Toronto Popcorn Company

Company: Toronto Popcorn Company
Address: 147 Baldwin St.
Phone: 416-834-4880
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 11 AM - 7 PM
Website: www.torontopopcorncompany.com

Interior

Menu

Review

My Order: Small Blueberry, $4

I saw a picture someone posted on Facebook of the popcorn bag they picked up from the Toronto Popcorn Company. My interest was piqued and I started to see a buzz about this store online. Essentially, it's a specialty shop dedicated to popcorn. They have a wide range of flavours, including: Cheesy BBQ, Honey Mustard, Buffalo Kick, and more! My favourite type of popcorn from them are their candied flavoured ones. Some candied flavours included are: Banana, Toffee, Black Cherry and more! I got myself a small pack of Blueberry popcorn and my friend picked up the Lemon one when we were there.

I honestly think this is a cute place to pick up a surprise snack for a friend or for yourself. They have samples available so you could try before you buy. Their prices are wallet-friendly as well. It's my favourite specialty store within Kensington Market so far and I high recommend it!

[Event + Giveaway] Gluten Free Garage

"Inspired by her daughter Lily, 8, who was diagnosed with Celiac disease in 2009, Gluten Free Garage (GFG) founder RonniLyn Pustil created the event to give people a taste of gluten-free options in Toronto by bringing over 60 artisanal vendors offering gluten-free products under one roof for one day. The idea behind GFG is to promote and provide better access to top-quality local gluten-free food, create awareness about celiac disease, and prove that gluten-free fare can be super tasty. 

Marking its fourth consecutive year, GFG showcases the city’s best in gluten-free eats and lifestyle, including food trucks, guest speakers and for the first time, beer and cider tasting. This year’s guest speakers include North America’s leading gluten-free expert and author, Kathy Smart (Gluten-Free Belly Be Gone) Bunner’s Bake Shop co-owner Ashley Wittig and holistic culinary nutritionist Marni Wasserman."

I've never attended Gluten Free Garage before, so I'm looking forward to it this year! Not only that, but I am hosting a giveaway for one of my followers to win a pair of tickets!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you attended Gluten Free Garage before? If so, what was your favourite part? If you are going this year, what are you looking forward to?

[Launch] Zomato

If you haven't heard already, Zomato has recently launched in Toronto! Zomato is similar to Yelp, which is an online and mobile restaurant search and discovery service. So far, they have details of over 11,000 restaurants in the GTA, including menus, photos, reviews, and more! They allow for users to even upload photos from their Instagram accounts! (Cause who hasn't taken a food photo on Instagram at least once?).

Here are some interesting facts about Zomato!:

• Zomato employs over 800 people across 17 countries.  
• Zomato announced, last year, a US $37 million round of funding from Sequoia Capital and existing investors Info Edge. This has taken Zomato’s total funding to over USD 53 million.  
• Available across web and mobile, Zomato sees over 30 million visits across its web and mobile platforms every month. Traffic has grown by over 300% in the past year. More than half of Zomato’s traffic is seen on its mobile apps – testimony to the fact that local search is moving to mobile very fast. 
• Zomato has acquired 4 companies globally within a span of 3 months. New Zealand-based restaurant search service MenuMania became a part of Zomato in July 2014. Lunchtime.cz and Obedovat.sk, the Czech Republic’s and Slovakia's most popular restaurant guides respectively, became a part of Zomato on August, 22nd 2014. Zomato acquired Gastronauci, the leading restaurant search service in Poland in September, 2014.

You can check out the website at www.zomato.com and/or download the app! I already have an account on Zomato, which you can follow me at if you wish: www.zomato.com/torontocafefood

Le Neuf Cafe

Cafe: Le Neuf Cafe
Address: 9 Clarence Square
Phone: 647-351-6855
Store Hours: Mon 5 PM - 11 PM, Tues-Fri 7:30 AM - 11 PM, Sat 8 AM - 11 PM, Sun 8 AM - 5 PM
Website: www.leneufcafe.com

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: No
Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Coffee beans from Rufino

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Vegan and vegetarian only
- Offers soup and quiche
- Freshly baked goods everyday

Review

My Order: Iced Cappuccino, $3.75

I tried out Le Neuf Cafe this summer when Paypal was promoting their mobile app. They had a coffee week where you could receive $5 off from a bunch of different cafes if you used the app. Le Neuf Cafe is a Parisian cafe that is perfect for any brunch date. All the employees there speak French, to ensure that you receive a great Parisian experience (and it's also a great place for bilinguals to work at!).

Overall, I really like the concept of Le Neuf Cafe because I don't know of many Parisian/French cafes in Toronto. It's such a cute place to catch up with girlfriends or sit down on the patio (during the summer) for a lunch break.

[Event] Delicious Food Show 2014

Show: Delicious Food Show

Location: Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place

Dates: October 17-19, 2014

Website: www.deliciousfoodshow.com

I was able to attend the Delicious Food Show for the first time this year. There were over 200 food exhibitors that sold anything from sauces to gourmet popcorn. Sadly I don't cook, so I didn't really pick up on the awesome deals that were there! I mainly piled up on my samples and bought myself some cake pops from Olivia's Cake Pops (perfect for the kid in you!).

A couple of the shows I sat down and watched on the Food Network Celebrity Stage were Nadia G. and the Sandwich Smackdown. I never heard of Nadia G. before this expo, but I think she is one hilarious lady! She has her own cooking show called Bitchin' Kitchen. She makes you laugh with her stories and personality, along with teaching you how to cook! (Does her voice remind anyone else of an Italian mobster? Haha). The Sandwich Smackdown had a few chefs compete against on who could make the best sandwich within 15 minutes. The audience got to sample the sandwiches that the chefs made as well. I also sat down for a cheese tasting seminar, where I got to sample 6 different types of Canadian cheeses. I actually started appreciating cheese much more after that seminar!

Overall, I took my time during the event (spent a whooping four and a half hours there by myself) to fully enjoy the show. I definitely think it's a show to drop by if you whole-heartedly love to cook or eat food. The show will give you a better appreciation for all the work put into creating meals because when I left, I thought "I need to start cooking!".

[Event + Giveaway] The National Women's Show 2014 + Promo Code

Where does one go for all things girl-related? The National Women's Show, of course! This November 7-9, The National Women's Show will be at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre with over 450 exhibits for you to shop til you drop! Catered specifically to us girls, the show includes: Festival of Fashion, Beauty and Wellness, Travel and Adventure, World of Taste, Business and Career Centre, and finally House, Home and Design. There is also the Toronto Firefighters Fashion Shows in support of The Princess Margaret Hospital. You can expect Calvin Klein Jeans and Underwear to be modelled, wink wink.

This show is for you to bring your friends and family to have some fun! There is something for everyone! I am personally excited to see what they have for the World of Taste (after all, I am a food blogger!). I am hope there will be a lot of yummy exhibitors!

Are you interested in attending? I have a promo code available for my lovely followers to get $3 off their tickets ($15 regular admission)! The promo code is tocafe and can only be redeemed by online purchase.

Not only do I have the promo code up and running, but I also have a giveaway! Two of my followers will have the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the show! The giveaway ends October 30th at 12 AM EST.

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Aroma Espresso Bar (Queen St. W)

Cafe: Aroma Espresso Bar
Address: 535 Queen St. W
Phone: 416-603-2727
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM - 9 PM, Sat 8:30 AM - 9 PM, Sun 9 AM - 9 PM
Website: www.aroma.ca

Study Appropriate?: Yes
Wi-Fi?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all

View full menu here: www.aroma.ca/menu/download-our-menu

Review

By now, everyone should be familiar with Aroma Espresso Bar. This post will serve as another cafe marker on the imaginary Toronto cafe map I have going on (which is a great idea I might put together one day). However, as you may know, I like to try out new food every time I enter Aroma. One of my favourite items that I discovered at their Queen St. West location was their Italian Cheese Croissant. I highly recommend it because I actually think it's sorta better than their sandwiches! The cheese and vegetables in the slightly toasted croissant made a delicious combination.

Although this is not quite my favourite location (the undone floors makes it look unfinished), it's a convenient location for everyone along the Queen/Bathurst and Queen/Spadina areas.

Thank you Aroma Espresso Bar for providing coupons used for this review!

Encore Catering

Company: Encore Catering
Address: 5000 Dufferin St.
Phone: 416-661-4460
Website: www.encorecatering.com

Menu

Review

I was able to experience the luxury of Encore Catering during their open house. Encore Catering is a family-run business that was established in 1979. Their passion for fine culinary skills and catering really shone through during this fabulous event. Media and VIPs had the opportunity to mingle and try an amazing range of dishes that showcased the different types of food Encore Catering offers.

I got to try a few cocktails from barchef toronto, a company that provides the ultimate cocktail experience. A couple of my favourites were their Basil Daiquiri and Sailor's Mojito! I admit, if I didn't have to drive home that day I would've tried the entire drink menu! They make each cocktail unique to its own. For example, the Rocket contains pomegranate seeds!

My favourite food stations had to be the Tapas and Philly Cheese stations. They had food items that I generally would not have on a daily basis nor at restaurants! All the food was made fresh on the spot and created beautifully with detail. The desserts they had were plentiful as well! I wish I took the opportunity to try every single sweet but by that time, I was happily stuffed with everything else.

Overall, Encore Catering has a great selection of food that would be perfect for catering. They do all sorts of events, from weddings to small corporate gatherings. If you would like more details on their catering, please check out their website!

Boneyard Grill (Toronto)

Restaurant: Boneyard Grill
Address: 1554 Avenue Rd.
Phone: 416-349-0849
Store Hours: Sun-Thurs 11:30 AM - 9 PM, Fri-Sat 11:30 AM - 10 PM
Website: www.boneyardgrill.com

Interior

Menu

See full menu here: www.boneyardgrill.com/dine-in-menu/

Review

My friend and I got the pleasure of attending the grand opening of Boneyard Grill's Toronto location near Lawrence station. The interior setup is much like a family diner, unlike most BBQ restaurants I have been to. We got to try an array of their popular dishes, notable their ribs and coconut shrimps! I have to admit, I don't remember having ribs so delicious and tender before! The meat simply melted off the bones! My friend and I kept piling our plates with them! The pulled pork sliders and chicken wings were tasty as well, among their other menu items. Honestly, none of the food I tried disappointed me.

If Boneyard Grill opened late, I think it would be a perfect place to go to after some late-night partying. It's also a good family dinner if everyone is craving for some delicious BBQ! If you aren't in the midtown area, they have their original location up in Thornhill.

Cafe Diplomatico

Restaurant: Cafe Diplomatico
Address: 594 College St.
Phone: 416-534-4637
Store Hours: Sun-Thurs 8 AM - 1 AM, Fri-Sat 8 AM - 2 AM
Website: www.cafediplomatico.ca

Exterior

Menu

Review

My Order: Tuna Melt, $6.50

When the weather was warmer awhile back (oh how long ago that was!), my friend and I wanted to find a nice patio to eat out on. We trekked along College St. to see if there were anything that tickled our fancy. We saw Cafe Diplomatico and their patio looked pretty decent. I wanted to simply check out the menu to see if there was anything that I would like to try. When we went in to pick up the menu, the owner (or at least I think he was), started ushering us in. He assured us that the food was going to be fantastic and there was no reason to hesitate. My friend and I were walking for quite some time now and the food seemed decent. So in we went!

I wasn't craving pizza, so I tried out their Tuna Melt sandwich. It was pretty tasty. My friend enjoyed his medium pizza and beer. He said that the beer was cheaper than in most restaurants. A pitcher of Bone Shaker was only $20, comparatively to $22-23 at most restaurants.

Overall, I had a pleasant time at Cafe Diplomatico. It was full by the time we were all settled in, probably because of the interaction the owner had with everyone passing by on the street! Would I come back? I think once is enough for me, but it's a nice patio along College if you are looking for one.
 

Juliette & Chocolat

Cafe: Juliette & Chocolat

Address: 1626 Ste-Catherine Quest

Phone: 514-508-4800

Store Hours: Sun-Thurs 11 AM - 11 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM - 12 AM

Website: www.julietteetchocolat.com

Interior

Review

My Order: The Chocolate Medley, $7.95

Juliette & Chocolat was one of the restaurants I wanted to visit for a long time. On my fourth Montreal trip, I finally got the chance to go to one of their many locations. I had super high expectations for Juliette & Chocolat because I only heard good things about it. However, I ended up ordering something that greatly disappointed me. I expected to get a giant brownie with lots of ice cream for The Chocolate Medley. I expected a bigger platter, something similar to Demetres. It was good, though not what I expected for the price.

The space overall is very spacious and can hold many customers. It's a good place for a get-together or a first date. I heard their other menu items are pretty tasty though. If I come back, I know I will definitely order something else.