A Toronto Marathon (not the running kind)

I just returned home after spending 12 days in Toronto visiting family and friends.  What a whirlwind of a trip.  While there was no running involved, I felt like I just completed a marathon.  I was downtown, uptown, east, west, north, south and in suburbia multiple times in 12 days.  I saw babies, dogs, friends, (no foes), doctors, and family.  Despite a sore back from all the driving, I had a blast and can’t express how much fun I had being back in the city.

A few shots:

The Ultimate Chicken Soup with Matzoh Balls

Baby Visit #1

A little retail therapy at Jacaranda Tree & Co on Mount Pleasant- A favourite home decor and accessories store

Brunch at Celestin Restaurant on Mount Pleasant

Baking up a storm for a Countlan Magazine Issue 04 photo shoot.  I tried one of Hedy Goldsmiths’ recipes from her new book, Baking Out loud– Highly recommend this one if you like fun, American-style, comfort food desserts.

Brunch again- this time at Emma’s Country Kitchen on St. Clair Avenue West.  I had the Red Velvet pancakes and my mom had the French toast.  We decided we liked the French toast better.

Multiple refills at David’s Tea.  I must have gone there at least five times in 12 days. Yikes! Where is my loyalty card?

I learned about a new cookbook (from the Mile End Deli) from my Aunt which is now on my ballooning Amazon wishlist.

I completed not one, but three photo shoots for Countlan Magazine!  Here is a picture snapped at the first one.  Good work team + helpers.

Hey Meatball- Meatballs are becoming very popular around the world. I see these meatball only restaurants popping up everywhere.  I tried Hey Meatball in Toronto on College Street.  Very nice vegan balls with risotto.

Monocle is my favourite magazine in the entire world.  They opened a shop late last year in Toronto, so it was rather fitting I pay a visit while I was in the neighbourhood.

As part of my marriage proposal, my husband sent me on a scavenger hunt around the city- Lit Espresso bar was one of my stops where I had to learn how to make a Cortado before I could get my next clue.  Here is a stop in at Lit for a pick me up.

Baby visit #2

Delicious loaves of challah staring at me over Passover.

Finally, a look at the new Aroma Espresso Bar that opened at Bayview Village.   Nice interiors don’t you think?

And that my friends, is what you call a marathon- Believe it or not, this is only 1/4 of my trip.  Of course I do not want to bore you.

Up next. I am off to Munich and the Austrian Alps this weekend for a bit of R&R.  Now you know why.

Until next week.

Delica: A Spot For Lunch

Lunch- the eternal question.  Where should I go for lunch?

I am in Toronto for 10 days visiting friends and family.  I tried to keep the appointments to a minimum and maximize the hangout time, but it is impossible to travel home without a few.  Last week, I managed to squeeze in a visit to Delica Kitchen at Yonge and St. Claire after a doctor’s appointment.

Devin Connell, the owner of Delica and the author of the Two Dishes cookbook, puts on a perfect lunch fare at her cafe.

While Delica is not a new cafe in the city, it is a great one to jot down if you find yourself in the area and are looking for a cute, soup/sandwich/coffee/baked goods type of place.

The decor is simple, yet classic and very welcoming.  The cafe’s all white walls are adorned with wood-framed sayings written in a nice black stencil.s and chalk boards scribbled with the cafe’s daily menu and beverages.   The long wood counter takes up the entire length of the space and showcases Delica’s yummy sandwiches, soups, baked goods and bags of popcorn.

I opted for the smoked salmon sandwich with lemon, capers, pickled red onion and herb goat cheese  on an Ace’s Bakery roll while I sat at a wall-anchored table made out of a white serving tray.

Another interesting little fact about Delica: The Ace’s connection is a bit more familiar than other establishments.  Devin is the daughter of the husband and wife team who created Ace Bakery.  Lucky to have a solid baking supplier on your team- that’s for sure.

Delica 1440 Yonge Street, Toronto

Okay…Maybe One More Fashion Post :)

Have I mentioned, that I have developed a small love affair with the Copenhagen fashion scene?  By small, I mean slightly obsessed. I will try to find the words to describe this layered look.  I thought I was enthralled with the Hong Kong was a fashion scene (I still love looking at the eclectic display of outfits in the city), however, since moving to Copenhagen, I am completely at one with the fashion. Meaning, I have discovered a city that wholeheartedly reflects my style, and a fashion aesthetic whose style I want to sport.

When I think of the fashion in Copenhagen, I think of pieces that incorporate a lot of mixed materials and embellishments  Fur with leather with wool, wool with ski jacket material, sequins, spikes, – oh yeah, and lots of fur. It is very popular to layer a fur vest over a leather jacket.

I guess because the weather is so changeable, layering is popular.  Lots of large wool or patterned scarves, over jackets, capes and shalls and vests over sweaters and jackets.  When the wind blows people bust out their leggings (myself included) to wear over leg warmers.  And no outfit is complete without a pair of trendy sneakers- these are a must.  You do not see many women teeter-tottering around in heels.

The silhouettes are tailored yet relaxed. Nothing is skin tight.  Often minimal, and a-line- particularly the outer-wear, dresses and sweaters.

As spring fashion is ushered onto store shelves, I am surprised by the bright colours for a people who are labeled as only wearing grey, black and white.

01 David Andersen

02 DAY Birger et Mikkelsen

03 Designers Remix Charlotte Eskildsen

04 Elise Gug

05 Moss Copenhagen

06 Malene Birger

07 Bruuns Bazaar

This was just meant to be a small overview of some of the brands that have captivated my attention, but in reality the list is much longer.  Copenhagen is a true boutique city.  There are small independent designers and multi-brand boutiques throughout the city.  Not to mention a ton of independent jewelry and accessory designers on top of that.

It is a pleasure to see so much creativity and a robust group of fashion brands that are beloved and supported on both a local level (Copenhagen Fashion Week is quite the scene) and on an international level.  This year’s fashion week reported an increase in foreign buyers interested in carrying Danish fashion brands.  Who knows, maybe you will start to see some of these brands in your city sooner or later.

& Other Stories

I do not often blog about fashion, as it is not my area of expertise or passion.  Don’t get me wrong, I like clothes, I like dressing up, I like acquiring statement pieces that become long lasting staples in a wardrobe, but I just don’t consider myself “fashionable” or a trend follower.  I wear what I wear and I will leave it at that.

Every now and then, I will write about something fashion related (it’s been a while!) but today, it’s time to dust off the old fashion commentary and blog about a new addition to the H&M moniker: & Other Stories.

Photo Sources: & Other Stories

& Other Stories launched in London and I would peg it as a more grown up, more expensive, classier/sophisticated version of H&M.  The difference between & Other Stories and let’s say, COS (H&M’s other “grown up” brand) is not entirely clear except that & Other Stories curates pieces from non H &M brands and COS does not.  COS has a men and women’s line & Other Stories is only women’s fashion.  COS has terrific fashionable business casual ware but the style is very androgynous. & Other Stories looks like it retains the flirty and feminine side of H&M that is thrown out the window in COS.   I love COS, but there is a time and place for boxy, a-line cuts and hip hugging, fitted clothes.

Have you check out & Other Stories yet?  What do you think? Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?

The Hotel That Got Away

When I travel, hotel selection is just as important as where I am going to eat and the city I am visiting.  I like hotel design and even though I barely spend time in a room, I want to know that I get to come back to an interesting space to sleep.

Last year on my honeymoon, I covered a lot of hotel on my 17 day driving trip. One of the hotels that I was looking forward to staying at was Mama Shelter in Marseille, France.

Unfortunately due to a change in plans we re-routed our driving trip and ended up skipping Marseille all together.  This hotel would be my only design-crazy hotel on the list.

I thought Mama Shelter Marseille would be fun to stay at and I was particularly looking forward to exploring its wacky, wonderful, and playful interior design by Phillipe Stark.  I chalked off Mama Shelter Marseille as the hotel that got away.

The rest of our hotels were tame in design in comparison to Mama Shelter in order to reflect the environment of our drive through Provence and the Languedoc region. I could not bring myself to book a hotel that looked like a night club in the countryside, opting for spots were more rustic and charming instead.

Photo Source: Mama Shelter Marseille

Today I received an email and learned that the Mama Shelter empire is expanding beyond Paris and Marseille.  It now includes two new cities: Istanbul (March 15th) and Lyon (March 20th).

Photo Source: Mama Shelter Istanbul

How exciting!  I am secretly planning a trip to Istanbul this year. I don’t know when, I don’t know why- no wait, I know why- and I don’t know how, but sometime before 2013, I think Istanbul and I should have a rendez-vous of food, design and travel. Maybe I will consider revisiting my hotel that got away!

Have you been to Istanbul? Any travel recommendations or stories to share?