Letterpress in Toronto: I found it!

Why is it so hard to find letterpress in the city if you are looking for something bespoke and not mass market? 

Just when I was giving up hope on finding letterpress resources in Toronto for invitations and personal stationery, I found Pantry Press Inc hiding in a stable in the west end of the city.  The two designers who run Pantry Press Inc. bring over 15 years of letterpress experience and run the whole operation at home by appointment only!  Now I have not seen these products in the flesh but I am hoping they are a hidden gem and produce great work.  Toronto is in desperate need of creativity when it comes to paper products and invitations.  So here is a new resource to support.

Check out their work on their website (link above) or on their blog here.

via etsy

poster via etsy

midnight wedding snack: buddha dog

There were a lot of things that I loved about the wedding I attended last weekend at Hart House (University of Toronto campus).  This post is dedicated to the most creative thing that I saw grace the tables just before midnight: Buddha Dog.  The bride and groom treated guests to make your own hotdogs for a late evening snack and what better hotdogs to select than Buddha Dog.  They are all natural, fresh and locally produced unlike the usual street meat. 

via collingwood-bluemountain

 Buddha Dog is a Prince Edward County born hot dog shop that was created to promote all things local.  From the site, their mission was to “to bring together the best local suppliers – Farmers, Dairies, Bakers, Butchers, Chefs, etc – to make exceptional hotdogs and let it represent the best of their region and culinary tradition.”  From Prince Edward County, they expanded to Toronto and are taking taste buds by storm.   I first visited Buddha Dog last year at their Picton, Ontario depot and had a very tasty dog with some flavour bursting condiments/sauces.  I was really surprised to see Buddha Dog being rolled out at a wedding but hey, why not get creative and expose + treat your guests to your favourite local, small business.  It’s great for business and great for guests alike.  Truly win-win for brand exposure.  Great idea guys!

via acqtaste

The Wedding Cake Shoppe

Toronto’s only wedding cake shop, according to the website, looks like it has potential. Potential is an understatement if you see how talented the two girls are behind the Wedding Cake Shoppe which opened in the Spring of 2009. 

via blogto.com

Stacked with credentials (George Brown, Bonnie Gordon), full of imagination and backed by talent, sisters Cindy and Sarah Coelho are fabulous wedding cake designers in the city. 

via the wedding cake shoppe

 It was my mother who alerted me to this company when she went for dinner at a restaurant in the College and Ossington street area last week. She ran right home to tell me that she passed the most beautiful storefront that caught her attention and when she took a closer look figured out it was a topic right up my alley to blog about.  I can’t wait to pay them a visit in the next two weeks to try the goods for myself.  Best of luck in the city girls with your new venture.

via blogto.com

  I think these three shots show how diverse their decorating talent is:

via wedding cake shoppe

via wedding cake shoppe

via the wedding cake shoppe

Cupcake Crawl in Toronto July 4

FYI all you cupcake enthusiasts.

There is a cupcake crawl taking place tomorrow in Toronto starting in Leslieville at 12:30pm going until 5pm and then on to Sneeky Dee’s on College.

For more information, you can get details on Yelp.ca here or on Sweet Me Up here.

Moroco- Wins three “BEST” awards in my books

I had the chance to go for afternoon tea at MoRoCo in Toronto (99 Yorkville Avenue) across the street from the newly located, Teatro Verde,  a couple weekends ago. I have not one complaint or criticism about this place and for me, that says a lot.  I pride myself on being a bit of a foodie and a bit of a pastry snob.  I know good pastry  when I taste one and believe me,  I have tasted a lot of good and a lot of lousy over my travels and adventures in afternoon tea!

 In fact, MoRoCo wins several “BEST” awards from me including the following:

1. BEST macaron in Toronto.  Hands down, they got it right.  Their only rival in the city as far as I am concerned is Patachou (where I purchased the maracons for a wedding I planned in March).  What is great is that in the front of MoRoCo the restaurant, they have MoRoCo the macaron and truffle store so you can stock up on macarons and truffles until your hearts content!  Beautiful packaging- love the purple take-away purses.  Bravo on a stylish retail interior.

2. BEST overall afternoon tea offering:  There were four of us who went to tea and not one pair could finish their three tiered menu.  Not only were the bite sized sandwiches, scones and desserts flavourful and delicate, they were rich and sweet.  I so badly wanted to try a little bite of everything but I just couldn’t power through all the sugar surging through my system despite the fact that I think I drank three pots of tea.   For someone who doesn’t eat a lot of sugar, MoRoCo’s tea is a deadly sugar shock, but well worth it!

3. BEST decor:  I don’t want to botch the adjectives to describe their interior decor but what comes to mind is the space evokes a Victorian/Baroque Modern/Elegance with a touch of Goth.  So cool.  The greys, the purples, the blacks, contrasted with white.  I love it all.  A beatiful atmosphere to entertain or to dine.  Very cool vibe with the DJ spinning at the front. 

Moroco Afternoon Tea Service

The sinful desserts!

Love their little desserts (and the bee!)

Topping the creme pots are little chocolate moroco branded ovals

Moroco Interior Shot (photo via fashion magazine)

Beautiful Presentation (via dine.to

Mildred’s Temple Kitchen- Cool Venue TO

Looking for a non-traditional venue in Toronto to host a party?

I have good vibes about the newly opened restaurant in the King and Dufferin (Liberty Village) area, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen. 

(via yelp.com)

The industrial meets minimalist decor would be a cool venue to host a lunch or dinner party with friends.

The long orientation of the room lends itself to dining on long, elegant tables and the lovely lights hanging from the ceiling is perfect for creating a romantic glow.

Mildred's Temple Kitchen (via Eyeweekly)

(via martiniboys.com)