When Kostas and Anastasia Dikeos came to Canada from Greece, they were in search of a better life where they could put family first. Decades later, they’ve found it after establishing a fast-growing family business that supplies chicken and more to some major retailers and restaurants in Toronto.
Created 25 years ago, D&D Poultry has grown in size and stature over the years. The meat company sells to some of the biggest names in the Toronto food industry, including Longo’s and the McEwan Group restaurants. Now, they’ve made it possible for you to buy the meat used by the city’s top restaurants to make at home.
While the brand is recognizable within the Ontario food industry now, it started with humble roots. Before establishing the company, in the ’80s and ’90s Kostas Dikeos worked as a food broker and, while at his job, noticed a continuous demand for poultry. It was a popular choice in an economically challenging time and what had become a more health-conscious society. He chose to follow his instinct, and the business was born.
The company began in a modest, 2,000-square-foot facility in Markham with a select few employees and minimal technology within the plant. But, good quality products were, and will always be, the backbone of the business. So, as the years went by, D&D Poultry began to expand and grow with world-class, advanced technology that has enabled the company to create the highly-regarded chicken and more they offer to restaurants and grocers around the city today.
Coming from Greece, the Dikeos family has also established their roots within the Greek community here in Toronto, supplying chicken and other meat products to restaurants along the Danforth.
In 2020, the company made the decision to offer home delivery to customers in Toronto and across the GTA, and the move was so popular that they’ve kept the home delivery option in place even after lockdowns ended.
D&D Poultry has grown exponentially since its inception, moving to a 20,000-square foot facility in Toronto and selling to more and more well-known eateries in the city. Today, the company is run by all members of the Dikeos family: Betty, Bobby, Alexandria, Georgia, Anastasia and Kostas.
“The collaboration of different generations is the secret ingredient to the success of the company,” they say.
The growing extended family, which also includes staff, has been a central focus of the company’s story, as many key staff members have been with the company since it was established 25 years ago.
When thinking of the fashion capitals of the world, New York City, London and Milan come to mind. While not necessarily topping the list at first thought, Toronto’s vibrant city has a budding fashion scene all on its own, reflective of the diverse residents, fantastic boutiques and unique neighbourhoods that make the city such an exciting place to live.
Those neighbourhoods include midtown’s Summerhill. The area is known for stunning Victorian-era homes, peaceful tree-lined streets and an eclectic – and growing – collection of fashion boutiques hocking the latest in runway trend and seasonal looks.
All within two blocks of each other, Summerhill’s Yonge Street might just be Toronto’s next iconic shopping street with its wealth of boutiques. It’s joining the likes of London’s Bond Street, New York City’s Fifth Avenue or Singapore’s Orchard Road but skipping the designer labels for a more quaint, often family-owned, spin that’s distinctly Canadian.
Guided by their motto “Thursdays and Every Other Day,” mother-daughter duo Rita Benzacar and Gillian Piltz are the powerhouses behind this local Summerhill shop which brings in new inventory weekly to keep customer’s wardrobes fresh and on trend. The shop even has its own house labels, The Cashmere Collection and the Riri Collection, which offer tailored, chic clothing and accessories that can take your from office to home and back out again effortlessly.
A Summerhill mainstay since 2010, The Narwhal is a women’s boutique in Toronto, Canada specializing in women’s ready-to-wear and accessories. They house a variety of well-loved designer brands including Agolde – known for their up-sized criss-cross jeans – and L.A.-based dress designer Natalie Martin, known for her bohemian-inspired looks.
Clementine’s is a leading luxury concept shop, offering curated fashion, lifestyle, home and art, curated by luxury industry veteran and owner, Christina McDowell. As creative director, Christina works alongside her daughter Kelly McDowell, the shop’s retail director. This mother-daughter duo’s passion is evident the moment you walk into the shop. Their mission is to provide shoppers a high-end yet welcoming in-store and online experience for all your luxury item needs, from artisanal letter-press greeting cards to Uma Wang shoes to beautiful home décor pieces.
James Perse is an L.A.-based upscale yet casual fashion and accessories brand for men and women from the namesake designer. The brand opened a location in Toronto in 2021 during a time when the neighbourhood’s retail offerings were expanding. Shoppers can grab anything from footwear to jackets to home goods in a variety of cool, minimalist styles.
With a motto of being “designed with love for women who lead busy lives,” Lemonwood offers a gorgeous collection of timeless cashmere clothing and accessories.
Whether you’re looking for an easy-breezy and beautiful tunic for your next beach vacation or want a cozy, simple throw blanket for your living room, Lemonwood has tons of styles and high quality goods to suit you.
Ellie Mae is a luxury lifestyle brand that offers a curated selection of fashion-forward clothes and even a (pretty pricey) vintage collection. With a thoughtful eye on global design, and a reverence for the quality and detailing of vintage fabrics, the shop sells everything from jackets and coats to dresses and accessories.
Ellie Mae focuses on exceptional materials and signature details, made in small batches at its Toronto studio.
Wolf & Moon is a curated lifestyle boutique featuring a hand-selected range of goods, including apothecary, ceramics, apparel, home goods, swimwear, fine jewellery and more. Whether you’re looking for too-pretty-to-use artisanal candles by namesake brands or statement jewelry from designer Jacquie Aiche, Wolf & Moon is the perfect store for finding unique gifts and treasures.
Smythe is a contemporary fashion brand which earned a cult following for its perfectly-fitted blazers. The Canadian ready-to-wear brand was founded by Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe in 2004 and sells in major retailers including Holt Renfrew, Revolve, Nordstrom and Shopbop as well as on their own e-commerce site. The Summerhill brick-and-mortar is the brand’s first physical location where in-store, shoppers can snag pieces from their newly launched line Smythehouse, which offers a collection of season-agnostic fabrics and colours or test out the brand’s perfume in person.
The Latest Scoop is a lifestyle concept store offering a curated selection of pretty things for you and your home including fashion, home décor, accessories, furniture, stationery, giftware and much more.
Canadian-based and born in 2004 as a series of pop-up shops, The Latest Scoop has quickly evolved into eight permanent locations in some of our favourite neighbourhoods in Vancouver, Victoria and Toronto – including the newly-opened Summerhill location.
There’s a little witch or wizard that’s about to be joining Toronto’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child family! Actor Sarah Afful, who plays Hermione in the Ed Mirvish Theatre production of the play, will be going on maternity leave starting Sept. 30 in preparation for her second child.
In her place, Antoinette Robinson from the Broadway company will be taking on the role during her leave and making her Canadian stage debut.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which premiered in Toronto on May 31 and will be on until March 19, follows the next generation of the Harry Potter gang – Harry’s son, Albus, Draco Malfoy’s son, Scorpio and Hermione and Ron’s daughter, Rose.
Courtesy Mirvish Productions
Afful was born in Vancouver but has been living and working in Toronto throughout her career. She was joined by Ontario local Luke Kimball as Albus, Toronto-born Trish Lindstrom as Ginny Potter, Ontario-based Hailey Lewis as Rose-Granger Weasley, Toronto’s Sarah Farb as Delphi Diggory and well-known Ontario-based stage actor Fiona Reid as Professor McGonagall.
That makes Robinson the first non-Canadian to join the Toronto cast – the actor is from Texas and has performed in stage productions across the United States.
Afful, who is Black, broke barriers when she was cast as Hermione. She joined the ranks of a few talented Black actors who were cast in the role in New York, London and elsewhere, moving away from the traditionally white casting of not only Hermione but the entire Harry Potter cast in the original movies and other productions.
Afful wrote about representation on Instagram recently when she and the cast attended Fan Expo in Toronto. “A few weeks ago the Harry Potter group and I spoke at Fan Expo. There were not enough people of colour. It’s been sitting with me. Representation is so important. We tend to be what we see. I hope I can provide all the world for my son, but I know I will need help,” she said.
Mirvish has yet to announce when Afful will be back in the role, but when she returns, it will be with a baby Granger on board and ready to cheer her on as she makes some on-stage magic.
There’s never a shortage of great new restaurants to try in Toronto. From classic American diner to Taiwanese late-night eats, here’s what you need to know about the city’s six latest restaurant openings.
Simpl Things
Simpl Things is a welcome addition to Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood. The all day food and beverage collective is offering two different experiences under one roof: serving up Italian-inspired dishes by day and Taiwanese street food and cocktails by night. Helming the kitchen are two accomplished chefs — Cody Wilkes, (of Pasta Cartl), and Betty Chia (of Eats by Betty) who have created two separate menus. Wilkes’ artisanal Italian-inspired menu features handmade bread, pasta and cicchetti (small snacks), made with seasonal and ethically-sourced ingredients. y night, the kitchen will be taken over by Chia, with her take on reinvented Taiwanese street food and recipes derived from the kitchens of her loved ones.
Simpl Things is located at 269 Dunn Ave., and is open for day service Wednesday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and night service Thursday to Monday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Frank Ranalli’s Italian Beef
At Frank Ranalli’s you can enjoy your Italian beef sandwich one of three ways: dry (no jus), wet (extra jus) or dipped (dip the whole sandwich in jus). Choose from the Sweet Italian beef Sandwich or the Hot Italian beef Sandwich (both $9.99), or, get the best of both worlds and order the beef and sausage combo sandwich ($14.99). All three sandwiches are served on a French roll and can be topped with sweet or hot peppers. Extra beef goes for $3.99, and there are also Italian beef and cheese fries ($12.99) that are topped with sweet or hot peppers.
Frank Ranalli’s is open Wednesday – Friday from 4-8 p.m., Saturday from 2-10 p.m., Sunday from 2-9 p.m.
The Red Eye
Reminiscent of the typical greasy spoon-style American diners you often see in movies, The Red Eye is a welcome addition to Toronto’s Financial District. Here, you’ll find all the classic staples a mid-20th century American diner boasts. Think gooey cheeseburgers with all the fixings, sizzling onion rings, fresh-cut French fries and sugary vanilla ice cream floats that can be crafted with any soda flavour, including the popular pink cream soda. Run by chef Adam Ryan (Bar Reyna) and Joshua Mott (Her Father’s Cider Bar + Kitchen), The Red Eye opened in the upper level of the Chef’s Hall in April 2022.The Red Eye’s signature smash burgers are made from a blend of brisket and chuck beef, then topped with a slice of sharp American cheese, hot house tomato, red onion, dill pickle, and housemade aioli on a toasted potato bun.
The Red Eye is located at 111 Richmond St. W. and is open Mondays to Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Danny’s Pizza Tavern
Danny’s Pizza Tavern is the newest player on the block in Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood. Specializing in pies that are stretched thin and crispy around the edges, Danny’s draws inspiration from the bar pies that are often found in Midwestern U.S. cities like St. Louis or Chicago. The pizza menu at Danny’s is split into two sections for red pies and white pies. There are five classic red pizzas: tomato, cheese, sausage and peppers and Hawaiian, which features more complex ingredients like fennel and gorgonzola bolognese, as opposed to the typical canned pineapple and shaved ham you’ll find elsewhere in the city. The white pizzas include the cacio pepe, the green pie and the mushroom pie. Pizzas aside, Danny’s also sells a selection of shareable starters like warm olives and a selection of salads, as well as mains like the vinegar chicken or the 7oz Tavern burger.
Danny’s Pizza Tavern is located at 611 College St. and is open Wednesdays to Sundays from 5 p.m. to late.
Alder
Alder, the latest offering from Patrick Kriss, has debuted at the newly opened Ace Hotel Toronto. The restaurant features a Mediterranean-inspired menu that celebrates seasonality, and at its core, a signature wood-fired hearth and grill infusing flavour into each dish. And while Kriss says some might assume that a Mediterranean-inspired menu is all Greek, that’s certainly not the case at Alder as they’re exploring the entirety of the Mediterranean, regionally and culturally. Among the menu highlights are the half grilled chicken with harissa jus; big eye tuna with charred poblano aioli, and for dessert gluten-free coconut cream pie and dark chocolate and peanut mille-feuille. The restaurant also boasts a full bar program featuring classically inspired cocktails, local craft beers and an eclectic selection of wines from both established and emerging vintners.
Alder is located at 51 Camden St. and is currently open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. with breakfast, lunch and brunch to come.
Dotty’s
Jay Carter and Susan Beckett, the team behind one of Toronto’s most beloved restaurants, are back with a new restaurant dubbed Dotty’s. And it sounds like a picture-perfect neighbourhood bistro. Chef Carter last helmed the kitchen at the bistro Dandylion, considered by some to be one of the best in the city. Sadly, the restaurant was forced to close during the pandemic. According to an Instagram post, Dotty’s is a relaxed neighbourhood spot where you can snack on pimento cheese dip with Ritz crackers. There are snacks, sides, main plates and desserts. Dishes include habanda poppers, elevated salads, and shrooms on toast as well as house wine, cocktails and booze-free drinks.
Dotty’s is located at 1588 Dupont St. and is open on Tuesday to Saturday from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
For many people, confusing legal jargon can make dealing with legal situations feel overwhelming and impossible. As a whole, the legal industry has seen a shift toward using more plain language in place of convoluted legalese, but the terminology can still be difficult to understand for those who didn’t attend law school to learn the lingo.
Joshua Himel, Partner at Diamond and Diamond shares four must-know terms used in personal injury law:
SABS: Statutory Accident Benefit Schedule
SABS is a piece of legislation that lays out what a person is entitled to claim specifically in motor vehicle accidents in Ontario. It is a form of mandatory no-fault insurance through each individual driver’s insurance company. All SABS claims need to start within 30 days of an accident, and it is mandatory to make a SABS claim if you wish to pursue a lawsuit.
The biggest component of claims made under SABS is the Accident Benefits Claim, under which you can claim medical rehabilitation, income replacement benefits, attending care benefits, and an optional housekeeping benefit.
Within a SABS claim, there are three distinct categories:
i) MIG (Minor Injury Guideline)
Intended for minor accidents.
Coverage of $3,500 in medical benefits to cover physiotherapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage, etc. This amount is automatic for everyone, and is the bottom limit intended to bring most people back to their pre-accident state.
ii) Non-Catastrophic Benefits
To be in this category, an individual would have to be diagnosed with a concussion or head injury, broken bone, require surgery for a torn ligament, etc. The qualifying injuries can be a combination of physical or psychological issues.
Coverage can fall between $3,500 – $65,000.
iii) Catastrophic Benefits
Intended for the most severe, catastrophic accidents and injuries.
Injuries can either be deemed catastrophic instantaneously (the accident resulted in a coma, loss of limb(s), eye loss, etc.) or through testing done at the 1 year mark from the accident.
Coverage can fall between $3,500 – $1,000,000.
Pecuniary Damages (ie. Special Damages)
Pecuniary damages, which are also commonly referred to as special damages, are the quantifiable losses an individual suffers as a result of an accident. The most obvious pecuniary damage is loss of income either in the past, present, or future resulting from an injury caused by an accident. Loss of earning capacity is another potential damage that can be awarded if a person misses out on a new job, a promotion, or a pay raise due to their injury. Loss of competitive advantage is also a consideration if an injured person misses out on a promotion or raise or is demoted to a lesser role because they are no longer physically capable of doing components of their job.
Another form of pecuniary damages is out of pocket expenses that weren’t covered under SABS. For example, if SABS did not cover physiotherapy or other procedures and an injured person paid out of pocket, they are able to submit those expenses under special damages and ask for full reimbursement.
Non-Pecuniary Damages (ie. General Damages)
Non-pecuniary damages, which are also commonly referred to as general damages or ‘pain and suffering,’ are more hypothetical than pecuniary damages and are not as easily quantified. You can’t simply look at a person and calculate how much they have suffered, so assessing non-pecuniary damages relies on a number of factors. They consider the medical history of the injured party prior to the accident and assess their current injuries and try to value those.
Non-pecuniary damages also consider loss of enjoyment of life – hobbies, sports, or activities that the injured person is no longer able to enjoy. It is hard to put a number on these losses, as no amount of money will return the injured party to their pre-accident life.
To assess non-pecuniary damages, the courts use something called the ‘threshold test.’ The injured party must prove that their life has been affected beyond a threshold and that they have sustained permanent and serious impairment.
Negligence
Negligence is a word that is often used, but more often than not, it is used incorrectly. Negligence does not matter in a SABS claim, but it must be proved in order to recover anything in a lawsuit. In short, negligence is a failure to take reasonable care. There is a three-step process in proving negligence of the at-fault party:
i) There must have been a duty of care owed to the plaintiff at the time of the accident. The at-fault person must have some level of responsibility toward the injured person to avoid causing harm. For example, a restaurant has a duty of care toward its patrons to prevent slip and fall accidents.
ii) The duty of care must have been breached either through action (ie. a floor is mopped and a hazard is created) or inaction (ie. a spill happens and nothing is done to clean it up and remove the hazard).
iii) If a reasonable person were in the same situation, they would have found that the action or inaction was improper. Reasonableness is not a standard of perfection, but a standard of how the average, reasonable person would behave.
Even if the at-fault party is found to have been negligent, damages can be offset by any contributory negligence on behalf of the plaintiff. For example, if a person slips on a wet floor but was also drunk, they contributed to their own accident. It wouldn’t negate the case, but it might reduce the amount of damages the plaintiff is awarded to the extent that the person is found to have contributed.
Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation. Click here to learn more about Jeremy Diamond.
Like many talented Toronto actors before him, André Dae Kim started his career acting on Degrassi. And, like Nina Dobrev and Vampire Diaries, André Dae Kim is stepping into the teen vampire romance genre with his lead role in W Network’s Vampire Academy.
Who is your favourite vampire?
I always say that I like the Count from Sesame Street, because, honestly, that’s probably the first vampire that I ever encountered
How does it feel to set foot in the teen vampire romance world?
We have two people, Marguerite MacIntyre and Julie Plec, who have both been a part of making some of the most successful vampire TV shows in the last decade, Vampire Diaries being one. So it’s big shoes to fill, especially since this Vampire Academy is an adaptation of a successful (book) series. It’s a lot of pressure, and I’m honoured to be able to step foot into this world.
Tell us about your role.
So I play Christian Ozera. He is a Royal Moroi outcast within the Vampire Academy world.
Were you familiar with it?
No, but after I booked the role, I read the first Vampire Academybook, and I really enjoyed it.
What makes it popular?
I think it’s this cool mix of romance and relatability, teen drama and love all put into a fantastical world.
What inspired you to become an actor?
I used to watch a lot of movies like the Indiana Jones movies, Lord of the Rings, as a kid. And I liked watching those. I definitely knew that this is something that I’m very interested in.
What person do you most admire?
I’d say right now Benedict Wong. He’s another British-Asian actor. And he’s been in a lot of amazing films and TV shows.
What’s the first job you had in Toronto?
My first job was cleaning golf shoes at the Mississauga Golf and Country Club for a few months. I was a locker room boy. My first job when I was in Toronto was acting in Degrassi.
Best meal in Toronto?
I’m a huge foodie. Recently, I went to Rodney’s Oyster House. And I had a great thing of mussels and a lobster dish there.
What is your daily ritual?
Definitely getting up in the morning and walking to Starbucks to get my iced coffee.
Where do you think is the best view in the city?
The Bluffs in Scarborough.
Where do you go to get away from it all?
Queen’s Park near my house.
Is there one thing you have multiple versions of?
I have a collection of key chains that I’ve had since I was 12, from countries where I’ve travelled.
Where’s the first place in town you send visitors?
Definitely not to my house. I always have a great time at the ROM or the AGO.
What’s your prized possession?
I have a necklace that I’m actually wearing right now that I got from a fishing village in the north of Spain. I was out there shooting the show, and for some reason, I feel like this necklace has brought me a lot of good luck.
What talent would you most like to have?
I would love to sing in tune.
What is your greatest fear?
I think not living life to its fullest and missing out on opportunities because of my own personal insecurities.
Who in Toronto would you most like to hang out with?
I would say either Jagmeet Singh, or I guess Drake would be kind of cool too.
What’s your idea of perfect happiness?
My idea of perfect happiness is being able to wake up and be content with the fact that you have so much left to learn and that life is going to throw things at you that you may not expect but that’s part of the journey.
Vampire Academy airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on W Network.
—Ron Johnson
Between the now-banned delivery robots that were roaming the streets during the pandemic and the self-driving Teslas that have drivers asleep behind the wheel, robots have started to take over the world—or, Toronto, at least. Now you can even find one serving your steins and burgers at a local Eglinton pub.
With a sunny patio out front and the cozy fireplace inside, The Abbot on Eglinton offers a casual, homey feel that encourages you to lay back and relax. And the servers can, too, when their bussing and food-running robot is on shift.
Her name is BellaBot (Bella for short) and she’s been employed at The Abbot for about five months, says (human) server and bartender, Nicole Dikeos. “She’s actually been here longer than I have.”
Sleekly designed to look like a bionic cat, BellaBot is a delivery robot designed by Pudu, a tech-focused enterprise based out of China. According to Pudu’s website, BellaBot has “superior human-Robot capabilities.” Standing just over four feet tall, she’s made up of four trays for loading dishes and a touch screen for a face that’s complete with big circle eyes and lines for whiskers.
According to Dikeos, Bella has the floorplan of The Abbot programmed into her memory so all the servers have to do is load her up with the plates of food and tell her the table number to go to. Then Dikeos serves the plates to the customers, and once the guests are done eating, Bella helps clean up.
“We can load stuff onto her,” says Dikeos, “and then she’ll drive it back to the kitchen if we have a busy night, and then we’ll just go unload the dishes at the kitchen. It saves us from having to run back and forth.”
But, she’s not just a pretty face and a helpful hand. “She’s interactive. You can scratch her ear and she’ll either say ‘stop touching me’ or ‘that feels good or ‘that’s itchy.’”
According to Dikeos, kids who visit the restaurant love making Bella purr, and she’s been a big draw for bringing families into the pub.
But, Dikeos says, not everyone is a fan. “It’s kind of a little creepy to some people. Like she’s very cute. But again, she talks, and she has a very high pitched voice and she’ll laugh. So, it’s a little disconcerting at first until you get used to her.”
As a co-worker, Dikeos has few complaints with the robot. “She’s a little slow,” she admits. “Honestly that’s the only design flaw that I can think of—that sometimes you’re stuck walking behind her for a bit. But other than that, you know, she’s great for customers, and brings in a lot of business. So we’re happy with her.”
With BellaBots being employed across the country from St. Johns to Victoria, could this be the future of restaurant serving?
Toronto’s sports teams tend to have spectacular taste when it comes to their jerseys. We have been blessed with a diverse colour palette as well as every sport under the sun, giving Torontonians the chance to support however way they wish. However, throughout the years, we’ve had a few duds. Below is a four-tier ranking of a few of Toronto’s sports franchises’ best uniforms yet.
Tier A – Raptors purple away jersey, 1995-1999, Blue Jays powder blue away jersey, 1987-1988
From 1995 to 1999 your Toronto Raptors wore a uniform which has become one of the most famous uniforms of all time. For their inaugural season, the Raps wore a full purple uniform accented by slick silver lighting bolts, red and black shoulder stripes and a massive raptor logo on the front.
This jersey just screams ’90s! It has an edgy font which fits similar fashion choices from that era, as well as a powerful logo which grew on locals. Today, the jersey serves as one of the best retro designs out there, becoming the first overall pick for any sports-themed party.
Courtesy Blue Jays Nation
Joining the purple away jersey is the powder blue away uniform from the Blue Jays 1987-1988 season. The Jays took the diamond in style, wearing a stunning powder blue away jersey paired with the old school Jays logo, massive white font and a sleek matching belt and stripe combo in white.
In its entirety, the uniform is extremely clean and was designed flawlessly. The coherent white stripe which runs down the sleeves, into the belt and onto the pants was a terrific touch.
Tier B – TFC black away jersey, 2014, Leafs white home jersey, 1963-1967
Courtesy Toronto FC
A close runner up for the A tier was TFC’s black, or onyx, away jerseys from 2014. The black and red kit was developed in order to help produce a more coherent look among MLSE teams. The Jays and Leafs wore blue and white, so why not pair up TFC with the black and red ball team over at the former ACC?
The black kit featured classic Adidas styling as we see three red stripes painted down the shoulders and quads of our TFC stars. Beneath the interesting black colour was eight different vertical sets of circles which added depth to the kit when shot under light. As well, this particular kit fit fans very well, which is a rarity among authentic sports jerseys.
Another OTD in 1967, the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup. They haven’t won one since. pic.twitter.com/1KyhbxqhOH
The other uniform joining TFC is the Maple Leafs home jerseys from 1963-1967. Funnily enough, the Leafs won the Stanley Cup in the jersey’s inaugural season, as well as its last year. On the forefront of this classic uniform was the Leafs 35 point logo which stuck around longer than any pre-expansion Leafs logo. As well, the jersey featured navy stripes in various areas and in different thicknesses. The shoulder colour blocking matched the thin to thick stripes on the forearm, making the uniform look cohesive.
Tier C – Arrows blue away jersey, 2021, York United white home jersey, 2021-2022
Toronto’s recent sports franchises have been styled from two different ends of the spectrum. On one hand, the MLR Toronto Arrows wear blue and white in a similar fashion to our hockey and baseball franchises. On the other hand, York United have received a colour facelift as they rock green, blue and white.
The Toronto Arrows donned three different uniforms in their 2021 season, including a blue home kit with white shorts and a Sunday-specific home kit which swaps the blue top for a white one. However, the team’s away jersey pays homage to original rugby jersey styling with horizontal stripes and a collar for a dignified look.
York United opted to make their home kit their best uniform yet. For the 2021/2022 season, York rocked a white kit which had a dual striped cross pattern offset towards the club crest. The sleek yet innovative design made for one of the best kits in the entire CPL, potentially even trumping TFC’s home kit for this upcoming season.
Tier D – Raptors camo alternate jersey, 2011-2012, Jays black alternate jersey, 2004-2011
The unfortunate losers of this tier list come in the shape of a jersey which carried bad mojo, and another which just flat-out sucked.
In the 2011/2012 campaign, the Toronto Raptors wore a camouflage jersey in support of the Canadian Armed Forces. And on March 21, we watched the Raps come out in a jersey that is universally understood to be the franchise’s worst jersey yet.
Although the meaning behind the uniform is significant, the team could have done much more than simply throw their athletes into a hodge podge, camouflage mess. Remember, this is the same franchise who gave us the black and gold OVO jerseys, our championship winning whites and even the uniform that topped this list.
The Raps ended up losing their camouflage game. However, it wasn’t as bad as the Jays’ record when wearing their alternate blacks from 2004 to 2011. The Jays lost on and off the field when wearing their black uniforms throughout the 2000s. Many believe that the uniform was cursed, and rightfully so. The team didn’t make it above 86 wins in the years they wore the black, finding themselves winning below 75 games on multiple occasions.
However, the uniforms warranted their bad rap due to how American they felt. This was the first year where a Jays uniform didn’t sport a maple leaf. Some even described the lack of blue as being as bad as the Cincinnati Reds not wearing red. Overall, these jerseys were a miss for the Jays, and we haven’t seen a black jersey since.
Considering renting for the first time in a while? You’re not alone. The market is hot right now, and while options are going fast, there are still a few stellar finds out there that you don’t want to miss. From a cosy Rosedale residence with a family-sized backyard to a North York property overlooking a ravine, your dream home in Toronto might be on the rental market right now!
Yonge & Sheppard- Ravine living
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom Toronto rental at 38 Gwendolen Cres. is true luxury living with an elevator servicing all three floors and a private backyard oasis. It’s listed for $7,200 a month with Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited.
Moore Park- A house that grows with you
From the charming exterior all the way to the oversized deck extending into the sprawling backyard, the house at 341 St. Clair Ave. E. is a family-friendly dream. With three plus one bedrooms, four bathrooms and enough space for a recreation room on the lower level — not to mention the renovated gourmet kitchen — this property is the ideal starter home. It’s listed for $6,800 a month with Re/Max Realtron Lucky Penny Homes Realty.
Thornhill- Space for the whole family
The home at 271 Forest Run Blvd. features four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a lower level that could easily turn into a separate space for in-laws or kids. It’s listed for $4,800 a month with Royal LePage Your Community Realty.
Simpl Things is a welcome addition to Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood. The all day food and beverage collective is offering two different experiences under one roof: serving up Italian-inspired dishes by day and Taiwanese street food and cocktails by night.
With the mantra, “the most joyful moments in life are often Simpl,” the new restaurant is the brainchild of hospitality expert, Evelyn Chick. Thinking outside the box for this latest venture, Simpl Things offers a welcoming environment for day drinking complete with delicious food, and at night, seamlessly transitions into a dynamic setting with curated cocktails and dinner options.
“A space in which you will feel welcome to come for a nice date, have casual hangs with friends for a late night bite or park on our comfy bench with your laptop and spritz in the morning. This can simply be your go-to second home,” Chick said in an instagram post.
Helming the kitchen are two accomplished chefs — Cody Wilkes, (of Pasta Cartl), and Betty Chia (of Eats by Betty) who have created two separate menus for day and night.
Wilkes’ artisanal Italian-inspired menu features handmade bread, pasta and cicchetti (small snacks), made with seasonal and ethically-sourced ingredients. Standout dishes include tagliolini with Ontario mushrooms, and croquettes with smoked white fish.
By night, the kitchen will be taken over by Chia, with her take on reinvented Taiwanese street food and recipes derived from the kitchens of her loved ones. Menu items include Sichuan beef tartare on bone marrow with beef tenderloin, and spicy silken tofu with garlic.
Tying both dishes together is Chick’s signature cocktail offerings and canned beverages including Flower Power, a canned cocktail made with St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Amaro Montenegro, fino sherry, acidifier and soda.
Simpl Things is located at 269 Dunn Ave., and is open for day service Wednesday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and night service Thursday to Monday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Three esteemed Toronto chefs are set to go head-to-head in a heated culinary battle that will see one take home the competition title, prizes and, most importantly, bragging rights.
Founded by Toronto-based Chef Joe Friday in 2013, The Chef Collective is a organization committed to supporting local and worldwide chefs by providing them with a platform to showcase their talents through chef battles.
After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the event is set to kick-off at hip Ossington restaurant Boehmer co-hosted by Chef Joe Friday and TV personality and chef Devan Rajkumar.
Chef Joe Friday and Devan Rajkumar
The rules are simple. Using a secret ingredient, chef competitors must create two signature dishes in only one hour which will then be judged by a panel of industry experts on taste, originality, use of secret ingredient and presentation.
So, just who are the prominent chefs taking part in the action-packed battle? They inlcude Jerome Robinson (a.k.a. The Heartbreak Chef), who serves up some of the city’s best comfort food, Sam Medeiros, Chef de Cuisine at La Palma, and Imrun Texeira, owner of Wanderlust a personal chef service based in Toronto and a former Top Chef Canada semi-finalist.
Set to judge the dishes are Top Chef Canada season nine winner Erica Karbelnik, Food Network Canada’s Robert Rainford, restaurateur and Iron Chef Canada season six winner Paul Boehmer and certified cheese expert Afrim Pristine.
“We’re thrilled to re-launch The Chef Collective battle series in Toronto this fall, and to continue providing a platform for chefs to showcase their incredible culinary talent,” said Chef Joe Friday. “Our high-octane series is a must-attend event for anyone who appreciates culinary art and enjoys a good battle.”
The battle will take place on Oct. 17 with $15 from every ticket sold being donated to support Habitat for Humanity Canada. Click here to learn more.
Reminiscent of the typical greasy spoon-style American diners you often see in movies, The Red Eye is a welcome addition to Toronto’s Financial District.
Here, you’ll find all the classic staples a mid-20th century American diner boasts. Think gooey cheeseburgers with all the fixings, sizzling onion rings, fresh-cut French fries and sugary vanilla ice cream floats that can be crafted with any soda flavour, including the popular pink cream soda.
Run by chef Adam Ryan (Bar Reyna) and Joshua Mott (Her Father’s Cider Bar + Kitchen), The Red Eye opened in the upper level of the Chef’s Hall in April 2022.
All of the ingredients on the menu are sourced from Canadian agriculture purveyors: the beef is purchased from Canadian ranchers; the potatoes grown by Canadian farmers; and spent coffee grinds from their Chef’s Hall neighbours, Lost Coffee, make their way into the signature gravy.
The Red Eye’s signature smash burgers are made from a blend of brisket and chuck beef, then topped with a slice of sharp American cheese, hot house tomato, red onion, dill pickle, and housemade aioli on a toasted potato bun. Of course, chowing down on a burger like this wouldn’t be complete without a side of fries or onion rings, which make for perfect dunkers in Chef Ryan’s signature Red Eye Gravy—a rich gravy infused with espresso that’s an ode to the early mornings, late nights and honest work of blue collar workers.
Alongside its fast food favourites, The Red Eye lends a modern lens to today’s diner, offering other Americanized eats like their chicken fried steak, the steak frites (a 7oz New York striploin dressed with green peppercorn sauce, sauteed mushrooms and bell peppers on a bed of sumac fries), or the disco fries—a funky twist on a Canadian staple, the poutine. Instead of curds and gravy, these Yukon Gold fries are tossed in rendered beef fat and fresh thyme and then loaded with melted mozzarella, cheddar cheese, and that signature Red Eye gravy we just can’t get enough of.
In the mood for something sweet? The Red Eye’s banana split is topped with cinnamon caramel sauce, dark chocolate ganache, strawberry compote, candied praline, maraschino cherries and rainbow sprinkles.
The Red Eye is located at 111 Richmond St. W. and is open Mondays to Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation. Click here to learn more about 
