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.

Dining: Pure Spirits Oyster Bar

Oysters at Pure Spirits

Pure Spirits Oyster Bar is a beautiful restaurant in Toronto's Distillery District. With incredible natural light, refurbished wood furniture, exposed brick walls and an outdoor patio, Pure Spirits is a great place to visit on a summer evening in the city.

Distillery District

If you're looking for a little escape from the ordinary in Toronto, the Distillery District is perfect. This quaint little neighbourhood is the perfect place for an evening stroll. I love wandering around and admiring the beautiful cobblestone paths, peeking into an art gallery and checking out some antique finds in the vintage stores.

Whether you grab a coffee at Balzac's, enjoy some table-side guacamole at El Catrin or do a little window shopping at a cute boutique like Blossom Lounge, there is definitely something for everyone. 

The Distillery is also home to some of Toronto's famous street art installations, so it is an amazing place to grab that photo opportunity. 

Pure Spirits

This restaurant is such a beautiful place to spend an evening. I'd recommend pulling up a stool at the bar to learn about their fresh oysters and get an amazing view of the chefs shucking the day's catch. I loved trying a variety of oysters and my favourites are from PEI.

If you've never tried an oyster before, this is the place to do it. You'll find all the fixings: vinegar dressings, lemon, hot sauce and freshly grated horseradish.

Though if you're new to oysters, give yourself time to get into them. I'd recommend you share an order with someone before you dive right in. Add your favourite condiments - I love a bit of tabasco and some lemon juice- and slurp them back!

When I tried my first oyster, I was in Croatia on vacation. Needless to say, it was a pretty memorable experience and I'm glad I had my camera on me. 

You can watch the video of my experience here:

If oysters aren't your thing, don't worry - there's lots more on the menu to discover. While seafood is clearly their specialty, you can also try their fries, pastas or chicken dishes. All in all, Pure Spirits has the makings for a great date night or girl's night out.

Do you have any favourite oyster bars in Toronto? I'd love to check them out! Leave me a comment or connect with me on Instagram @angeliesood

Dining: Calii Love

California Dreaming

Sometimes, when you're just dying to get out of town, a little food escape is just what the doctor ordered. I love visiting restaurants in Toronto that give me the feeling of travelling and I feel so lucky that the city has so much to offer.

We truly have such an amazing food scene and many restaurants hit the nail right on the head when it comes to capturing the look and feel of a certain concept.

Case and point: Calii Love. It's so exciting for a food lover like me to find a great Poke place in Toronto, since it's not widely available here.

Do the Hokie Poke

On my last trip to California, my cousin took me out for Poke. It's essentially a deconstructed sushi roll in a bowl: fresh raw fish, seaweed, rice, pickled ginger and all the other fixings.

In short- it's delicious. I also remember eating this when I visited Maui and found that both in California and Hawaii a great deal of people are very health conscious.

That is just fine with me, since it was super easy to eat clean, healthy foods while visiting. Also, I found that so many people who live there are focused on living a holistic, simple life. They are all about whole foods and natural products.

If you're trying to eat clean, California delivers and Poke is always a great option.

Ambience

Another thing that I think is so special about California, is the vibe....and Calii Love on King St has nailed it.

A bright, airy space...photogenic furniture and wall decor, as well as a few special California touches: each menu item is named after a feeling and when you choose what you'll have, they write it on a placemat along with your name. Ie. "Angelie is feeling Hopeful".

The Food

I loved the Poke bowls at Calii Love. The fish was fresh and the toppings on my "Hopeful" bowl were just right. 

My bowl had salmon, wakame, ginger, black rice, avocado, onion, tomatoes and jalapeno. You can also build your own bowl which means you can choose from a long bar of delicious toppings.

This was the perfect place to enjoy a lunch with a friend and I had the pleasure of dining with my friend, Irene (@thespicyolive1). It was a lovely afternoon and I know I will definitely go back to have another bowl. 

I'd also love to try their smoothies and one of my favourites: golden milk!

Have you been to Calii Love? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.