from mild - a balsamic vinegar sauce (bottom right), to extremely spicy (top right), with a banana pepper vinegar in the middle and Worcestershire.

Big Daddy's makes all of the sauces in house. (Sorry for the bad quality, it is fairly dark in the basement restaurant and with the flash on, the label is whited out!) This one is a mild sauce and as you can barely make out on the label, it is a cocktail sauce.

Then came the main event: the raw oysters! Big Daddy's has a deal called the "Big Daddy's Oyster Feature", where you get a dozen of their feature oysters for $18.99.

These oysters were from the East coast of Canada and were absolutely delicious. They tasted sort of buttery and not very fishy at all - the perfect oyster to slurp down with some of Big Daddy's house-made sauces.

We also asked our server, an expert shucker, to prepare us a dish of an assortment of a dozen oysters - some from the East and some from the West coast.

As you can see, there are 16 oysters there - the manager sent four extra as an apology for the slow service. There was a bit of a back-up on the oysters, so they took a little longer, but we didn't really notice! These oysters were delicious as well, although they had more of a fishier taste and required more lemon and sauce than the other platter of feature oysters. The non-feature oysters are all individually priced (very reasonably).

By the time we finished our meal, we had devoured 43 oysters and 12 snails!! We couldn't get over it. Our server offered us the dessert menus, which we looked over, but regretted to decline the scrumptious brownies, creme brulee and crepe (with bananas and chocolate sauce) because we were just too full!

All in all, we had a delightful, not to mention delectable, experience at Big Daddy's Crab Shack & Oyster Bar. In future, I would suggest making reservations, as there is no seating area in the main restaurant if you have to wait. There is a bar where you can wait with a cocktail, but it was pretty busy last night and it was only a Sunday.

Party Size: 2
Price Range: $20-$45/person
Visit Again?: Yes
Food: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Atmosphere: 4/5 (it's a little dark, as it is in the basement and seems like it needs a little sprucing up - but the Louisiana decor is fabulous! Mardis-Gras beads everywhere!)
OVERALL: 5/5

As they say down in Louisiana, laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll),

StheF

Toronto Celebrates Diversity - And Goes a Little Over the Top?

2009-06-12T00:15:00.010-04:00

I want to start off by assuring you all that I am in no way a racist or prejudiced person by any means.

That being said, I have just come across an article on a fellow Torontonian's blog, TorontoMike, that made me laugh until I almost "had an accident" in my pants. Apparently, on the cover of a recent Toronto Fun Guide, a black man's face was superimposed onto a white man's face in a pseudo-family photo.

At first glance at this cover photo, I wasn't totally sold on the idea that the editors of this magazine would actually do that to make the picture more diverse. Then I clicked the link on TorontoMike's page that took me to a before and after of the cover.

Upon viewing the comparison, I'm sure you now understand why I managed to almost pee my pants.

At this time, I ask you, my readers, is this really necessary?! I mean, sure, Toronto is known for our diversity and celebration of people from every descent you could possibly think of, but has it really come to this?

I almost find it ridiculous that we still find ourselves tip-toeing around issues such as these. Would African-Americans who live in Toronto truly be offended if this face hadn't been photoshopped onto the cover of the Toronto Fun Guide? Would Toronto still be considered "fun" if the cover didn't advertise diversity to such a degree? Where is the Chinese face in the mix? Or the Korean? How do you know the Native Americans don't feel left out, seeing as they were here first?

In my opinion, I believe that this is an example of the City of Toronto having a bit of a blonde moment.

What's yours?

StheF

Effective Time Management?

2009-06-11T13:03:00.008-04:00

I just read a great article on my good friend, Josh's blog. It was about time management and how one can go about being effective with their time.

He recommends a book titled: Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time, by Brian Tracy (author of The 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success). Essentially, it teaches you how to manage your time effectively, and get more things done before the end of the day. If you comprise a list of at least 4-5 important things you want to get done, start early in the morning so you can have more time to yourself at the end of the day to do less important but maybe more amusing things.

I have always had poor time management skills since basically the beginning of time. I think I'm going to stop into a book store or a library and pick a copy of this book up. I could definitely use any help I can get!!

Happy reading :)

StheF

New Layout

2009-06-10T18:56:00.001-04:00

What do you all think?
Comment!

Domain Changes

2009-06-10T16:13:00.007-04:00

You all are probably fed up with my domain name changes, but I can assure you, this is the last! I wanted to make it something memorable and something that would stick. I think "Sadie the Foodie" is my new alias. I mean, I LOVE food, and my name is Sadie. It's perfect!

So update your bookmarks, people, http://sadiethefoodie.blogspot.com is HERE TO STAY!!!

xoxox

StheF (that's Sadie the Foodie, for you slow peeps!)

Just Kidding!!

2009-06-10T16:08:00.000-04:00

After looking into it, I have decided against the move to WordPress. It is way too complicated for my simple mind to grasp.

Blogger: I am here to stay! That is, until I can afford my own domain :)

Ciao for now,

Wordpress?

2009-06-10T15:21:00.004-04:00

I am getting tired of Blogspot. It doesn't offer much in the way of personalizing, though I have tried my hardest. I have heard good things about Wordpress and I believe it is the closest I can get to customizing my blog without paying for my own domain. (Which, for the record, I would love to do, but unfortunately do not have the funding necessary for completing such a daunting task.)

I am going to check it out and get back to you all.

Until we meet again,

Movie Reviews

2009-06-09T21:33:00.006-04:00

In the past two weeks, I have seen two movies: UP and The Hangover. I highly recommend BOTH of these movies.

UP was a heart-warming tale of an old man who hoped to fulfill a promise he made to his wife a long time ago. Through constant adventure, the audience is kept in constant stitches from laughing. The characters are all well-developed and are absolutely hilarious. The plot made me melt. All in all, I think this is one of the best animated movies I have EVER seen! Be sure to see it in 3D with a group of friends, your significant other, or maybe even your mom!

The Hangover is definitely one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time. The story line is hysterical, with one-liners and bizarre situations around every corner, the audience is basically crying from laughter. You may find yourself relating some of the characters to your group of friends, as well as keeping your fingers crossed that you never find yourself in these silly situations - maybe! Overall, a great, funny flick to see with your friends!

I Can ALMOST Chew! (not)

2009-06-05T21:29:00.011-04:00

When I woke up after my surgery, my dentist handed me a little "loot bag" as I called it in my drugged out state full of fun little post-op items: ice packs, gauze, post-op instructions, and another peculiar little package. What was inside that peculiar little package you might ask? My teeth, of course!! I asked my dentist (politely) why he was handing me my teeth in a baggy and he informed me that I was quite keen on keeping them and taking them home with me. It's miraculous what some deep sedation can do to your mind!

I figured you wanted to see them. Slightly graphic, I'll admit. As you can see, there are five pieces of teeth there. Fortunately, my wisdom teeth had not grown roots yet, so these are just the little pieces of crown that the dentist removed from my mouth. You can obviously tell why I wanted to keep these puppies... Nawt.

I pretty much spent the entire day relaxing in bed, listening to books on tape from when I was little (Jacob Two-Two and the Hooded Fang) and reading picture books. This little dude kept me company, as he always does:

He's my little Buddha that my good friend Naomi got for me in Thailand many years back. As you can see, he is sporting some pretty cool bling bling. I refer to him as my little Jewish Buddha. I rub his belly for good luck :)

Hamir came to be my dinner pal. Lucky for him, he got to eat some delicious handmade, home-cooked burgers and chicken wings, while I slurped on some soup, cottage cheese, taboule, ice cream and a Rocket popsicle. As you can see, a golf ball has chosen to reside in my left cheek. And yeah, I am still wearing my kittycat pajamas.

Time to go watch a movie on TV! Sounds like a fun-filled Friday night to me :)

Ciao for now,

Day 2 of Chipmunk Hell

2009-06-05T13:06:00.006-04:00

I had the absolute worst sleep last night. My mouth was in an incredible amount of pain, I woke up thirsty every hour, I was hot and then I was cold, the sun was shining through my window too bright... I could go on and on and on!!

My cheeks are super swollen now. My mom took a picture of me at 7:30am this morning:

This picture does not do any justice, but I can assure you my cheeks are pretty damn big!! More so on my left side. This is my attempt to make a big smile for you all, but unfortunately I am finding it difficult to open my fat mouth.

Oh and as you can see, I am wearing my magical/super cool/rad/gnarly flannel kittycat pajamas :) As my mom says, I have a "beautiful collection of pajamas."

This is the ice pack contraption my mom made for my lovely fat face :) It consists of a frozen ice pack, a scarf from Thailand and a cloth from India. How very stylish, wouldn't you agree? What looks like a weird bun on the top of my head is actually the scarf tied in a knot - one can only be so cool!

Well, I am finding it kind of hard to type as I am a little drugged from my powerful Tylenol #3s, so I will leave you on a final note.

As I complained last night to my mom as I was going to bed about the severe pain in my mouth, she replied with: "Well, imagine how it feels to have a baby!"

Uh, no thanks!!!

Over and out,

I Hope They Left A Bit Of Wisdom....

2009-06-04T20:14:00.009-04:00

Today was the day I had been dreading for just about two weeks: the removal of my wisdom teeth! I have to say, it was one of the strangest experiences I have had to date.

It started off by the dentist seating me in a room with crazy machinery and tools all around my chair. Then came the worst part of my waking ordeal: the needle that determined my fate for the two hours that proceeded. As you may or may not know, my biggest fear in life is needles. I absolutely cannot stand them, no matter how big or small they are.

But this was one crazy needle!

The anesthesiologist injected some sort of drug into me that made my face incredibly heavy and forced my eyes to shut and my mouth to close. It was so strange because I could hear everything that was going on around me, all the conversations and tools and footsteps, I just couldn't seem to open my mouth. Then the anesthesiologist injected something else through the IV and I tasted the distinct taste of medicine in the back of my throat. My dentist told me to count down from 99.

99..98..97..out like a light.

I woke up what seemed like five minutes, but was in fact two hours later and I was totally disoriented. I felt really dizzy, kinda nauseous and to top it all off, I could not feel my entire mouth - cheeks, chin and tongue included. When I was handed a cup of water, I totally missed my mouth and dribbled water all over myself!! Not to mention the fact that I could not even speak properly (which is still sort of the case). Talk about frustration!!

After Hamir picked me up and a long, uncomfortable ride home from the dentist, I am now sitting in my living room, catching up on TV shows and in an extreme amount of pain and discomfort.

Here is what I look like on day 1 (my cheeks have not fully swelled at all yet, be prepared for the next post!):

The above photo one was taken approximately three hours ago. (Yes, I took these on my Blackberry - can't seem to set time aside to buy a camera charger!) And two hours later....

Hahaha I look so terrible but this is just to show how swollen I am getting! And my mouth is sort of deformed because it is still very much frozen on my left side.

This is Hamir lounging in my living room with me and making fun of my cheeks that are getting progressively fatter!

I'm going to pop some painkillers now and go to sleep, I am in terrible pain.

Love from chipmunk hell,

Stratto Wine & Grill

2009-06-03T20:37:00.005-04:00

Not long after my trip to China Town, I went to an amazing new restaurant for dinner, just south of Wilson, on Avenue Road: Stratto Wine & Grill @ 1977 Avenue Road. I went with my Mom, Grandmother and Hamir - a.k.a. a few patrons who are damn well hard to please!

At the time, the restaurant had only been open eight weeks, but I struggled for a 7:30pm reservation, nonetheless. I found it to be a strange area for a new restaurant to open up, but the place was buzzing! We were seated at a great table with a perfect view of the entire restaurant, as well as the front door. This was great for us because we are total people watchers.

Upon being seated, our absolutely charming waiter placed a wooden platter of delicious bread on our table with what they call their "house dip." I am NOT bluffing when I say this was the BEST dip I have ever had! It beats the usual balsamic and olive oil by a mile. It was comprised of balsamic and olive oil - of course - but mixed in was an absolutely remarkable chunk of succulent feta cheese. I am a huge fan of feta cheese, but I have never tasted anything quite like this. My mouth is watering, just writing about it!!

Our waiter assisted us with the extensive wine list, and served us a fabulous Portuguese red wine. I am unsure of the name, but I WILL find out for you! To be honest, I am not a fan of red wine at all, so for me to enjoy this bottle is almost miraculous. It was a full-bodied, savory and sweet wine that left a juicy taste in your mouth.

Next came our appetizers. I had the Buffalo Caprese salad, which was to die for. The mozzarella was the perfect tenderness and the tomatoes were not too far from perfect themselves. Greens were delicately placed around the plate, with a light drizzle of balsamic and olive oil to top it off. My mom had a Caesar salad, which was more or less matchless. A splendid mix of garlic and parmesean complimented each other, while the lettuce was fresh and the croutons were crunchy.

Then came the main courses. I had the appetizer-sized Mussles, which were marinated in a delectable white wine and garlic sauce, and mingled with fresh greens and crispy fried shoestring onions.

My Mom had the Spaghetti Carbonara, which was truly divine. Hamir had the gnocchi, which was handmade in house and smothered in a creamy rose sauce - mouthwatering. Lastly, my Grandmother had the tender veal chop with buttery mashed potatoes and crisp green beans.

For dessert, I had none other than a Rasberry Tartuffo, which is always a treat, as I never have room for dessert by the end of such a filling meal. Of course, it was wonderful, but what else could be expected after such a meal.

As you can quite clearly tell from my review, I adored this restaurant. It is definitely one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever been to, with the exclusion of the restaurants I went to in Italy itself. The service was stupendous, the food is to die for, the prices are definitely reasonable, the wine selection is extensive, and to top it all off, the atmosphere is intimate.

Make reservations, because I can assure you Stratto Wine & Grill will indubitably be brimming!

Party Size: 4
Price Range: $20-$40/person
Visit Again?: Yes!!
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Atmosphere: 4/5 (tables are a little close together)
OVERALL: 5/5

See you there!

My First and Long Overdue Critique

2009-06-03T19:43:00.010-04:00

Guess what, y'all!

I managed to find a cord that is compatible with my camera in the jumble of wires in my house. You know what that means? I was able to salvage the (four) pictures that were on my camera with the remaining seconds of battery life left!

A few weeks ago, I went to Rol San Restaurant for Dim Sum at 323 Spadina Avenue in Toronto's China Town, just south of College on the East side. You can see this restaurant from the street, as it has a HUGE red banner that says "DIM SUM ALL DAY" above the front door. What was interesting about this restaurant was that it was at the BACK of another restaurant! Once you go through the double doors, you have to walk through the initial restaurant to the back, where you come across some chairs and a few lobster tanks. Lo and behold, there is a small Dim Sum restaurant tucked away.

I went to this restaurant with Hamir and his family. I used to never eat Chinese food until I started going for lunch and dinner outings with the Sabnani's. They sure do love their Chinese food!!

At first, I was a little put off by the decor of the restaurant.

The walls were painted fluorescent green and orange and decorated with an assortment of "vintage" Disney posters and mirrors. Not to mention the Christmas holly that was hanging on one wall. It doesn't really give off the same feel as any other Dim Sum restaurant along the Spadina Ave. China Town strip.

As you can see behind Puja, there is a lovely Cinderella poster and of course, a mirror, on the wall.

Now, when it comes to Dim Sum, I like it fresh. I hate going to those busy Chinese restaurants that serve Dim Sum by way of carts, as the food arrives at your table more or less cold and mushy. When we ordered our food at Rol San, the food came out quickly, but it was hot! The food had wonderful taste and flavour to it.

We ordered Steamed BBQ Pork Buns, Har Gow (shrimp dumpings), Seafood Dumplings, Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf, Pan Fried Turnip Cakes, Deep Fried Shrimp with Chives Cake, Mushroom & Chicken in Rice Rolls, Spareribs in Black Bean Sauce, Beef Short-Ribs in Black Pepper Sauce, and Pan-Fried Pork Dumplings.

You can't exactly see the menu clearly, but I took it home to give you an idea of how many items they have on their menu, as well as to give you an idea of how authentic the food is.

Puja should be the spokesmodel for Har Gow!

The food was delicious and quite obviously fresh, but that being said, I cannot speak to highly of the service. We had ordered a few spring rolls which the waitress forgot about, which is normal of any restaurant. But when we reminded her, it was almost as if we were accusing her of spitting in our food. She seemed quite offended, so we were quick to cancel the order. Also, some of the servers cannot exactly speak English, which can be sort of a nuisance, but something you have to get past on any trip to China Town, along with the unmistakable attitude.

Out of all the restaurants I have been to on Spadina, which is A LOT, I most definitely rank this one of the highest.

Party Size: 5
Price Range: $10-$20/person
Visit Again?: Yes
Food: 4/5
Service: 2/5
Atmosphere: 1/5
OVERALL: 4/5

Until next meal,

Screw it!

2009-06-03T14:03:00.003-04:00

After deliberating long and hard about this whole "blogging world", I have finally come to terms with the fact that this blog was for ME and not for YOU! No offense. But I find myself apologizing in all my posts about not writing things with "substance", or constantly writing about what bar I've been to latest... Well, too bad for you! If that's what I'm doing, then that is what you will read about. I realized that you are the ones that can choose whether the content of my blog is interesting or not, and I don't need to cater to what I think people want to read. If I just so happen to write about things that may be of some interest to people, suh-weet.

Anyway, my job hunt has kicked off again!! I finally obtained that Smart Serve Ontario certification. Let me tell you that it is a long and grueling process, but the test is pretty simple. After about three hours of reading modules and watching cheesy videos, I got a 96% on the test. That is a whopping 24/25. I only got one question wrong due to CONFUSION! *achem* They were asking what is the maximum BAC (take your smart serve if you want to know what that is... dun dun dun) one can have before being charged by the National Police whatevers.. I forget already! I put 0.5, but that is only the Highway Traffic Act. It is ACTUALLY 0.8. Nowwww you all know for your future tests, kids!

As I was saying, the job hunt has resumed. I spent my entire day yesterday applying to different places - restaurants, bars, catering companies, night clubs, bunk bed stores (hehe), ice cream stores, lounges, THE WORKS! You may just so happen to stumble across me on a drunken night out in the big city. I may be serving you that not-so-needed double gin and tonic at the end of your wild night! Keep your eyes peeled! - That is.. if you even know what I look like.. Then again, I am also assuming that strangers are reading my blog. That would be cool, but somehow I highly doubt it. Not to scare you away if you are, in fact, a stranger. I welcome you all to the wacky & jumbled mind I walk around with on a day-to-day basis.

And no, I still have not fixed my lack-of-pictures problem. I PROMISE I will get right on that.

My mom just spent a week and a half in Palm Springs, California. I am so so so so jealous, seeing as it is JUNE and we are only having highs of what? 16 degrees celcius?! You have got to be kidding me. In Palm Springs, they're having highs of 38 degrees celcius with pure, hot, beautiful, much-needed SUN! She gets home tonight, so I am praying that she either brought the sun home with her, or some killer presents!! Hehe, one can only dream.

On to more important matters - I am having my four wisdom teeth removed tomorrow afternoon. You could not even begin to guess how terrified I am! What if I don't wake up? What if the chipmunk cheeks never go down? What if I have a dry-socket (apparently one of the most painful things you can have in your mouth. Even the name sounds daunting)? Eek! Everyone I know has tried to comfort me about the operation to no avail. I will let you all know how I'm doing once I get home from the operation. I think it would be funny to attempt a blog post while under general anesthesia! Not to mention the Tylonel #3's.... hahaha

I will use my mom's camera to take a picture of my face for you all to laugh at!!

Have a swell (I've always wanted to use that word for something) day, folks (yes I said folks)!

There Is More Beneath The Surface

2009-05-30T15:05:00.002-04:00

I can assure you all that there is more to me than just a typical bar and club hopper. I, myself, am quite frustrated with my lack of substance in my posts, as well as my missing camera stuff (charger and connector cord).

C-Lounge was boring last night, to be blunt. I absolutely give up on that club. Not only is the decor relatively dull, the place is smothered with booths and normal (ew) people sprawled all over the signature black leather couches turning their noses up at the "commoners", or people who don't feel like busting out $150.00 for a 26 of Smirnoff. When did "popping bottles" become so plain? It used to be the celebs and cream of the crop perched on those exclusive sofas - Grey Goose in hand, which then lowered to yuppies all over cracking bottles of Absolut and Skyy. These days, everyone has hopped on the trend. I do admit, I have popped my share of bottles, but solely for special occasions. It should never become an ordinary occurrence, in my opinion. It takes away from the whole VIP feel of it all.

I think I am going to try somewhere new tonight. I was considering the Burroughs Building rooftop launch party (639 Queen Street West, catch the event on Facebook here), but I'm not sure what kind of a crowd this venue draws. Comment with any suggestions, with the exception of State Theatre. I think I want to separate myself from the usual crowd and go somewhere full of new faces and good times. I prefer my nightcap drama-free, s'il vous plait!

Until next time, kiddies!

You Can Do Anything, But Not Everything.

2009-05-28T17:21:00.002-04:00

Well hello there!

I don't exactly have much to say, but I've been told that in order to be a successful blogger and build a following, one must blog at least three times a week!! Who knew? So I'm just stopping in to let you all know what I've been up to: not much.

The job hunt has come to a temporary halt. I have decided that in order to find a summer job, I must obtain my Smart Serve certificate so that I am able to apply for waitressing and bartending positions. Please feel free to comment if you know of any restaurants and/or bars that are hiring!

As far as my food critiquing goes, I just wanted to let you all know that I have been eating, as well as taking pictures, but unfortunately in my move from Guelph to Toronto, I have misplaced my camera charger and cord that connects the camera to the computer. Alas, I am unable to upload any of my pictures as of right now. Once I make some dough, I'll be sure to purchase some new camera apparatuses so that I can grace you all with some much needed critiques of some well-known restaurants in the great city of Toronto.

This past week, I've started watching a TV series called The Wire. I'm sure you've all heard of it and are up to date on all seven seasons, but I have almost completed season one. I've got to say, after all the hype I've been hearing about this series, I am more or less disappointed. Maybe further along the way things heat up a bit, but season one has been incredibly slow. I hope there is something to look forward to, otherwise - I give up!

Well, that's all for now. I am going accessory shopping for Hamir's condo now!

Cheers, followers!

My First "Doors Open" Toronto Experience

2009-05-24T18:07:00.013-04:00

Hello Readers!

It's been a while. Admittedly, I've been lazy, but here I am! Alive and kicking, in case you were worried.

This weekend was "Doors Open" in Toronto. Places that are normally private were open for the public to walk around and join in on tours to see what goes on behind those private, closed doors. There were tons of places open across the city, but I only started the trek around 1:30pm, so I didn't get to check out all the places I was interested in. You can check out what was offered to the public here.

I started the afternoon off at MaRS Discovery District (www.marsdd.com), on the South-East corner of University and College, on the fourth floor at Richard Florida's Think Tank. I'm not sure I entirely understand what it is they do there, but from what I do understand, they discuss and research urban planning at a sub-national level, looking at city parks, streets, etc. It was a really cool space, not to mention the building. Really spacious and modern.
The next stop was the Carlu at College Park. I had been here before for Jessie's Bat Mitzvah, so I sort of knew what I was getting into, but it was interesting, nonetheless. The Carlu is located on the South-West corner of Yonge and College, and was designed by architect Jacques Carlu. Inside, there are a variety of rooms used for chic events, including a large concert hall. The interior is quite beautiful.
The next stop was Queen's Park Legislature, which was less than impressive. Albeit, I've been there before on school field trips in high school, but there was a fee to go in on a guided tour, and as soon as you walk in the doors, it is roped off unless you pay. It was to my understanding that "Doors Open" was for the public to enter freely into buildings that they couldn't necessarily walk into on any given day, so I was a little disappointed.
After a short walk, we arrived at The Gardiner Museum. This museum is absolutely beautiful, located one building South of Bloor on Avenue Road on the East side. Although I am not the biggest fan of pottery (not that I know much about it), the artifacts were pretty cool and the layout of the museum is stupendous with magnificent terraces all the way around the building. I have also heard good things of the restaurant on the rooftop, Jamie Kennedy @ The Gardiner. On the first floor, there is a really cool sculpture, comprised of three vases that are subtly unique. I urge you all to check it out, because it is a very interesting and wicked optical illusion! I won't give it away, I'll just leave it up to you to find out for yourself :)
After a quick stop for coffee, we headed to the Japan Foundation, located on the second floor of The Colonnade, just East of Avenue Road on Bloor, which we were told is the only one of its kind in Canada. The foundation contains a public library with a wide array of Japanese literature, Manga, Anime, Japanese-related print and audio-visual aids in English, French and Japanese. The foundation also boasts a gallery space where the "Passage to the Future" is being exhibited right now. The washrooms were also pretty neat!
We then hopped in a cab and headed to CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), located on Queen Street West, at the foot of Ossington. We were incredibly eager to get to this tour by 4:00pm, but we missed it by ten minutes, so we decided to give ourselves our own tour. I have passed by this building several times in taxis on my way to The Social and always thought of it as the landmark for "we're almost there!!" As we stepped inside the front doors, we sort of regretted our decision to take a personal tour, but kept walking out of curiousity. We walked down what seemed like an incredibly long hall and hung a right, where we ended up in an enormous community centre. There was nobody there and we got kind of creeped out, so we headed down a different hallway in hopes of finding something a little more fascinating. I am not entirely sure what we were looking for (slash don't really want to say it....), but we got pretty nervous. After trying a few doors - which were locked, funnily enough - we walked briskly back to the front doors we came from.
After that strange experience, we decided we would make one more stop at the Drake Hotel. We chose to opt out of the tour and headed for the well-known Sky Yard (the Drake's infamous rooftop patio) for some early evening cocktails. I had the pricey ($11.00) Mojito, which, to be quite honest, was not the best Mojito I've ever had. The mint was crushed up into tiny pieces which flew up the straw with every thirst-quenching slurp, resulting in little mint pieces in between my teeth. The combination of dark and white rum left a strong alcohol taste in my mouth, rather than the telltale sweet taste of a well-made Mojito. After waiting so long for a seat, as the patio was full, we snagged a seat with some kind people who were generous enough to share their booth with us. Unfortunately though, after having sat down for five minutes, we were approached by the manager and told that our side of the booth had been reserved, and we were relocated to a tiny seating area in a small corner of the patio. The food items on the menu were expensive, the cocktails were overpriced and the 35-something crowd was boring. Suffice to say, my Drake Hotel experience was not one I would boast about.
There were many, many other places I would have loved to have seen, but my day was most definitely well-spent! I am looking forward to next year's "Doors Open" for sure!

I promise it won't take a century until my next post again, I have some photos I am waiting to upload to my computer so I can start blogging about some restaurants I have been to in the past little while!

Until next time, my virtual readers...........

I'm Back!

2009-05-05T21:21:00.003-04:00

Hello Readers!

I know it's the world's cheapest excuse to say "I just haven't had the time to write," but it's true!

Where to begin...

Last Monday, a week ago, was a lovely day - in so many ways! For one, the weather was absolutely OUTSTANDING! A glorious sunny day with a high of 30 degrees Celsius, and a slight breeze? A-ma-zing :)

Oh... And I handed out eight resumes. Yes, you read correctly - EIGHT!! I was on a job-hunting high! I perused Queen St. West, Yonge and Eglinton and Yonge and Bloor in search of a retail position, and I felt as though it was a great success. My job situation, or shall I say, lack thereof, was on the rise. That night, Hamir and I went to The Social. Ooooh, The Social - what is there to say? Well, it's a little out-dated, a little 2006, but it was still a good time. If you ever want to go to a bar to go people watching, The Social is the place to be. Hamir and I stood on the side lines and observed the eclectic crowd, which ranged from your typical Toronto hipster, to skateboarding gangsta, to your average midtown Toronto prepster, to the fashionably challenged (Hamir, you know exactly who I speak of! A shirt resembling a ripped up piece of cloth draped around a certain someone's shoulders). All I can really say was the night was 'interesting.'

It has been a while since I last blogged. I feel a slight void, although I've only blogged a few times. Since I last wrote, I have been on a few adventures, if I do say so myself. Last Thursday, I took off to the lovely (cough) town/city/whatever you would like to call it of Kingston, Ontario. The main purpose of the trip was to help pack up Hamir's belongings, but really became a trip dedicated to my beautiful friends who I have not had the pleasure of hanging out with in a long time - Zoe Kirkham and Samantha Notman. I shared some great laughs and fun with them. It felt nice to be back around such great friends.

Last Tuesday night was also one to remember, I suppose. Hamir, James, Matt, Steph and I went to the well-known, infamous bar, Originals, at Bayview and Eglinton, after having a round at Scallywags. As soon as we pulled up to the bar, it became obvious that basically all of the people in the 18-21 age group in Toronto were there. It wasn't necessarily a great thing, but it was nice to catch up with a few familiar faces. I think I am going back tonight, but I am hoping it won't be as busy. It was pretty over-whelming, totally busy, line-up down the block, not to mention $7.00 drinks (a rip off if you ask me, considering the drinks were in those small draft cups).

Last Wednesday, Hamir and I went to the movie 'Obsessed.' I went into this movie with low expectations, even though I was sort of excited at the same time, as the story line seemed pretty intense. Needless to say, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I have to say that the acting in that movie was quite well-done and totally realistic. I was thoroughly creeped out by Ali Larson's character of the 'temp secretary'. Beyonce played her part well, although it was a pretty small part. I don't know if I would highly recommend this movie per se, but if you are in the mood for a thriller-horror movie and don't mind seeing one that is not exactly 'world-renowned', I do recommend Obsessed.

Then came Friday. The night everyone had been anticipating for a while after all the Facebook invites and spoken hype - the C-Lounge launch party. C-Lounge is a pretty hip club on Wellington, just east of Spadina, with a stunning patio, VIP booths scattered throughout the place, a long bar stocked with everything (umm.. EXCEPT Jagerbombs! What?!?!), not to mention the "Ally Macbeal" type bathroom. Anyone who is anyone was there. Beautiful people looking glamourous in high fashion; credit cards were slapped down on the bar opening dangerous tabs, as the drinks were approximately $12.50 each; bathroom stalls with four feet in them; and of course, the 905 stragglers. It was definitely a fun night, but I believe that the general consensus was that it did not fully live up to the hype, and was not an event to be sorry you missed out on. Better luck next week!

This past Sunday, I went to a great information session at the University of Guelph-Humber. Had I known about the wonderful Media Studies program they had to offer earlier, I would have applied a long time ago - maybe even right out of grade twelve. I suppose you have to start somewhere though. I am totally enthralled in this program. Not only do you receive a four year Bachelor of Applied Arts degree from the University of Guelph at your completion at the program, but you also receive a Diploma in a particular specialization from Humber College. What could be better? You're essentially ready for real life as soon as you finish school. Works for me :) Fingers crossed that I get in.

So now, I am waiting on a job. My bank account is at a serious all-time low. I have been waiting to earn some flow so I am able to go out for some meals and write about them for you all! I need to kickstart my food critic career, and stat!! It will be a great hobby for me, and will hopefully get me off Facebook for once!!

My goal for tomorrow is to get on the job-hunt road again. I plan to return to the places I originally handed out resumes and do some follow-uping. I have done some of my follow-ups through e-mail, and either NOBODY liked me (Impossible :)!) or my resume was lost (definitely!), but nobody has got back to me, so that is my plan for tomorrow.

Well, I'm watching Dancing with the Stars and preparing to head out to Originals again, so I must bid you all adieu! I will try my best to get some writing done tomorrow, and blog about something of more interest to you all than a re-cap of what I've been up to.

I promise I have deeper things to discuss than which bar I am going to and who was there. Not that I'm even able to drink when I go to these bars, seeing as I have zero dollars, but hey! A girl can look on from the side lines, can't she?

Until next time.................

So I've finished school... Now what?

2009-04-22T00:30:00.005-04:00

I got home from school on Saturday night, after a long and grueling day of moving an apartment-load of things from Guelph to Toronto in a Uhaul (obviously with the help of a few friends). Since then, I have been sleeping.

Literally, I feel as if I have been in a permanent comatose state since Saturday night. Maybe even since Saturday morning, as I spent a long & hilarious night out with Katie and Sarah in Guelph on Friday, celebrating our final hoo-rah in the G.

So now I find myself in a bit of a predicament. I am jobless. Unemployed. A full-time sleeper. Out of work. Made redundant. Unwaged. On the dole. A lazy bum. I could go on and on. The point is, it is hard to find a job in our economy's current situation. I mean, it's not as if I haven't tried, although it is tough to find a job in Toronto whilst attending (not really) school, and studying (not really) for exams! But I have handed out my fair share of resumes and have yet to hear back from anyone, other than receiving an interview from Green Acres Summer Day Camp, which of course only pays approximately $3.00/hour.

For the past three summers, I have worked for my mother at her PR agency, Strategic Objectives. It was a great job, and I met a ton of great people - most of whom I am still in contact with and am good friends with - but I was unfortunately stuck under the all-too-familiar "boss's daughter" stigma. Though I did make my circle of friends, I couldn't help but notice when I walked into a room, for example at lunch time, the conversation would switch abruptly. Do I seem like a tattle-tale? Do I give off the impression of a goody-two-shoes? I hope not... I have spent my life thus far proving myself to be the direct opposite of that! (Not on purpose, of course!)

My point is, I am on the hunt to try something new, and have something different to add to my resume to give me a little versatility.

Today, I spent the afternoon at a coin-laundromat, washing everything that I had at school, such as comforters, pillows, couch covers, pillow cases, and more. I had no idea how expensive coin-laundromats were! I had five loads of washers, at a rate of $3.75 per load, plus four drier loads, at a rate of $2.00 per load. I spent a total of $26.75 on laundry! Maybe that's the norm, but it was a first for me, and it just seemed a little up there, considering how often you have to do your laundry!

Tomorrow, I am going to look into how I can turn Humber College's three year PR diploma program into a, I believe they call it, joint-degree, so it can be a university degree. I've heard it's possible, and that would be really ideal, as having a degree in this day in age is pretty vital.

Speaking of Humber College, I am pretty stoked on going to college. I have always thought of college - no offense - as a place where people go if they can't get into university, or can't afford it. However, I've been looking into colleges lately, and have applied to three different programs at Humber (Public Relations, Journalism - print & broadcast, and Media Communications) and it just seems like the best option. University is based 100% on theories and text books, whereas college is just so practical, and gives you skills that are necessary in the real world. If I can turn my diploma into a university degree, what is the point of even going to university!? Obviously there are two sides of the coin on that one, but at this point in time, all I'm focused on is suceeding, and how I can go about doing that.

Not only am I totally stoked on going to college, and trying new things, I am very excited to start completely fresh. I never enjoyed UofGuelph, nor did I ever make a tight-knit circle of friends, which I hear is one of the greatest parts of university, so I hope I get a chance to try again and find that missing part of the post-secondary puzzle. I'm also really excited to live at home again! I've been moved out of my home since grade 11, when I took off to boarding school for two years, and then off to Guelph for another two. It's about time I move back in with my Mom & not have to pay for rent, utilities or food! :) Not to mention the fact that I miss the city so so so so much. Living in Toronto now, with a much greater appreciation for it, will be amazing. I used to always say how much I hated Toronto, and how I would move to another city to live my life, but after being away for so long, I really appreciate all this wonderful city has to offer, and how much I feel at home whenever I am here.

Well, I think that's it for now. What started as a mini-rant about being unemployed turned into a bit of a free-write about everything on my mind at this current point in time.

Stay tuned........

Following My Dream....

2009-04-20T23:43:00.003-04:00

Ever since I can remember, I have loved to write. It has always been a distinct passion of mine, and I have always known that I want to pursue a career that involves some form of writing.

Recently in the past year, I have come to terms with the fact that I hated the school I was at (University of Guelph). For one, my program was all wrong. I picked Sociology as my major because in grade 12, I really enjoyed my Sociology class. I have now realized this is because I had the greatest teacher for that class, and it was not particularly the subject matter I enjoyed, but how it was taught by my mentor. I went off to university with high hopes for my program, but was let down immensely by the boredom & useless fact I came out with. Secondly, the town was just terrible - no offense if you're from Guelph - I am just a city girl. For me, a downtown with three streets maximum is just too small. Thirdly, I was a mega loner! Not to make you feel all "oooh poor Sadie", but I legitimately had no friends. I started with quite a few, but due to certain falling outs & catty fights, I am leaving Guelph with a mere two new friends - although I will treasure their friendships for life.

With the amazing support system of my friends, family, and of course, Hamir, I was able to get through a treacherous two years of interesting situations.

I have decided that I want to pursue a degree in Journalism, or some form of media communication, so that I can reach my goal of becoming a world-renowned food critic. I mean, who doesn't want to eat all the time & get to write about it?

I am going to use this blog not only as an outlet for writing poetry, short stories, and whatnot, but as a stomping ground for my future food critic career. Thanks to some much needed tips for a starting point from my good friend, Carly, I will be starting my food critic days very shortly (I just have to go out for a meal, other than fast food!!).

Stay tuned.............

A Poem Inspired by "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

2009-04-20T14:41:00.000-04:00

Expired

She sat in the shade of her bookshelf,
perusing out her porthole,
hands perched above her type-writer,
wondering what shape would pass by next.
“Does inspiration come in shapes?”

But no one heard,
and no one answered.

She would sit alone in the shade of her bookshelf,
day in and day out,
hands perched above her type-writer,
wondering what to write next.
Yellow and red striped wallpaper and
dainty white doyleys smothered her.
“I ought to get a decorator.”

But no one heard,
and no one answered.

As she sat in the shade of her bookshelf,
listening to the pettish cry of children on the street,
hands perched above her type-writer,
she realized she hadn’t written
a single novel
in all her lifetime.
She gazed down in awe at her
prune-like, wise hands,
zealously perched above her type-writer,
gently tottering above her type-writer.
Her jaw dropped in horror
when she finally fathomed the news.
“I’m archaic!”

But no one heard,
and no one answered.

She permitted her
timeworn hands
to fall to her lap.

Thinking of You - Always

2009-04-20T14:31:00.000-04:00

This is an abscond poem with a line from Amy Lowell's poem, "The Taxi."

I can feel your soft whisper in my ear,
a smile hanging on my lips,
your breath tickles my neck.
I can see your eyes,
blue as the sea,
where thousands of thoughts and secrets float
behind the blank page that is your face.
Your eyes
sparkle with brilliance
as they dance across my face.
Your lips curl into
a rascally grin
as you look into my eyes,
as the tips of your fingers explore my back,
and my heart skips a beat -
always.
Everything is just right with you
until the Mighty Slap
of reality
lopes around the corner
and takes me away.
Now
the world beats dead
like a slackened drum,
and I am here,
sitting in my chair,
thinking of You -
always.

The People I Love Best

2009-04-20T14:25:00.000-04:00

Affection

There is never a dull moment;
hooting, cheering, playing, jeering.
They discern my misery
and turn my frown

upside down.

Bed head,
covered in muck,
or ready for the ball;
not a care in the world.
We laugh
to make things right.
We cry
when our heads are jumbled.
No matter how far,
they are always there.

These are the People I love best.

Magnum Opus - A Masterpiece

2009-04-20T14:23:00.000-04:00

Your imagination
is a whirlwind of
colourful imagery
you add to the batter needed
to create a
Poetry dessert.

Each letter, each word
is thrown into the mix to construct a
Colossal Chocolate Cocoanut Cake.
Each thought adds to the
sticky, warm, rich icing.

Inspired,
and without guilt,
you let go.

It is candy for your mind –

indulge.

There is a sweet story

in between the lines

and you smile: just because.

Sky Friend

2009-04-20T14:21:00.000-04:00

We would lie in the park and watch him
soar through the air with such
astonishing grace.
Carried by the cool summer breeze,
he would fly over the long branches
that hung over our heads like a canopy.
His fingers tangled in mine,
we looked on in amazement.

I wish I could take flight and ride alongside my
Friend in the Sky.

A New Beginning

2009-04-20T14:03:00.001-04:00

So, another chapter of my life is complete. I have finished my final exams at the University of Guelph, and now I am on to bigger and better things. No, I have not graduated from Guelph. I am transferring schools because, at long last, I know what I want to do with my life. Ultimately, my main goal is to be a food critic. Obviously, I love to write. But my love for food triumphs anything I favour in the whole entire world.

I chose to start this blog because I have not been writing as much as I used to, and this is a problem for me. Writing used to be my outlet for everything, and lately, I've been bottling it up inside. Hopefully I will be able to let off some steam here. I am new to blogging, so forgive me if I don't do this correctly - although, I'm not sure if there really is a "correct" way to do it..