Shop Vintage: Unique finds and revenge spending at The Cat’s Meow

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3:36 pm

Before launching her vintage boutique on Avenue Road, The Cat’s Meow, Louise Cooper fell in love with the history of fashion. Whether it was the miniskirts of the women’s liberation movement in the 1960s, or the flourishing post-war fashion of the 1940s and ’50s, she’s always been captivated by the way societal events shape the trends of the moment.

“I went to school to study fashion management and merchandising, and I fell in love with the historical and societal reasons behind people’s apparel,” Cooper says. “I was fascinated by what people wore during hard times like during war, recessions, depressions, pandemics.”

After working in the retail trenches for a few years while searching high and low for unique vintage items as a side hustle, she finally saved enough money and accrued enough stock to start a retail business of her own. Ahead of her time and with a strong vision in mind for the brand she wanted to create, Cooper launched The Cat’s Meow website in 2004 and opened the brick and mortar store on Avenue Road two years later.

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“I had a clear direction — modern luxury and vintage couture,” she says. “So there’s a big focus on dresses, formalwear and luxury accessories, and all high-end designers like Dior and Chanel.”

With a passion for gold, vintage glam and one-of-a-kind pieces, Cooper describes the shop as “old school boutiquey.” Not only does she admire vintage fashion for esthetic reasons, but she’s also a fan of resale for its eco-friendly and sustainable impacts.

“Fast fashion is killing our planet,” she says. “We have no other choice if we still want to live here, it’s not like we have a planet B. It’s repulsive how our society just consumes and throws everything away — it’s backwards.”

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While dresses and formalwear still make up a large chunk of her stock, Cooper says that since the lockdown, her clients are more interested in accessories like handbags and scarves, especially those with logos. Given the shutdown of restaurants and travel, her customers are still looking for a way to spend disposable income or purchase a treat as a pick-me-up, and online shopping has stepped in to fill that void.

“Instagram has been a godsend during this time,” Cooper says. “I’m super grateful to the community that has supported me through the lean and hard times.”

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The Cat’s Meow is celebrating its fifteenth year as a brick and mortar shop this month, and Cooper has faith the fashion industry will see a big boom after the pandemic.

“As history has proven time and time again, generally after a suppressed period, whether it’s social suppression of women’s rights or via a pandemic or war measures, it usually rebounds and goes drastically the other way afterwards,” she says. “People kick up their heels, revenge spend and party it up like it’s the roaring twenties all over again.”

Toronto deli celebrates its 50th anniversary with a throwback menu

By

Marlene Mendonca

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3:32 pm

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What started as a single deli counter on Leslie Street in Toronto has grown to become one of the city’s most significant landmark restaurants. The Pickle Barrel opened its doors in 1971 to a lineup of curious patrons ready to try the classic deli sandwich. Now as its 50th anniversary approaches, the restaurant is celebrating with a unique 1970s menu available until May 2.

The throwback menu includes ribs, potato skins, chicken and fries, and apple cobbler in addition to Labatt 50. To celebrate this milestone, the Pickle Barrel is giving away prizes, including retro beer swag through online contests. They will be offering all day delivery (at select locations).

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This all-Canadian diner-style restaurant’s humble beginnings turned into an instant success with 12 restaurants, including Pickle Barrel Banquets, Glow Fresh Grill & Wine Bar, and Glow Press Gourmet Grilled Cheese over the last five decades.

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The original deli counter seated 85 people and expanded in 1978 to accommodate 300 people. From there, the deli grew to become a beloved fixture on the Toronto food scene. The restaurant has morphed over the years to include healthier menu items by collaborating with famous cookbook author and chef Rose Reisman but still maintains some of its original greasy spoon goodness.

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You can find the nearest location of Pickle Barrel on the restaurant’s website. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online.

Toronto has a new source for authentic Israeli dips and snacks

By

Jessica Huras

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3:14 pm

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Galya Loves Food grew out of what is becoming a familiar pandemic pivot story — one in which a long-time personal passion transforms into a successful business. Born in Jerusalem, Galya Sarner developed an interest in food at a young age when she began learning to cook from her mother.

“Since I learned how to walk, I spent hours with her in the kitchen,” says Sarner. She later refined her hands-on training, taking formal culinary courses while living in Paris.

After settling in midtown Toronto, Sarner occasionally hosted food workshops and offered catering services in her free time. After being laid off from her job as a result of the pandemic however, she took an opportunity to package and sell her hummus at local bakery Aba’s Bagel Company.

“The owner, Arie, really opened a door for us,” says Sarner.

With the help of her husband Robert and daughter Shani, her company, Galya Loves Food, soon blossomed into a thriving, family-run business.

“It’s just been word of mouth and, in a natural way, it has grown and developed,” says Robert.

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Galya Loves Food now offers a line-up of homestyle, Israeli dips, snacks and sweets made with natural ingredients, including the signature Jerusalem hummus.

“We package it in a jar, but we tried to bring the same experience and taste that you get when you have hummus in Israel,” says Shani, adding that her mom continues to pick all of the ingredients by hand herself, even as the business expands.

“We cook the chickpeas in a traditional way,” says Sarner. “It’s a long process, but it’s very rewarding. There’s a special aroma when we get the flavour we want. It’s an exciting moment.”

Labaneh, fresh-baked falafel and gluten-free date cookies are among the other items available.

“Most of the recipes are based on the traditional roots of my childhood, which we further developed,” says Sarner. “We have our own interpretation. Toronto is very inspiring. It’s a fusion culinary world here.” The mother-daughter culinary team is continually adding new products to the Galya Loves Food line-up, often inspired by the foods they miss most from Israel.

The family largely credits their success to community drive to support small, local businesses amid the pandemic. They’re already finding ways to give back, partnering with charitable organizations like Seeds of Hope.

“We want to share our love of food,” says Sarner.

Orders can be placed online or their products can be found at an ever-growing roster of retailers, including Brodflour, Coco Market, Mimi and Ry Produce, select What a Bagel and Greenhouse Juice Co. locations, as well as the 100 Mile Store in Creemore, Ont.

Jeanne Beker’s 10 sustainable essentials for your spring wardrobe

By

Erin Neilly

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12:32 pm

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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.

With Earth Day on April 22, what better time to highlight the local companies embracing slow fashion with ethical sourcing, sustainable materials and local labour. So we asked Jeanne Beker to pick the perfect items for your spring wardrobe that are also eco-conscious.

spring

A) Hello yellow

“This yellow colour, I love it so much. It’s so sunny and optimistic. This jumpsuit is a great little summer uniform.” BirdsofNorthAmerica.com, $174
Birds of North America is a Toronto-based womenswear brand with all pieces made in Canada.

B) Pastel prints

“I love this dress. It has a beautiful print in nice pastel colours. It’s an attention-grabbing dress, it’s really feminine, and I like the full skirt.” KaelaKay.com, $249
Kaela Kay clothing is produced in Toronto by local seamstresses and offers inclusive sizing.

C) Retro cords

“I love these cord pants with the sailor buttons. They’re funky, high-waisted bell-bottoms with a real ’70s vibe to them.” HilaryMacMillan.com, $195
Hilary MacMillan is a Canadian designer who offers cruelty-free and size inclusive womenswear.

spring

D) Rubber to road

“I love these red boots that are made from fairly traded natural rubber, and I adore the little sporty chevron lines — a salute to the athleisure trend.” AliceandWhittles.com, $48
Alice and Whittles is a Toronto-based footwear company focused on sustainability. All footwear is virgin plastic free and the rubber is from sustainably-managed forests.

E) Lavender lookers

“These sunglasses are 100 per cent biodegradable, which is quite shocking. I love the retro styling, and this lavender colour makes it look summery.” Shambhalaclothing.ca, $84.50
Shambhala Clothing is a Canadian-owned and operated eco-lifestyle shop in Vernon, B.C. specializing in fair trade and handmade products that emphasize sustainability and social responsibility.

F) Make me blush

“This pale pink blush is a very big colour for the season. It’s a vegan leather, and the lining is made from recycled plastic bottles. I really love the design of this clutch.” Elahandbags.com, $88
Ela Handbags is a Toronto-based accessories brand that only uses cruelty-free vegan materials.

G) Mock croc

“I love this mini croc in mustard. It really lifts a wardrobe in a big way. I love the look of this mock croc. You can dress it up or down.” AiTorontoSeoul.ca, $150
Ai Toronto Seoul is a Toronto-based accessories brand with all products made by artisans in a small shop in Seoul, South Korea. All products are made in small batches from the highest quality PETA-approved vegan leather and all hardware is sourced in Korea.

H) Chic anorak

“This peachy windbreaker has a nice sheen to it. It looks very feminine and practical, a great jacket you can just grab and go.” Noize.com, $180
Noize is a Montreal-based outerwear brand that uses recycled fill, recycled plastic, vegan leather, vegan fur and vegan wool to ensure its pieces are cruelty-free and environmentally sustainable.

I) Flashdance flashback

“These little leg warmers really take you back to the ’80s. There’s something really fun about them, and they just add an extra touch of pizzazz to your workout wear.” Encircled.ca, $52
Encircled is a made-in-Toronto slow fashion brand that uses sustainably-sourced fabric and it is a Certified B Corp.

J) Ready to reverse

“I love that this hoodie is reversible, a great way to get more bang for your buck. And this mustard colour is all the rage right now.” Kotn.com, $69
Kotn’s products are made with sustainably-sourced organic cotton at farms with ethical labour practices. The company also funds a number of social impact projects.

Toronto restaurant openings, closings, and coming soons: April 3 – April 9

By

Jessica Huras

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12:36 pm

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Toronto restaurants that closed this week

After temporarily shutting down in November, Toronto’s last remaining Apiecalypse Now! location has permanently closed. The beloved vegan pizza joint proclaimed “we are not a building though, and we are not done” in their farewell Instagram post and has promised something new in the next few months.

Benihana at Fairmont Royal York appears to have quietly shuttered after almost half a century. Always imitated, but never duplicated, the Benihana brand made hibachi theatre a favourite of tourists and connoisseurs alike worldwide.

The County General may have closed for good after temporarily shutting last November. “Restaurant available” signs are now displayed on the restaurant’s Queen West storefront.

Neighbourhood favourite Hikari Sushi Bar has closed after only 1 year on Pape. According to their Instagram, a new chef with a fresh concept will be taking over the space.

Taiwanese fried chicken chain Hot Star has closed its original Toronto location at Yonge and Gerrard. The North York and Pacific Mall locations remain open for delivery.

Yonge’s Jaipur Grille has closed after almost two decades. The ground-breaking restaurant helped re-popularize Indian food in Toronto, maintaining a balance between authentic flavours and new techniques

Toronto restaurant openings and coming soons

Dave’s Hot Chicken will be opening a second location in the former home of Jaipur Grille. The wildly popular California-based chain offers only six items: mac and cheese, house-made kale slaw, crinkle fries, cheese fries, chicken tenders (Nashville style) and sliders.

Mira Mira is opening a new diner in the Beaches on Saturday. New menu items include the hot turkey sandwich and chicken smashwich pita, but you can also still order original favourites like jerk banh mi and the avocado veggie burger.

After operating online since 2017, Ruru Baked ice cream has finally settled in a brick-and-mortar location at 659 Lansdowne. Get there early and be prepared to wait in line for your favourite flavours.

Thai favourite Salad King has opened a new location at 224 Queen Street West. Former Ryerson students rejoice!

These are Toronto’s best spots for takeout pasta

By

Jessica Huras

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3:45 pm

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We don’t know about you but another lockdown and stay-at-home orders have us reaching for comfort food. When dry noodles and jarred sauces aren’t cutting it, chefs across the city are here to rescue you with their incredible pasta dishes. With both indoor and outdoor dining closed, some restaurants are even selling pasta meal kits to go so you can make your restaurant favourites from home. Here are our top picks for Toronto’s best takeout pasta.

Famiglia Baldassare

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Located on Geary St., an out-of-the-way strip home to breweries, galleries and industrial shops, Famiglia Baldassare is one of the city’s best sources for fresh pasta. The shop’s famous Wednesday and Friday lunch menus are currently offered in takeaway form. Available for a two-hour time window and featuring an ever-changing line-up of dishes, Famiglia Baldassare’s previous lunch offerings have included duck cappellacci with butter and reggiano, rigatoni al forno baked with a selection of four cheeses and lasagna bianca, which features layers upon layers of ricotta and spinach.

Il Covo

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Il Covo, a cozy spot in Little Italy for homemade pasta, wine and good conversation, is currently offering a takeout menu as well as a series of home dinner kits. Two pasta dishes are included in the dinner kits. Both serve four people and come with recipe cards so that you can make the perfect pasta at home. The Linguine alle Vongole ($48) features four pounds of British Columbia manila clams, chilli, garlic, parsley, micu fazari olive oil and verrigni pasta. The Pasta all’Amatriciana ($40) includes rigatoni pasta, diced cured pork guanciale, Il Covo’s house tomato sauce, ground pecorino romano cheese and black pepper. Il Covo’s regular takeout menu also offers five pastas with no prep required, ranging from $16 to $23.

Gusto 101

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A King West favourite, Gusto 101 is a staple for Southern Italian fare, including some of Toronto’s best takeout pasta. The popular restaurant is offering customers the choice of ordering directly from the restaurant for pickup or delivery through DoorDash. Five pastas (ranging from $15 to $24) are available for order, including the mouthwatering mafalde ai funghi, which features heaps of portobello, porcini and oyster mushrooms smothered in truffle cream sauce. The takeout menu also features an antipaste section with tasty bites to accompany your noodles, such as crispy charred Brussels sprouts or lamb meatballs in tomato sauce.

Sugo

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As its name suggests, Sugo is a pint-sized Italian-American restaurant that specializes in red sauce pastas. The restaurant offers four classic pastas on its takeout menu ($14-$16) including ricotta gnocchi, rigatoni, spaghetti and spaghetti pomodoro. Sugo also offers a series of rotating special pastas each day. Some past favourites have included the meat and cheese lasagna and the spaghetti burrata with pesto cream. Sugo also sells its homemade sauces, so customers can make their favourite Italian dishes at home.

La Pecora

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La Pecora is currently operating a takeout pasta pop-up out of Twist Gallery at 1100 Queen Street West. The menu changes daily, but always offers fresh, handmade Italian pastas, pizzas and other specials. Recent pasta creations have included pappardelle with oxtail ragu, meat and cheese lasagna, rigatoni in pork ragu and spaghetti with rapini pesto. La Pecora also has six pasta kits available for delivery, ranging in price from $14 to $18. Each pasta kit serves one and includes instructions for cooking it at home.

Immersive Monet exhibit opening in Toronto this summer

By

Ron Johnson

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11:27 am

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A new Monet exhibit is coming to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this summer. The Beyond Monet exhibition will span 50,000 square feet to allow for social distancing and requires viewers to purchase timed tickets in advance.

Beyond Monet will be a fully immersive experience that includes music, scenography, and sound effects.

“This exhibition is beyond anything you’ve seen. It is a truly multi-sensory immersive experience that offers guests a dreamlike romantic journey through Monet’s world of masterpieces,” says Jeffrey Latimer, Producing Partner, JL Entertainment.

The Beyond Monet exhibit joins other immersive art exhibits in the city such as the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit at 1 Yonge St. (temporarily closed due to city-wide COVID-19 measures).

Immersive art exhibits allow the public to explore art outside of a museum environment in a new and interactive way and have become immensely popular.

The Immersive Van Gogh exhibit, which includes both a walk-through and drive-in option, has spread to other parts of North America including Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Nashville. Many museums have been attempting to connect with audiences through virtual exhibits, but immersive experiences bring art to a new level.

One dollar of every Beyond Monet ticket purchased will go towards a Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) Fellowship. The goal of the BIPOC Fellowship is to project the creative voices and vision of the BIPOC community in Canada and abroad.

“We know that the arts can be an important catalyst for change. We are excited that Jeffrey and his team have seen fit to use this Monet immersive art experience to support our desire to a seed a legacy for institutional change in arts and culture sector across Canada,” says BIPOC Fellowship co-founder Karen Carter.

There’s no specific date for the Beyond Monet exhibit opening, but organizers expect to launch this summer (pending pandemic restrictions). Pre-sale tickets can be purchased online.

How Toronto’s country sweethearts found love

By

lindsaylow

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10:00 am

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steven lee olsen shannon ella — Steven Lee Olsen and Shannon Ella and their son © Jessica Steddom

Toronto’s own country sweethearts Steven Lee Olsen and Shannon Ella started their love story in the city before heading to Nashville. Olsen is a Grammy-nominated songwriter and country artist, and Ella hosts a radio show on Bell Media’s Pure Country station. Here’s how country music brought them together.

How they met

Shannon: We met at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards in Hamilton. I was interviewing artists on Radio Row [the press area] and had just done 30 interviews. Steven’s representative came up and asked if I had time to squeeze him in. I agreed, but didn’t know anything about Steven, so I had to research some quick facts before the interview. We started the interview, and the entire time we were both staring at each other, not looking at the camera once and clearly smitten. The cool thing about it is that one day we will be able to show our kids the moment Mom and Dad met.

The first date

Shannon: Our first official date was sometime in September. We went to Urban House in Leslieville for lunch and then just walked around for hours. We ended up sitting on a rock together by Hideaway Park and talked about everything and anything. All of our dates at the beginning were us strolling around Toronto, thrift shopping, exploring different coffee shops, going to parks. That’s where our love story started.

steven lee olsen and shannon ella — Steven Lee Olsen and Shannon Ella © Jessica Steddom

The courtship

Steven: The element of surprise was definitely my friend while doing long distance. Sometimes I got creative and even had food delivered to her from wherever I was in the world. And sometimes I would actually time it perfectly and make a surprise 14-hour drive from Nashville and show up unannounced at her door right after the delivery.

The proposal

Steven: We were going to a Dan + Shay show in Nashville, and I thought about asking her onstage, but I knew that wasn’t her style. So, the next morning, Shannon was just finishing brushing her teeth, and I hugged her and just started telling her how much I loved her, and she turned around, and I had the ring in my hand and was on one knee. We just cried and hugged for hours and then called all our family and friends. Oh yeah, and she said, yes!

The wedding

Shannon: After getting engaged on March 8, 2020, we decided to get married in Hawaii in April. Of course, due to COVID-19 we had to cancel our plans. Neither of us wanted a big wedding, so once May rolled around we couldn’t wait any longer. On May 7 in Nashville, we had an officiant come to our home, and we got married in our backyard. We took videos and put together a little something for our families since they weren’t able to be there, but it was absolutely perfect. Once it’s safe, we will plan another trip to Hawaii and to renew our vows.

The offspring

Steven: We just welcomed our first child on Dec. 11, 2020. His name is Lincoln Paul Olsen.

Balancing careers and marriage

Shannon: We have careers and passions that we set time aside in our days for, but especially now since we had our son, we are way more precious with our free time. We always try to have our mornings together no matter what, waking up, drinking our coffee and catching up, and we always make time for date nights.

The home

Shannon: We currently live in Nashville, but once the borders open up, we plan to split our time between Nashville and Toronto!

Life after retirement

Shannon: We would love to have a home base, a cottage or farm in Canada and then a beach house somewhere and take two big trips each year. I definitely want to have a farm with some horses to ride around on, and Steven will most likely always be writing songs.

Yonge and Lawrence has a new destination for fast Italian fare

By

Jessica Huras

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4:23 pm

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Golosita is bringing a new kind of Italian cuisine to the Yonge and Lawrence neighbourhood. Born in Naples, Italy, owner Davide Napoli spent several years travelling to different countries and working in Italian restaurants before settling in Toronto. He says travelling allowed him to see the various ways Italian cuisine is interpreted around the world.

“I found everybody mainly focused on fine dining, but I’ve always been fascinated by street food,” he says, adding that it’s particularly widespread in the markets of southern Italy. With Golosita, he takes inspiration from these street stalls, which offer well-prepared food in a quick-service format.

When dine-in restrictions are lifted, Golosita has a casual dine-in area, a small hot table for prepared foods, as well as a coffee bar with baked goods. In the meantime, the restaurant is focusing on hearty Italian paninis and pasta to-go. Most items are priced under $15 and the portions are generous.

Paninis are grilled to order and served on bread sourced from a local Italian bakery. The polpette panini is one of their most popular menu items, featuring juicy meatballs made from a combination of veal and beef topped with tomato sauce. Meatballs can also be ordered as a platter sans sandwich. Golosita’s menu also includes soups, salads, indulgent fried pizzas and vegan options such as the Vegano panini with eggplant, sautéed mushrooms and peppers.

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Napoli says it’s important to him to seek out fresh, authentic ingredients wherever possible. The sausages, for example, are prepared the traditional Italian way, which is more than just seasonings — Napoli says Italian sausages have more meat and less fat than other styles.

Food comes out fast, but Napoli aims to stay true to Italian culinary techniques, such as using butter and parmesan cheese to create the creamy sauce for the penne burro e parmigiano. The result is food that tastes more refined than its simple ingredients and serving style would indicate.

“Fast food can be very high-quality,” he says. “It doesn’t have to mean cheap food.”

Golosita is currently open for takeout from Tuesday to Saturday. Check out their website to see the full menu.

Matty Matheson teams up with former Quetzal chefs

By

Jessica Huras

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1:12 pm

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For nearly a month, Canadian star chef (and all-around delight) Matty Matheson has been teasing something food-related and mouth-watering coming to Toronto over social media.

Having finally opened on April 1, we now know that special something is Birria Balam (“balam” meaning jaguar), a pop-up at 147 Spadina Ave. dedicated to what else but birria, a classic meat stew that is specific to Mexico’s Jalisco region.

Matheson’s latest is spearheaded by former Quetzal chefs and couple Julio Guajardo and Kate Chomyshyn. The idea for the spot goes back to a conversation the trio had in 2020 about their love of Mexican food and birria. Its overall concept is inspired by Chomyshyn and Guajardo’s many visits to the latter’s native Mexico, where they also spent time researching cooking traditions.

“In one of their journeys to Baja, they fell in love with the birria tacos made in Tijuana, hoping that one day they would be able to represent that style here,” reads the pop-up’s website.

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This new venture comes after the couple parted ways with their Mexican restaurant Quetzal in 2019, just four months after opening, reportedly due to a falling out with restaurateur Grant van Gameren. The pair were also part of the team behind Kensington Market’s El Rey and vegan Mexican space Rosalinda.

For his part, the ever-joyous Matheson has continued to blaze his own trail even during the pandemic, having opened burger joint Matty’s Patty’s on Queen West in December and pop-up Matty’s Meat and Three last summer in Fort Erie.

Matheson, Guajardo and Chomyshyn worked together previously on an early incarnation of Birria Balam, as vendors at 2019’s MattyFest, Matheson’s own food festival. They dubbed themselves simply “Balam” and offered up none other than tacos.

Birria Balam expands on the original menu with two combo options: one with quesa birria and the other with sauve tacos. Each is paired with consomé for a dunk and more than a few spoonfuls, as well as salsa and your choice of drink, all of which will run you about $24 to $28.

Orders can be placed online by booking your preferred pick-up day and time on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. But be warned: combos are limited per time slot and the pop-up sold out in its first week.

With a branded interior and exterior that are just as colourful as its menu and Matheson himself, you won’t be able to miss Birria Balam and its signature jaguars stamped just about everywhere.

The five design trends that are taking off this spring

By

lindsaylow

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11:30 am

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design trends — Incorporate softer metals for finishes such as light fixtures © North Drive

Michael London was the design director at Gluckstein Design before starting his own firm. He now creates luxury spaces in Toronto’s most prestigious areas.

After a year of the pandemic, are you sick and tired of looking at the same old rooms in your home? This spring, embrace the five top trends in interior design and give your space the refresh it needs.

Light accent colours

Bold colours like burnt orange and navy blue for accent pieces, such as pillows and accessories, are being replaced by softer hues on large furniture items.

In my last project in Yorkville, I used a sofa upholstered in a blush pink fabric, which packs a punch when placed against a neutral backdrop. This spring, designers are using a wide range of soft accent colours this way.

A blush pink sofa packs a punch © Arthur Mola Photography

Softer metals

Metals in hard finishes such as polished brass, chrome and glossy black are being replaced with brushed or matte bronze, brushed or satin nickel and even matte black.

This trend of using softer metal finishes allows designers to use more subtle metal colours that won’t conflict but instead enhance the space, allowing all aspects of the design to come together as a whole.

Retro is back

Terrazzo was the flooring of choice in the ’20s, and it has come and gone throughout the last century, and it’s definitely back this spring.

I love this trend in flooring as these updated versions of terrazzo tile still hold true to its known durability and reliability. However these newer versions include beautiful colours from neutral greys to unique colour combinations.

Another amazing retro look that is back this year is the use of metal inlays. They add an extra dimension to your space and layering is critical in good interior design.

Unique tile patterns

Designers love to push the envelope, and thankfully manufacturers are starting to produce all sorts of materials to allow us to create spaces that are creative and immersive, especially when it comes to tiling.

Tiling in 2021 is no longer about standard sizes. Tiles are being cut into smaller pieces and incorporated into tile designs. Tile designs such as a unique square diamond effect add more depth and dimension to a space. In my last project, I had the slabs cut into trapezoids and added a metal inlay for the floor tile pattern.

Wall panelling with a twist

Traditional elements such as wall panelling are being reimagined. Traditional panelling as a backdrop in one room can be played up to add more layers and give more depth.

Whether you’re dealing with a traditional recessed panel or applied moulding style, wall panelling takes on a whole new dimension when you tweak the proportions and the placement of the panels.

The trick is to maintain symmetry. Try wrapping the panels around the corners of a room. Or use the baseboard to surround the door as a casing. The result is a gorgeous rethink of traditional panelling. This is a trend that will inspire designers at all levels this year.

Fundraiser aims to support Toronto restaurateur after life-saving surgery

By

Jessica Huras

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3:41 pm

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Mohamed Haddis opened Ethiopian House, one of the first places to serve Ethiopian cuisine in Toronto, in 1996. He has worked nearly every day to keep it open since then and, for the restaurant’s 25th anniversary this year, Haddis was anticipating hosting a huge customer appreciation day.

Instead, Ethiopian House has been closed since February, stricken by more than than the COVID-related challenges that have plagued the entire restaurant industry. Last month, Haddis discovered that he needed emergency heart surgery.

The operation, which was performed successfully on March 1, involved replacing one of Haddis’ heart valves and repairing another. But Haddis still has a long fight ahead of him. While he expects to leave the hospital in May, he fears his life may look different when he does. Since he hasn’t been working over the past month, his restaurant has not been making money. With bills mounting and Toronto real estate demanding an already-expensive price tag, fear mounted among his friends and loyal clientele that Haddis might not have a restaurant to return to.

So, Haddis’ friend Manuela Araujo stepped in. She has known Haddis since she was a young girl, with the restauranter frequenting her parents’ small Kensington Market butcher shop for many years.

Now, Araujo has started a GoFundMe in the hopes of saving her friend’s business. The campaign’s goal is to raise $60,000 to keep Ethiopian House, and its owner, afloat. “He is struggling with these times due to having a small business closed because he is the sole owner and works day and night,” Araujo wrote on the fundraiser page, noting that Haddis’ only form of income is his restaurant. Every penny from the fundraiser will be funnelled directly into the restaurant to make ends meet.

The support for Haddis and Ethiopian House has flowed in, and the fundraiser has collected over $50,000 so far. “Ethiopian House provided me with my first taste of Ethiopian food years ago. I owe Mohamed a debt of gratitude for opening my eyes to the gift of flavor he shares,” one contributor wrote. “I wish him a speedy recovery and hope again to visit the restaurant in the future.”

“Mohamed is an absolute gem, amazing host, so warm and friendly. He makes you feel so special as soon as you walk into the restaurant,” another person commented. “He remembers faces and remembers how you like your food prepared. His conversations are so meaningful.”

“More than the money, the well-wishes and the comments are what’s getting me through,” Haddis says from the hospital, where he is recovering. “It’s a testament not only to our business but to the people in our city.”

It will most likely be a couple of months until Haddis can open the doors to Ethiopian House again. “I hope I can get started again in June,” he says, “but we have to see the situation not only with my health but also with COVID.”

Until then, many regulars are anticipating the day that they will be able to revisit Ethiopian House. “If it was up to me, I would be back there right now,” he says. “I’m a social person and I miss being around people. Food is a kind of living art to be celebrated. I want to get back to that. No matter what, I will be planning a customer appreciation day. I am more grateful than ever.”