Delica

I was meeting a friend for a quick catch up tea yesterday and I had the opportunity to pop my head into the new Delica Kitchen at Yonge and St. Claire. 

Finally a quaint little spot with a New Yorkesque village/Brooklyn vibe has opened in Toronto.  There is a lot of great looking food and baked goods on the menu and prominently displayed on the counter.  While waiting for my friend to show up, I enjoyed reading a copy of the Australian publication, Gourmet magazine- of course Delica would have a great foodie mag like that lying around.  I will warn you though, there is not much space to sit (only bar/stool seating) if you are thinking of spending a long time here.  That being said, for a quick stop, in/out trip I would recommend a visit to check out their treats.

Pink Tree

I love this pink tree that I saw on Making it Lovely.  It is non-traditional, pink goodness!  There is something quite peaceful about the way the pink branches and ornaments work together. 

via making it lovely

Lottie and Doof

There is a great new food blog that I found called Lottie and Doof.  (The blog is not new, it is just new to me- i want to clarify that). 

The logo spoke to me when I landed on the site and kept me browsing through the amazing food photography and recipes on this blog.  FYI: There are some good ideas for holiday cookies if anyone is still looking and I have included some pictures to show you how fabulous food can look.  I will be testing out the Chocolate Caramel Tart this week for a holiday party I am attending.

via thibeaultstable.com

via lottie and doof

via the kitchn

via color me in

via lottie and doof (a holiday cookie)

baked

I am obsessed with Baked.

I paid the bakery a visit this past weekend en route to the Butter by Nadia sample sale all the way out in Red Hook, Brooklyn.  While I walked away dressless from the sample sale, boy was it worth the Ikea water taxi across the river for a cookie and a look around the charming industrial/residential area that is Red Hook.  I had the most scrumptuous ginger molasses chocolate chip cookie that I have ever tasted in my life.  This was a serious cookie.  Moist, flavourful, a balance between soft and chewy in the middle and crispy on the edges.  I liked the cookie so much, I even spent $30 on the Baked bakery cookbook, thereby making it one expensive cookie!  Well worth it. I’m just kidding.

If you are in New York and you are feeling a bit adventurous, get yourself down to Pier 11 by Wall Street, take the Ikea water taxi (a lovely 10 minute ride on the water where you get to listen to top 40 music and read Where magazine!) and then walk over to Baked.  You won’t regret this trek I promise!  From what I understand from digging around a bit (here) about the bakery, the owners also opened a baked in Charleston and there are some great pictures here.

via coolhunting.com

via austin chronicle

via lottie and doof

blue pool road goodie bag

For the people who love paper products in your life (ah-hem, me included), I found this adorable holiday goodie bag from minimalist stationery designer, Blue Pool Road in Los Angeles.  It comes with a mini calendar, a folded card, a post card, a thank you card (useful to thank your gift giver) and other funky items that I’ve posted below.  I love this idea. 

nice package

If you are looking for ideas about how to package your holiday gifts, maybe something with a more personal touch, check out this awesome blog/etsy shop/site, Nice Package.  So cute!

via nice package

Polka Dot Boxed Truffles from Three Tarts

via three tarts

Ho Hum.  With the holiday party season underway, what is a party-goer in demand supposed to gift the hostess?  I found a cute company in New York that I look forward to checking out this weekend called Three Tarts that is cooking up some cute gift ideas for the holidays.  Started by three culinary classmates nick named “three tarts” while in school, Sandra, Marla and Kiyomi seem to have a good thing going with their company.  Check out their stacked bios on the company website, you’ll soon understand why their gift ideas are so innovative and quirky.

I think the Polka Dot Boxed Truffles (above) from Three Tarts, would make a great hostess gift for the holidays.  The box is leather and lined with felt and is filled with 18 chocolate treasures!  Or the whimsical popcorn tub and its cute play on words would surely delight your business minded hostess/host. 

via three tarts

 Finally, if you are asked to bring dessert, why not offer a trio of mini parfaits in flavours chocolate banana, black and white rice pudding and pumpkin!  I want these at my next event.

via three tarts

Tully’s Gluten Free Bakery

I have a couple friends who love dessert but can’t process gluten.  🙁

So when I read about Tully’s Gluten Free Bakery, I thought I would spread the love and share with the world about this growing company and female entrepreneur/success story who solved a simple problem: lack of tasty gluten free bakery treats.  When the owner, Tully, was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance (celiac disease), she put her degree from Le Cordon Bleu in Austin, Texas to the test and invented a satisfying line of gluten free products. 

Tully’s Gluten Free Bakery makes cookies, brownies and cupcakes- they all look great and while I”m in NYC (where the products are sold) this weekend, I plan to track a brownie down and give it a try.  I belive you can also order her products direct from the website but I am not sure if she will ship to the friendly neighbours in the north.

via gluten free atlanta

via gluten free atlanta