Camp Toronto part 3: The Strumbellas’ ultimate campfire playlist

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9:56 am

Campfire songs — The Strumbellas, David Ritter second from left (photo Matt Barnes)

There is something kinda perfect about pulling out an acoustic guitar and strumming some tunes while gathered around a campfire. David Ritter, of the Strumbellas, has, well, strummed out a few tunes in his day. The band released a powerful new song this past February entitled “Greatest Enemy.” Here, Ritter gives TRNTO his top 10 campfire songs to pick up this summer to play at your own campfire. Enjoy.

1. “Hold My Hand” by Hootie & The Blowfish

If the only Hootie you have in your life these days is the Post Malone version of “Only Wanna Be With You,” do yourself a favour and take a listen. One of the best musical feelings in the world is “oh yeah, I remember this song, it’s AWESOME.” Playing some Hootie & The Blowfish this summer is the perfect way to give you and your friends that feeling.

2. “September Gurls” by Big Star

Big Star should have been huge. Over and over again, they put out perfect ’70s power-pop songs that failed to crack the charts, and instead of reaching the stars, they became the ultimate cult classic band. Fans of Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, and heck The Beatles will find a lot to like in their catalogue. September Gurls is a dreamy slice of shining pop bliss with just a hint of autumn sadness. It’s the ideal song for a chilly end-of-summer fire while you watch the leaves fall from the trees.

3. “River” by Joni Mitchell

No campfire is complete without a Joni Mitchell song. “Case Of You” is a very difficult song to cover. It’s hard to separate that song from Mitchell’s specific performance. “River” is easier, and if you like sad campfire songs (which I do), it’s sadder than most.

4. “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” by Jimmy Ruffin

For the campfire, we tend to think of songs that already have acoustic guitars, but great songs work in any setting. You could sing “The Gambler” or “The Joker” but why not keep people on their toes with a little bit of soul? One of the best songs in Motown’s astonishing catalogue, “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” is one of those songs that everyone loves. It’s beautiful and tragic and fun to sing as the s’mores are cooking.

5. “Slow Burn” by Casey Musgraves

Is it too clever to sing about a steady fire when you’re sitting around a steady fire? I don’t think so. This is a contemporary classic with a melody that’s as catchy as it is surprising. Casey Musgraves’ body of work stands with anyone working today and this one has an especially fun chorus to try out.

6. “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks

If guilty pleasures still exist, then Garth Brooks is one of mine. This song winks just enough to tell you it’s in on the joke. So enjoy belting out the chorus, especially the part where the melody reaches way down for the word “low”. In that moment along you can see Brooks is having a little fun, and so can we.

7. “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory” by Johnny Thunders

Johnny Thunders was the guitarist for influential early punk band New York Dolls, but here gives a more tender solo performance in a song about heroin and heartbreak. It’s a cult classic that most people won’t know. So you won’t hear voices joining you, but you may see a tear or two flickers in the firelight.

8. “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” by Bryan Adams

Summer of ’69 is the predictable choice, but what’s the fun in being predictable? If there are a few guitars—and maybe even a couple of hand drums—around the fire, this song is a surefire jam-starter. The swing feel and titanic hooks will have everyone remembering that Adams has more than a few campfire classics in his back catalogue.

9. “Blues Run The Game” by Jackson C. Frank

Here’s one for the finger-picking folk heroes out there. Frank was a 1960s folk singer whose debut album was produced by Paul Simon while they were living in England. This is his signature song, and it is about as sad as his life story. It’s been covered by Simon & Garfunkel, Nick Drake, Counting Crows, and John Mayer, so while it may not be widely known, it’s deeply loved by those lucky enough to have heard it.

10. “Because You Loved Me” by Céline Dion

If this is a Canadian campfire we’re talking about, it’s your patriotic duty to try out a Céline Dion song. It may be awkward at first, but your friends will thank you as they belt out the chorus. Plus you’ll impress everyone if you hit the high notes. It doesn’t have to be this song, but paying tribute to the queen of pop will always feel right under Canadian skies.

Michelin-starred chef opens new ramen shop Oji Seichi in East Chinatown

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Ron Johnson

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1:23 pm

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After a long year of waiting for pandemic restrictions to ease, Oji Seichi finally had its soft opening on Broadview Ave. last weekend. Located at 354 Broadview Ave. in East Chinatown, the restaurant will offer the community a new gathering spot for delicious, high-quality ramen, noodles, and sandwiches.

One of the three owners of the restaurant, Mitch Bates, was inspired by his wife Caitlin Harrison’s Japanese-Canadian heritage and the delicious mish-mash of dishes they feasted on at family dinners such as shoyu wieners, sushi and tempura fries. Bates and the other owners Shawn and Wilson hope to recreate these sumptuous experiences for their guests and share the delights of quality, ingredients-based meals with the east-end community.

Prior to opening Oji Seichi, Bates was the lead chef at the Michelin-starred Momofuku Ko in New York as well as Momofuku Shoto and Grey Gardens in Toronto, and had spent years developing his skills as a noodle aficionado. As a result, Oji Seichi is meticulous when it comes to sourcing ingredients, and all the noodles are made in-house using the Midori—a noodle machine shipped all the way from Japan.

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On the menu, there are four different types of ramen dishes as well as snacks and sandys like the chicken katsu sandy with panko fried chicken, pickled daikon, shredded cabbage and mayo. Guests can also buy packages of the hand-made noodles to make at home.

Inside, the restaurant reflects its labour-of-love origins through a hand-painted mural by illustrator Cam Miller. In striking blue and white, the mural depicts Japanese art and symbols, and illustrations of the history of ramen and the restaurant’s founding story.

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The restaurant is named after Uncle Seichi, a second-generation Japanese Canadian who was just as passionate about great food as Oji Seichi’s owners. A painter by trade, Seichi’s fun-loving spirit is the inspiration behind the restaurant’s welcoming feel.

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Oji Seichi is currently open for takeout Wednesday to Sunday, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. and closed Monday and Tuesday.

Silent Bob is opening a Mooby’s pop-up food shop in Toronto

By

Ron Johnson

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11:35 am

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Mooby's Kevin Smith — Kevin Smith a.k.a. Silent Bob (left) and Jason Mewes (Jay) at Mooby's

Kevin Smith, famed for creating the infamous characters Jay and Silent Bob, which began with the film Clerks then Mall Rats and on over a slew of popular, cult-classic movies, is bringing his fast-food Mooby’s Pop Up experience to Toronto next month.

Mooby’s was first introduced by Smith in the movie Dogma.

On June 29 Mooby’s Pop Up will start taking pre-orders for food and collectibles on the website for a July 14 opening at Adelaide Hall (250 Adelaide St. W.) following a successful run last winter as delivery and take-out only due to the lockdown.

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“This time around, golden calf fans will immerse themselves in the View Askewniverse when Mooby’s fast food, Secret Stash Merch Shop, and street-side patio will replicate the restaurant fans have seen in Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back and Clerks II,” according to a press release.

So, here is how it works. Fans and fast food aficionados will pre-order and make a reservation to pick up their items and food within the shop via Tock. The experience will feature items exclusive to Toronto such as the Mooby’s Hot Meat Injection (kielbasa on a bun) and Mooby’s Ontario Ale created by Mill Street Brewery as well as classic creations like Moo Mains and Salt Lick Sides. There are also vegan options available like Vegan Beyond Cow Tipper and Hot Green Injection.

25 ways to make the most of summer in Toronto, part two

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lindsaylow

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9:47 am

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Get your activities badge by trying these campy summer sports in Toronto

Archery
Little known to many Torontonians is the Toronto Archery Range, which is located beside the Ontario Science Centre in E. T. Seton Park. The range is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is one of a handful of free public archery ranges in North America.

Ropes
One doesn’t need to travel far to do some ropes courses. Treetop Trekking operates a course at Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area in Stouffville in York Region. The park features five aerial ropes courses up to 40 feet in the area with zip lines, wooden bridges and Tarzan swings.

Beach tennis
Although the sport is in its infancy in Toronto, it is growing quickly, and a club was established a couple of years back. Outside of the pandemic, there is beach tennis available year-round. This summer, head down to Ashbridges Bay to check out this fun sport.

Get your BBQ badge by perfecting these recipes and home grilling and smoking tips from the city’s top pitmasters

The 3-2-1 rub
“With most barbecue recipes, I recommend starting with the 3-2-1 rub. It’s the easiest way to flavour food and also the easiest way to add your own spin to the recipe. It’s called 3-2-1 because of how the ingredients are broken down: three portions of each base ingredient — salt and sugars, two portions of each of the central ingredients — these are the main flavours that will be present in your rub, and one portion of each of your accent flavours — these are the flavours that work best in limited quantities, such as cloves, cinnamon or cayenne pepper.” —David Neinstein, Barque Smokehouse

Temperature control
“Get a really good thermometer. If you watch any amount of food television or visit a barbecue contest, you will see that almost everyone uses a thermometer from Thermoworks. I personally have about five of them. There’s even one in the glove compartment of my car. You can cook a five-star meal on a $15 dollar hibachi with a good thermometer.” —Jason Rees, Earlscourt BBQ

It’s not about the pit but the pitmaster
“Don’t get grill envy. All you really need is two sticks, a match, a good thermometer and some patience to make great barbecue. I’ve seen people roll up at a barbecue contest with $250,000 invested in their barbecue rigs to lose to a guy in a beat-up minivan with a couple of ugly drum smokers. The best barbecue is the one that you are comfortable using. I own between 10 and 14 different cookers at a time, and some of the best barbecue comes off my Weber kettle that I got on Craigslist for $50.” —JR

Cottage couture: Get your camp fashions at three Muskoka-inspired boutiques

Offering up a selection of carefully curated and ethically sourced lifestyle goods, including dresses, cashmere, loungewear and coats, Tuck Shop Trading Co. on Yonge Street is your one-stop shop for summer cottage gear. The shop’s oversized cottage coats and flowy summer dresses would make for the perfect additions to your cottagecore collection.

Located on Yonge Street near Summerhill Road, Putti Fine Furnishings is the boutique of all your shabby chic dreams. The shop is full of romantic Victorian-era home accessories, clothing, and jewelry, and it’s also home to a varied selection of cheerful party items perfect for your next “cottagecore” picnic.

Carrying a wide variety of brands and styles, 6 by Gee Beauty is one Toronto boutique you’ll want to hit if you’re looking for some one-of-a-kind cottagecore pieces. Don’t miss their Daily Sleeper linen dresses in pink and white gingham, which would be the perfect getup for a fanciful frolic through the fields.

Stargazing: Learn about galaxies far far away without watching Star Wars again

Although the lights of the city make it difficult to do any serious stargazing in Toronto, there are options. One is to head to the far end of the Leslie Spit that juts into Lake Ontario where light pollution from the city will be curtailed. For a truly dark sky experience, head north to Torrance Barrens. And check out the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada for great stargazing and astronomy events at local spots such as Richmond Hill’s David Dunlap Observatory and the Ontario Science Centre. There is a visible solar eclipse scheduled for June 10 and a meteor shower July 27–28.

For more in our Camp Toronto series click here.

Inside this Annex townhouse with a rooftop terrace and elevator for $4.495 million

By

Chelsea Dolan

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3:05 pm

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pears-feature-pic — © Craig Williams / Imaginahome Inc.

If you’re torn between living in a single-family home or condo, then 135 Pears Ave. serves as the perfect solution. The townhouse has immediate street entry and access to building amenities that include an indoor pool, gym and concierge.

Along with three bedrooms and four bathrooms, this three level abode features with a private rooftop terrace. It’s located in the Annex and just a short walk away from the shops and restaurants on Bloor St. W. The unit is currently listed for a cool $4.495 million.

A stylish divider separates the entryway from the main living space.

Full height windows in the living room provide plenty of natural light and views of the street. High ceilings make the room feel open and airy.

Wide plank hardwood floors and pot lighting span throughout the home, including the intimate dining area.

It’s located right next to the contemporary kitchen, which is designed with clean cabinetry and large island. There’s plenty of cabinet and counterspace to work with.

A black marble vanity adds luxury to the powder room.

The elevator provides access to all levels of the townhouse.

The main bedroom on the second level has floor-to-ceiling windows and a fireplace. It also comes with a balcony.

The ensuite bathroom has a hotel-like feel with double sinks, large bathtub and walk-in shower.

It boasts a large walk-in closet with efficient organizers.

The other two bedrooms are equally comfortable. They each come with sliding doors providing outdoor access.

The second bedroom comes with its own three-piece ensuite bathroom.

Here’s a look at the laundry room.

The rooftop terrace is an entertainer’s dream. Residents can enjoy south, north and west views while sitting in the hot tub.

This coveted outdoor space has plenty of room for designated cooking, dining and lounging zones.

135 Pears Ave. is listed with Cathy Kwinter of Forest Hill Real Estate Inc.

25 ways to make the most of summer in Toronto

By

lindsaylow

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10:45 am

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Get your urban paddling badge by completing these four on-the-water adventures about town this summer

Paddleboarding
Toronto offers plenty of fantastic paddleboarding opportunities, but none quite so sweet as those offered on the Toronto Islands. The best time to paddle is later in the evening or early in the morning to catch the brilliant sunsets and sunrises. The channels are great for spotting wildlife.

Kayaking
There is always much to see along the shoreline at Harbourfront Centre, whether it is a tour over to Ontario Place, the channels and lagoons of the Toronto Islands or bird sanctuaries along Leslie Spit. Harbourfront Canoe and Kayak Centre rents boats and offers group and private excursions and tours.

Canoeing
The Humber River is a hidden gem in Toronto. More people might know the Don River, but try canoeing on it. The Humber is more secluded, offers wildlife viewing and a leisurely paddling experience. Humber River Adventures rents out canoes if you don’t have one of your own.

Kite surfing
This water sport offers plenty of action and excitement. When the surf is up, head to Woodbine Beach. You’ll find many kite surfers being flung hither and yon with a huge grin plastered on their faces. For this sport, it is imperative to take a lesson and there are many options such as We Love Kiteboarding.

Toronto Island SUP offers paddleboarding with a view

Here are a couple of central locations to get your s’mores fired up right in the middle of town, with a city permit, of course

Taylor Creek Park
This charming strip of greenery in the Don Valley runs alongside Taylor-Massey Creek, which joins the Don River alongside the Don Valley Parkway. There are several firepits in this area that are somewhat secluded, perfect for a summer evening of acoustic guitar strums and marshmallows.

Christie Pits Park
Although this is a very busy park, the city allows the urban campfire set to obtain a permit to have a bonfire at the park. It’s the perfect place to spend a summer day swimming at the pool, playing baseball, followed by hot dogs and s’mores around an open fire.

Grab a gourmet picnic basket with urban versions of tried-and-true campfire classics

Aviator Danforth
Thinking of heading to Riverdale Park to catch the sunset? Great idea! Even better, grab a Friday night event box or another experiential meal at Aviator Danforth. Each picnic has options with dietary restrictions in mind, accommodating both meat lovers and vegetarians as well as kids. The full-sized picnics, which can be ordered online, are $20, and the kids’ option is $15.

Dirty Food
Ready for a hang at Trinity Bellwoods Park? Stop by Dirty Food where they offer picnic kits that cover all the comfort food classics. With an option for two or four people (as well as a vegetarian option), Dirty Food sends breads, spreads, extras and sweets, with largely house-made dishes. The two-person picnic is $36, while the four-person picnic is $68, and can be pre-ordered online.

Get your wildlife badge by heading out on these unique T.O. hikes and seeing what you can find

Leslie Street Spit
Probably the most unusual and surprising kinda natural area in the city of Toronto, this swath of land, originally made primarily of construction waste and some creativity by Toronto Conservation, has turned into something of a Toronto-centric oasis and is home to an array of bird species, including a massive cormorant nesting area that has to be seen (and heard) to be believed.

Doris McCarthy Trail
This out-of-the-way trail is a hidden gem revealed to the general public for the first time. There isn’t even a parking lot, so just park on the road. The trail runs down a ravine beside a babbling brook and ends at the Scarborough Bluffs — truly the most magical natural wonder in the city. Keep an eye out for deer roaming along the tops of the bluffs and unique bird species including hawks and spiders. Lots of spiders.

Tuck shop: Craving some camp treats? Here are three of the best candy shops in Hogtown.

The Candy Bar
This College Street gem features a variety of imported treats as well as handcrafted chocolates and even vegan fudge. Some classics include Big Feet, Marshmallow Bananas, Hot Lips, Fun Dip, oh, and Pop Rocks, lots of Pop Rocks.

Suckers Candy Co.
Suckers Candy Co. is the promised land for those in need of a sweet treat to while away the Toronto heat. This massive outlet offers over 2,000 kinds of candy products including retro favourites and a newfangled confectionery.

The Nutty Chocolatier
Hit this classic candy shop in the Beach neighbourhood on the way to the, well, beach. It’s got a British theme, so expect some imported treats as well as plenty of retro choices and a wide selection of delish chocolates including from the local Belgian chocolate shop down the street. Buy some Air Heads and Big League Chew for the kids and keep the truffle ganache for yourself.

Watch for our next in our Camp Toronto series tomorrow, June 24.

The best vegan ice cream in Toronto

By

Jessica Huras

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2:09 pm

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best vegan ice cream toronto — Image via Death in Venice

When the days are hot, nothing cools you down like an ice cream cone. Just because you follow a vegan diet, however, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on this classic summer treat. Toronto has several vegan ice cream parlours and gelato shops offering a blend of traditional and unconventional flavours, made using seasonal summer fruits and dairy substitutes, like coconut and cashew milk. Here are five vegan ice cream spots worth checking out this summer.

Booyah

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Opened in the summer of 2015, Booyah is a cozy ice cream parlour located in midtown that specializes in everything from hard scoops to ice cream sandwiches. All of their items can be crafted from vegan ice creams, featuring house-made cashew milk, without compromisinging the quality of the finished treat. Booyah also sells their vegan ice creams by the pint. The flavours rotate frequently, but past flavours have included chocolate, chocolate mint, vanilla, taro coconut, German chocolate, hokey pokey (vanilla with homemade sponge toffee chunks) and espresso.

Honey’s

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Owned and operated by baker Ashley Wittig (a co-founder of beloved vegan bakery Bunner’s Bake Shop), Honey’s is known for dairy-free, plant-based ice creams that taste like the real thing. Not only does Honey’s vegan ice cream taste good, but it feels good, too — a portion of Honey’s monthly profits go directly towards several Indigenous-led organizations. There are currently 14 refreshing flavours on the menu, including two special flavours for the month of June: tiger tail and bubble gum. Other flavours include out-of-the-box blends like peanut butter and saltine crackers, plain yogurt and blueberry jam, earl grey and Atlantic salted caramel, alongside the classics like strawberry, chocolate chip cookie dough and cookies and cream, to name a few.

Delight Chocolate

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Run by husband-and-wife duo Jennifer and Jeff, Delight Chocolate is an ice cream shop that prides itself on its use of locally sourced, organic and fair trade ingredients, including chocolate that comes straight from the Dominican Republic and fresh summer fruits delivered from sustainable Ontario farms. There are a number of vegan ice creams on the menu, including vanilla, chocolate peanut butter chip, Ontario strawberry and Market Monkey (banana, peanut butter chocolate chips and melted caramel toffee). All of the shop’s dairy-free ice creams use organic coconut milk from Thailand as a base. Delight also offers house-made sorbets in fruity flavours like rhubarb and lemon ginger.

M!LK Vegan Gelato

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Operating out of the plant-based Italian restaurant, Pizzeria Du (run by Roger Yang, who also owns Avelo), M!LK Vegan Gelato is a small-batch plant-based ice cream shop. M!LK sells 24 different kinds of gelato from Pizzeria Du’s takeout window. All of the 500 mL pints are made using coconut milk. There are classic gelato flavours like chocolate, coffee and dulce de leche, while other more creative flavours include maple pecan, stout beer and creamsicle (orange and vanilla). There are also four vegan sorbettos available in hibiscus, tamarind, orange and passionfruit.

Death in Venice

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Named after an Italian-French drama of the same title, Death in Venice is a specialty gelato shop run by couple Madellena Fuller and Kaya, who won the 2015 Chopped Canada title for their lemon, ricotta and rosemary ice cream. They used their prize money to buy Death in Venice’s Italian Carpigiani gelato machine. There are nearly 30 gelato flavours on the menu, as well as another 20 unconventional vegan flavours to choose from, including fruit-forward blends like raspberry chipotle, honeydew melon and mint and peach prosecco bellini, as well as chocolatey scoops like blueberry cocoa sherry, chocolate coconut cardamom and chocolate sour cherry.

The best water activities and boat rentals in Toronto this summer

By

Marlene Mendonca

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4:41 pm

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With the temperatures rising and vaccines flowing, there’s never been a better time to reacquaint yourself with Toronto’s waterways. You could opt for your basic beach day, or you could step it up a notch and experience the excitement that comes with an adventure on the high seas.

Here are five places where you can find all of the resources you need to ride (or fly above) the waves this summer.

FlyBoarding Toronto

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For the thrill seekers in your crew, FlyBoarding Toronto is the place to be this summer. Proclaimed as the “coolest new sport of the decade” on their website, flyboarding is essentially the aquatic version of a jetpack. Instead of two rocket engines strapped to your back, you have two powerful water propulsion jets under your feet. These jets allow you to fly up to 30 feet in the air and perform tricks such as twirls and flips.

Located on Lake Simcoe in Richmond Hill, FlyBoarding Toronto offers a safe way to try this emerging experience. No experience is necessary, and certified trainers will be with you every step of the way. They offer a variety of packages, starting at $150.

Toronto Islands Boathouse

If you’re looking to escape the mainland altogether, no getaway is more convenient than the Toronto Islands.

While Centre Island gets all of the attention, the Toronto Islands are an intricate grouping of land masses, with tight waterways, lagoons and open waters just begging to be explored.

The Toronto Island Boathouse offers canoe, kayak and pedal boat rentals, which are perfect to get you close (but not too close) to the sea turtles, herons, swans and 35 species of fish that call Toronto’s waters home. Canoes can fit up to three adults or two adults and two children. Canoes and single kayaks are $29 for one hour, or $74 for three hours. Tandem kayaks are $37 for one hour.

Toronto Adventures

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Toronto’s rivers are wonderful places to explore, and there’s no better way to see the resilient waterways that contend with us city-dwellers than on a canoe, kayak or paddleboard. Situated on the banks of the Humber River, Toronto Adventures offers opportunities to rent all three of these watercrafts and take either a guided or unguided paddle. They also offer lessons on how to keep you and yours out of the drink, with no experience required.

Toronto Adventures has something for everyone. For the die-hard kayaker, there’s an eight-hour sea kayaking certification course. For those looking for a more relaxed experience, there’s Movies on the River. Think of it as a drive-in movie, but instead of pulling up in your car, you row to your show. All of the movies on tap are water-related, including a showing of Jaws on July 29. Tickets start at $40, but if you bring your own boat and equipment, the charge is only $10.

For those interested in beautifying the area, there are also cleanup paddles that go in search of any trash left behind on the riverbanks. If you’re interested in exploring the Humber, there’s no better place to start than with Toronto Adventures. Two-hour kayak rentals start at $30.

Tallship Cruises Toronto

If you’re looking to take a trip back in time while still enjoying the amenities of modern-day water travel, look no further than Tallship Cruises Toronto. The Kajama, a 165-foot three-masted schooner, is the jewel of Tallship Cruises’ fleet. She sails from downtown Toronto and also has a full bar, which never hurts.

Available for everything from corporate boat cruises to weddings to educational events, you can even witness a cannon being fired from its bow in this one-of-a-kind experience. Stowing away on the Kajama (or the Challenge, a smaller schooner) will cost $32.50 for adults, $18 for children, $3 for kids four and under, and $29 for seniors. For information on private charters, check out their website.

Toronto Beach Kayak

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For those looking to explore the waters of the East End, Toronto Beach Kayak has you covered.

Located on Kew Beach, Toronto Beach Kayak is pet-friendly, meaning your doggo can come along for the ride. Their kayaks also include an over-sized cockpit, meaning they are extra sturdy and unlikely to send you and your pet for an unwanted swim.

Single kayak rentals start at $30. Tandems start at $60. They do offer group rates, as you and four friends can snag five boats for an hour for just $120. Their website offers daily updates on availability.

Harbourfront Centre

Harbourfront Centre offers fleets of boats including Sail boats, Yacht and Power Charters and Powerboat rentals. They also offer courses for those wanting to get a membership. The season will open on on Tuesday June 29 and will run until the end of October.

If you don’t have experience, you are eligible to rent two of the powerboats, the Paradise F13 two-seater power boats and the Lund Fury five-seater powerboats. The only requirement is a Valid G Driver’s License and be 21 years of age or older. For all sailboats and larger powerboats, you can hire a skipper.

Janet Zuccarini opening new Ossington restaurant this week

By

Ron Johnson

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10:18 am

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Gusto 54 Restaurant Group is set to launch the curbside patio of its newest restaurant, Azhar Kitchen + Bar, this Thursday, June 24. Located at 96 Ossington Ave., the restaurant officially opened as a marketplace and neighbourhood gathering spot in December 2020 and has since been patiently awaiting the return of patio season in anticipation of reopening.

Serving up soulful Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East-inspired dishes, the restaurant has an intimate feel and an impressive wood-fired grill in the middle of the open-style kitchen. Created by chef Stuart Cameron who oversaw the culinary programs at hotspots like Patria and Byblos, the menu features classics like oysters, babaganoush and lamb ribs as well as fresh and modern twists like oven-roasted cauliflower with almond cream and pistachios. Other highlights include Mujadara Rice, Wagyu Shish, and Manti Dumplings with harissa and date.

“Azhar is to be a culmination of deep love and respect for the simplicity and freshness of Old World cooking combined with our own imaginative twists,” a statement from the restaurant group reads. “Ingredient sourcing is paramount to Azhar’s menu where fresh produce from local farmers and imported spice blends are showcased across each of the small plates – each designed for sharing.”

The restaurant is led by CEO and owner of Gusto 54 Janet Zuccarini, whose portfolio includes Toronto favourites like Trattoria Nervosa, Gusto 101 and 501, Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen and Pai. Azhar Kitchen + Bar will also feature an eclectic offering of beverages like cocktails featuring tea syrups, dried flowers and house fermentations, a fresh and seasonal wine list and some local craft beers.

Azhar’s marketplace offers a wide variety of rare and decadent Middle East-inspired pantry items like sweet date molasses, Turkish coffee, and pistachio dukkah made from pistachio, white sesame, coriander, maldon, black pepper, rose petals, and nigella. You can also order from the marketplace using Door Dash.

The team at Azhar is looking forward to joining the lively Ossington strip patio scene after a long winter of waiting for pandemic restrictions to be loosened. The patio will be open every Wednesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. to close, while the marketplace will remain opening during the day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tables will be available by reservation only, visit azhartoronto.com to learn more or make a reservation.

Toronto restaurants with Father’s Day menus

By

Jessica Huras

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11:00 am

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father's day dinner minami — Image via Minami

Treat the Dads in your life this weekend with these special Father’s Day menus from some of Toronto’s top restaurants.

Batifole Bistromy

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Batifole Bistronomy is cooking up a Prix Fixe x Ready to Grille Menu for $65 per person in honour of Father’s Day. The Gerrard East bistro is offering a choice of crab rolls with mint and zucchini and duck leg confit with peach sauce, or dry-aged rib eye steak and spicy lamb merguez sausage. Bonne fête des pères!

Dirty Food

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The Junction’s Dirty Food has you covered for all three meals this Father’s Day. Choose from the breakfast package ($46 for 2 servings), the backyard BBQ ($88 serves 3 – 4) or the Dad’s day picnic ($38 for 2 or $71 for 4). You can also add beer and cold-pressed juice. The breakfast package featuring a brisket benny, homefries, scotch egg and strawberry rhubarb bread pudding looks perfect for a surprise breakfast in bed.

The Drake

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The Drake is offering a number of Father’s Day specials for the hipster “dad/father figures/patriarchs” in your life. The Commissary is preparing a BBQ rib kit, complete with a full rack of applewood smoked BBQ ribs, Lot 40 BBQ sauce, napa slaw, creamy dill potato salad and jalapeno corn bread ($55 for 2 servings). The Hotel’s special is a picnic-friendly Bucket O’ Chicken X Goose Island beer: five pieces of buttermilk fried chicken, coleslaw, cheddar and jalapeño cornbread, maple sriracha sauce, dill ranch dressing, fries, and of course, your choice of four Goose Island beers ($49).

Minami

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King West Japanese hotspot Minami will have their bright urban patio open for Sunday, but they’re also offering wagyu and temaki meal kits to-go. The wagyu kit comes with two pieces of 6 oz. wagyu striploin plus sansho sauce, wasabi pickles, Japanese potato salad, brussels sprouts and soy shiitake. The temaki hand roll kit includes assorted fish poke including akami, Atlantic salmon, hamachi and cucumber, plus chirashi sushi and nori.

Patois

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Asian-Caribbean soul food joint Patois has a truly stacked Father’s Day Pack: ginger beer drum pan chicken, smoked rum BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, cocobread, creamy Jamaican coleslaw, island potato salad, plantain chips and red stripe pale lager (4-6 servings for $125). Napkins required. Patois’ streetside patio will also be open for outdoor dining on the big day.

Tala

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Filipino newcomer Tala has teamed up with Apothogeri and Tito Parley’s ($84 serves 2 or $185 for 4) for a full Father’s Day experience. The kit includes thre Apothegeri candles (yema salt, cassava and kape), Tito Parley’s sans rival cups (yema salt and mango float), plus their kamayan dinner featuring chicken inasal, pork BBQ skewers, milkfish, shrimp, mussels, grilled pineapple, okra, eggplant, garlic rice and mango/carrot salad).

Toronto restaurant openings and coming soons: June 11 – June 18

By

Jessica Huras

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4:15 pm

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toronto restaurant openings Oji Seichi — Image via Oji Seichi

Toronto restaurants that opened this week

After running countless pop-ups, collaborations and an online shop, Churnt Up finally has its own brick and mortar location at 858 Eglinton East. Hand-crafted ice cream flavours include mango, taro, honey teddy graham and strawberry pocky, plus hot brownie ice cream sandwiches in either birthday cake or strawberry.

Conspiracy Pizza has found their new home next door to Churnt Up at 856 Eglinton. Dan Rios and co. are known for their self proclaimed ‘weird’ pizzas, including the Roswell (mozza, cheddar, ground beef, pulled pork, black olive, jalapeno, tomato, green onion, fritos and cilantro sour cream) and the Bay of Pigs (white sauce, mozza, pulled pork, bacon, red onion, pickles and mustard sauce).

Hush Hush Bar has reopened at 423 College. Featuring a menu courtesy of Mexican restaurant Classico Macha, expect authentic tacos, quesadillas and churros alongside your drinks.

Lavender Menace, a lesbian-owned, LGBTQ+ friendly restaurant and cocktail bar opens this weekend at 1062 Gerrard East. Think ’60s and ’70s vibes and Southern cuisine, including catfish banh mi po’ boy, fully loaded jambalaya, bacon and corn chowder plus tons of signature cocktails.

Oji Seichi is soft opening this weekend at 354 Broadview. With a menu inspired by Japanese Canadian home cooking, look for their house-made broths, tares and noodles in their classic shio or shoyu ramen. Seichi also offers panko fried chicken, fried shrimp patty, teriyaki pork patty and maitake sandwiches.

Toronto restaurants opening soon

The beloved Volo brand is expanding again; this time they’re taking over the lobby of Little Italy’s iconic Royal Cinema with a hybrid concession/bottle shop. The theatre is a stone’s throw from Volo’s specialty beer bar, Bierria Volo. Bar Volo said on Twitter that their “goal is to maintain & enhance the integrity of the theatre w. our food/drink offerings,” which will include beer, wine, and even grocery.

Millie Desserts will be operating two pops out of Oomomo’s Markham and North York locations this month. The French-Japanese fusion dessert shop will offer a specialty menu of crepe cakes, cream puffs, and popcorn, including their Instagram-worthy rainbow crepe cake with peaches and cream filling.

How to champion diversity in the workplace

By

Jarrod Daley

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1:59 pm

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See all posts by Diamond and Diamond Lawyers

A good leader knows how important it is to foster your employees’ growth every day. From promoting higher productivity levels to encouraging innovative ideas, a leader’s role in the workplace is essential to the overall success of your business. However, a commonly overlooked facet of leadership is championing diversity. Toronto personal injury firm Diamond and Diamond Lawyers has built a workplace that celebrates diversity which helps inspire creative ideas, promote cultural sensitivity and even improve everyday decision-making.

Diamond and Diamond’s Jeremy Diamond shares how other organizations can champion diversity in their workplaces as we enter Pride Month this June.

Develop a core set of values

The most successful businesses stick to their values and principles when the going gets tough. If you don’t already have a core set of values in place, now is the time to establish them. Ask yourself what matters most to your business and how you want clients to view your company. These values should be deeply rooted in diversity so that you set yourself apart as an organization that celebrates other races, cultures and sexual preferences.

Embrace uniqueness

The beauty of diversity is that it opens the door to a wide variety of perspectives, experiences and personality traits. To actively embrace diversity in the workplace, it’s crucial to encourage your most diverse team members to be their true selves. Many people don’t feel accepted by their coworkers and managers, even if they aren’t intentionally trying to exclude them. It’s important to be mindful of the practices you adopt at work and to ensure that they leave enough room for everyone at the table, from POC workers to members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Recognize all types of accomplishments in the workplace

In a truly diverse workplace, all kinds of achievements are equal in the eyes of management. It’s important to make a conscious effort to recognize all of your employees’ accomplishments, whether they recently solved a tough problem or came up with an innovative idea for a new product. Not only does celebrating all accomplishments make your diverse employees feel appreciated, but it also shows the rest of your workforce that you value their contributions, no matter who they are or what their background is.

Assess your executive team

Employees always look to upper management as an example of what they should be striving toward. If you lack a diverse executive team, your workers will interpret this as a sign that your business doesn’t value diversity. It’s important to practice what you preach by hiring managers who represent all walks of life. This also ensures that your diverse employees have role models to look up to so that they can feel more welcome and accepted.

Business leaders should take the time to evaluate their practices and make the necessary changes to promote a more inclusive workplace. Championing diversity at work can help your employees perform better and attract more candidates to your company, which is essential to fostering long-term growth and success.

About Jeremy Diamond

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.