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Happy New Year! How hard was it to go back to work after having that week long vacation? It's never enough when it comes to having free time during the holidays to spend time with friends and family, but c'est la vie, right? It's still a bit cold to be out and about, so hosting a Game Night (board night, sports games, you name it) is a fun alternative. What’s our favourite game? Scrabble! The great thing about entertaining with Mexican food is that the ingredients are easily accessible and directions are simple for favourites like tacos, nachos - the typical recipes everyone enjoys. All you need are some fresh veggies, tortillas, cheese and salsa. You'll see everything you need in the "Mexican aisle," as it's full of  Old El Paso products . We've shared those classic recipes with you in our last posts:  Shrimp & Steak Fajitas Tortilla bowls This time, we went off the beaten path for another crowd-pleaser in addition to the steak tacos and nachos th...

Let's be honest. There's no shortage when it comes to brunch spots in the city - the only problem is... the lines, especially at places that do not take reservations. Brassaii is known more for nightlife - dinner, cocktails, bottle service and music but they actually have great brunch selections during the day. Plus, they take reservations! The entrance to the King West restaurant is very pretty with cobblestone and plants surrounding patio seatings. The interior is also very spacious. The kitchen is open and is at the back of the restaurant. We went on a Saturday afternoon and was surprised for the place to be so empty. Maybe most brunch diners visit during their famous "Le Brunch" on Sundays? Nonetheless, with all the space inside it seemed like a great place for big groups. We started with a mimosa and a cold-pressed juice. The good news is that the brunch menu is simple, which I prefer to a crowded menu; I got the chicken and waffles and my friend chose the Omele...

We all know that there's a LOT of options when it comes to pizza in Toronto. We haven't even come close to trying all of them as there's a new pizza shop popping up every few months! There are obviously differences - gourmet, brick oven, fast food, DIY, gluten-free, thin/thick crust, etc. the list is endless. When it comes to Pi Co . it's the perfect compromise in between all of that. It's a custom pizza that's authentic and cooked in minutes in a brick oven. The best part is that it's fast! Pi Co. offers the classic, oh-so-good Margherita pizza (above). The rest if up to you - choose the dough, sauce, cheese and toppings (unlimited) and then wait 90 seconds while it's cooked. Voila! The only disappointment I have is that it's in Yorkville, a little out of the way for Clara and I as we're in the entertainment district. We're selfish when it comes to good food and would like them all to be walking distance from us ;)     On my last visit, I cr...

Toronto is made of many unique neighbourhoods, each with their own history, culture - not to mention restaurants and bars. It wasn't until Bria's Food Nook Tour that I actually spent an entire Saturday afternoon in Roncesvalles, where she took us to 5 shops and taught us all about the area.   I've been on a couple of other tours in Toronto and totally enjoy discovering hidden gems and getting a bite of some of the neighbourhood's best spots. Exploring on your own or with friends can be just as fun, but I find it really interesting to have a guide, especially if they're a local - like Bria! Her tours are about 1.5 to 2 hours long and she takes an intimate group of up to 10 people to 5 shops, ranging from specialty shops, restaurants, markets, you name it! At each place, you get to sample their products (yum). She's lovely and super knowledgable about the neighbourhood so ask her for a recommendation on a dinner spot if you're planning to stay in the area afte...

We spent one Monday evening at Ki Modern Japanese + Bar in Brookfield Place for dinner and drinks. Located in the heart of the financial district, we weren't surprised to see so many people in suits. The restaurant is quite modern (as it says in its name) and chic and has that downtown bustle and liveliness, even on a weeknight. Not to spoil our experience in the first paragraph, but we're still thinking about the Dassai Sake we had with the Sake Sommelier! We've been to many Japanese restaurants and izakaya's in the city but this is the first time that we've actually meet a Safe Sommelier. Michael Tremblay is a National Sake Sommelier and has created the largest sake list in Canada at Ki Modern Japanese. He's taught us a lot about the different sake and even took us through a tasting, which we highly recommend. The sake we tried was the Dassai '50' Junmai Daiginjo - super clean and smooth with a hint of fruits. A lot of places you can taste wine and w...

We find Baldwin Village to be a street in Toronto that is ever growing. You'll never know what to expect in terms of businesses that will pop up! Not to mention it's diverse food culture including gelato, ramen, Italian, Filipino food and so much more. It doesn't surprise us at all that Light Cafe decided to take residence on Baldwin.  I have traveled quite extensively through Asia and can say with confidence that Light Cafe looks exactly like a cafe you would find in Taiwan. Not only is it spacious inside, I love the minimalist decor inside which provides a calming atmosphere. I could see myself sitting at the cafe for hours (within reason haha) and getting some work done.  The first thing that we noticed and I'm sure many of you will as well - is the living wall. I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant where there was a living wall but I've always wanted one of my own. With the natural sunlight coming in with the wall, it's the perfect place to f...

With everyone’s busy schedules, we find that it’s getting harder to schedule time with family and friends. Especially with the holidays coming up, the weekends are filling up fast with holiday parties and get-togethers.   We’ve been trying to spend quality time with everyone and what better way to do that than cooking and eat together?  One of our go-to for nights like these is Mexican food! Bring on the tacos and fajitas, right? Old El Paso ’s dinner kits includes shells, seasoning and easy instructions so we used the Hard & Soft Taco Dinner Kit as well as the Restaurante Steak Carne Asada Kit for steak fajitas (our fave). Steak Fajitas: 1. In a large pan on medium to high heat cook sliced red onions and red & green peppers. 2. Add the sliced beef (we used a sirloin cut), seasoning mix and a few scoops of water. 3. Once the beef is cooked to your liking, remove from heat. 4. Add cheese, hot sauce, guacamole, corn salad, sour cream and whatever your heart desires...