dinner party

There is a dinner party going on at my house tonight that I was not invited to attend.  It’s okay because I am heading out with my two best friends for dinner to one of my favourite wine bars in the city, Pic Nic.  I was however, recruited to be the sous chef and help my mom wash and prep everything! 

During the menu shop and prep this morning, my mother and I were fortunate to have a professional photographer in the house to take pictures of all the fresh fruit and veggies that would later be turned into the meal for my mom’s guests.

Here are a couple shots that I hope get you excited for spring, entertaining, and everything to do with fresh food!  Have a nice weekend.

Guess Who Is Coming to Toronto?

Entertainers rejoice!  I was reading the CB2 blog a couple days ago and noticed a very exciting news- CB2 is opening their first store north of the border in Toronto, downtown in the old Big Bop.  I can’t wait.  I think it’s fantastic Toronto is slowly becoming the choice of expansion of creative home retailers from the US.  Now if only a couple European stores would look this way, the home decorators and consummate party throwers would be in business.  For now, I will start my unofficial count down for CB2. 

via CB2

via city hammer

via apartment therapy

via uncrate

Sweet Treat Round Up

I have been making mental notes of new (that is, new to me) and notable sweet treats that I think deserve a prominent space at an event, as a host/hostess gift or just for pure indulgence.  

First up, Twisted Sisters by sisters, Missy and Jill are the two enterprising women behind the Toronto based gourmet pretzel company.  They offer four products with lots of variations including twisted apples, marshmallows, pop’ems (pretzel sticks) and of course regular pretzels dipped in chocolate, candies and more.  I have done chocolate dipped pretzels at a wedding, they were packaged in two’s for guests to share and they turned out to be a hit.  I will definitely keep Twisted Sisters in mind for my next salty/sweet table!

via food and drink magazine

Next up is More Cupcakes from Chicago.  Move over pastry chefs, owner Patty Rothman is a cupcake curator!   Patty designs cupcake creations using high quality ingredients.  To me, More Cupcakes look sophisticated and are a far departure from “grandmas kitchen” cupcakes.  For a sophisticated dinner party, More Cupcakes (sadly only in the US) would make a great after dinner indulgence. 

via jtwoo

via chicago bites

Lastly, Suite 88 in Montreal ranks high on my list of sweet treats that are not to be overlooked.  Their modern chocolates are complemented by the equally modern, minimalist interior design of their two boutiques in the city.  If you happen to be in Montreal and can stop by Suite 88, in addition to purchasing chocolates, you can relax in store and taste their amazing waffles, gelato, chocolate bars and rich hot chocolate.

via suite 88

via suite 88

entrepreneurial art

I have been noticing more and more talk on the integration of art, design and business;  the marriage of right and left brain, yin and yang, arts degrees and business degrees, together to produce more value out of the sum of the parts.  The increasing support, awareness and talk over integration of design and business makes me happy because I subscribe to this way of thinking whole heartedly.  I am the arts degree and the business degree in one.  I grew up performing on stage, playing musical instruments, taking art lessons and doing other crafty things but I also have an interest in business and work in real estate.  Are the two things so at odds with each other?  I don’t think so.  

To learn more about my own philosophy,  I started reading up on these two unlikely opposites and ended up studying a business case on the design firm, IDEO and their practice of ethnographic research in solving business problems.  I think IDEO is a great example of a company that “gets it.”  IDEO created an entire company (very successful- that was later purchased by office furniture company, Steelcase) on the marriage of design and business and countless products have been born out of this integration.  Fast forward to this year, the Dean of Rotman Business School in Toronto, Roger Martin published a book that I read called the Design of Business which discussed the value of attacking problems through an integration of design and business philosophies.  Finally, the other day while reading the blog, Out of the Way, I saw a piece of art that caught my attention. Artist/entrepreneur/blogger/cartoonist, Hugh MacLeod, produces great pieces of work that I find are representative of the marriage of design + business.  For an interview and to learn more about Hugh MacLeod click here.  Hugh also published a book called “Ignore Everybody”  on how to unlock your own creativity and brilliance and unleash it on the world. For the events/entertaining industry where the pressure to be innovative, new and relevant is ever more pressing, Hugh is a great source of wisdom and inspiration for us all.  His book is already on my library list and look forward to reading more about his opinions and experience.  But for now- you can appreciate his art! 

via gaping void

via gaping void

via gaping void

chocolate pencils

With Valentine’s Day behind us, I am sure everyone is looking for a way to do some chocolate detoxing.  I respect that but just have to share a fabulous chocolate-meets design product from Japan.  The product is called chocolate pencils and are the product stemming from a collaboration between design firm Nendo and patissier Tsujiguchi Hironobu (from Mont St. Clair and Le Chocolat de H).  Toronto born Oki Sato is the designer behind Nendo and as his website states, Nendo is in the business of bringing “!” moments alive.  (Giving people small “!” moments).  The chocolate pencils are a great example of a small “!” as it is both functional as a means to shave chocolate on dessert and whimsical in its design.  The pencils come in different blends of chocolate varying in intensity and come with a special pencil sharpener to assist users shave chocolate as they please to decorate sweets.

via nendo

via nendo

Beijing Noodle No. 9

Cesars Palace in Las Vegas recently opened this attractive, fantasy looking, noodle shop called Beijing Noodle No. 9.  The restaurant has a pretty catchy name if you ask me but what’s more impressive is the interior design of the space artfully designed by the firm, design spirits co., ltd.  They used a silk like skin to cover the restaurant and project light through it giving off a fantasy, modern take on a traditional noodle shop.  For a more technical explanation behind the interior design click here.  I am not going to begin to attempt explaining something as cool looking as this.  Now the only question is, how are the noodles?

via dezeen

via dezeen

via inoveblog

the rooster coffee shop

It is family day in Toronto today.  Businesses are closed and it is a time for families to spend time together/an excuse for a long weekend.  To celebrate a day off work, I went to explore a new coffee shop with my mom and boyfriend that opened not too long ago, called The Rooster Coffee Shop.  I remember driving by the space on Broadview south of Danforth a couple times over the past five months and noticing construction and something new brewing in the neighbourhood.   Well the word on the street is that it opened in December 2009 by Shawn Andrews and her partner Dave.  The result of their hard work and entrepreneurship is a super cute, modern-meets-French subway tile-meets-vintage looking coffee shop with fun board games, magazines and coffee table books met set in the backdrop of  communal and individual seating.  Two cappuccino and one hot chocolate later, the three of us felt satisfied and warmed by our selections.  I loved the hot chocolate.  It was rich and creamy and was generously covered with marshmallows.  The two opposing coffee palates both decided that Rooster Coffee House’s coffee was “nice,” “dark,” “flavourful,” and they loved the little “leaf milk designs” on top.  I can’t comment because I have never had a cup of coffee in my life.  My favourite thing about the Rooster Coffee House is its view through the big storefront windows overlooking the valley adjacent to Broadview.   For the non-coffee drinker, they serve tea from Tealish (Queen and Walnut)Go check it out- it’s a good alternative to Broadview espresso which is tiny and Si which is also tiny. This is a place where you can sit comfortably for the afternoon and have a meeting, lose yourself in a book or catch up with a friend.  It’s full of life and interesting things to look at.  Rooster coffee shop is located at 479 Broadview Avenue and is open seven days a week early in the morning until dinner time.

via blogTo

via blogTO

via blogTO

new online mag: nonpareil

There is a new online magazine that hit the web not too long (only one issue has been released at the time of writing) ago called Nonpareil.  The magazine came to market thanks to Maddy Hague (Inspired Bride) and Kristen Magee (Paper Crave).  Nonpareil is an excellent resource for brides and entertaining enthusiasts alike.  It comes with downloads, tutorials, lots of spiffy pictures and idea-inspiring layouts.  Martha Stewart may have some well deserved competition from these two!  Best of luck Nonpareil!

via erin vale design