Dining: 5 Meal-Cations in Toronto

How to escape the cold without leaving the city 

With the frigid temperatures during this very Canadian winter, I know I'm not the only one dreaming of warmer climes. Jet-setting off to a tropical land is pretty tempting these days, but obviously it's not immediately in the cards for a lot of us.

Photo C/o Nikki Tingson @thestylishfoodie

That being said, this weekend I thought I'd share my favourite places to go in Toronto for a little Meal-cation. A dining experience that is truly so much more.

These are the restaurants that I love to escape to during the winter months to feel like I had a mini vacation without leaving my (freezing) city.

Miss Thing's - Hawaii

I absolutely love Hawaii. It's one of those places that I'd bet is on most people's travel lists. If you've never been or if you have and you're missing it....visit Miss Thing's.
 I love the ambience with the painted hibiscus walls and dim lighting. It's perfect for a date night but would be equally awesome with a group of friends.



Try their delicious cocktails (served in fun brass pineapples or fresh coconuts). You must also try their pineapple fried rice- it's out of this world! I love their use of tropical foods like jicama and jackfruit. Definitely a must if you want to escape the cold!

Lena- Argentina

I just love this little spot close to the Eaton Centre. The tiled floors, incredible lighting and showstopper of a bar definitely transport you to a different place instantly.


The cocktails are divine (ask the bartender to make you something with prickly pear juice- OMG, so good!) and so is the Tapas. This is the perfect place to order a few little plates to share with someone...actually, you may not want to share!



Tip: try the Blistered Padron Peppers and the Cod Fritters

Lahore Tikka House - India

Escape to India with a visit to this restaurant on Gerrard St. I literally can taste and smell the spices already. Here you'll find cute little touches like bright coloured walls, an actual rickshaw and string lights...you'll feel like you're dining in a simple road side restaurant in northern India. If you're looking for something a little fancier, sit upstairs - but this is a meal that's best enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere as you eat with your hands anyway.

Order their kabobs, chicken tikka and a mango lassi - you can't go wrong. Oh wait - and the garlic naan!

Chase Fish & Oyster - The Hamptons

This restaurant reminds me of the Hamptons. It's got that easy, beachy vibe but in a very upscale kind of way. I'm a seafood kind of girl so I'll take all the oysters, mussels and shrimp you've got. Luckily, The Chase has them all in abundance.

This experience will be a little on the pricey side but it's seafood and it's that Hampton's vibe. The ambience and decor here will definitely transport you to a summer evening spent at a fancy clam bake on the beach. You'll probably forget it's -30 outside. Probably.

Photo C/o Nikki Tingson @thestylishfoodie

Le Baratin - Paris

Le Baratin is like a little vacation in Paris- for your tastebuds. But forget the Champs Elysees - we're not visiting the tourist district on this trip. More like a little family run spot in Monmartre  or Saint Germain des pres where the locals hang out. Forget the fuss, this is true Parisian charm.
Let Chef Jean Regis pick something to prepare you - some fish en papillote, a beet salad, lamb shank,  mushroom risotto - every dish is a french classic but served up with modern flair. You're going to want to stay awhile.

Stay Warm!

Hope you all find a way to stay warm this weekend in Toronto. No matter when you visit the city, these restaurants are truly some of my favourites to get a little escape from the everyday. I hope you enjoy visiting them if you decide to have a "Meal-cation" of your own.

What are your favourite spots for a little dining escape in the city? Let me know in the comments below...I'd love to visit your faves too.

Travel: A Craft Beer Crawl in Ontario's South-west

Cheers to Craft Beers!

It's always nice to get out and explore what our province has to offer. There's so much going on in Ontario and I'm always amazed at the unique experiences you can find if you just look for them.

Now that November is here, I'm sure - like me, you are looking for fun and different things to do with your family and friends. Planning an exciting weekend experience is a great way to break up the long weeks of winter and gives you something to look forward to.

Photo courtesy of Jenelle Smit @nellescreations

I thought I'd put this post together to share some inspo for a fun activity that you can definitely enjoy- no matter what the weather has in store.

Craft Beer Crawl

I've never been much of a beer drinker, but I do love trying and tasting different foods and drinks. In recent years, I've started to really enjoy learning more about craft beers. So when I was invited to join a team of bloggers and writers to experience some of Ontario's own brews- I knew I wanted to come along.

Before this trip, I really didn't know that Ontario had so many Craft Brew Houses and Cideries to boast of. If you're into beer and food - these are must visit locations and very close to the GTA!

Getting There

When you're planning any kind of wine or beer crawl, it's a good idea to plan your transportation ahead of time. It's way more fun if everyone can partake in the activities and no one is stuck as the designated driver. Luckily, there are some awesome tour services you can take advantage of - Tour the Shore and Ride the Bine. I had a chance to check out both of these operators and had a great time!

Tour the Shore

Tour the Shore specializes in full and half day wine and beer tours in Huron/Lambton County (2.5 hours from Toronto). You can meet the tour in Grand Bend or you can get picked up in Toronto for an additional fee. Tours range from $90- $130 for 3-5 stops/tastings, transportation in a luxury van and dinner at Smackwater Jack's Taphouse. Their signature tours give you the ability to choose the area of Southwest Ontario that you'd like to explore and the stops you want to make.  You can even design a custom wine/beer experience too.

Our guide, Brad (the owner of Tour the Shore) was so informative and entertaining. He really made the experience so much fun!

Ride the Bine

Ride the Bine is a tour company that specializes in wine and beer tours in Norfolk County (2 hours from Toronto). I had never been to Norfolk before and I liked it so much, I was literally back the next weekend! This county has so much to offer and company owners, Amanda and Susan, really give you a taste of that with the unique and charming stops on their tour. Tours are about $95 dollars and include a local pick-up from your accommodations in Norfolk County.

Now that your ride is covered, I'm sharing my favourite stops on our tours, below. Hope these recommendations help you choose where to stop (and sip), when you're planning your own beer crawl.

Photo courtesy of Sik Photography

Where to Sip

Twin Pines Orchards and Cider House
This was my second time to Twin Pines Orchards. I love their Award winning cider, friendly staff and the charm of their gift shop and grounds.

Photo courtesy of Jenelle Smit @nellescreations

This is the perfect place for a little photo op too - their autumn decor was so stunning!

Cow Bell Brewing
This is a must visit. The brand new brew house is always a buzz with visitors. Stay awhile and learn about their sustainable and innovative practices while enjoying something off their full dining menu. Cow Bell is a destination in and of itself and soon will even have an outdoor amphitheatre on site that will accommodate up to 15, 000 people! Summer concert, anyone?

Oh P.S. for all you Harry Potter fans, they even had Butter Beer when I visited, in celebration of a Potter convention that was in town - how fun!

Bad Apple Brewing Company
This was a cute little stop to check out some hard ciders. They also have a full apple orchard with pick your own apples!

Stone House Brewing
A picturesque, little (you guessed it), stone house! This brewery has that family-run feel and we definitely enjoyed tasting their German-style beers. Try the Czech-style Stone House Pilsner.

New Limburg Brewery
A throw back to your elementary days, this brewery is inside what used to be a school. Delicious beers - it may be hard to pick which one you'd like to taste. We went with a flight and there was truly something for everyone.

This is the kind of place where you can sit down and enjoy your drink with some board games. You'll love the chalkboard decor, school desks and chairs which will take you back to your school days.

Hope you enjoy touring Ontario Southwest's Craft Breweries. Have any other favourites? Would love to learn about them in the comments below!

Thank you to my friends at Ontario Southwest  for sponsoring this blog post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Five Great Picnic Spots in the GTA

Best Picnic Spots in the GTA

To all my Toronto friends, this one's for you. It's officially my favourite season- time for the bbqs, picnics and dinners al fresco.

While everyone's still busy at work during the day, it can sometimes get tricky to plan for the summer fun. That's why I wanted to put together this list for you of some of my top picnic spots within the Greater Toronto Area. That way, all you have to do is pick a spot, pick up some take out and let the good times roll.

These are my go-to picks for a little impromptu, hassle-free summer fun.

Trinity Bellwoods (Toronto)

This park is so much fun, no matter the season. It's a great place for a group picnic with a lovely view of the C.N. Tower. This is a happening place to gather with friends, have a few drinks (people drink openly at this park) and get into a game of cards. You will see all kinds of things going on here: musicians getting together for jam sessions, people practicing gymnastics, yoga classes and games of ultimate frisbee.

This is definitely a cool place to hang out with lots of shade and picnic tables too. If you're looking for a fun and lively place to spend the afternoon - this is it. 

Tip: It's also an accessible location if you want to order from Foodora or Uber Eats for the ultimate no stress picnic.

Riverdale Park (Toronto)

This park is on a hill and overlooks the beautiful Toronto skyline. Another gem in our city, there's lots of open space here for kids to run around and play while parents catch some rays. Bring a blanket and a good book to read. While it over looks a baseball diamond and soccer field, this is still a quiet and relaxing place to watch the day go by.

Lake Wilcox (Richmond Hill)

This is a beautiful and newly renovated park right on a lake. There's lots of green space and this is a hot spot for families. People come early, spread their picnic blankets and spend the day enjoying the sun reflecting off the water.

The newly renovated boardwalk is perfect for an evening stroll by the lake and there's also an ice cream truck that makes the rounds. You'll see full picnic feasts going down family style and many people sparking up their barbecues. For those with kids - there's also a playground here.

Tip: If you are heading to Lake Wilcox make sure you stay to watch the sun go down. Dusk is especially stunning here and you will quickly find out how this park got the nickname - Sunset Beach.

Toogood Pond (Unionville)

This park has my heart. I grew up in this neighbourhood so this was my family's go-to spot for after dinner walks. There is a beautiful pond, lots of green space and picnic tables too. You may even see community members fishing here. 

Tip: Toogood Pond is a great place to take a nature walk. Keep your eyes open here- you may spot the local blue heron, a few sunbathing turtles or some rather interesting looking wild ducks. 

Tip: After lunch, venture into old Unionville for some ice-cream or a cold beer. This historic town dates back to the 1800s. Check out the beautiful buildings; the old fire hall or the mill. On Thursday nights you can also expect to hear some live music at the Unionville bandstand. 

Budapest Park (Toronto)

Budapest Park is right along Lake Ontario. The breeze that comes off the water here is just perfection. There's lots of shade under the giant trees as well as ample parking. Bring your own blanket or use the picnic benches that are available. This is a low key park and a great place to spend some quiet time. You will likely find people meditating here in the afternoons.

Tip: If you're driving, stop at St. Lawrence Market (or any market) to pick up a gourmet lunch and then head over to Sunnyside Park

Well that's it. I hope you check out some of my favourite spots to have a little meal and catch some R & R outdoors this summer.

The GTA is full of cute spots to spend time outdoors. What's your favourite place to picnic during the summer season? Would love to hear about it in the comments below.

Recipe: Jarritos Margarita | La Brea Pop-up

La Brea Pop-up with Jarritos 

Last week, I was invited to attend the La Brea pop-up with Jarritos Canada at Kanpai Snack Bar in Toronto. It was a great evening, hanging out with foodie friends and sampling the fusion #Mexicasian food that La Brea will be serving up once a month this summer at their pop-ups.

La Brea Food's  Trevor Lui says that the pop-up concept was inspired by his time on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles - an area of L.A that is known for its diverse, ethnic communities and its food truck culture.

Photography by Jeffrey Chan c/o Jarritos Canada

If you've ever been to L.A. you know that you can get amazing Mexican food as you're so close to the border, but there's also an asian influence in the food in California and Hawaii that comes from their Pacific neighbours.

La Brea's popup menu combines some amazing flavours from both Taiwanese and Mexican cuisines and the result is some seriously delicious eats.

Wonton Tortilla Chips with Edamame Guacamame (guac meets edamame) and Sirachamame
Photography by Jeffrey Chan c/o Jarritos Canada

Photography by Jeffrey Chan c/o Jarritos Canada

Tinga de Pollo Bao Torta
Photography by Jeffrey Chan c/o Jarritos Canada

Pork Belly Tacos
Photography by Jeffrey Chan c/o Jarritos Canada

Jalapeno Pork Wontons with Chicharron Dust (this was my favourite!)
Photography by Jeffrey Chan c/o Jarritos Canada

Chef Lui served us his play on Pozole with what he called his "mom's slow-cooked Taiwanese pork broth" to garnish we had the traditional spices and lime wedge. The surprise? We ate the broth with ramen noodles!
Photography by Jeffrey Chan c/o Jarritos Canada

After the event, I was inspired to cook up some fusion fare at home and Lui's cocktail - a spicy and perfectly tart Jarritos margarita left me wanting more.

Photography by Jeffrey Chan c/o Jarritos Canada

Margaritas on the rocks are one of my favourite mixed drinks - they are simple to make but the key is to use fresh ingredients.

Photography by Jeffrey Chan c/o Jarritos Canada

I loved the addition of a classic Mexican soda - Jarritos. It comes in a variety of fruit flavours like mandarin, guava, grapefruit and lime and is made with real natural cane sugar.

Photography by Jeffrey Chan c/o Jarritos Canada

Recipe: Lime Jarritos Margarita

2 oz tequilla (use 100% blue agave)
1 oz triple sec or an orange flavour liquer
juice of one lime
ice
1/2 bottle of Jarritos lime soda
kosher salt to rim your glass (optional)

1) Use a lime wedge to wet the outside of the rim of your glass and dip it into some kosher salt to create a rim
2) Combine the tequila, triple sec and lime juice and shake it in a cocktail shaker with ice
3) Pour the drink into a glass about 3/4 of the way and top it up with Jarritos lime soda
4) Garnish with a lime wheel and some ice cubes

Enjoy and relax on your balcony or patio. We're waiting for you, summer!



Thanks so much to my friends at Branding and Buzzing, Jarritos Canada for sponsoring this post. As always, all views and opinions are my own.