Five gorgeous vacation rentals to book in Ontario this season

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3:33 pm

There’s no doubt Ontarians have been through the ringer this past year. But things are looking up, and it’s safe to say we’re all in need of a relaxing getaway — even if it’s just a few hours outside of the city.

With spring officially in bloom and the sweet promise of the coming summer months, you might be looking for the perfect place to let loose and relax, whether it’s vacation with family or a getaway with friends. From Prince Edward County to Muskoka, Ontario is full of beautiful vacation rentals you may want to consider booking for a weekend stay this summer before they’re all snagged.

Cottage on Oak Lake

Located just two hours outside the GTA in Havelock, this freshly renovated cottage features a bright, open living space, a fire pit and an expansive deck overlooking Oak Lake. The property also boasts 145 feet of private shoreline perfect for long, romantic walks and blissful sunbathing. The cottage is aptly named Rowan Cottage Co. after the rowan tree which, according to folklore, is said to bring happiness and good fortune to those who plant it near their home.

Farmhouse at 13th Street Winery

This rustic-chic farmhouse is the ideal getaway for wine lovers in need of a countryside retreat. Founded in 1998, 13th Street Winery has been a staple in the Niagara community for more than two decades. Nestled among the vineyards of the winery estate, the farmhouse boasts sleek interiors, four bedrooms and a spacious outdoor patio where you can sip wine while watching the sunset.

Sandbanks Pettit House

Originally built in 1796, this historic farmhouse near Sandbanks Provincial Park has been newly renovated and sleeps eight comfortably. Dubbed “Pettit House” after the original residents who were one of the first families to arrive from upstate New York as loyalists, the home retains the rustic, natural charm of the area. A nearby lake provides calm serenity while a marsh doubles as a haven for a variety of birds.

Loon Lake Getaway

Loon lake vacation rental — © Avenue Photo

Nestled in the heart of Muskoka, this picturesque cottage on Loon Lake is just a five-minute drive from Gravenhurst. The space is newly renovated and features three bedrooms plus a loft and a large, open-concept living area. If you’re hoping to stay active during your getaway, be sure to make use of the kayaks and canoe that come with the cottage.

Honey Harbour Cottage

With eight acres of land and almost 1,000 feet of shoreline, Woods Landing Cottage on Georgian Bay is a condo dweller’s dream. Just a one-and-a-half-hour drive from the city and newly renovated in 2018, this property blends the expansive beauty of the great outdoors with modern luxury — the kitchen comes with heated floors for chilly spring nights and a large granite island, while the multi-level deck is complete with glass railings and a hot tub.

This new pizza spot opened and then closed the next day

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Erica Commisso

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3:23 pm

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Caribbean Slice opened their doors to the city on March 19, serving up unique, island-style takes on traditional pizzas. Toppings include oxtail, jerk chicken, jerk pepperoni, ackee and even saltfish, and the restaurant claims they’re the first in the city to bring throw them onto pizzas. But, not even they could have expected the wildly successful opening weekend they had.

So many people flocked to Caribbean Slice on opening weekend that they had to close down on the second day of operations, March 20. They announced the news on Instagram. “We have no more inventory and have to restock. We apologize and look forward to seeing you!” the post read. “We just want to take the time to say thank to everyone that came out and supported us. No words can describe what it means. We served just under 100 orders from 11pm to 9pm straight. We want to say thank you to everyone that waited hours to even get food.”

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The comments on the post revealed that people drove from decent lengths to try the unique flavours at the Eglinton W. eatery. Some even wrote that they commuted all the way from places like Brampton and Mississauga to get their own taste of the menu. In addition to the pizzas in flavours like jerk chicken and pepperoni, barbecue chicken mango and plantains and more, Caribbean Slice also offers chicken wings, loaded fries, poutine and daily specials with a Caribbean twist.

Now equipped with more equipment to serve more customers, Caribbean Slice is located at 1764 Eglinton Ave W., joining a Little Jamaica neighbourhood rife with bold flavours and lineup-worthy cuisine.

The Great Canadian Baking Show’s season 4 winner hosts her own show

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Megan Gallant

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1:45 pm

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Raufikat Oyawoye-Salami baker — Image courtesy CBC

During the season four run of The Great Canadian Baking Show, Canada fell in love with the witty winner, Raufikat Oyawoye-Salami. This week, we get to see her back on screen as she hosts Raufikat’s Better Bake Show, where she attempts to share her kitchen wisdom with the two Toronto comedians who co-hosted her winning season.

“After The Great Canadian Bake Show wrapped, I said I’d really like to share more about my culinary experiments and my baking with Canada,” says Oyawoye-Salami. When she was approached with the idea for Raufikat’s Better Bake Show, she couldn’t say no. “It’s a light, comedic, fun show and I loved the idea.”

Each 30-minute episode will follow Ann Pornel and Alan Shane Lewis as they try to recreate Raufikat’s favourite desserts using her step-by-step instructions. The beginners get the chance to bake—or try to bake—classic treats like lemon meringue cupcakes, cream-filled donuts, birthday cake and macaroons.

Ann and Alan duel it out but, in the end, Oyawoye-Salami can only award one as making the better dessert. While the dishes don’t always come out as planned, the competition does guarantee friendly rivalry, lots of laughter and some beautifully delicious baked goods.

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Raufikat’s Better Bake Show proves that anyone can bake with the right ingredients. Though she grew up baking alongside her mother while growing up in Nigeria, Raufikat didn’t begin to really explore her talents until she was studying her Masters in the UK.

With a background in engineering and her current role as a business analyst, you may not peg Oyawoye-Salami as an obvious baker, but the skills she’s developed from these roles have only helped her in the kitchen.

“Baking requires so much patience, detail and precision and those are inherent in the engineering profession.” But, she says, the business analysis she does now encourages her to use creativity when dealing with stakeholders. “I have the accuracy and precision of engineering, but also the creativity and flexibility from the business analysis.”

While Oyawoye-Salami may have been baking up a storm on The Great Canadian Bake Show, were Alan and Ann learning anything while co-hosting the competition? Now, viewers get to see these skills put to the test as they fight to take home the cake.

“They genuinely want to learn how to bake,” says Oyawoye-Salami.

The comedians may not know the difference between a lime and a bergamot, but each episode does give them a chance to earn an advantage which could put them on top and help them bring home the cake. But can Alan and Ann handle the heat of the kitchen?

The best part, Oyawoye-Salami suggests, is that the show is a different format from most competition bake shows. This one’s all in friendly fun. “Just watch with an open mind and be ready to learn and ready to laugh.”

Viewers can follow along to see if they can make Raufikat Oyawoye-Salami’s masterpieces. All six episodes are produced by Proper Television and will be released on CBC Gem on March 25.

Toronto’s popular Field Trip music festival announces grand return

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Ron Johnson

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10:59 am

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One of the city’s most beloved and homegrown music and arts festivals, Field Trip, will return to its old stomping grounds at Fort York and Garrison Common this summer for a one-day event on July 9.

The music festival will feature headliners Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats along with a wonderful lineup of performers including Peach Pit, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Lucy Dacus, The Halluci Nation, Valley, Busty and the Bass, The Rheostatics, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Haviah Mighty, Daisy the Great, Pierre Kwenders, Georgia Harmer and Ombiigizi.

“This is the perfect time for Field Trip to return. At its core, Field Trip has always been about community and we need to reconnect with our communities now more than ever,” said Kieran Roy, president of Arts & Crafts, co-founder of the festival. “We can’t wait to welcome people back to Field Trip to celebrate, be together again, discover their favourite new band, see their kids hula hoop, and be reminded of all the things we love about our city and about being with others.”

The event will also include local food purveyors, day camp programming for kids, and an exhibition of music photography.

New artist Georgia Harmer will kick off the festivities, after attending for years.

“It’s such an honour to be playing Field Trip and kicking off the return of this great festival in my hometown,” said Harmer. “I spent every birthday during my teen years attending Field Trip with friends, and I can’t wait for that moment on stage where I’m looking into people’s eyes like – Oh, I see you, you see me. It’s all ok, we’re going to have a good time.”

Limited presale tickets (25% off) will be on sale Wednesday, March 23 at 10 a.m., until Thursday, March 24 (at midnight or until sold out). General on-sale begins Friday, March 25.

For full event information go to Fieldtriplife.com.

A home-style Indian restaurant joins the Kensington Market food crowd

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Erica Commisso

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2:50 pm

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At the beginning of March, Chef Ricky’s passion project finally saw reality. His restaurant, Rikki Tikki, opened its doors in Kensington Market, serving up modern, home-style Indian cuisine to an area known for an array of cultures and styles.

Available for dine in and takeout, Rikki Tikki’s appetizer items include paneer tikka fries, garlic tikki, veggie samosas and stir-fried Australian fish pakora. Main dishes showcase traditional Indian flavours crafted with a North American twist, with options like butter chicken, lamb vindaloo, saag paneer and chana masala. A selection of naan and rice dishes are also available.

For dessert, Chef Ricky’s guests can satisfy their sweet tooth with chai tea, and food items like cookie dough, a rikki signature dessert, kulfi falooda (an eggless, Indian ice cream made with whole milk over a bed of falooda noodles) and double ka meetha topped with fruit (a sweet Indian bread made with sugar syrup and reduced milk).

The drink program is extensive, with beer and wine options complementing cocktails that pay homage to India, with names like patiala shahi (a whiskey based cocktail) and bamb jatt. Mocktails like a mango mojito and an Indian lemonade are also available.

Rikki Tikki also has a kids menu, with choices like a tikki burger and maggi (soft noodles cooked with veggies) for young diners.

Chef Ricky’s restaurant, Rikki Tikki, is located at 209 Augusta Avenue, between Knockout Chicken and Pow Wow Cafe, down the street from Handlebar and Jen Agg’s Grey Gardens.

A huge night market with Asian cuisine is coming to the Annex

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Erica Commisso

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12:32 pm

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The team behind JoyBird, which serves up some of Toronto’s best Korean Fried Chicken, is back again, debuting a new project, Superfresh, that is slated to open in early April.

Superfresh is a 4,000 square foot night market coming to Bloor Street West, crafted in the style of an alleyway in Asia. It will take over the former Annex Food Hall space, showcasing local Asian-owned businesses and eateries in a unique venue. Food, drinks, artisan markets, live entertainment, a bodega and even secret events involving fashion and live DJs will come together at Superfresh, which is the brainchild of Joybird’s Trevor Lui, Fortune 500 vet James Lee, award-winning creative director Jae Pak, and entrepreneur Dave Choi.

BaoBowl Superfresh — Trevor Lui on Instagram

“We wanted to create a community and cultural hub, not just simply a spot to eat,” Lui said in a statement, noting that heritage and community will be at the forefront of the market. “By curating an entirely authentic and fully Asian concept, it allows us to celebrate much of the things we hold near and dear to our hearts in creating a unique and inclusive space for locals and tourists to explore.”

Different geographical regions of Asia, including Northern China, Nepal, Taiwan and Korea, will all be showcased at Superfresh, which is named after Toronto’s first 24 hour
Korean-owned grocery store, which was once located in the Annex, the same community the market now calls home.

While the full list of vendors will be released later in the month, confirmed offerings include Lui’s BaoBird, Big Beef Bowl, The Good Goods, and superette Auntie’s Supply.

The kitchen at Superfresh, located at 384 Bloor Street West, will open at 1 p.m. and run late, and indoor and outdoor seating is available to enjoy all of the programming the night market has planned. Follow Superfresh on Instagram for updates ahead of the opening.

10 things to know about the newest Maple Leaf, Mark Giordano

By

Erica Commisso

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11:44 am

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The NHL’s trade deadline day is today, March 21, at 3 p.m. EST. And, with the Toronto Maple Leafs sitting in a playoff spot, they’ve already made a big move to prepare themselves for this season’s playoffs, which begin in April.

On March 20, the Leafs acquired defenseman Mark Giordano from the NHL’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken, alongside forward Colin Blackwell. Giordano was the Kraken’s captain until the trade, and the Leafs sent back 2022 draft picks in return. The 38-year old brings tons of hockey experience to the Maple Leafs roster. Here are ten things to know about the newest Toronto Maple Leaf:

1. He is a Toronto native. Born and raised in Toronto, Giordano’s dad Paul is a real estate agent and his mother, Anna, is a hairdresser. He played minor hockey in North York and Richmond Hill, and attended Chaminade College School.

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2. He has been an NHL captain more than once. Before his half-season stint with the Seattle Kraken, Mark Giordano was a long-serving captain for the Calgary Flames. He was the 19th captain in Flames’ history, named captain in September 2013 after Jarome Iginla left Calgary the season before.

3. Mark Giordano went undrafted in the NHL. He had tons of offensive success in his junior years–even leading his OHL team’s defense, the Owen Sound Attack, in points for two years. But, he was not selected in the NHL entry draft, as many believed he needed more experience in the Ontario Hockey League.

4. Giordano was enrolled at York University for a time. After completing his junior hockey career, Giordano enrolled in York University’s business program. But, he received a late invitation to the Calgary Flames‘ summer camp instead, and chose to follow his passion in hockey.

5. Charity work is important to him. Mark Giordano and his wife, Lauren, are spokespeople for Habitat for Humanity, and launched a program in 2011 called 5-for-5 that aimed to build five homes across the globe for the charity. As a member of the Flames, he also launched Team Giordano Project, which saw him donate funding to three schools in Calgary for new gym equipment and computers. He also visited the schools and offered mentorship to the students. ESPN awarded him the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for his efforts at the end of the 2016-17 season.

6. Mark Giordano has 1,000 games of NHL experience. Last week, Giordano was honoured by the Seattle Kraken and the league for reaching the 1,000 game milestone in the NHL. It’s a huge achievement, and a video tribute and a Rolex watch were involved in the celebration.

7. He plays a defensive style of hockey. The Leafs have Morgan Reilly to cover the bases as the team’s offensive defenseman, but Giordano is the kind of player who will block shots, throw hits and play an aggressively defensive game to defend his own goalie. It’s a valuable style of play for the Leafs, who were lacking in that department and will rely on it in the playoffs.

8. TJ Brodie and Mark Giordano have already played together. When Giordano suits up for the Leafs, he’ll likely be paired on the blue line with TJ Brodie. The two were defensive partners during their stints with the Calgary Flames, and have tons of experience playing together.

9. He’s won awards for his play. In 2019, at the age of 35, Giordano was given the prestigious James Norris Memorial Trophy, which honours the NHL’s best defenseman. That year, he became the fifth defenseman in NHL history to record 60 points at the age of 35 or over. Previous Norris Trophy winners include hockey legends Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey, as well as GTA natives Drew Doughty and P.K. Subban.

10. Mark Giordano grew up a Leafs fan. Of course, a North York native grew up cheering for his home team, but he told the Toronto Sun he remembers his ten year-old self being very upset in 1993, when the Maple Leafs lost in the conference final. He hopes he can lead the Leafs to playoff glory. “Now that I’m able to get back to Toronto, it’s a great opportunity to be a part of something special,” he told the Toronto Sun on a Zoom call.

A Toronto grocery store’s Instagram account was hacked for ransom

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Erica Commisso

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4:17 pm

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If you’ve been on Instagram recently, you’ve probably seen someone you know have their account hacked. Lately, hackers have been stealing people’s accounts and changing phone numbers and emails so that people can’t recover them, uploading fraudulent posts and stories about Bitcoin schemes and making money fast.

Sadly, a local grocery store was the victim this time, and things got even more strange. Summerhill Market, a small chain of boutique grocery stores with a reputation for stocking hard-to-find, expensive treats and ready made meals like pot pies.

On Monday morning just before 9am, Summerhill Market received an email from Instagram, notifying them that the phone number had been removed from their account. More email notifications followed, saying there had been a login onto the account from Chicago, and then the password was changed. Almost immediately, the Summerhill Market team was locked out of their Instagram account.

Roughly 15 minutes later, the hacker reached out to one of the market’s representatives on WhatsApp. “Hello dear,” the messages began. “We have your Instagram account and we will give it back for $600.” The representative didn’t see the message until Wednesday, but weighed out whether or not to take action and pay the ransom.

After some consideration, the team decided that the $600 US Dollars was worth the account, even though they lost 17,000 followers. The team sent the money to the hackers in Bitcoin. But, the hackers weren’t done, and asked for $400 USD more. Summerhill Market refused, not prepared to take a second monetary risk, and the $1000 total may not have been the total amount the hackers were prepared to ask for. The team decided to cut their losses. They’ve now set up a backup account, @summerhillmrkt, and will be reporting the incident to police while working to restore their original Instagram.

Toronto streetwear culture is thriving and here’s where to find it in the city

By

Julia Mastroianni

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3:15 pm

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@getfreshcompany/Instagram

It is a clear consensus among Canadian fashion experts reporting on the pulse of pop culture that streetwear is held near and dear to Toronto’s heart, even through the pandemic. With the threat of COVID-19 having pushed our community out of physical spaces and towards a more active digital presence, Toronto streetwear culture holds steady. Where? In the Instagram and TikTok feeds of our local hype-beasts and sneakerheads.

The fashion industry points to the 80s and 90s as the decades which birthed this style of casual fashion, worn pervasively by followers of subcultures popularized at the time. Streetwear was widespread, pulling inspiration from skateboarding, surfing, hip hop music, rap, basketball, as well as haute couture, fashion and, more recently, K-Pop. The overarching values are authentic: community, uniqueness, self-expression and vision. Unlike many other fashion subcultures, streetwear is unanimously practical, gender inclusive, and often ethically produced. Streetwear brands often reflect roots and an association to a particular community, rather than just fashion or status (though status is often a purchasing consideration.)

As for the uniform – the term streetwear extends to sneakers, denim, t-shirts, hoodies, baseball caps and bucket hats, sweat pants, cargo pants, jewelry, brand iconography and expensive logos. Seattle Streetwear brand/publication Zeitgeist differentiates streetwear into 4 categories: “original, sportswear, adopted [non-street wear brand with a streetwear collection], and luxury.”

You’re likely familiar with big names like Stüssy, Supreme, Vans, Nike, Adidas, OVO by Drake and Drew by Justin Bieber. Those are all brands that you see on the street in Toronto. But there’s an extensive local streetwear presence in Toronto as well, and this is where you start to see how personal streetwear culture is in this city. Check out some of Toronto’s best streetwear designers below:

OVO

A household name: October’s Very Own by Drake circa 2008. It would be sacrilegious not to lead with this OG Toronto streetwear brand.

Vibe: OVO is a particularly playful streetwear brand. The cartoonish iconography, like the retro Mickey Mouse graphic adorning parts of the present collection, pay homage to city youth. Still, the clothes maintain practicality and comfort without forgoing classic streetwear steeze.

What to buy here: This luxury streetwear collection is extensive and eclectic. You can shop sweats, graphics, sports jerseys, denim, button ups, fleece and outerwear, along with caps and touques, bags, actual hockey equipment, and unique merch like a retro lunch box, coffee mugs,and notepads.

Price range: $18 (sport socks)- $230 (Hoodie)- $4,800 (“coveted goalie mask”)

Mr. Saturday

Joey Gollish @joey_saturday is a graduate of the Weeknd’s Creative Incubator HXOUSE and the designer behind Mr. Saturday.

Vibe: The Mr. Saturday brand nods to nightlife and subcultures of the past. The designer’s personal aesthetic rides a line between slightly dishevelled and slightly posh. He’s cool and fashionable, but ultimately comfortable, and appears to appreciate a clean tucked white t-shirt.

What to buy here: Bombers, button ups, sports jackets, tees, loose pants and one large textured hat. The women’s collection features sport dresses, bodysuits and compression shorts. The brand’s “Good Luck” tagline decorates a lot of the present collection, in a font that is understated but suggests something cool and exclusive.

Price range: $200 (t-shirts)- $1000 (bomber jacket)

Get Fresh Company

A Queen Street West brand representing Toronto’s youth.

Vibe: Best explained by this statement from the designers: “G.F.C is a men’s fashion streetwear store dedicated to heightening consumer confidence through pieces that crave attention. The underdogs to some, G.F.C is a culmination of our experiences, creativity, and knowledge as a city.”

What to Buy Here: Basics in neutral colours (hoodies, graphic tees, sweat pants, crew nets, and matching sets). The combination of soft textures and faded wash makes the collection look lightly worn and subsequently extra comfortable. The understated logo artwork works smart, not hard.

Price Range: $68 (logo tee)-$168 (logo hoodie)

4YE

This online brand by Brampton raised comedy duo Jae and Trey Richards, circa 2018, explores the intersection of community and clothing.

Vibe: Very earthy, but a little urban prep.

What to Buy Here: Durags, trucker hats, hoodies.

Price Range: $23 (Logo Durag)- $145 (Logo Hoodie)

The Legends League Sweatshop

Higher end streetwear by artist and producer Bryan Espiritu, made to reflect Espiritu’s own life experiences.

Vibe: Sporty silhouettes featuring artful and detailed oriented designs.

What to Buy Here: Artful graphics, stylishly detailed letterman jackets, fitted sports jerseys, simple tees and sweats, caps, beanies, skateboard decks and art prints.

Price Range: $55 (Baseball tee)-$165 (hooded sweatshirt)- $1,000 (Letterman Jacket)

Committee Members

Streetwear brand with South Asian roots founded in 2014, inspired by the “ancient mystics, philosophers, artists, and storytellers” of various cultures (“committee members”).

Vibe: A first glimpse of the website suggests vulnerable, and feminine, and we guess right – the collection features uniform pieces with soft silhouettes, featuring romantic fonts and imagery.

What to Buy Here: Soft graphic tees and sweaters, classic beanies and a cool shirt jacket that is sold out.

Price Range: $24 USD (graphic tee)- $68 USD (graphic hoodie)

No Fun Press

Softgoods and specialty items brand designed by Reilly Hodgson, circa 2011.

Vibe: Eclectic with millennial punk imagery; tasteful and a little bit edgy.

What to Buy Here: Apparel— simple logo tees and hoodies, accessories— socks, caps, pins, patches, key chains and tote bags, and a wide array of specialty items that are oddly useful and gadget-y (logo Nalgene, logo tape measure, logo shower brush).

Price Range: $16 (“Eat Shit Socks”)-$70 (Studio Hoodie)

The Peace Collective

This Toronto-founded Canadian apparel brand has two storefronts: 65 Front St. W. near Union Station and 7 Trinity St. in the Distillery District.

Vibe: Sporty and athleisure outfits for all genders featuring Toronto and Canadian imagery, mental health empowerment statements and pop culture references. Comfortable and cheerful.

What to Buy Here: Sweatshirts, hoodies and outerwear the likes of denim jackets, bombers, varsity jackets, fleece and flannels.

Price Range: $45 (t-shirt)-$160 (Varsity Bomber)

Permanent Vacation

A casual lifestyle clothing brand by Alex Cronin, prioritizing comfort and utility. The website says the brand was created to communicate that “vacation is a state of mind rather than a destination.”

Vibe: Sleek uniform basics with an L.A. coolness.

What to buy here: Athletic shorts, t-shirts, hoodies, caps, tuques and merch-like mugs and phone cases.

Price range: $16-$130

Life & Wisdom

This Scarborough-born streetwear collective, circa 2008, visually expresses the upbringings and influences of the city youths who contributed to creating the brand.

Vibe: Super cozy, easy going and athletic.

What to buy here: Crewnecks, headwear, hoodies, outerwear, pants and tees.

Price range: $15-$70

Paranoid Emporium

Hand-painted streetwear produced in small batches by Toronto artists Matthew Chrones Scott (BLEEDINGHEART) and Caleb Cooper, circa 2015. The brand finds inspiration in conspiracy theories, retro cartoons, war propaganda and unique art. Storefronts at 640 Dundas St. W. and 609 Queen. St. W.

Vibe: Artist owned, hand printed streetwear staples.

What to buy here: Graphic tees, caps, hoodies and crewnecks, sweat pants, athletic shorts, outerwear, as well as stickers and posters.

Price range: $30-$180

Prescribed Shelter

Ready made and custom made clothing pieces with a retail shop in Yorkville.

Vibe: Custom made to order pieces and limited ready made pieces.

What to buy here: Your own custom or ready-made pieces like hoodies, vests, outerwear.

Price range: $150-$400

Ezra Pharoah

An affordable, online, “luxury” streetwear brand birthed in the pandemic by Torontonian Bahador Pourvakil, inspired by streetwear icons Kanye West and Jerry Lorenzo.

Vibe: Creative graphics featuring icons in music and sports, very Kanye West overall.

What to buy here: Graphic tees and hoodies.

Price range: $45-$200

These brands hold some weight in Toronto in terms of street cred, because they’re designed by Torontonians. The clothes these designers make reflect their personal experiences, their relationships with peers and their community. There is little in the way of fashion that depicts Toronto and it’s people as accurately as Toronto streetwear.

Cherry blossoms are coming to Toronto early this year

By

Jessica Huras

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1:00 pm

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Admiring the blooming of the city’s cherry trees is a beloved spring tradition for many Torontonians. While we’ll likely need to wait until at least late April for the annual arrival of Toronto’s cherry blossoms, one local restaurant is already helping us get into the spring spirit with a cherry blossom-themed menu.

Chotto Matte specializes in Nikkei cuisine, a style of cooking that draws on both Japanese and Peruvian influences for its use of fresh and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant is tapping into its Japanese side for a new menu inspired by cherry blossoms.

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Cherry blossoms, also known as sakura, have a special significance in Japan, where the blooming season is celebrated with picnic and hanami (flower viewing) parties. The festivities mark the onset of spring, and also pay homage to the short-lived beauty of the cherry blossoms, which is seen as analogous to the passing joy of life itself.

Toronto’s largest collection of cherry trees, found in High Park, was given to the city in 1959 by the Japanese ambassador to Canada in recognition of its support for Japanese-Canadian refugees after World War II. This initial collection has expanded over the years in honour of the continued friendship between Toronto and Japan.

Cherry blossom season typically begins earlier in Japan than in Toronto, with blossoms often starting to flower around mid-March in parts of the country. Like in Toronto, however, the time to appreciate the cherry trees is brief, with the blossoms typically only lasting for one to two weeks. Chotto Matte nods to the timing of cherry blossom season in Japan with its sakura-dressed sushi selection menu, which runs from March 21 to 27 (a time almost as brief as the trees’ blossoming period).

The menu originated as a challenge to the sushi chef team at Chotto Matte’s UK sister restaurant, which is located in London’s Soho neighbourhood. The resulting menu, which includes dishes like Kingfish with cherry salsa, snow crab leg with tobiko caviar and smoked otoro and foie gras, represents the top creations from each of the chefs.

From March 24 to 26 as part of the restaurant’s Cherry Blossom Festival, the menu will be paired with pink floral decor and live performances running from 7 p.m. until midnight. Although the details of the entertainment line-up have yet to be revealed, if the performances are akin to Chotto Matte’s Jungle Brunch series, we can expect colourful costumes and lively music.

Located in the Financial District, Chotto Matte is open from 11:30 a.m. Monday to Friday, from 12 p.m. on Saturday and from 4 p.m. on Sunday.

How Breakfast Television reporter Stephanie Henry met her match when she was just 15

By

Erin Neilly

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12:51 pm

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Stephanie Henry is part of many Torontonians’ morning routines as the traffic reporter on Breakfast Television. She’s also a reporter and producer on CityNews Toronto and 680 News, and recently she’s been working as a producer on the #CitylineReal on Race YouTube series with Cityline host Tracy Moore. Here she shares how she met her fiancé Brydon Hargreaves when they were just teens.

How they met

Brydon and I met in high school. How often do you hear that story any more? We met in Grade 9, so we were about 15 years old. I had the wildest crush on him but was far too awkward to do anything about it. The following year, Brydon moved away, and we kept in touch over the years. Once I started my second year at York University, Brydon was living nearby, and we decided it would be a good time to reconnect and hang out. After about two days of hanging out, we were like, “Let’s just do this!” That was in 2012.

The first date

We went to the CNE. We spent the day going on rides, eating weird food — weird food definitely brings you closer together. We sat at the dock and talked and then we watched some live entertainment. There were piggyback rides, ice cream treats and prizes won. It was definitely a cliché date but for all the right reasons. At the end of our date, it was time to say goodbye. We did the awkward dance around how to say goodbye, and Bry gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek.

The proposal

Brydon and I got engaged this year on Feb. 7. Brydon had planned to take me out to dinner that evening and then take me to our favourite spot, along the lakeshore. This was all under the guise that he had missed me, since I was away on vacation for the last 10 days. However, my flight home was three hours delayed, so when he picked me up from the airport we had missed our reservation and it was about 11 p.m. at night. I looked a mess, as you always do after a vacation, and didn’t feel like doing a thing. Brydon insisted that he wanted a late night snack, so we ended up going out to get food, and then he said he wanted to show me something at our old high school. I had no idea what was going on.

We were looking around for this thing. He couldn’t find it and I started walking back to the car because it was cold — especially since I just arrived back from Jamaica. When I started walking back he yelled, “Found it!” and when I turned around, he was down on one knee with a beautiful sparkly ring! He said, “This is where we met and where you fell in love with me first, so I wanted to bring you back here. Will you marry me?” Of course I said yes!

Balancing work and love

I think that communication is important on both sides when it comes to balancing your career or even your workday with time for each other. We make sure to carve out time daily, and we really enjoy going on dates and experiencing new things together!

Shared interests

I love watching TV and I love watching movies, even if I do fall asleep as soon as we hit play from time to time. Brydon loves football. He used to play while in school, and before the pandemic he would play for a league in Scarborough throughout the year. I enjoy being a loyal football fiancée and go cheer him on when he plays!

Secret of success

Communication, compromise, respect, laughter, understanding and space. That last one might throw people off, but I love space. I love me time and so does my fiancé. I think it’s important for both parties in any relationship to make space for self-love and self-care and also to keep relationships alive and well with your friends and family. Have your separate lives, that you share with one another from time to time even though you share a full life together.

Enjoy patio season with your best furry friend at these Toronto spots

By

Megan Gallant

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11:35 am

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