These are some of the best tattoo artists in Toronto

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2:42 pm

tattoo-artists-xiner — @nxe_xiner/Instagram

Toronto is a creative hub full of artists with unique talents and styles, and the tattoo industry is no exception. When it comes to finding the right artist for your next tattoo, your best decision will be based on the artist’s style, colour and line preference, previous work and flash selection. These are some of the best Toronto tattoo artists categorized by art style for you to put your heart on your sleeve this season – literally! And you’ll be just in time for National Tattoo Day on July 17.

Floral Tattoos

Pink Ink

Realistic floral arrangements with detailed shading. Carmen’s work includes snakes, tigers and butterflies, often embedded in a floral arrangement.

Jess Chen

A variety of florals depicted with simple linework, in small format and full body illustrations, as well as water colour.

Lindsay April

Plants and florals depicted with fine lines and delicate shading. Lindsay April is known for full body pieces, including branches that wrap all around the client’s arms or legs.

Traditional Tattoos

Sita Purk

Old school-style tattoos featuring bold black outlines. Sita’s work includes tigers, snakes, leopards, birds and dark florals in classic traditional style.

Corben Matsell-Savage

Classic trad tattoos featuring heavy shading and bold black outlines. Corben’s work features webs, cherry bombs, tigers and leopards, dark butterflies and florals, goblins, bleeding hearts, swords and naked ladies.

Surreal Tattoos

Vic Ink

Highly detailed images depicted in a surrealist style with dark shades of black and grey. Vic’s work includes human faces with protruding florals, angels, serpents, knives, butterflies and detailed, realistic animals.

Clare Castello

Dark and uncanny imagery varying from fine line to heavily shaded. Surreal images including morphed faces, skulls, bleeding hearts with eyes, insects and eyeless faces crying blood.

The Accountant

Minimal tattoos featuring abstract line work and odd (symbolic) imagery. Examples of this Toronto tattoo artist’s work include a series of eyes portraying anxiety, faces blended into landscape illustrations, human figures with partially formed bodies and unique animals. Black and coloured ink.

Cartoon Tattoos

Ains

Black and white cartoon style – simple lines and bold black sections. Ains’ playful flash imagery features household objects, personified fruits and florals, pets, knives, abstract doodles, winged ladies, wavy ladies and wavy cursive.

Mellow Pokes

Thin silhouettes and cartoons with a feeling of realism. Mellow Pokes’ work includes cute animals doing human things, fairies and nude ladies, florals, material objects like vases, boots, dice and more.

Blood Club

Nostalgic cartoon imagery utilizing fine lines with bold borders and shades. Images include well known pop culture references of the ’90s and 2000s era (lots from the Simpsons), florals and plants and playful animal depictions.

Handpoke Tattoos

Andy Small

Cartoon imagery in black and white and colour, utilizing thin lines and shaded blocks. Images include animated people in different roles and motions (dancing, posing, performing obscene activities), household objects, personified animals, cherubs, unicorns, florals and abstract lines.

Neocortical Honey

Delicate linework favouring full body florals, leaves, wavy lines and playful motifs like cowgirls, tigers and naked ladies. Emily is known for full back pieces, arm-length florals and even dainty ear tattoos.

Elisa Selina

Line and dotwork techniques depicting images of long petalled flowers and other nature-inspired motifs.

Trash Polka Tattoos

Xiner

Naturalistic and surrealist imagery in black and red ink. Trash Polka is a tattoo style originally created by tattoo artists Simone Pfaff and Volker Merschky in Würzburg, Germany. The characteristics of Trash Polka tattoos are generally described as a combination of naturalistic, surrealistic and photorealistic imagery complimented by simple graphics and lettering (in mainly black and red). Images by Xiner include abstract lines, hyper realistic animal portrayals and butterflies with wavy patterns.

Japanese-style Tattoos

Yusun

Japanese traditional designs utilizing rich colour schemes and bold outlines. Yusun’s work includes tarot cards, butterflies and florals with rippling line work and feminine illustrations — close ups of faces encrested in floral arrangements.

Tammy Kim

Japanese and American traditional designs. Tammy’s work includes colourful and bold florals arrangements, snakes, birds and tigers. The artist favours full body pieces, including back illustrations and full length arms and legs.

Script Tattoos

Bec

Finely detailed lettering in cursive and understated fonts, using black and red inks.

Jeanne Beker on the best swimsuits and hats perfect for the French or Ontario Riviera

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Julia Mastroianni

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11:44 am

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One of Canada’s most trusted authorities on style and fashion, Jeanne Beker has covered the industry for more than 30 years. Now watch her in her current style editor role on TSC’s Style Matters with Jeanne Beker or tune into her new podcast Beyond Style Matters, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Heading to one of these sunny destinations this summer? Jeanne Beker has the best swimsuits for your vacation, whether it’s in the French countryside or an Ontario beach town. Pair it with one of these stylish hats, and you’ll be ready to relax to the max!

A. MORITZ

FUN WITH FRINGE

“This hat has a lot of attitude, a lot of whimsy. It has that artisanal feel; it would really get heads turning.” Archives Toronto, $268, Archivestoronto.com

YES TO MESH

“This one is fantastic. It’s so sexy and it almost looks like a three-piece. This is the coolest, most innovative suit from an amazing designer.” Norma Kamali, $395, 3401 Dufferin St.

B. SANTORINI

TWO-TONE

“This hat has a bit of western vibe going, and it would definitely give you a bit of height and has a great brim.” Lilliput Hats, $240, 462 College St.

GRECIAN DETAILS

“This red with the wonderful Roman detailing on the shoulder is so powerful. It’s such a classic suit.” Versace, $325, 176 Yonge St.

C. TROPEZ

A NOD TO THE FRENCH

“This reminds me of the hat that Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s! Very elegant, very chic.” Maryam Keyhani, $668, Maryamkeyhani.com

PURPLE POWER

“These are such easy to wear pieces and very flattering; it has a nice high cut leg and a beautiful mauve colour.” Beth Richards, $270, TSC.ca

D. BRUCE PENINSULA

WIDE-BRIM BEAUTY

“This is a great striking colour, very of the moment. And I absolutely love the drama of this hat.” Frock, $250, 97 Roncesvalles Ave.

FROM DAY TO NIGHT

“This is a great retro look, and the top of the swimsuit looks like it could be its own summery top paired with a black skirt or jeans.” Bathing Belle, $199, 355 Roncesvalles Ave.

E. AMALFI COAST

FLOWER POWER

“This hat reminds me of ’60s mod fashion with this little black and white print. I love a bucket hat because you can have fun with the brim.” Gravitypope, $200, 1010 Queen St. W.

FRILLS ALL OVER

“This style gives you so much more than a bathing suit; it almost looks like a playsuit. Very sassy, very sweet, very romantic.” VisualMood/Etsy, $170.30, Etsy.com/ca/shop/visualmood

F.PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

SPORTY IN THE SUN

“The brim is fairly wide, so it will offer great sun protection, while also looking sporty and chic at the same time.” The Orange Room, $89.95, 63A Howden Rd.

KEEPING IT CHILL

“What a great, whimsical ice cream print. I love the asymmetry of this swimsuit, and it’s so fun that it’s a one piece that’s kind of a two piece.” Hilary Macmillan, $160, Hilarymacmillan.com

Click here for Jeanne’s top purse picks.

Toronto’s Festival of Beer is back and iconic rapper Nas is headlining

By

Erica Commisso

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11:20 am

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After a two-year, pandemic-related hiatus, Toronto’s Festival of Beer returns in a big way. Back at the Exhibition Place, the festival will bring together craft breweries, start-ups and big names into one big festival.

To kick off the weekend, Grammy Award-winner Nas will take the Bandshell Stage on Friday, July 22, taking the stage for a set to be enjoyed while sipping brews from brands like Ace Hill, Great Lakes Brewery and Collective Arts brewery, among others.

beer festival — Beertown is spotlight a series of Bavarian brews for the month of October.

“We are so thrilled to be back with what will undoubtedly be the best year ever,” said Les Murray, the president of Toronto’s Festival of Beer, in a press release. “This year’s line-up showcases a spectacular selection of both locally produced brews and international offerings. Guests may meet and greet many of the passionate brewers, sample new and award-winning products with tasty food pairings, visit the Spotlight pavilions for the latest and best, and discover their next favourite beer, all while enjoying an unparalleled musical line-up.”

Throughout the weekend, more musical talent will grace the Bandshell Stage. Canadian indie darlings Sam Roberts Band and The Strumbellas will perform on July 23, and US indie rockers The Revivalists and Canada’s alt-country hero Matt Mays will both take the stage on July 24 to close out the weekend.

This will also be the first year that the festival introduces a non-alcoholic tasting area, where people who choose not to imbibe but still want to enjoy the festival can participate. It will join another new initiative called The Changemakers, which spotlights brewery and initiatives committed to creating positive change in the world, including Xhale Brewing of Calgary, which is 100 per cent female and queer owned, working with addiction and recovery in the industry through the creation of a collaboration brew raising funds for overdose support.

“TFOB is once again committed to showcasing industry positivity, and we are working to redevelop policies and procedures to address any issues that brewery personnel face that stem from discrimination and racism,” said Jodie Becker, the festival’s senior production manager, in a statement. “We’re working with an app called #NOTME to provide guests an opportunity to speak with festival staff in real-time to report any potential concerns; our values have always been focused on zero tolerance, and this revamp will really bring this energy to the forefront of the conversation, to ensure that TFOB is as always, a safe space for all.”

Toronto’s Festival of Beer takes place July 22 to 24. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased online.

Things are getting hot with celebrity chefs Rob Rossi and Craig Harding

By

Dorothy Chudzinski

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11:00 am

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It’s the perfect time to fire up the grill and enjoy the warmer weather with family and friends. A family-run business for over 75 years that is renowned as the destination for delivering dream kitchens — both indoor and outdoors — Caplan’s has sponsored a new cooking series that focuses on cooking simple and delicious recipes outdoors. Hosted by acclaimed chefs Rob Rossi and Craig Harding, Open Fire creates delicious, innovative dishes, and one of their favourite recipes is shared with you here.

This perfect summer recipe is light and packed full of delicious flavours. Chef Harding recommends purchasing Japanese tempura flour as it makes the process much quicker, and it tastes great. Simmering your own hot honey takes the recipe to a whole other level, adding a depth of flavour and heat that brings it all together. Espelette spice has become a favourite of the chefs that adds a subtle flavour of sweet and smokiness.

Zucchini Fritti with Hot Honey and Pecorino

Ingredients:

100 g Japanese tempura flour
100 mL sparkling water
2 green and 2 yellow zucchinis
4 fresh habanero peppers
1 cup of honey
Oil, for frying
Salt
A few leaves of fresh mint
Espelette dry pepper
Lemon
Pecorino cheese

Directions:

1. Simmer slowly for 20 minutes.

2. Slice a yellow zucchini into thin coin-sized slices and reserve for plating. Julienne the rest of the zucchinis into medium-sized pieces.

3. In a mixing bowl add the 100 g of the tempura flour and the 100 ml of sparkling water and mix. You want a thin tempura batter. Add a pinch of salt. Mix in the julienned zucchinis.

4. In a heavy bottomed pot, add around 2 inches of oil and heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully add the zucchini and deep fry for 1 to 2 minutes until the colour is golden brown.

5. Remove fried zucchinis from the pot and place onto a plate lined with a paper towel. Lightly season with salt.

6. Grab a plate or small platter and place the uncooked thin coin zucchini slices in a circle as the base of the dish. Add the tempura zucchini on top and sprinkle with a pinch of Espelette dry pepper. Chop a few leaves of fresh mint and gently place over the dish.

7. Remove the hot honey from the stove and drizzle the hot honey over the tempura. Hit with a quick squeeze of lemon. Lastly, finely grate some pecorino cheese on top.

Be sure to tune in to Open Fire, airing weekly on TLN, for more recipes.

This restaurant is the first in Canada to serve Korean-style pizza

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Erica Commisso

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4:03 pm

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Pizza is a crowd-favourite take-out food, but maybe you’re sick of ordering pie after pie? Pizza Maru, the new Korean pizza joint in North York, does things a little bit differently.

Try any number of creative pizzas made on green tea dough, the first of its kind in Canada. The dough, which has a slightly (naturally) green-ish hue and a unique flavour and texture is made from organic green tea, chlorella and 12 natural grains including rye, black rice, Italian millet and sorghum.

Though it started as a popular franchise in Korea, over the years, Pizza Maru has grown to over 650 stores nationwide, and now you can taste the difference right here in the GTA.

The 6048 Yonge Street spot officially opened its doors over this past long weekend, to a slew of eager patrons looking to try the unique menu items. Bestsellers include the Chicken Katsu pizza, a mix of pizza sauce, cheese, onions, black olives, mushrooms, chicken tenders, bell peppers steak sauce and mayonnaise. For something honouring its Korean roots, opt for the Hawaiian shrimp pizza off of its “Korean-style” menu, which features unique toppings like the pickled relish and sweet ranch sauce. The Galbi Burger pizza is also super unique and hearty, featuring beef patties, jalapeno and cheese sauce. The Maru specials are equally as appetizing, with the Monster Pepperoni, a green tea dough base covered completely with pepperoni slices or the Maru Five, a pizza layered with corn, potatoes, chicken breast, cheese and sauces – both unique options for a night spent with friends.

While Korean-born, Pizza Maru samples flavours from across the globe. You can also get Chicago-style pizza, classic pizzas, stuffed crusts and pasta dishes. The price points are pretty standard as far as pizza joints in the city go, with prices ranging from $11.00 to $35.00 depending on how elaborate you want your take-out pie to be.

Five fantastic shows to check out at the Toronto Fringe Festival

By

Julia Mastroianni

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3:47 pm

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don-valley-girls-toronto-fringe — @donvalleygirlscomedy/Instagram

The 34th edition of the Toronto Fringe Festival will take place July 6 to July 17 at 11 venues across the city. Whether you’re a veteran ‘Fringer’ or a newbie deciding on your first show, this year’s fest is set to include 600 performances that will span all genres from musical theatre and dance, to drama, improv, and storytelling.

Along with festival programing, the annual grassroots event will also host free events at the main hub of the fest —the POSTSCRIPT Patio at the Tranzac Club —including a parade that will kick off the event on July 6, busker performances, dance parties, comedy night and access to a full service bar. Festival goers in the east end can grab a refreshment between shows at the POSTSCRIPT Lounge at Daniels Spectrum.

With about 100 shows to see in venues that stretch from Dupont and Bathurst to Dundas and Carlaw, narrowing it down can be a bit of a task. Here are some of the highlights.

Don Valley Girls: A Sketch Comedy Review

The Don Valley Girls have been garnering rave reviews since they burst onto the scene earlier this year. Calling themselves a mashup of Somali, Korean, Palestinian, Pakistani, Canadian perspectives from women and non-binary folks who don’t hold any punches, if you’re in the need of a chuckle, expect no-holds- barred, comedic voices who have put together a laugh-out-loud show.

Femmillennial

In development for the last three years, this ultra-physical dance theatre piece explores themes of femininity, generational communication and women’s roles in society. The dancers are at once connected at the hip, and at the same time three separate one-woman shows.

Anesti Danelis: This Show Will Change Your Life

Award-winning comedian Anesti Danelis returns to Fringe with a new musical comedy concert that spoofs wellness culture and self-help books. If you’re a fan of Flight of the Conchords or The Lonely Island, it’s a must see.

Nam Nguyen’s A Perfect Bowl Of Pho

A genre-bending meta musical about the Vietnamese diaspora as embodied by food —particularly the world-famous noodle soup pho. Expect rapping ancient kings, communist spies, and dancing sharks.

Critically Acclaimed Superhero Movie

An improvised superhero movie based on suggestions from the audience. Starring Jimmer Lowe and Jessalyn Ferguson, the audience creates the villain, makes up the superhero and imagines the powers to decide the fate of the show.

Single show tickets are $14 and are available on the Toronto Fringe website.

Comedian Colin Mochrie samples the city’s best pies for throwing (or eating!)

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Erin Neilly

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10:01 am

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We asked comedian Colin Mochrie to taste T.O.’s best fruit pies. We won’t bore you with the details of which pies are most aerodynamic — instead what follows is Colin’s pick for T.O’s fruit pie champion.

WINNER: SWEETIE PIE

“That’s very nice, because sometimes rhubarb can be very, very sweet. But this is just right, and the strawberry comes out after the rhubarb, which is very nice. It has a nice nose to it, smells very nice.”

mysweetiepie.ca 1639 Bayview Ave., $26.99

RUNNER-UP: DESSERT LADY

“Nice, classic apple pie. It’s a very strong crust. It stays firm, doesn’t break. It’s not runny, the apples have a firmness to them. They’re the right amount of sweet. It’s a good, classic pie. Pleasing to look at, lovely to taste.”

dessertlady.ca 1 Sultan St., $16

MABEL’S

“Blueberry is very healthy. We should all have blueberries in our diet. And that pie is very nice. The pastry is good, almost like a biscuit kind of crust. The berries are really nice. It seems like the right amount of sweetness. It’s a very well-made pie.”

mabelsbakery.ca 746 St. Clair Ave. W., $21.99

EPI BAKEHOUSE

“I like the combination of peach and raspberry, and I like the crumble. Add ice cream to it and, because it’s a runnier pie, it’s pretty nostalgic. My mother made all of her pies runny, and the kids would have pie ice cream soup.”

epibakehouse.com 1526 Bayview Ave., $22

WANDA’S PIE IN THE SKY

“It’s very pretty. I admire the presentation, and how it all stays together. There’s a taste in it I can’t quite identify, and it has a very strong aftertaste.”

wandaspieinthesky.com 287 Augusta Ave., $30

PHIPP’S DESSERTS

“It’s flaky. It’s good, it’s very sweet. The crust is crunchy, which is very nice. I like a good crust. The crust can, in some cases, make or break the pie. I very much admire the artistry that went into making it.”
phippsdesserts.ca 1875 Leslie St., #21, $15

FLAKY TART

“It has a very nice presentation. I love that the filling is staying within the crust. And, the crust seems to stay fairly together when you cut into it, and the addition of the sugar on top is very nice.”
flakytart.com 711 Mount Pleasant Rd., $17

PHIPP’S BAKERY

“In my opinion, I do find raspberry pies very sweet. I think this would be great with a nice scoop of ice cream. It would complement the flavour very nicely.”
phippsbakerycafe.ca 420 Eglinton Ave. W., $23.99

Four scrumptious new bakeries in Toronto

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Erica Commisso

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11:00 am

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This summer’s hottest trend is bakeries, with sweet and savoury aromas and flavours filling the air and delighting the taste buds. Each offers something different, from vegan goods to Japanese croissants. The only way to crown a champion is to try them all.

AUNTY EM’S DELI AND BAKERY

Plant-based eater or not, you’ll find it tough to turn down this midtown vegan bakery’s sweets, like chocolate banana muffins, Portuguese tarts or the fan favourite: Nutella cream pie, which features a gluten-free almond cake base, topped with a generous cloud of cashew cream and torched marshmallows, drizzled with vegan Nutella. There are also sandwiches and packaged meals available. The deli started as a pop-up and was so popular that the owner, Emily De Beus, decided to open a permanent location. De Beus is known for her first vegan business, Sausage Party Toronto.

1672 St. Clair Ave. W.

HAZUKIDO

Your new favourite croissant isn’t French, although it does draw some inspiration from the Parisians who have perfected the fan-favourite pastry. Hazukido is the new bakery serving up a unique twist on the croissant, guided by the shokunin spirit of Japan. The technique uses only the finest ingredients to produce the perfect pastry complement to a morning coffee or an afternoon stroll. A Japanese croissant uses an exclusive folding technique that creates a uniquely Hazukido honeycomb texture, making for a perfectly golden crunch with every bite.

5315 Yonge St.

LETTERBOX DOUGHNUTS

The click-and-order, custom-lettered doughnut business, Letterbox Doughnuts opened its first storefront after two years of online ordering success. According to owners Jon and Priom Oliver, the dough is handmade fresh daily and contains no artificial preservatives. The unique flavours and designs come from the glaze, which you can customize by colour and style – with unique patterns like the space-themed galaxy or ombre-esque marble. The doughnut itself is plain, but the glaze flavour options include classic chocolate, raspberry lemon or white chocolate with a rotating menu of seasonal, limited-edition flavours.

235 Spadina Ave.

FOXIES BAKESHOP

Foxies, a locally owned, sister-run enterprise, opened as an online bakeshop in 2018, serving up four-ounce (or quarter-pound) stuffed cookies in flavours like cinnamon snickerdoodle, Nutella and Oreo, which captured hearts and taste buds across the country. But now, the bakery has expanded, officially opening the doors to its first brick-and-mortar location at the end of May. Complete with whimsical walls splashed in hot pink and other brightly coloured decorations, including a sprinkle bench feature wall, lined with photos of the bakery’s creations, Foxies held its official opening at Mount Pleasant on May 21.

669 Mount Pleasant Ave.

The Best New Weekend Getaways From Toronto: Sauble Beach

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Erin Neilly

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9:50 am

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There are some places you just instantly fall in love with, and Sauble Beach is one of them.

Here, you can spend your days frolicking in the second-largest freshwater beach in the world and your nights walking along the shores of Lake Huron at sunset. And although it’s often been overlooked as just another sleepy beach town, there’s much more to Sauble than just a pretty postcard image.

Located a few hours north of Toronto, Sauble is also the home to ample recreational outings, like birding, as well as a number of lush hiking trails including the ones found along the Sauble River.

If you missed out on snagging a cottage along the shore, a stay at the June Motel Sauble might be the throwback you’re looking for. Upon entering, you’ll be enveloped in 1970s beach town vibes, while sunset-inspired rooms decked out with neon signs, hanging plants and wave-like custom wallpaper await. There’s also an indoor/outdoor lobby bar complete with a firepit, a curated gift shop and endless lobster rolls at Heydays restaurant, which you can enjoy poolside.

For casual fare and spectacular beach views, Smashed Burgers and Bar offers signature cocktails (like the Spicy Bruce), bar food bites (like nachos and dip) and, of course, fat, juicy burgers and crispy fries served up with Smashed Burgers signature smashed sauce.

Here are the must-visit patios on King West

By

Erica Commisso

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3:58 pm

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Toronto’s Maestro Fresh Wes talks sand sculptures, TV and fish and chips

By

Erin Neilly

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12:47 pm

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Did you develop a new appreciation for sand sculpture or were you always a fan?

I absolutely appreciate sand sculptures. I knew nothing about sand sculptures. Absolutely nothing. And I was enthralled by, you know, the art at the end of the day.

What’s the strangest thing that happened?

Probably the tide coming in. Like you’re standing on the beach and, you know, within a few hours you’re swimming.

What did you find challenging about your job as host?

Timing, you have to respect your producers, to respect your writers. And you have to deliver your lines not only in the race against the tide and before the sand sculptors finish their work. You have to deliver your lines before you drown.

Did you learn any new skills?

Another thing that was challenging, too, was telling the sculptors who lost to pack up their stuff and get off the beach. Right? That’s hard to do. I could never do anything like that. I want to say, let’s go down and grab fish and chips and a beer. But I got to be serious and be like, yo, pack your tools.

Did you try making a sand sculpture?

Absolutely not.

What was your first job in Toronto?

My first job went to Burger King: $2.65 an hour. Scarborough.

What was the best meal you’ve eaten in the city?

Probably my mom and my dad’s home cooking. Curry chicken, roti. They’re a team. You know, the dynamic duo, when it comes to cooking. And when it comes time to make an apple pie, Dad does the apples, Mom does the pastry. Oh my goodness.

What’s hanging above your couch?

I got a nice painting from Jamaica.

Is there one thing you have multiple versions of?

Maybe versions of my sweatsuits. You know, I got the red joint, the black joint, the burgundy joint, all kinds of different versions.

What’s your most prized possession?

I think family.

What talent would you most like to have?

Maybe if I could play basketball better, because my son always says, “Dad, you’re a rapper, not a Raptor.”

What’s the last thing you made with your hands?

Definitely not a sandcastle.

If you could live in any Toronto neighbourhood, where would it be?

Scarborough.

How do you get out of a creative rut?

Take a break. It’ll come back to ya. And I’m drinking chaga tea these days. It’s very good for your cognitive skills and your cognitive health. I highly recommend it.

What’s the worst piece of career advice you’ve received?

You know, you can’t just work on music. You got to work on the business too. When I say that, I think everything, heavy things that I’ve learned, you know, come into fruition. Just continue trying to grow as opposed to just do one specific thing.

What living person do you most admire?

Probably my son. He’s a good dude.

Does he have an interest in music?

Music? Nah. He has an interest in video games like any other 13-year-old.

What’s your idea of perfect happiness?

Some fish and chips and a beer, man. You know what I’m saying?

What is your desert island album?

Maybe my Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On, or maybe Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.

And what’s next for Maestro Fresh Wes?

Well, I’m very excited to be on Race Against the Tide, so hopefully season three.

You can get folklore-inspired dessert at this new Japanese tea house

By

Erica Commisso

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1:05 pm

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You can transport to the streets of Japan without leaving the GTA, thanks to Daigyo Cafe, North York‘s newest dessert spot. Inspired by traditional Japanese culture, the space itself is designed to make visitors feel as though they’ve stepped into an authentic tea house, complete with paper lanterns that brighten up the nighttime vibe. And, of course, it’s brimming with delicious desserts to enjoy.

Starting July 1, Daigyo will offer two desserts inspired by Japanese folklore to late-night dessert lovers in the area. From 6 p.m. onward, the Shizuki Kitsune and the Hatsuki Neko, both traditional and wrapped in unique sleeves, will be available to try.

Shizuki Kitsune is crafted with dragon fruit yuzu ice cream and topped with sesame and dragon fruit mochi to add texture to the refreshing treat. The press release notes that “it was inspired by the 9-tailed kitsune,
known for protecting both the spirit world as well as worshippers with its vibrant purple flames. According to Japanese legend, these clever foxes were human by day and foxes by night, hence why the ice cream, can only be
ordered in the evening.”

Hatsuki Neko is made with a black sugar crystal jelly base and then topped with matcha ice cream. The treat is finished with dried peach flakes and a rice cracker shaped as a cat paw for a playful, sweet dessert. It is inspired by the Japanese folklore character neko. “Besides being beloved pets, in Japan, cats are also believed to have protective abilities while bringing good luck and fortune to those around them, especially if they show you their paws,” the release explains. “Similar to the foxes, these cats can only be seen in the woods after dark.”

“We are fans of Japanese culture, and Spirited Away is one of my favourite movies. Therefore, we used Japanese
folklore as inspiration for our summer-special desserts. Since kitsune is a symbol of good harvests, we also hope
every customer will be blessed with great prosperity,” Jason Wang, one of Daigyo’s owners, says in the release. “We also hope to bring Torontonians some excitement by offering dragon fruit and yuzu flavoured ice cream, which you don’t usually see anywhere. It’s something totally different for the summer!” adds Grace Han, Daigyo’s co-owner.

Daigyo Cafe is located at 4909 Yonge St.