Savouring Thoughts

The True Story Behind Charles Dickens' Visit to Toronto May 4-6th, 1842...

2012-02-02T17:18:00.000-05:00









Charles Dickens age 30
portrait by Francis Alexander

 
 
His impression of Toronto upon arrival:

 
 
"The country round this town being very flat,
 is bare of scenic interest; 
but the town itself is full of life and motion, 
bustle, business and improvement." 
- American Notes, 1842Tick-tock-tick-tock... Tuesday February 7th, 2012 is fast-approaching... the literary world is in a tizzy as it will be Charles John Huffam Dickens' bicentenary birthday! 

Imagine the amount of excitement in 1841 when the British author, Charles Dickens announced that he will tour most of the major cities of United States and Canada in 1842. The news traveled sans help from social media marketing like Facebook, Twitter, or e-mails.  One of my favourite musings along the theme walks involves an old childhood TV show. What if we could jump into Doctor Who's Time Machine, go back in time to 1842, to accompany Dickens on his visit of the four Canadian cities recorded in his travel book,   American Notes  -   Halifax,  Niagara Falls,     Toronto,  Kingston and Montreal!   In my prior post,    Charles Dickens lands on Canadian Soil   First, I mentioned how Halifax, Nova Scotia had the honour of being the real beginning of his     North American tour on January 20th, 1842, and not Boston as many academics allude to.    The Nova Scotia Archives have been posting the province's historical connections one tweet on       Twitter. 

Would Charles Dickens be amused or bemused with England being so abuzz with his bicenten-    ary birthday. If you happen to be in London, you can pay homage to Charles Dickens at the     Museum of London's special Dickens and London exhibit which explores the author links to the English capital (now until June 10th, 2012).   You could also drop into the   Charles Dickens  Museum which holds the world's most important Dickens collections.   If you feel inclined to    walk in his footsteps on a Friday afternoon, there's the Charles Dickens' London walking tour    with one of the best and oldest company, Original London Walks. If you venture to Portsmouth, his birthplace, you'll find there's even the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum. 

What about Toronto?   Well, this Literary Detective and guide is excited about sharing one of    Toronto's best kept secrets as in 2012 while participating in not one, but two celebrations!  First we're going to celebrate on Saturday February 4th, in advance of the actual date for his 200th     birthday 2012. I will personally conduct the In the Footsteps of Charles Dickens: Toronto 1842 Walk.  I will read excerpts from my auto- graphed copy of his book, American Notes.   This rare  copy I bought from an antiquarian shop in Ottawa (none to be found in Toronto), has been autographed by his  great-great grandson,  Gerald  Charles  Dickens  when he came to  perform    A   Christmas Carol in Toronto in 2000. By the way, 2000 was the auspicious year when I launched this fabulous Literary Detective walk! 

The second celebration will be the 170th anniversary of his Toronto visit that took place May 4-6th 1842. For the first time in 12 years, I will run a tour about the time he arrived! (see Schedule below) Here's food for thoughts - we will have some juicy discussions about the real purpose or reasons behind his visit to Toronto. 

Charles Dickens told no one - except his publishers Chapman & Hall - the real purpose behind    his 6-month visit to North America in 1842 from  Portsmouth,  England on the Britannia  accompanied by his wife,  Catharine,  her maid Anne Brown,  and his secretary,  George  Washington   Putnam (read his account of the 1842 American visit: Four Months with Charles Dickens,   an   article he wrote for Atlantic Monthly in October 1870, shortly after Dickens'  death).  You can     find out the real reasons when you attend one of our   In  the  Footsteps  of  Charles  Dickens:   Toronto 1842 Walks...

2012 In The Footsteps of Dickens: Toronto 1842 Schedule at a Glance:



* Sat. February 4th, 2012  3:00-5:30 PM ** Early birthday walk **
* Sat. March 10th, 2012  3:00-5:30 PM   ** March Break** 
* Sat. April 14th, 2012  3:00-5:30 PM
** Fri. May 4th  6:30 - 9:00 PM * Marking arrival in Toronto same time *
** Sat. May 5th, 2012  3:00-5:30 PM * 170th anniversary walk * 
** Sun. May 6th 3:00-5:30 PM * 170th anniversary of actual visit & departure from Toronto *
* Sat. June 9th, 2012 **commemorate death June 9th, 1870** 

* Sat. July 7th, 2012 3:00-5:30 PM
* Sat. August 4th, 2012  3:00-5:30 PM
* Sat. September 1st , 2012 3:00-5:30 PM





Clues to a site he visited while in Toronto! 








* Question to mull over, on your way to one of these special walks with us... *


If we could use Doctor Who's Time Machine to bring Charles Dickens, 
as honourary guest along In The Footsteps of Charles Dickens: Toronto 1842 walks, 
what would Dickens think of his second visit of Toronto in 2012, 
and what would he participate in? 

















Guess who he met at the dinner party hosted in his honour?








"Walk and be happy. Walk and be healthy." 
~ Charles Dickens (b. February 7, 1812 - d. June 9, 1870)

Enter the Dragon

2012-01-25T12:03:00.000-05:00

Today, January 25th, 2012 is Day 3 of 15 days of festivities - yes, eat, eat, eat! Warning: EAT before you read Sara Waxman's delicious story as she include a segment about our Chinese New Year tours in Toronto's second Chinatown (Spadina/Dundas area). Stay tuned for schedules for Lost First Chinatown Foodie Walks (Toronto's first & oldest Chinatown)! Bon appetite!

Enter the Dragon

Charles Dickens lands on Canadian soil first!

2012-01-20T23:59:00.000-05:00

Charles Dickens portrait by Francis Alexander in 1842

Hey Canada - here's some interesting Canadian literary food for thought... the world is abuzz with the fast approaching bicentenary birthday of British author, Charles John Huffam Dickens on February 7th, 2012...

On Thursday January 20th, 1842, 170 years ago, Charles Dickens arrived in Canada on one of the first trans-Atlantic steamboats, The SS Britannia. He landed on the shores of Halifax, Nova Scotia before starting off his famous American tour documented in the little known book called American Notes. Some of the material gathered for American Notes became incorporated into the much hated novel in America called Martin Chuzzlewit published in 1843/1844. Two days later, on Saturday January 22, 1842 he arrived in Boston.

Here's a little excerpt from American Notes:

Chapter I: Going Away
" I shall never forget the one-fourth serious and three-fourths comical astonishment, with which, on the morning of the third of January eighteen-hundred-and-forty-two, I opened the door of, and put my head into, a "state-room" on board the "Britannia" steam-packet, twelve hundred tons burthen per register, bound for Halifax and Boston, and carrying Her Majesty's mails. "

So now you know that he arrived on Canadian shore first, exactly 170 years ago.

Now, here's another burning question for you proud Canadian readers. What was the real purpose behind his visit to North America in 1842? Stay tuned...

Happy New Year! Happy Asian Lunar New Year! Let's Celebrate Year of the Water Dragon!

2012-01-04T18:50:00.211-05:00

Adieu old year and welcome new year! Lucky me, I get to say that not once, not twice, but three times! I love that old adage, "Good things come in threes"... On that note ...

Happy New Year and adieu 2011! I feel very lucky to have savoured celebrating all the Festivals of Lights on the final Kensington Festive Foodie Roots Walk scheduled on December 30th, 2011. After wishing each other a safe journey home, and a Happy New Year, we all parted feeling well fed with equal portions of food and food for thought... My Christmas tree will be coming down shortly .... Welcome to the New Year and 2012 I say! What lurks around the corner? Hint, hint, hint - it's connected with these greetings in Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese!

Gung Hei Fatt Choi! That's the New Year greeting used and heard while growing up in Toronto of late 1960s into mid-1980s. I still greet my family members using this Cantonese dialect within the Chinese language, as my ancestors like many from Southern China immigrated from the Canton province for jobs on the railroad. You might hear me greet merchants in Mandarin or Vietnamese along the tours. Lucky me, I get a chance to re-set my goals and/or new New Year resolutions a second time! Thank you Chinese New Year or more accurately, Chinese Lunar New Year! On an inclusive note, I should called it Asian Lunar New Year as Taiwanese and Vietnamese also use the lunar calendar. Asian Lunar New Year doesn't conveniently fall on the same day, namely, January 1st, as in the case of the Gregorian calendar. It's a floating lunar event between mid-January and mid-February. In 2012, Sunday January 22nd will be the Asian Lunar New Year's Eve and we will sadly bid farewell to the Year of the Rabbit, a year filled with culture and learning... and usher in the vibrant, and colourful Year of the Dragon! Dragon years are action driven and times for major initiatives. The motto or Chinese proverb to live by throughout the Year of the Dragon: "Better to do it than to miss it." If you missed out on our fantastic Chinese New Year events in the past, then resolve it by joining us!

Annual Behind-the-scenes Chinese New Year Tours
3 Unique 2012 Experiences:

Preparations: Sat. & Sun. January 14, 15, 21, 22, 2012 10 A.M.-1:30 P.M.

Celebrations: Sat. & Sun. January 28, 29, 2012 10 A.M.-1:30 P.M.

Grand Finale: Sat. & Sun. February 4th & 5th, 2012 10 A.M.-1:30 P.M.

* Chinese New Year Preparations: Sat. & Sun. January 14, 15, 21, 22, 2012 *

Part of the fun lies in gearing up for any festivities. Catch the frenzied excitement as you get to "shadow" culinary historian/guide Shirley Lum while she shares how she prepares her household for the festival to end all festivals within the Chinese culture! You'll understand why she wears a red coat - all the better to keep up with her as she darts from the Asian grocery store, to the aromatic tea shop, and then to the Chinese bakery for decadent pastries! The best part of shadowing Shirley - you pick-up some awesome foodie tips, so bring along your eco-bags for anticipated shopping during and/or after the event.
Spots available: 11
Fees in $CAD (incl. food & non-alcoholic drinks): Adult $45.00 SR/ST (ID) $40.00 CHILD (12 & under) $30.00
RSVP: info@torontowalksbikes.com OR (416) 923-6813

* New Year's Celebrations: Sat. & Sun. January 28, 29, 2012 *

Celebration time for 15 days!!! Guests along these tours will have a high chance of capturing several exciting Lion Dances with their cameras while culinary historian/guide, Shirley Lum explains the moves and significance behind this old New Year ritual. Tradition dictates that delicious dumplings be eaten, hence, we will nosh on a variety of them at the New Year dim sum and at the bakery.
Spots available: 11
Fees in $CAD (incl. food & non-alcoholic drinks): Adult $45.00 SR/ST (ID) $40.00 CHILD (12 & under) $30.00
RSVP: info@torontowalksbikes.com OR (416) 923-6813

* Grand Finale: Sat. & Sun. February 4, 5, 2012 *

If you experienced the preparations or the celebrations of the 15-days Chinese New festivities, then you must come back for the grand finale: The Lantern Festival. Special dumplings are served this time of the year. Bring along your cameras as there will be plenty of beautiful lanterns to capture! Believe it or not, this marks the return of spring light and the lengthening of the day.
Spots available: 11
Fees in $CAD (incl. food & non-alcoholic drinks): Adult $45.00 SR/ST (ID) $40.00 CHILD (12 & under) $30.00
RSVP: info@torontowalksbikes.com OR (416) 923-6813

* 5th Annual Chinese New Year's Eve 11-course Banquet *
Date & Time: Sat. January 21st, 2012 6:00 - 7:30pm
Location: Taste of China Seafood Restaurant, 338 Spadina Avenue

(1 block N of Dundas St W), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

We would love the pleasure of your company.... Join Culinary Historian/Host Shirley Lum for an authentic communal grand feast! She sheds light on the emerging trends, traditions and superstitions connected with this exciting festival. Wondering what are the greetings in Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese? You'll get a chance to practise tonight throughout the event. As the host of this gastronomic event, Shirley will entertain with tales of ancient feasts while guiding you through eating your way through all 11-courses. You'll find your head spin with the colourful names and rich symbolism behind each of the dishes you will savour with all your senses.... Tip: Don't forget to bring your cameras and appetite!

Menu to whet your appetite:
* Crab Meat & Fish Maw Soup
* Spicy & Salty Jumbo Shrimps Lightly Battered
* Phoenix Nest with Seafood Medley & Vegetables
* Whole Crispy Chicken with Shrimp Chips & Seasoned Salt
* Sliced Pork with Special Sweet & Sour Sauce
* Medley of Braised Vegetables, Seafood, Chicken & Pork
* Whole Steamed Fish with Green Onions & Ginger
* Double Lobsters with Green Onions & Ginger
* Braised E-Fu Noodles
* Yangzhou Fried Rice
* Traditional Dessert Soup & Fortune Cookies

Fee (incl all food + non-alcoholic drinks): Table of 10 $390.00 or $45.00 per person
RSVP: info@torontowalksbikes.com OR (416) 923-6813

After celebrating the Chinese New Year 15-days eating marathon, you'd think I'd be saying "Nooooo more!" This self-confessed foodie will be dropping into the gym throughout the whole festive period and will be hitting Toronto's pavements by guiding the special Dickens' bicentenary birthday walk: In The Footsteps of Charles Dickens: Toronto 1842 on Saturday February 4th, 2012

I look forward to my third New Year celebrations, which take place in mid-March ... stay tuned for the exciting Persian New Year celebrations .... I'm not Persian, I'm a proud CBC a.k.a. Canadian-born Chinese who happens to love eating Persian food... and I happen to live in Toronto, the "Meeting Place" for sharing and embracing the holidays and festivities of diverse cultures!

Happy New Year !
Gung Hei Fatt Choi !
Gong Xi Fa Cai !
Chuc Mung Nam Mui!

'Tis the Season: Thinking Outside of the Gift Box!

2011-12-16T12:19:00.000-05:00

Surprise the Foodie/Literary Detective/Ghost Buster in your life!
Tuck a Gift Certificate in a Gift Box!

2011 has been pure Shangri-La because throughout this year, I've had the honour and pleasure of conducting customized foodie walks as personal gifts for bridal showers, wedding anniversary and milestone birthdays. Year 2011 ends on a high note when I wrap-up with the two final tours of Kensington Festive Foodie Roots Walks on Saturday December 17th and Friday December 30th... These final tours celebrate, embrace and share ALL the Festivals of Lights within multicultural Kensington marketplace and residential quarters. Both occasions will be extra special foodie tours, in part, thanks to the holiday food and drinks we don't get year round, but in part due to another reason.

On both occasions, I will have a guest who will be the recipient of an amazing gift of Foodie "Flow" experience from their partner for their birthday gift and as a Christmas present. Discovering new foodie experience together on a guided food walk, while spending quality and quantity time sans cell phone distractions have often lead to an experience called "Flow". Flow is the mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process according to author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his amazing book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience!

Hiyam from Akram's Shoppe
Baklavas made with love & served with heady Spiced Tea
after we taste an awesome platter of savoury treats

Breaking bread always brings people together. In our case, tasting a variety of artisan Canadian cheeses and olive before yours truly recites, Ode to the Olive by late Canadian poet, Irving Layton. Flow experience might happen while we sample Jamaican Dark Rum Christmas Cake after yours truly recites An Ode to the Fruitcake (this is recited by local innkeeper Jon Tschannen at the annual Christmas cake toss event in Manitou Springs, Colorado) seem to literally bond each guests along the walks.

Feliz Navidad!
Lime Charlotte a.k.a Mexican Tiramisu at Agave & Aguacate
One of Culinary Historian/Guide, Shirley Lum's favourite desserts!

There's still time to book spots or order a Gift Certificate and surprise that foodie in your life! It's simple. Give the office a quick call at (416) 923-6813 to give us a heads-up. Drop into our website A Taste of the World Walks Print and complete the Gift Certificate Order Form and mail it with your cheque. We will e-mail you right away the A Taste of the World Walks Gift Certificate to be printed and placed in an envelope. It's up to you to then decide whether to place it in a gift box, wrap it up and place it under a Christmas tree or give it with the Chanukkah goodies.

If that foodie in your life is too busy to partake in one of the food tours in 2011, they can always look forward to the popular annual behind-the-scenes Chinese New Year tours (January 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th and February 4th, 2012 10:00AM - 1:30 PM)) and/or the annual 11-course Chinese New Year banquet on Saturday, January 21st, 2012 (6:00 - 7:30 PM) as we bid farewell to the Year of the Metal Rabbit and usher in the Year of the Water Dragon!

Chinese New Year Tours & Banquet
We kick-off with Lucky Candies
Good luck for all in Year 2012!

Tis the Season: Share ALL the Festivals of Lights!

2011-12-09T17:29:00.000-05:00

I love this time of the year as the spectacular sunsets take place earlier each day and the crisp morning air gets nippy due to dropping temperatures approaching the freezing point, and we're shrouded with coldness and darkness...

Some of my annual Festivals of Lights party decorations:
Hanukkah Menorah, Diwali oil lamp or Diyas,
Kwanzaa Mishumaa Saba & Santa Claus' hat with tea candle

Let there be light, I say! Lets light up the night! All of a sudden, there's a plethora of glowing candle lights and cavalcade of lights at homes and in public spaces. There's something magical about basking in the soft, warm glow of any form of illumination in the dead of winter, especially over the holidays in Toronto... the city of neighbourhoods.

Is it a coincidence that Toronto has so many Festivals of Lights to celebrate? At this time of the year, this city lives up to its ancient First Nation namesake, Toronto, The Meeting Place. Lets say it's a wave of festival of lights... Diwali, a.k.a the Indian Festival of Lights (started on October 26th 2011 and ended 5 days later), kicked off the festival within Gerrard Street's Little India neighbourhood, in addition to other locations, running for five bright nights... Then the lights get passed on and we have Eid Mubarak (November 6th, 2011), Chanukkah (starts at sunset onTuesday December 20th, 2011 and ends at sunset on Wednesday December 28th), Winter Solstice (December 21st), Christmas (December 25th) and Kwanzaa (December 26th to New Year's Day). Want to celebrate, embrace and share them all? Check out the popular annual Kensington Market Festival of Lights which is celebrated on the streets of Kensington Market during the Winter Solstice. This awesome Street festival features a lantern parade, drums, costumes and more. Free. It starts from Oxford/Augusta Streets at 6:30PM. You might see me there with my with hubby celebrating and embracing it all! Have other plans that evening or you can't stand being in the cold for too long in the evening?

Holiday treats from Moon Bean Cafe:
Baked Samosa, Spinach Boreka & Chocolate Rugullachs

Year round, I conduct seasonal bounties foodie walks along the Kensington Foodie Roots Walks within the residential and marketplace of Kensington. Peeling back 200 years of immigrant food roots for 10 months begs for a change of scenery once we're into the month of December. Since there are several festivals involving lights, I figured that's a good enough reason to celebrate and embrace ALL of them: Diwali Festival, Eid, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. Did I mention that the most important part of all this celebration and embracing the different holidays is the food and drinks served during this special time of the year?

Decadent holiday sweets at Akram's Shoppe await us...

Over the last couple of years, I've consider myself honoured and lucky to be able to share the diverse holidays celebrated along the Kensington Festive Foodie Roots walks on December 10th, 17th and 30th (Note: special addition). Part of the excitement is to inspire my walking tour guests to do the same by opening the doors to their minds and allowing them to embrace all the holidays and the diversity the experience brings. I'm excited about reciting an ode to the Fruitcake after tasting delicious Jamaican Black Rum Christmas Cake from Patty King (yes, I've had guests who swear that they are passionate Christmas Cake tossers only to become Christmas cake lovers and beg for more!). We might do a toast to the holidays with Ting! (the national drink of Jamaica) or with the refreshing Mexican apple cider or the specially brewed Syrian spiced tea at Akram's Shoppe. I'm always flattered when a guest e-mails after one of these special walks with a hearty thanks for planting the seeds of such a simple idea. I love it when folks share how they take it to the next level by putting their own personal stamp on the idea of sharing the diverse holidays, by picking the highlights from our fun foodie tours! Chocolate rugullachs or Cranberry/Walnut Vegan Loaf from Moon Bean Café anyone? Dark Chocolate Baklava from Akram's Shoppe anyone? Some Niagara Gold Cheese or Maple Cheddar with the Montreal-style St. Urbain bagel respectively from Cheese Magic and My Market Bakery anyone? Mexican Christmas treats like churros or buenuelos or tamales or Oaxaca cheese anyone? Chilean Christmas treats like pastel de choclo or alfajores anyone? Endless holiday foodies possibilities...

BCE Place, Toronto, ON

By the way, here's food for thought. When it's December 21st - Winter Solstice is not just Winter Solstice! For the Chinese community, Winter Solstice is called Dong Zhi and it is traditionally celebrated with the decadent Eight-Treasure Rice Pudding equivalent to the English Christmas Pudding that could surpass what would have been served by the Denison, the founding family of the area given the name, Kensington. Meanwhile the Persian community celebrates Shab-e Yalda with outdoor bonfires and then head indoors to gather around the korsi (usually a low, square table covered with a cloth and laden with numerous symbolic and delicious dishes).

What's your favourite Festival of Light? What part of Toronto do you try to visit just for its lights?

Happy Diwali as you celebrated five-night of lights and sweets!

Happy Winter Solstice as you celebrate the first day of winter!

Happy Hanukkah while lighting up all eight candles!

Happy Kwanzaa while lighting up all seven symbolic candles be they green, red & black!

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Have a happy but safe and relaxing holiday season and all the best for 2012!
Stay tuned on how I celebrate the New Year three times and three different ways!

Oh, if you still need a gift for a foodie in your life...
Treat them to Kensington Festive Foodie Roots walks !
You still have time to book them on one of the tours scheduled on
December 10th, 17th and 30th (Note: special addition not listed on website).
Then give them special instructions to show up at the base of the red art pole with the Black Cat on the Yellow Chair (Spadina Avenue/St Andrew Street).

What the Dickens! Food Blogging At the Best of Time: Clotilde Dusoulier in Toronto

2011-12-02T17:01:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not, there are six degrees of separation between British author Charles Dickens,  Parisienne food blogger Clotilde Dusoulier, who's the 2011-2012 Joseph Hoare Gastronomic Writer-in-Residence, Culinary Historian Shirley Lum (yours truly) of A Taste of the World Walks,  Paris, the City of Light and Toronto, the Meeting Place. What the Dickens!

Charles Dickens was quite a foodie in his time. Whether you read one of his numerous novels, personal letters or diaries you'll find many detailed mentions of food or fabulous meals. You may ask "what was his grist for literary mill?" Well try this: Dickens published the famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities after visiting Paris, the City of Light with his wife in 1855. In 1882, Macmillan & Co. posthumously published his unconventional handbook called Dickens' Dictionary of Paris, after he revisited Paris in 1865 with actress/mistress Ellen Ternan!

Wondering about where Toronto, the Meeting Place fits in? It got a nod in his 1843 travel handbook, American Notes (which by the way, I had autographed by his great-great grandson, Gerald Charles Dickens and I'll read excerpts on the tours).  Yes, Saturday December 3rd marks the final In The Footsteps of Charles Dickens: Toronto 1842 walk in year 2011. If you've not had a chance to attend this incredible  Da Vinci Code-type Literary Detective walking tour yet, you're truly missing out on this  "librarians' dream come true" walking tour experience lead by your guide armed with old maps, diary excerpts from Dickens and even his wife's long-lost diary circa 1842 ! Can't make it this weekend? Mark it in your calendars: Saturday February 4th, 2012, we will be celebrating his 200th birthday, even though it actually takes place on Tuesday February 7th, 2012. More details to come of the celebrations to take place throughout 2012...

Still wondering about the connections between the Charles Dickens and Clotilde Dusoulier? Hold onto your hats... here it come...  Guess who also dropped into town? Clotilde Dusoulier! In case you haven't heard, she's the Writer-in-Residence from Paris, France. She pens the award-winning blog Chocolate and Zucchini and has published several books, one of them, Edible Adventures in Paris (which I'm sure would tickle Dickens' fancy).  Clotilde Dusoulier spoke at George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario on Thursday November 10th, 2011. What a fabulous turn-out! I've never seen so many faces I recognized who are  Women Culinary Network (WCN) members - Elizabeth Baird, Nettie Cronish, Mary Luz Mejia, Marion Kane, Joanne Yolles, Preena Chauhan and new faces! All eager to hear what award-winning blogger, Clotilde Dusoulier has to say during her informative talk on the Art of Food Blogging. What would Charles Dickens' reaction been if he was there that night too?  Whenever I conduct one of my walks, you'll always hear one of my favourite wistful musings, "Imagine...  if we could use Dr. Who's Time Machine and bring Charles Dickens back to Toronto along the  In The Footsteps of Charles Dickens: Toronto 1842 walking tour!"   The prolific British writer who was dubbed by one walk attendee as the "Danielle Steeles  of the Victorian era" would have loved being a "fly-on-the-wall" during the fabulous Art of Food Blogging seminar.

Thank you Eleanor Kane and James Morris, the Co-founders of Stratford Chefs School for developing the Joseph Hoare Gastronomic Writer-in-Residence  Program at Stratford, Ontario. Those of you who read Toronto Life magazine might recall its former food editor, the late Joseph Hoare, who was immensely supportive of young writers interested in food and gastronomy. To honour his lifelong passion for food and food writing, his family generously established the innovative position of writer-in-residence at Stratford Chefs School.  The individual who is graced with the title Writer-in-Residence is given these key roles - s/he leads workshops about food writing, conducts one-on-one consultations with students who are interested in food writing and presents readings of his/her work to both students and the public.  This dynamic program included national and international writers over the past years: 2007-2008 James Chatto; 2008-2009 Corby Kummer; 2009-2010 Michael Symons; 2010-2011 Ian Brown.

The program's mission: To help people experience, enjoy and understand the gastronomy of our time so that a distinctive Canadian food culture may continue to develop. 

Here's a little highlight from that seminar that can be savoured...

 10 Golden Rules in the Art of Food Blogging from Clotilde Dusoulier

1. Choose Focus

2. Look at what others are doing

3. Set yourself apart

4. Be genuine

5. Focus on great content

6.  Keep learning

7. Give credit where credit is due

8. Connect

9. Keep at it

10. Have fun!

You can read the wonderful detailed recap of these rules by Mardi at the fabulous Food Bloggers of Canada.   If Dickens lived in this era, how many of these rules would apply to him?  I can just picture Dickens sitting there nodding his head while listening to Clotilde and making mental check marks as he goes through that list...

By the way, did I mention that there was the reception afterwards, where food and drinks were served and attendees had a chance to mix and mingle?  Me think, Dickens would have been in seventh heaven watching as a fly on the wall and observing how we network, use our smart phones to tweet the event. He would fall off the wall laughing so hard as he watch how we wander to the two tables laden with six types of delicious hors d'oeuvres (half prepared by the Stratford Chef School students and half by George Brown College The Chefs' House) and start to take photographs with the very same cell phones before we start noshing ad sipping! He would probably leap over to the book signing table to chat with Clotilde about copyright and maybe pick her brain about modern day Paris! Which dishes do you think tickled the fancy of Clotilde Dusoulier and Charles Dickens?

Menu: 6 different types of hors d'oeuvres served 

3 types by students of the Stratford Chef School
- Smoked Albacore Tuna crispy wontons
- seared lamb loin, pickled eggplant
- Stratford Chef's School madeleine, sauce grenache

3 types made by GBC The Chefs' House 
- crispy fried mini scotch egg, mango chutney (right)
- foie gras custard in egg shell, creme fraiche, chervil (below)
- beef pot stickers, chili lime dipping sauce

I look forward to reading Clotilde Dusoulier's blog about her foodies adventures while in Toronto, the Meeting Place! What distinctive Canadian food culture do you think will tickle her fancy?

A little bit of Paris in Toronto

2011-11-10T13:50:00.000-05:00

I'm looking forward to tonight's public lecture, Eating Words: The Art of Food Blogging by Parisienne food blogger, Clotilde Dusoulier. She pens the award-winning blog, chocolateandzucchini.com and she has a current book, Clotilde's Edible Adventures in Paris! Here's the best part: she's been invited by Stratford Chef School to speak at George Brown College in Toronto on Thursday November 10th, 2011.

And what great timing!

Hubby just suggested that our 5th wedding anniversary in 2014 should be celebrated in romantic Paris! He has never been there, whereas I've been there long, long time ago....

Ahhh, Paris of 1988... A solo 2-wheeled foodies adventure in Paris in the summer of 1988. Yes, I pedalled and ate my way through France and parts of Europe as well. A trip to France begs a stop in Paris, whether on foot or bike. I celebrated my birthday with a treat from a crepe food cart on a street lined with quirky antiques shops filled with relics too big to fit into my MEC panniers... Paris, the city with a decadent patisserie every street corner (yes, the avid cyclist in me was able to justify having dessert twice a day to make up for the long rides. I long to go back to revisit old haunts and discover new ones...

Did I also mention that along the way in 1988, I collected cookbooks and postcards printed with delicious local recipes.... I think I'm long overdue to go back and add a few more cookbooks to my collection...

I can't wait to meet Clotilde Dusouslier and discover what new foodies adventure awaits us... stay tuned or À Bientôt!

Let Us Not Forget... 11/11/11

2011-11-09T22:29:00.000-05:00

Halloween flashed by... As we enter into a new month, it keeps getting darker earlier, and nights are dark longer... we slow down, reflect and remember deceased loved ones on All Saints' Day (November 1st) and All Souls' Day (November 2nd).

Noticed lately as you watch the news on TV, that the anchors are wearing their red poppies? Stroll along the streets of Toronto and you'll start to see them pinned on coats or blazers or hats (yes, yours truly has done that in the past and will do it again this year). Yes, Remembrance Day is coming. Let us not forget...

If you are within the vicinity of the University of Toronto, drop by on Friday for the Remembrance Day service by Solders' Memorial Tower as this year is 11/11/11.

Growing up in Toronto, it was a tradition into high school years to recite on Remembrance Day In Flanders Fields poem written by John McCrae, an Alumni of Victoria College at University of Toronto. Those of you, who attended my Haunted Yorkville, U of T & Queen's Parks Walks, would have seen his haunting poem carved on a special wall close by Solders' Memorial Tower. If you've had wedding photographs taken nearby Soldiers' Memorial Tower you might have stood right by it and didn't see it as it's fading with the weathering of time and the elements...

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row.
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
- John McCrae (November 30, 1872- January 28, 1918

While you're there, get into the long line-up and go through this beautiful wooden doorway. Climb up the stairs to the Soldiers' Memorial Tower Room. You'll find it will be time well spent chatting with the remaining veterans. Take the time to examine the treasured items housed up there... Take the time to contemplate how much has been sacrificed for our freedom...

Thank you for remembering to
wear your red poppy

Toronto, the Multicultural Feast, Harvest & Meeting Place

2011-11-08T13:54:00.000-05:00

Toronto, the Meeting Place ... the meeting place for so many diverse cultures since 1792 ... the Meeting Place for four seasonal bounties.... the Meeting Place for sharing diverse ways to cook the local and seasonal harvest ...

As we enter into the month of November, we're right in the thick of Fall Harvest. A season for all the senses! Witness the burst of colours in any of the Toronto markets thanks to the pumpkins, squashes, peppers and dried corn on the cobs ... Throughout Halloween ghost walks madness, my husband and I survived on my hearty Fall Harvest soups made ahead of time. We had my Persian Spinach Soup (minty meatballs floating in a thick broth of spinach, eggs and loads of sweet Ontario onions). We supped on Ontario Leek and organic Sweet Potato Soup. We savoured my Salmon Bouillabaisse with multi-coloured Ontario carrots. Yes, this year, I decided to support cook and eat as much local and organic ingredients as possible while sticking to a tight tour guide's budget.

I look forward to the remaining weekends for this month as I shop and try out new produces.

I can't wait for the next Saturdays (November 12th, 19th) when I drop into Kensington Market along my Kensington Foodies Roots Walks with my camera and shopping bags in tow. This coming Saturday November 12th, I'm thinking of I asking fellow shoppers along the streets plus guests on the walking tour, how they'll use Brussels sprouts ... Of course, I'll share what I plan to cook in the next while ... the lovely Brussels Sprouts - I'll try again Chef David Lee's fiery recipe for Thai-style Brussels Sprouts in the Saturday October 22, 2011 edition of The Globe & Mail ... and then make another favourite Brussels Sprouts dish, where I'll steam and then marinade them in Treadwell's fragrant Baco Noir & Blueberry Balsamic Vinegar. Now, what about those lovely pie pumpkins? I think Cinderella just found out what happened to her pumpkin stage coach at the stroke of midnight! It became Pumpkin baklavas or cheesecakes or cupcakes or muffins or pancakes or risotto or soup or waffles! Did I miss anything? What do YOU plan to do with any of the above mentioned?

Stay tuned for Toronto's multicultural holiday celebrations as I revisit Kensington Market with new eyes, palate and other senses along the Kensington Festive Foodies Roots Walks on Saturday December 3rd, 10th & 17th, 2011. Yes, I love all the holidays, so we celebrate not one, but all the Festivals of Light: Diwali, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Channukah and Kawanzaa. Of course, the best part of the celebrations - the spirit of sharing the foods, the drinks, the changing customs and traditions of your own culture with others!

Toronto: November 1st, 2011 All Saints' Day

2011-11-01T14:38:00.000-04:00

Victorian Lady aka Shirley Lum,
guide during Halloween Week Ghost Walks

How more appropriate could it have been that on Monday October 31st, 2011 we celebrated All Hallows Eve or Halloween along the Haunted Kensington, Chinatown & The Grange Walk. It's suppose to be the vigil of the Feast (the eve). And feast we did. I kicked-off at Moon Bean Cafe with a ghost story complete with eerie multicultural twists, while guests noshed on Chocolate Rugullahs and sipped Hot Chocolates. We reflected over how many consider Halloween pagan (and in many instances the celebrations are for many), as far as the Church is concerned the date is simply the eve of the feast of All Saints. Many customs of Halloween reflect the Christian belief that on the feast's vigils we mock evil, because as Christians, it has no real power over us. However, for some Halloween is used for evil purposes, in which many Christians dabble unknowingly.

Dia de los Muertes window display
Courage My Love 2011

In the Middle Ages, poor people in the community begged for "soul cakes," and upon receiving th

ese doughnuts, they would agree to pray for departed souls. This is the root of our modern day "Trick-or-Treat." The custom of masks and costumes developed to mock evil and perhaps confuse the evil spirits by dressing as one of their own. Some Christians visit cemeteries on Halloween, not to practice evil, but to commemorate departed relatives and friends, with picnics and the last flowers of the year. Over the last few years, I've noticed more Mexican venues within Kensington Market and celebration of Dia de los Muertes (Day of the Dead) is becoming more mainstream.

Look up!
At ROM's steps between the two
Marble Lions

How even more appropriate that tonight, Tuesday November 1st, 2011, All Saints' Day, I'll be conducting the Haunted Yorkville, U of T & Queen's Park Walk. Guests will be haunted by a ghost story told over delicious Hungarian Coffee Cakes and hot coffee at the oldest remaining cafe in Yorkville Village. I'll be leading my guests through one of Toronto's most oldest and revered university, and we will celebrate all the saints as we stroll through Victoria College (Methodist), St Michael College (Catholic), UC (non-denominational), and Trinity College (Anglican). All the while, I'll be sharing eerie ghost stories and slipping in Toronto's fascinating history in these three adjoining neighbourhoods.

The day after All Saints day is called All Soul's Day, a day to remember and offer prayers up on behalf of all of the faithful departed. I'm sure tonight's guests will be reflecting over some of the haunting tales on this day. In many cultures it seems the two days share many customs. What customs do you still practise at this time of the year? Feel free to share

Art Deco Period costume perfect for
Millionaire's Row aka Queen's Park Circle

2011-10-12T16:19:00.015-04:00

Haunted Yorkville, U of T & Queen's Park

HALLOWEEN WEEK GHOST WALKS (6:30-9:00 pm):

Advance E-Tickets Availability
October 25th - November 1st, 2011

Once we've rested and stuffed ourselves during the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend, we then have another annual tradition at A Taste of the World's office.

Phantoms, Players & Pundits

The phone starts to ring off the hook (or out of the cell phone holster). The e-mail enquiries start coming in... All the phone calls and e-mails have the same quest: the hunt for the limited Advance E-Tickets for Halloween Week ghost walks. At first, folks will be relaxed but as Halloween night approaches, the sense of urgency picks up...

To ensure the quality of each ghost walk during this extremely popular time of the year, we sell Advance E-Tickets with advance payment.

Nightly, starting from Tuesday October 25th until Tuesday November 1st, 13 lucky guests get the opportunity to explore the eerier side of Toronto with A Taste of the World. Space availability will be updated on a regular basis, so check-in as frequently as you like...

Book NOW to avoid being disappointed at info@torontowalksbikes.com or (416) 923-6813

Haunted Yorkville, U of T
&
Queen's Park

Legend:

HYUT = Haunted Yorkville, U of T & Queen's Park Walk

PPP = Phantoms, Players & Pundits Walk

HKCG = Haunted Kensington, Chinatown & The Grange Walk

GGG = Ghosts, Greasepaint & Gallows Walk

Ghost Walk Availability during Halloween Week 2011:

TUES OCT 25th: HYUT - 05 spots available

WED OCT 26th: PPP - 09 spots available

THURS OCT 27th: HKCG - 04 spots available

FRI OCT 28th: GGG - 09 spots available

SAT OCT 29th: PPP - SOLD OUT -

SUN OCT 30th: HKCG - 11 spots available

MON OCT 31st: HKCG - 09 spots available

TUES NOV 1st: HYUT - 04 spots available

Ghosts, Greasepaint & Gallows

Is Toronto, the Meeting Place for the Living... or the Dead?

Find out on a ghost walk with us during Halloween Week 2011!

Haunted Kensington, Chinatown & The Grange

Slide Show: Growing Nuit Blanche Draws 130 Art Installations, Long Lines | BizBash

2011-10-12T12:52:00.001-04:00

Slide Show: Growing Nuit Blanche Draws 130 Art Installations, Long Lines | BizBash

There is something magical about exploring a big city once dusk gives way to the darkness of night...

Nuit Blanche enriches any city hosting such an all-night art event as participants, be they long-time residents, newcomers or visitors, they savour an evening of full sensory experience ....

Whether you call Toronto your home town, or you're visiting Toronto a gazillion times, mark your calendar now for the 7th Scotiabank Nuit Blanche: Saturday September 29th, 2012!

See you on the streets of Toronto for another awesome cultural experience!

iThank Steve Jobs

2011-10-10T10:08:00.000-04:00

This quote is dedicated to late Steve Jobs...

"The real voyage of discovery 
consists not in seeking new lands, 
but in seeing with new eyes." 
- Marcel Proust

STEVE JOBS

February 24, 1955 - October 5, 2011

Steve Jobs was more than your average American entrepreneur. He was a computer
entrepreneur. He was an innovator.  He was the Thomas Edison of our time. Just as
the light bulb changed the way we looked at things and we go about our daily lives, so did the innovations that Steve imagined and produced. He was one of the world's greatest marketers. He will be missed by many around the globe.

Sunday or Monday Thanksgiving night marks the time when many Canadians will be gathering together and savouring the abundant Fall bounty at the Thanksgiving dinner table.  I would love to be a fly on the wall of many homes in Toronto, just to hear dinner conversation topic: how much Steve Jobs has touched every aspect of our lives.

In his own words he expresses his philosophy of death elegantly: 

“No one wants to die. 
Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. 
And yet death is the destination we all share. 
No one has ever escaped it. 
And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. 
It is Life's change agent. 
It clears out the old to make way for the new. 
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. 
Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. 
Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. 
And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. 
They somehow already know what you truly want to become. 
Everything else is secondary.” 
~ Steve Jobs

Guernsey Connections: My Vintage Guernsey Apron, Victor Hugo & bestseller, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2011-10-04T01:16:00.000-04:00

Ever been to Guernsey Island? It is one of four beautiful islands that make up the Channel Islands between England and France. I've been there. Solo. I pedalled Guernsey and Jersey Islands as part of my 2-1/2 months 2-wheeled adventure of Europe of my own design in 1988. I vowed I'd return to the Channel Islands some day, with or without my bicycle ...

Over the years, I've been transported back to Guernsey Island...three times!

The first time would be thanks to my Guernsey Traditional Recipe apron.... An apron with local recipes printed on it, makes a compact, light-weight and practical souvenir for a biking foodies. Yes, this vintage 100% cotton apron (made in UK) is in mint condition because I thought it was too "pretty" to be used! Oddly enough, I never had any of these delicious traditional Guernsey dishes while I was there: Guernsey Queen Cakes that calls for equal shots of rose water and Brandy; Guernsey Bean Jar that calls for pigs trotter (or beef shin bone!); and mouthwatering Guernsey Crab Cutlets. My favourite of them all, decadent Guernsey Gâche. This recipe caught my eyes thanks to two ingredients that are truly local ingredients: Guernsey Butter and Guernsey Milk! What's the big deal? Try Afternoon Tea while you're on Guernsey Island and like me, you'll notice right away how more golden both the butter and the cream look, and how much richer is the taste. A taste of heaven on paradise island! Now, imagine cheese made from Guernsey cow milk. If you're in Toronto, try to fit into your itinerary my Kensington Foodies Roots Walks. On this tour, you'll get a chance to try an artisanal Ontario cheese called Niagara Gold Cheese, made by Upper Canada Cheese Company. By the way, they own a few Guernsey cows. Need I say more?

The second time I'm transported back to Guernsey is thanks to Victor Hugo who was exiled there from 1855 to 1870.... Those of you who have been guests on my Ghosts, Greasepaint & Gallows walks, might hear the eerie tales of my "accidental" visit to the French writer's home, the famous Hauteville House, located on Saint Peter Port heights... and my coincidental stay at the same guest house he stayed at while waiting for his home to be built... the eerie details are better told in person while on the ghost walk....

The third time I'm transported back to Guernsey is thanks to a brilliant bestseller.... I'm currently savouring a new novel - Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, who passed away in 2008, and her niece, Annie Barrows. It's a little literary gem set in Guernsey about love, war, and the utter delights found in good books and good company. I love the connections between a roast pig dinner and a potato peel pie and the beginning of a book club with an unique foodie name. How did the book club come to have such an interesting name? Read and find out! Meanwhile, if you are dying to make your own modern Guernsey Potato Peel Pie check out this YouTube video demonstration courtesy of VisitGuernsey ... Bon Appetite!

By the way, did I mention that Guernsey Island also have some beautiful beaches? Perfect setting for a sunset stroll after a tasty dinner of modern Guernsey Potato Peel Pie ...

You just might find me re-visiting Guernsey Island ... exploring its many nooks and crannies in the near future... enroute to Paris for my wedding anniversary with my hubby...

Charlie Sheen Roast (Canadian Promo)

2011-09-29T11:50:00.001-04:00

Love Canadian Humour!

Video site: Riverdale Park, Toronto

Riverdale Park is fave on my Broadview Gateway: Four Cultures Foodie walk!

Check out the Granny in the video - vote for my friend, Ruth Kelly! She totally rocks!

Travel Guide: Paris Chocolate Shops | Food & Wine

2011-09-16T15:48:00.000-04:00

Travel Guide: Paris Chocolate Shops | Food & Wine

I can't wait until it's 2014 when I return to Paris for a foodies/gastronomic 5th wedding anniversary trip with my hubby. As a Chocoholic who has been to NYC's Chocolate twice, I look forward to venturing into some of these chocolate temples of Paris! Stay tuned!

Paris Travel Guide: Best New Paris Restaurants, Bakeries, Wine Bars and More | Food & Wine

2011-09-16T15:39:00.000-04:00

Paris Travel Guide: Best New Paris Restaurants, Bakeries, Wine Bars and More | Food & Wine

Ahhh... Paris!

I've visited Paris when I turned sweet 16 with my mom, a cousin and his wife in tow.

I returned after university, as a young, adventurous single gal back in 1988 - solo on the new touring bike I had shipped from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I discovered myself while I ate and pedalled my way through fabulous Paris ... I ache to return and see how much the Paris has changed over the years...

Guess what I might be using while visiting Paris in 2014 as I celebrate my 5th wedding anniversary with hubby? Stay tuned ...

Harvest Moon Festival in Toronto

2011-09-12T21:25:00.000-04:00

Four Moon Cakes with 4 Unique Fillings
Top (L-R): Lotus Paste with 1 Yolk; Coconut with 1 Yolk
Bottom (L-R): Red Bean & 1 Yolk; Nut & Seeds Medley & Ham

It's Monday September 12th, 2011 evening. Look up and check-out the breath-taking bright full moon that's hanging low in the dark twinkling skies. Tonight marks the 15th day of the 8th moon in the ancient Chinese lunar calendar.

Since mid-August, guests attending my Sunday foodies walk such as the Toronto's Lost First Chinatown Foodies Walks or Second Chinatown Foodies Walks, have been enjoying the concept of "preparing" for festivities to take place tonight. The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival a.k.a Harvest Moon Festival or Moon Cake Festival is associated with legends richly loaded with many characters, dramas, and of course, the food! I virtually have to tell each of the different tales at different locales along either one of the foodies tour.

Guests find it mind boggling as we handle these hand-carved wooden Moon Cake molds - the sheer weight, the intricate details, the prices, and most of all, the process in making a moon cake. Having taken the George Brown College's Festive Chinese Cuisine course, I love sharing the painstaking steps involved in making these decadent cakes. My favourite step would be getting the cake out of the wooden mold and onto the baking sheet. How do you think I did it?

Folks always laugh as I share hilarious stories of Moon Cakes circa 1970s - memorable stale moon cakes shipped from a Vancouver Chinatown bakery, wrapped in plain newsprint and oozing with lard! The "good old days" were not so yummy for the eyes nor the tummy! Now, our eyes pop each time as we go into one of the Asian grocery stores along the Second Chinatown tour; we feast with our eyes some beautiful tin boxes. Here are some boxes we're seeing in the shops this year that I've been adoring...

Legendary Heroine depicted on this tin box

Another beautiful tin depicting Mid-Autumn flower, the Chrysanthemum!

Kim Moon Bakery's box depicts
an Emperor's legendary water garden connected
with the Harvest Moon Festival

Enough of admiring the wooden molds and the tin boxes. I'm going to have my yin-yang experience as I finish off nibbling my sliver of the lotus paste moon cake with salty duck egg yolk. Time to check out the lovely shining moon with my hubby and then wrap up with a refreshing slice of pomelo!

Toronto Screams for Neighbourhood Ice Cream!

2011-08-01T21:10:00.000-04:00

DT Bistro: my favourite Gelato flavours -
Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate & Caramel Macchiato

Toronto - It's Simcoe Day on August 1st and it's still HOT! HOT! HOT!

Does the contining heat have you craving for ice cream yet? Those of you who followed me on Twitter (@ATasteofWorld) during the record heat of 48C on Thursday July 21st, 2011 would recall one of my heat survival tweets: "Strolling on shaded side of streets; carrying water & umbrella aka portable shade + treating myself to ice cream! "With that kind of heat, we melt as fast as the ice cream we devour to cool off.

Toronto has been called the city of neighbourhoods. So during this heat blast I thought it'd be fun to ask fellow Torontonians following me on Twitter, which neighbourhood ice cream spot(s) is/are their favourite and some of you also shared wonderful comments/tips. Thank you for taking the time to vote your favourite.

POLL you visited ....

FAVE TORONTO NEIGHBOURHOOD ICE CREAM SPOT?

Here are the results of the poll ... Drum roll please!

The winner hands-down is DT Bistro!!! 56% of you lovely folks voted for them! Congrats Chef Donald Duong for your awesome rotating homemade gelato flavours!

Second place goes to Greg's Ice Cream at 18% of votes followed closely by SOMA Chocolate and Ed's Real Scoop at 15% and 12% respectively. Rounding off the poll, we have a nod for Dutch Dreams (9%), Green Beanery (6%), Hollywood Gelato (6%), Kensington Market Organic Ice Cream (6%) and La Paloma (3%).

Ice cream, like wine, coffee and tea, is very personal. Ask the simple question, "What's your favourite flavour? Or what's your favourite neighbourhood ice cream spot?" and you end up getting into a very heated discussion - whether in person, on the phone or via Twitter!

Here are some wonderful comments/tips from fellow Toronto foodies -

Mary Luz Mejia, food writer, food communications pro of Sizzling Communications (@MaryLuzOnFood) "SOMA Chocolate (@SOMAChocolate) for sure in the Distillery District - deelish! ;) Her favourite flavours are "Blood Orange Sorbet and their hazelnut too! Oh and coconut! mmm! "

Marion Kane (@mkanefoodsleuth) After trying awesome Salted Caramel Gelato in San Francisco, she was tickled to hear from me, the Queen of Nooks & Crannies, that there's a little Toronto nook & crannies proffering this favour. "Amazing discover, DT Bistro on Harbord. Salted Caramel, Chocolate Mint & Lemon Meringue".

Alison Fryer, Manager of The Cookbook Store (@cookbookshop) in response to Marion Kane's tweet: "Begs to differ! Salted Caramel at Ed's Real Scoop in the Beaches (@Ed's_Real_Scoop) is sublime!"

The hip staff of WHERE Toronto Magazine (@WHEREToronto) says @ilgelateriere on Mt. Pleasant Road is definitely one of the best! bit./ly/mRLORc

Judy Hammond, Web content specialist for Canada's tourism industry/PR Rep. (@BoomerGirl50) Shared her faves: Chocolateria on Roncys (aka Roncesvalles near Bloor West Village), Greg's Ice Cream (@GregsIceCream), St. Clair aka Maple Leaf because it's not yuppified and for soft ice cream - Tom's Dairy Freeze.

I scream! YOU scream! We ALL scream for ice cream in Toronto, the city of neigbourhoods, as the heat continues ...

Dolce Gelato (Danforth): Limone Gelato is their #1 seller

Feel free to post your comments before you melt with the heat ...

Nostalgic Toronto Ice Cream Haunts

2011-07-21T18:48:00.000-04:00

The Ice Cream Store

Oh, the kids around the block are like an

Ice Cream store,

'Cause there's chocolate, and vanilla,

And there's maple and there's more.

And there's butterscotch and orange -

Yes, there's flavours by the score;

And the kids around the block are like an

Ice cream store!

- Dennis Lee, Toronto's first Poet Laureate

This poetic gem by Toronto's first Poet Laureate, Dennis Lee always make me nostalgic... Why you might ask? Every July, from 1993 -2001, I kicked-off my annual Cool Sundae Bike Tour by reciting this delicious Dennis Lee poem. This ride was one of my many favourite annual neighbourhood bicycle tours I designed and personally led through quiet side streets during the hot blistering summers in Toronto. The month of July always seem to get hot and dry. The intense heat always have us screaming for cool treats like ice cream, gelato, tartufo, granita along a two-wheeled adventure in Toronto's various neighbourhoods!

We started at Castle Frank Subway Station and pedalled up to the Corso Italia neighbourhood along St. Clair Avenue West. Nestled in the St. Clair Ave W/Vaughan Road/Bathurst Street triangle was Dutch Dreams, where we savoured fabulous ice cream in a building looking like a red Dutch windmill!

After that cool stop, we continued towards the old Neilson Factory that's now a chocolate factory on Gladstone/Dundas Street West. This old factory started off cranking out local ice cream thanks to Neilson's eldest son, a wrestling champion who claimed that his fitness level was achieved thanks to cranking the ice cream on a daily basis! I say he takes the title as Hand-made Ice Cream champion in Toronto! Thus the humble beginning of locally made ice cream in Toronto.

After food for thoughts (or ice cream for thoughts), we cruised over to Little Italy neighbourhood for another nooks and crannies special - Sicilian Ice Cream Company to sample a medley of homemade Tartufo, Gelato and Granita. Bellisimo! Thank you Galipo brothers for bringing their traditional Capo D'Orlando, Sicily gelato recipes over with them as they emigrated to Toronto in 1959! Once in a while, you still see me popping in for a box of frozen Tartufo to take home to savour!

Remember Yokahama Noodle at 326 Adelaide Street West? It's long-gone from that best-kept Japanese foodies spot, but the memories linger for their home-made Japanese Green Tea Ice Cream... it was a rich and smooth ice cream thanks to the 35% cream and finely grind Macha Green Tea ... Sigh.... Yes, after a light lunch we had room for a tiny sampling there. When this little pokey Japanese eatery closed shop, we reluctantly replaced with a stop for Durian Ice Cream in one of the Vietnamese stores in Toronto's Second Chinatown (Spadina Avenue/Dundas Street West area).

Somehow, we slowly pedalled our way through the winding tree-lined streets of the historic Annex neighbourhood, and ended up in old-moneyed Rosedale's best-kept secret, My Favorite, run by Indira and her daughters. We simply had to pay homage to another local pioneer, Greg Mahon, the ebullient founder of Greg's Ice Cream, who starting using local, natural and premium ingredients since 1981! My Favorite (yes correct spelling at the store) were the first to serve his ice cream flavours like Green Tea, Roasted Marshmellow and Coffee Toffee (my three all-time favourites) outside of his original shop on Bloor Street West (across from the ROM).

Ah the good old days! Some of these spots are still around, and sadly, some departed, and new nooks and crannies have popped up. Stay tuned to the new ones I'll be featuring in my next blog. Meanwhile, what's your favourite Toronto haunt? Feel free to share your memories of past ice cream parlours by posting in the Comment section, and don't forget to put your favourite neighourhood cool spot on the 2011 Toronto Ice Cream map by checking out the poll on the right hand side of this blog! Stay cool! Stay tuned for my next blog, the new cool neighbourhood nooks & crannies!

New Gelato Company Offers On-Site Service, Logo-Shaped Popsicles | BizBash

2011-07-12T22:10:00.000-04:00

New Gelato Company Offers On-Site Service, Logo-Shaped Popsicles | BizBash

If you're renting one of the hot Bixi bikes, and happen to be pedalling along the waterfront's west end, it'll be cool to head north along Strachan Avenue and then go west along Queen Street West (aka the hip Design & Art District) and drop by Boreal Gelato Company at 1312 Queen Street West in Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto. See you there, as I'll be checking out this new gelato site at least once this hot summer as part of my R & D ;-) #TorontoTrending

Toronto Staycation Ideas

2011-07-08T00:59:00.002-04:00

From time to time, I get asked where do I go if I'm planning a Staycation in my own home town called Toronto? I enjoy mixing free events with moderately priced events ... I compiled a brief list of some of the best-kept secrets in town! Enjoy! Make a day of it or an evening of it! Hope I'll see you at one or two of the events!

FREE Toronto Music Garden hour Concerts: Thursdays & Sundays

Thank you Yo-Yo Ma for proposing to the City of Toronto to have this beautiful Garden of Eden with live music by Lake Ontario! Locals and travellers (in the know) can enjoy the cool lake breeze under the giant weeping willow tree while attending the FREE concerts on Thursdays at 7:00 PM and on Sundays at 4:00 PM! Whenever I get tired of the hustle and bustle of downtown city life, this little gem will restores my soul! You'll find me packing a picnic basket with my favourite dishes I've made ahead of time or items I might pick up from favourite Kensington Market shops or Chinatown eateries. Don't forget to bring along sunblock, a sun hat and a blanket to sit on. Check their amazing schedule of concerts http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/torontomusicgarden/index.cfm and mark your calendar or whatever phone device you own! NB: Try to get there one hour prior in order to grab the best spot for your picnic and concert seats!

FREE Edwards Garden Summer Music Series: Thursdays June 30 - August 18, 2011
Most locals associate Edwards Garden with weddings and photography in the summer. Some might think of it as only an area to coast through on bike or roller blades. Well, there are two wonderful programs I'm thinking of checking out myself. They have the Farmers' Marketplace 3:00-7:00 PM. As a matter of fact, i'm thinking of shopping for part of our "picnic" and/or grocery and make it a night out. Go early to enjoy the market, then a light dinner or refreshment at the Garden Cafe, and then attend the 7:00-8:30PM concerts. Check the schedule http://torontobotanicalgarden.ca/events/gardensofsong.htm and mark the dates in your calendars! You might see me there with my antique picnic basket!
Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto

Friday Foodies Walk Series: July 8th - September 2nd, 2011

I've had locals mention that they love taking off on Fridays during the summer to relax, catch-up on errands, and to re-charge themselves. So we're offering these same folks the opportunity to re-discover Toronto's nooks and crannies while treating themselves as they shop along one of these foodies walks! Yes, that's how yours truly, the culinary historian/tour guide finds time to shop for her groceries by shopping along the tours as well! http://TorontoWalksBikes.com
* Kensington Foodies Roots Walk: Multi-ethnic Summer Bounty 9:30 AM-1:00 PM

Fri. July 8th, 22nd, Aug. 5th, 19th,

* Second Chinatown Foodies Walk 10:00 AM-1:30 PM

Fri. July 15th (8 spots), 29th, Aug. 12th, 26th, Harvest Moon Prep & Sept. 2nd

FREE Friday Afternoon Tours at DX
Mark this in your calendar - Last Friday 1:00 PM of every month! The Design Exchange or DX was formerly the Toronto Stock Exchange, a beautiful Art Deco building. Join the DX for the free tours of their current exhibits and space on the last Friday of every month! RSVP with noa@dx.org or call (416) 216-2120. Can't make it? Contact Noa at noa@dx.org to arrange a group tour!
Latest exhibit Play>Nation opens July 7th, 2011 and is an indulgence in Canadian 'play' influenced by our vast geography. It showcases some of our iconic necessities, such as canoes, snowshoes and bicycles. Hours: M-F 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Sat/Sun Noon-5:00 PM
DX 234 Bay Street, Toronto (416) 363-6121

Remember, summer will speed by quickly, so enjoy and savour every moment of this fabulous season while you can! It's double the fun when you share your "goof-off" time with a close friend or relative!

If I missed any Toronto staycation ideas, please feel free to share them here as Toronto is fast becoming a "happening" city!

Le Creuset Flagship to Open in Toronto

2011-07-07T11:37:00.001-04:00

Le Creuset Flagship to Open in Toronto

Foodies mark Thursday August 18th in your calendars so you don't miss this historic culinary event! See you at the Sherway Garden Shopping Mall in line to get into this flagship store!

My Cool Canada Day Weekend Events

2011-06-30T18:27:00.017-04:00

Happy 144th Birthday Canada!

I am proud to be a Canadian, as a matter of fact, a CBC aka Canadian-born Chinese, raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada!

Every time I see the red and white Canadian flag when I'm abroad, I get that patriotic feeling swell up inside me. Yes it's corny, but it's true. I just came back from NYC for my big birthday and 2nd wedding anniversary celebrations. While there, we attended one of the Cinderella ballet performances by the American Ballet Theater at the breath-taking Metropolitan Opera House. This beautiful ballet was choreographed by James Kudelka of National Ballet of Canada. Yes, he's a Canadian based in Toronto. You can imagine how proud I was during the whole evening's performance! Now back in town, you'll likely see me on Toronto streets riding my bike with a mini paper Canadian flag flapping in the wind! Wondering how does someone who leads off-the-beaten-path walking tours celebrate Canada Day long weekend?

Here's a sneak peek of some of the Canada Day celebrations I have in mind ...

Decadent greeting at entrance!

*** Canada Day - July 1st - Ease into celebrations with brunch ***

Chef Donald Duong and his staff at DT Bistro will be open on Canada Day! Yipee! Stroll over or even better, dash over to make sure you nab a table at my favourite intimate neighbourhood eatery when they open for Brunch at 10:00 AM! You'll see my hubby and moi, sitting at one of the tables with an open French window tucking into one of our favourite dishes; Curried Salmon Naan Wrap, Coconut Curried Shrimp Naan with Salad and refreshing Avocado Honey Milkshake ;-) If your Canada Day plans include dropping into Queen's Park for hot dogs, balloons and music, then treat yourself to a delicious dinner or just dessert. Their awesome homemade gelato might be a fabulous way to end Canada's birthday bash!

DT Bistro, 154 Harbord St/Brunswick Ave. (416) 916-8155

*** Canada Day - July 1st PM - FREE Strawberry Cooking Class for Kids ***

I like being Number One Yee-Yee (that's Auntie in Cantonese dialect of Chinese language) to my favourite niece and nephew;-). Here's a fun 1/2-hr afternoon experience that's hands-on and right by the lake at Harbourfront Centre so you all get to stay cool during this hot weekend. Oh, and the best part - it's FREE! See schedule of cooking sessions at http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/week.cfmid=2949&utm_source=harbourkids&utm_medium=enews&utm_campaign=harbourkids+20110628&utm_content=inline
Hosted by Harbourfront Centre

*** Nova Scotia Saltscapes Expo 2011: Savour the Flavour in Toronto! ***

I've designed and led a biking tour of Nova Scotia with friends many years ago. So I'm excited about visiting Nova Scotia sans flying out of Toronto. How's that possible? The 8th annual expo takes place at East Island Plaza, Ontario Place July 1-3, 2011
I'm looking forward to savouring the best of Nova Scoatia in travel, culture, music and culinary experiences without leaving Toronto! Of course, there is Porter right by the lake ... now where's my passport and luggage? I can't wait to see, smell, sample and make purchases from a showcase of Atlantic Canadian food, wine, beer and other products and specials. Did I mention that there will be cooking demo featuring chefs from the Atlantic region preparing signature recipes made with local ingredients? More information http://saltscape.com/expo for expo details and http://www.tasteofnovascotia.com for quality culinary experiences in Nova Scotia.
Hosted by Nova Scotia Tourism, Taste of Nova Scotia and Saltscapes.

*** Canada Day - Fri July 1st 6:30PM - Haunted Kensington, Chinatown & Grange Walk ***
Would you believe that part of the original lot we now know as Kensington Market is older than Canada and there used to be one house belonging to the founding family? 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of Kensington turning from purely residential suburban area into Kensington Market with storefronts? Love vampire and ghost stories with multicultural twists? There is still a few spots left, so book now for an interesting Canada Day experience along Haunted Kensington, Chinatown & The Grange Walk to brag about when you're back at work! http://www.TorontoWalksBikes.com

Hosted by A Taste of the World Walks

*** Sat July 2nd 9:30AM-1:00PM Kensington Foodies Roots Walk ***
There are 4 spots left! Book now to avoid being disappointed!

July's Ontario bounty might have us savouring Blackberries, blueberries and more! Bring along your shopping bags so you can load up too! I'll be offering canning tips for those interested in quick freezer jams! I'm already looking forward to sampling summer's bounty while peeling back the layers of culinary history in Kensington's marketplace and residential quarters.
http://www.TorontoWalksBikes.com
Hosted by A Taste of the World Tours

*** Sat. July 2nd 3:00 PM Canada Day Weekend - Literary Detective walk ***

Yes the Charles Dickens visited Toronto in 1842, before the confederation of Canada in 1867. Imagine if we could bring Dickens along the walking tour with a little help from Dr Who's time machine (who can forget that awesome British phone booth aka time machine). What would Dickens think of Toronto in 2011? Who came to the dinner in Toronto in his honour? Hint: one guest in picture. Come along for interesting discussions along the In the Footsteps of Charles Dickens: 1842.
http://www.TorontoWalksBikes.com
Hosted by A Taste of the World Tours

*** Sun July 3rd 10AM-1:30 PM - Second Chinatown Foodies Walk ***

It's Sunday, and I just love noshing on dim sum so much that I'll be hosting dim sum on a guided foodies walking tour of Toronto's Second Chinatown. Find the Asian grocery stores intimidating? Not so when you're with a local culinary historian, born and raised in Toronto! Treat yourself by booking your spots now and come along for a culinary experience. Pick-up pastries for your picnic later on at the next event! http://www.TorontoWalksBikes.com
Meet: Lucky Moose Statue, 393 Dundas St W. /Beverley St.
Hosted by A Taste of the World Tours

*** Sun July 3rd 4:00 PM - Wrap-up Canada Day weekend - picnic & concert ***

FREE Toronto Music Garden Concert: O solo il mio violoncello! Montreal-based cellist Elinor Frey performs music by Italian cellist-composers from the Baroque, as well as powerful solos by Giovanni Sollima (born 1962) and Canada's Chris Paul Harman. I'm thinking of dropping in before 4:00PM concert, and get the audio wand so we can listen to Yo-Yo Ma perform Bach's First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello for each segment of the Music Garden. Just think you get a personal performance by the maestro Yo-Yo Ma upon dropping $6.00 CAD, your piece of ID and picking up the audio wand from the Dock master's office.

Perfect way to wrap-up celebrating Canada Day and the long weekend I say!

Happy 144th Birthday Canada!

Celebrate Asian Heritage Month 7 Different ways!

2011-05-20T14:50:00.006-04:00

It's mid-May and I am mid-way into celebrating Asian Heritage Month in Toronto. There are plenty of exciting city-wide Asian Heritage Month events to check out. Friends and colleagues kept asking me which events I'll attend for the remainder of May. Well, here are my top 7 picks of the Asian Culture celebrations in Greater Toronto Area. See how many Asian cultures you get to experience and how much ground you cover until the end of May! Don't forget to slap on sun block as you head out for your own cultural adventure ...

Broadview Gateway: 4 Cultures Foodies Walking Tour

A Taste of the World Walks presents culinary historian, Shirley Lum , who leads this fun and informative Foodies walking tour! Yes, I couldn't help but slip in one of our quirky events ;-) as it will be fun since I'll be leading it. It'll be a blast! There will be equal portions of food for the palate and thoughts, while we peel back the layer of immigrant food history in lost Chester Village, Riverdale and Chinatown East, Toronto's third Chinatown. Celebrate Asian Heritage Month with us as we check out the ingredients needed to make Zong Zi connected with the Dragon Boat Festival preparations while peeling back layers of Chinese history in Toronto!

Sunday May 22, 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Broadview Subway Station, entrance

RSVP Required: info@TorontoWalksBikes.com or (416) 923-6813

FREE Japanese Mechanical Doll Demo Tamaya Shobei, Karakuri Ningyo Master

The Japan Foundation, Toronto welcomes Master Craftsman Tamaya Shobei IX for a special demonstration of Karakuri Ningyo, elaborate mechanical dolls that first became popular in Japan in the 17th century. Mr. Shobei represents the ninth generation of a line of esteemed artisans sharing his name who specialize in Karakuri Ningyo. Technologically advanced and aesthetically beautiful, Karakuri Ningyo are considered the forebears of modern-era Japanese robotics.

Mr. Shobei will be demonstrating two types of Karakuri Ningyo. Perhaps the best known form of these dolls, the Cha-Hakobi-Ningyo (tea-carrying doll) holds a tray, delivers a cup of tea to a guest, and then returns to its original position. The Yumi-Hiki Douji (arrow-shooting child), considered the pinnacle of Karakuri Ningyo craftsmanship for its detailed movements and facial expression, can pick up an arrow and shoot it at a target.

Tuesday, May 24, 6:30 PM (Doors open at 6:00 PM) FULL!
** Additional Timeslot Tuesday May 24, 2:30 PM **

The Japan Foundation, 131 Bloor St. W., 2^nd Floor of the Colonnade Building
RSVP Required: http://www.jftor.org/whatson/rsvp.php or (416) 966-1600 x103

Haunted Kensington, Chinatown & The Grange Walk
A Taste of the World Walks presents this eerie ghost walking tour during Asian Heritage Month! Try snacks associated with Chinese a little-known ghost festival called Qing Ming, all the while listening this and many other ghost stories with multicultural twists as these thee areas are so culturally diverse! Find out which shops and/or favourite eateries are haunted!

Friday, May 27, 6:30 - 9:00 PM Red Pole w Black Cat, 350 Spadina Ave.
RSVP Required: info@TorontoWalksBikes.com or (416) 923-6813

FREE East Asian Homeland Festival
Toronto Public Library presents eight Asian Homeland Festival on Saturdays throughout May. This is one festival which celebrates the breath of Asia. Only Marco Polo covered more Asian ground than their 2011 Asian Homelands Festivals!

12 PM Stories from Japan and beyond with Yusuke Tanaka and Nathalie Vachon.
1 PM Food demo & tasting with amazing chef, Winlai Wong of the hot King Street West eatery called Silk Route Asian Bistro & Bar.
2 PM Balinese dance and music with Sekar Rasa Duo

Saturday, May 28 Lilian H. Smith Branch

FREE Asian Film Festival screening: Bodyguards & Assassins [十月圍城]

Reel Asian is presenting martial arts action-packed and star-studded film. It is 1905 Hong Kong and news has reached Chen Xiaobai that revolutionary leader Sun Yat-Sen will be arriving in the city for a secret meeting. Prior to his arrival, an elite army of deadly Qing assassins with lethal weapons has been posted all over the British colony. To save the fate of a nation, Chen recruits a gang of extraordinary citizens – amongst them a beggar, a rickshaw driver and stinky tofu vendor – to protect the great Sun Yat-Sen. Hang on to your seats! This epic blockbuster is non-stop combat. Winner of 8 Hong Kong Film Awards in 2010 including Best Film, Best Director and Best Action Choreography.

China 2009 | 139min | Cantonese & Mandarin with English subtitles | Rated 14A
Director Teddy Chan Tak Sun | Producers Peter Chan Ho-sun, Huang Jianxin
Actors Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Wang Xueqi, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Nicholas Tse, Hu Jun, Li Yuchun, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam, Fan Bing-bing, Zhou Yun, Wang Po-Chieh, Mengke Bateer, Cung Le

Saturday, May 28, 8:00 PM
Toronto Underground Cinema, 186 Spadina Avenue

Second Chinatown Foodies Walk: Dragon Boat Festival prep

A Taste of the Worlds Walks celebrates Asian Heritage Month by presenting a special culinary walking tour of Toronto's Second Chinatown. Savour and sample Zong Zi or Sticky rice dumplings at the hosted dim sum and tea stop at one of the oldest Chinese bakery. Culinary Historian and raconteur, Shirley Lum will have you chuckling over the lore and legend connecting the exhilarating boat race and the decadent dumplings! A tour of an Asian grocery store will get guests into the grove of picking up the necessary ingredients, and feel ready to prepare for the festivities!

Sunday, May 29 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Lucky Moose Statue, 393 Dundas St W/Beverley Sts.

FREE Dragon Boat Festival & Sticky Rice Dumplings: Hands-on Workshop & Demo

Toronto Public Library presents this unique event. On the fifth day of the fifth moon, the dragon boat festival takes places. This year, this exciting lunar food festival takes place on Monday June 6th, 2011. How does one prepare for this fascinating event? What are the lore and legend connecting the Zong Zi or sticky rice dumplings to the Dragon Boat Festival? Find out by registering for your spots! Culinary historian, Shirley Lum will demonstrate how to make the savoury and sweet Zong Zi or dumplings, and then you get a chance to try it yourself!

Monday, May 30, 6:00 - 8:15 PM
Palmerston branch
Pre-register spots (416) 393-7680

Have a fabulous time!
Explore Toronto's various neighbourhoods

while celebrating Asian Heritage Month!

Best Mother's Day Gift is YOU: Spend Precious Time Together

2011-05-03T18:44:00.009-04:00

Time. It's so precious. Mother's Day is fast approaching as the clock keeps ticking away, and the days slip by, and next thing you know, it's Saturday and you still do NOT have a Mother's Day gift! I don't know about you, I don't need a countdown, as there have been daily ads/commercials with reminders that time is running out, and that you'd better treat mom to chocolate, flower, jewellery and spa treatments. Oddly enough, none of the before mentioned gift items appeal to my mom (okay, maybe a small pair of earrings, but then my mom will note that she has no events to attend, so no excuse to wear them). How does one say "Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I love you, Mom" so it's meaningful, memorable and intimate? Remember the last time you made that hokey homemade card for mom? Bet your mom might still might have it tucked away with some of the other crafts you've made but forgot about along the way, since you grew up... Funny thing, it's not any of the tangible items you can conveniently purchase at a store or online, but merely by giving yourself namely, spending some quality and quantity time with your own mom or grandma.

I've had the pleasure of hosting the Second Chinatown Foodies Walk for intimate, small group ( 8-9 of us) scheduled on Mother's Day. Several women treated their own mothers to a foodies walking tour experience with me. Along the Second Chinatown Foodies Walk, I start off with the hosted dim sum and it's always a fascinating communal experience as we bond over flying chopsticks, tea pouring etiquettes, while trying new and familiar flavours, textures and aromas. Often, the food/drinks, the old pictures and stories I share along my culinary historical walking tours would trigger awesome personal stories and memories and render many heartfelt chuckles. When we end at one of the oldest Chinese bakery sipping hot Hong Kong tea with bites of a medley of pastries, folks are always amazed by how quickly the day flew by while they were having so much fun. Remember that old saying, "Time flies by when you're having fun! " So true! Sigh!

This year, I'm spreading the Mother's Day love over the whole weekend, just so I can keep it intimate numbers per tour. As a culinary historian, it's sheer fun peeling back the layers of multicultural food history within the marketplace and residential quarters of Kensington Market along the Kensington Foodies Roots Walk with folks who have wicked stories of their own to share. I look forward to reciting my Grilled Cheese Haiku (written for first time after several decades hiatus) after we taste a variety of Canadian artisanal cheese, as I'm sure all will appreciate Canadian humour! Longtime residents, newcomers and visitors alike, love the beginning of the tour, as I challenge them to imagine only one family and one house occupying the area, and then we end with pictures and maps showing that very first family's home and long driveway. Heady experience I must say.

By the way, to make Mother's Day more memorable, I will be handing out a single flower for each Mom treated to the tour by their accompanying offspring! Book your spots by Thursday May 5th, 2011 to make sure your Mom gets her flower! Call the office (416) 923-6813 or e-mail info@TorontoWalksBikes.com

Remember your Mom, Grandma or your favourite Auntie.

Life is short & sweet.
Life is sweeter, when precious time is spent together with loved ones.
Cherish those memorable moments as we sip & nosh together.

April: Grilled Cheese & National Poetry Month!

2011-04-29T02:06:00.000-04:00

Gastronomic experiment: Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Woodlot's Red Fife bread, Sterling Butter from Cambridge, ON &
Upper Canada Cheese's Guernsey Girl Cheese

Canadian Grilled Cheese
as Royal Wedding Gift Haiku

Woodlot's Red Fife Bread ...

Upper Canada Cheese dream ...

Oh Canada oh!

- Shirley Lum April 29th, 2011

I just love the month of April!
* The month of April has been declared as National Poetry Month! Sharpen those quills folks and put on your Maple Leaf toques! Folks attending the popular Kensington Foodie Roots walks throughout 2011, will have "food for the soul" experiences, as I introduce one of my Grilled Cheese Haiku each time. It will be fun paying tribute to Canadian fromage with the seasonal/festive cheese tastings!
* April showers bring May flowers for those who appreciate Mother Nature's spring blooms! After a bit of hard work in my garden, I'm ready for a Grilled Cheese Sandwich!
* The month of April has also been declared as Grilled Cheese Month!

Guinness Cheddar:
Makes an awesome boozy Grilled Cheese Sandwich!

The grilled cheese sandwich is such a heavenly combination of three basic ingredients: bread, butter and cheese. Changing any one of these three key ingredients creates pure comfort food alchemy, figuratively and literally, so I'm discovering this past month.

I can't help myself, but this blog will be peppered with my own Haiku creations inspired by some of the different grilled cheese sandwich combinations I've made over this month ... and sprinkled with a bit of of trivia ...

What's amazes me, is how the combination of these three basic ingredients generated "cheesey tweets" in Twitter. Joining the conversation in Twitter, and I found "chat rooms" in the guise of Hashtags like #GrilledCheese, #CH (FYI: Cheese Haiku) and #Cheese! Marcella Wright aka Twitter@cheesemonger in Twitter, has postings every day of the month, and this one caught my eyes/palate: "April is Grilled Cheese Month" #21 Woman of LaMancha & Flame-Crafted Ham: http://wp.me/pvQzS-92 Bravo, Marcella!

Heading south of the border, the 8th Annual National Grilled Cheese Invitational http://grilledcheeseinvitational.com took on April 23rd, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA! Aside four different categories of grilled cheese sandwich, they also had Haiku and limerick poetry contests! The last time I wrote a Haiku was too long ago back in grade school. Anyway, I was unable to attend this cool event, but perhaps next time and I'll be armed with a variety of Haiku, bread, butter and cheese. Meanwhile, here's a wonderful report in LA Times "Grilled cheese as far as the eye could see" to whet your appetite and entice you to enter their 2012 cooking and/or literary contests: http://lat.ms/gc5rHj
Thanks to my love for this fabulous sandwich, poems written up by fellow Twitter fans for Haiku and limerick poetry contests inspired me to haul out my old fountain pen and ink well, to scratch off a few "cheesey" Haiku of my own while exploring new cheese or bread to use as I make my grilled cheese sandwich.

Toronto, The Meeting Place's

Grilled Cheese Haiku

Nakamura's Bread ...

Monteforte's awesome Sheep Milk Cheese ...

TO's Hot Grilled Cheese!

- Shirley Lum April 26, 2011

From early childhood and right through my university years, the grilled cheese sandwich was an old reliable friend whenever I'm in the pinch for time. In the past, my grilled cheese sandwich would have been a slice of processed cheese slipped between white bread by Wonder Bread. Then, I switched to whole wheat bread from a national grocery store. Since starting my Kensington Foodie Roots walking tours, my bread slowly morphed as I started shopping in the culturally diverse Kensington Market's bakeries and grocery stores. A new repertoire of heavenly slices for my grilled cheese sandwich: Rye bread, Jamaican corn bread, Portuguese white corn bread, Persian Sesame Flatbread, and the list goes on.

Early April, I found myself with a grilled cheese sandwich consisting of decadent Guernsey Girl Cheese by Upper Canada Cheese between hearty slices of Red Fife Bread from Woodlot Restaurant and Bakery accompanied by soup and salad. As I nibbled into my sandwich, I read What's to Eat? Entrees in Canadian Food History. The chapter, Grain Elevated: The Fall and Rise of Red Fife Wheat by food columnist Sarah Musgrave caught my attention. In Grade 8, I wrote a report on the status of wheat in Canada, and I vaguely recalled coming across something called Red Fife Wheat.

In this chapter, she discussed a heritage grain that is currently regaining favour after a period of neglect. She beautifully traces the story of Red Fife wheat by ways of exploring issues of provenance. She asserts the value of heritage foodways and introduced me to a special Canadian who actively engaged in challenging assumptions about the innate benefits of novelty and progress, The sandwich almost wouldn't have been possible, if not. for the perseverance of agronomist Sharon Rempel, under her guidance, seed specimens were transferred to a seed orphanage operated by he Canadian Heritage Wheat Project. Red Fife would lie dormant until mid-1980s, when a bag of pure Red Fife seed, some of the last remaining stock, was discovered in a shed on a lonely stretch of prairie road.

Starting with half pound of seed, Rempel began bulking up on Red Fife and eventually had enough to begin distributing it to farmers by the late 1990s. Since then, it has cropped up from one coast to the other coast of Canada, in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, as well as Hastings, Ontario, and Cranbrook, British Columbia, with the tonnage harvested each year continuing to grow. Like many old wheats, its genetic variability makes it adaptable to different growing conditions and suitable for organic cultivation.

The next exciting chapter in the Red Fife story unfolded on a rainy night in November 2004, when the grain finally made the leap from cultivator to consumer as the Loiselle family farm in Vonda, Saskatchewan delivered to Wild Fire Bread and Pastry, a tiny bakery in Victoria, British Columbia.

Fast forward to late 2010 as David Haman, chef/owner opened Woodlot Restaurant & Bakery in downtown Toronto. My husband and I, love picking up this hearty bread as a treat once in a while, to make some of the most fabulous grilled cheese sandwiches.

Let's celebrates Canada's culinary heritage!

There are endless Grilled Cheese Sandwich possibilities ...

Canadian Grilled Cheese Heaven Haiku

Woodlot's Rustic Red Fife Bread...

Niagara Gold Heaven ...

Canadian, eh!

- Shirley Lum, April 29th, 2011

Toronto Royal Wedding Fever

2011-04-28T17:29:00.001-04:00

Royal Wedding window display at Midoco's in Toronto.
The Queen atop Paper wedding cake doing the Royal Wave as
Kate Middleton's & Prince William's heads bobble!

Tick tock, tick tock! Where did the time go? April just flew by so quickly! It's hard to believe, but it seems like yesterday when the engagement was announced... tomorrow we'll catch a glimpse of the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton ... Who has not caught the Royal Wedding fever as yet in Toronto?

Strolling along Bloor Street West, I bursted out laughing at the very sight of the Queen perched on top of a paper wedding cake, and one of her hands enclosed in a white glove, is doing the famous Royal wave! This is one of my favourite window displays of all time - Midoco's Stationary (see above). Don't you love how Prince William's head and Kate's head bobble? Caught you smiling!

Last night while conducting the Phantoms, Players & Pundits Walk, my guests and I simply loved the beautiful tributes by Malabar (yes the dance and costume rental folks on McCaul Street jumped on the Royal Wedding party). Each window paid tribute to a British Royal couple - complete with an accompanying photograph/drawing of their actual wedding outfit, and then mannequins clothed in very similar ensembles: Queen Victoria & Prince Albert; a young Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Phillip; a young Queen Mum & King George. Tasteful. Sorry, no pictures as it was getting quite dark at that point during the ghost walk.

Strolling into Kensington Market, along Augusta Avenue on Tuesday, I just had to pause a few seconds and take a snap of The Good Egg's creative window display & tribute to the Royal Wedding ... another paper wedding cake... note the couple's names - Kate & Willy!

Getting ready for your wedding can be a stressful time despite an army of assistants in the case of the Royal Couple, and having been through it in a much smaller scale in June 2009, it's still fresh in my mind. I'm sure there will be last minute details to be taken care of, but the young couple seems to have their heads firmly on their shoulders, and taking it all in stride and probably find that having sense of humour helps along the whole way, or perhaps dancing every so often ...

On the subject of dancing and having a good laugh, thank you T-Mobile Royal Wedding for this fun video! Dance away as you watch or re-watch it, for I sure did!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kav0FEhtLug

Here's a toast to Prince William and Kate Middleton:

May their wedding day on Friday, April 29th, 2011 be the beginning of a

harmonious, healthy and joyous life together

that's filled with love and laughter!

Cheers!

May the flowers bloom as
gorgeously in London as in Toronto!

The #grilledcheese project drawer. Note: separate from the ... on Twitpic

2011-04-16T16:44:00.001-04:00

The #grilledcheese project drawer. Note: *separate* from the ... on Twitpic

This picture is amazing as it reminds me of the Cheesey Guys at St Catharine's Farmers' Market. Why? They take a medley of cheeses out of their cooler, and create awesome Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. On a rainy day like today, it simply rocks!
- Shirley

April is National Poetry Month: Celebrate Dead Canadian Poets Society!

2011-04-13T18:26:00.197-04:00

April has been declared as National Poetry Month! Being a proud CBC aka Canadian-born Chinese, since Tuesday April 5th, 2011 I've been musing over how to pay our respect for our dead Canadian poets. What's the significance of this date, you might dare ask? Qing Ming Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day takes place 106 days after the winter solstice, and in 2011, it happens to fall on April 5th! This little-known Chinese ghost festival is a day of paying respect to the dead. Those of you who attended the Second Chinatown Foodies Walk or the Haunted Kensington, Chinatown & The Grange Walk scheduled around that date, will recall that more often than not, pragmatic folks will defer this tomb cleaning/sweeping to a later and of course, much warmer date or season as in the case of my own family.

Now, how can we pay our respects? Remember that wonderful 1989 drama film, Dead Poets Society with actors Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, and Josh Charles? Well, I figure I would start off by compiling a list of amazing famous deceased Canadian poets who should be immortalized.

The Dead Canadian Poets Society:

Earle Birney (1904-1995),

Irving Layton (1912-2006),

Gwendolyn MacEwan (1941-1987),

John McCrae (1872-1918),

Susanna Moodie (1803-1885),

E.J. Pratt (1882-1964),

Al Purdy (1918-2000) and Carol Shields (1935-2003).

Lucy Maud Montgomery, OBE (1874-1942)

Canadian author, Lucy Maud Montgomery is an amazing, prolific writer better known by average person for the novel, Anne of Green Gables, though she wrote a series of Anne books, then Emily, and Pat. Along the Swansea & LM Montgomery Walks, I love introducing walkers to Jane by reading excerpts from the novel, Jane of Lantern Hill that connect with the author's actual final home, Journey's End and the surrounding homes of 1935. Since we're paying tribute to dead Canadian poets, I thought it'd be fitting to feature a poem of hers. Enjoy as you discover another side of this amazing Canadian author!

The Difference

When we were together, heart of my heart, on that unforgotten quest,

With your tender arm about me thrown and your head upon my breast,

There came a grief that was bitter and deep and straitly dwell with me,

And I shunned it not, so sweet it was to suffer and be with thee.

And now when no more against mine own is beating thine eager heart,

When thine eyes are turned from the glance of mine and our ways are far apart,

A dear and long-sought joy has come my constant guest to be,

And I love it not, so bitter it is, unfelt, unshared, by thee.

- Lucy Maud Montgomery (November 30, 1874-April 24, 1942)

Along my popular Kensington Foodies Roots Walks, there's equal portion of food for thought and the palate! My way of sharing a bit of Canadian culture with all of my guests: Reciting the wonderful poem by the late Canadian poet, Irving Layton. This poem also gives me an excuse to dole out tasty black Moroccan olives for folks to try, and it beautifully ties-in to the changing faces of immigrants within the residential and marketplace quarters of colourful Kensington neighbourhood of 2011 compared to those when he arrived in town. He wrote this poem in the 1970s when his friends brought him to the market to get his apartment set-up after he was invited to teach at York University in Toronto. Bon appetite!

Ode to the Olives

O those lovely black corrupt olives.

Nowhere else have I seen such generous ones winking at me with moist eyes of a thousand Fatimas.

I lost my heart to them on my first visit and haunt the place every since.

Fondly I gaze at them and the crowds diverse as the maps of the world.

They hunger for sensations only this fabulous realm can gratify.

Wordsworth was turned on by daffodils.

My flowers are the faces I pluck from Kensington's pavements:

Oriental, Jamaican, Slovak, Jewish, Italian, Wasp.

Nothing so moves me as their varied hues.

- Irving Layton, OC (March 12, 1912 - January 4, 2006)

On the Haunted Yorkville, U of T & Queen's Park walks, guests are spooked by the use of history I slip in to shed light on the weird sightings. The memorial wall at St Michael's College, and then the WWI and WWII wall /walkway by Hart House haunt many guests even further ... If you look carefully, you will spy with your own eyes, the poem you learnt from memory in early childhood... and you discover that the poet graduated from Victoria College, the very grounds walked along the ghost walk ...

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row.
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
- John McCrae (November 30, 1872- January 28, 1918)

Happy National Poetry Month!

Did I miss any of your favourite dead Canadian poet?
Who else should be included in the Dead Canadian Poets Society?

the cookbook store blog

2011-04-13T16:34:00.000-04:00

the cookbook store blog

Power of A Pen on A Beautiful Day: "Chosen Words"

2011-04-12T14:37:00.022-04:00

It's a glorious, sunny day in Toronto today! It's one of those day that beckons you to go out for a leisurely stroll ... just take in one's beautiful surroundings ... hear the birds' cheerful chirps in the background ... and of course, I'd drop into one of my favourite foodies haunt, DT Bistro and stand in front of their dessert window to feast with my eyes before ordering something decadent treat with a delicious cup of Earl Grey Tea and grabbing a window seat to savour the world and reflect over ...

A feast for the eyes

Emotions can only describe:

"Profound Humanism" (in the POWER of 'Chosen Words' and a pen.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU

Have a fabulous day!

Share this little gem with all your friends & make it a beautiful day for them!

CTC refreshes social-media channels.

2011-04-12T11:46:00.000-04:00

CTC refreshes social-media channels.

Experiencing and sharing all that Canada has to offer has just become more fun & easier!

Toronto Bakes for Japan – April 9 & 10, 2011

2011-04-08T11:56:00.004-04:00

Some of the awesome treats at Rivoli location,
Toronto Bakes for Japan

Toronto Bakes for Japan – April 10, 2011

Notes:
* Added date: Saturday April 9th, 2011
* Lots of wonderful generous Raffle Prizes donated by A Taste of the World, Arvinda's Spices, Le Dolci and many others!
* If you're throwing a dinner party or attending one, drop by one of the many locations this weekend and pick-up some treats and Raffle Prizes!

Toronto Bakes for Japan – April 10, 2011

2011-04-08T11:46:00.000-04:00

Toronto Bakes for Japan – April 10, 2011

Why your favourite Chinese BBQ shop is busy today! It's Qing Ming Festival!

2011-04-05T08:32:00.003-04:00

Which BBQ Items does my family buy for Qing Ming?
Find out along 2nd Chinatown Foodies Walk (April 3, 2011)
or Haunted Kensington, Chinatown & Grange Walk (April 5, 2011)
or Lost 1st Chinatown Foodies Walk (April 10, 2011)

Qing Ming literally means "pure and clean" in the Cantonese dialect. Qing Ming Festival follows the traditional lunar calendar, so it falls exactly 106 days after the winter solstice. In 2011, it falls on Tuesday April 5th. When it's a Leap Year, as is the case in 2012, it will fall on Wednesday April 4th. Qing Ming Festival is considered to be a little-known Chinese ghost festival as Chinese families hold memorial ceremonies for the dead relatives. Tomb Sweeping Day is another name for this day. Its name harkens to the time when Chinese families traditionally visit their ancestor's graves in the countryside or up in the mountainside, and actually perform spring cleaning or tomb sweeping. Food and other offerings for the departed are brought along to these visits.

In China, by this time of the year, the weather is mild and after the graves have been tidied and the proper respects paid, most families spoil themselves with a picnic of cold food prepared in advance. Only cold food is eaten out of respect for the dead. As a matter of fact, traditionally, no fires are lit in the homes for at least two days thanks to superstitions!

In Canada however, the type of weather one experiences depends on where one lives. The weather can be mild and pleasant for a picnic, as in the case of Vancouver, B.C. or frightfully cold and muddy as in the case of Toronto, despite the moderating effects of Lake Ontario!

Both of my parents have several ancestors buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. My siblings and I are "technically fourth generation Canadian-Chineses" and my good old mom, who arrived in Toronto in early 1950s, is a very pragmatic person when it comes to the oft-not co-operative weather. We tend to not to be trekking around in the beautifully groomed Mount Pleasant Cemetery until school is out. Any time between late June until August, you'll find my family jumping into the family car, drive over to Toronto's second Chinatown to pick-up specific food items from our favourite Chinese BBQ shop, bakery and grocery store. Did you know there's a certain "code word" you need to say to get a certain cut from the BBQ shop? (find out on the ghost walk tonight while sampling the treats!) Then you'll see us head over to Mount Pleasant Cemetery with our bounties to pay respect for our ancestors.

So if you notice some of the Chinese BBQ shops are a trifle bit busier than normal today, it could be the die-hard traditionalists still practising Qing Ming Festival on the actual day, instead of waiting for warmer days like my pragmatic and perhaps, more "Canadianized" family!

Dying to find out the customs, rituals and changing traditions connected with Qing Ming? Well, you still have two chances left for 2011! As a matter of fact, we'll be sampling some of my family's favourite BBQ items and pastries along the Haunted Kensington, Chinatown & The Grange Walk (Tuesday April 5th, 2011 6:30-9:00 PM) and along the Lost First Chinatown Foodies Walk (Sunday April 10th, 2011 10:00 AM-1:30 PM). Space is limited, so book sooner than later to avoid being disappointed! Call (416) 923-6813 or e-mail us at info@torontowalksbikes.com to book your spots!

White-Cut Chicken served with
Grated Ginger & Diced Green Onion

International Poetry Day: celebrate Canadian poet Dennis Lee

2011-03-21T23:44:00.000-04:00

Did you know that March 21st has been declared as International Poetry Day? I found out while I was checking out Twitter and saw a tweet from Shorty Awards! The power of social media!

After mulling it over, I thought it'd be fitting to share this wonderful poem, When I Went Up to Rosedale, written by Canadian poet, Dennis Lee who lives in Toronto. His outstanding, works include Civil Elegies, Alligator Pie, and The Ice Cream Store. Notable awards would be the Governor General's Award, Order of Canada in 1993. In 2001 Lee became Toronto's first Poet Laureate, serving in that position until 2004.

I love reciting this meditative poem just as we're leaving the tree-lined, old-moneyed Rosedale along my Foodies Gaslight Stroll: Rosedale & Yorkville Village, as we try to ensure that there's equal portion of food and food for thought! Lets say it's my way of sharing a bit of Canadian culture with all of my guests. They can be passionate foodies from around the world or locals from Toronto; all love this little Canadian literary gem.

When I Went Up to Rosedale

When I went up to Rosedale I thought of kingdom come...

and roads that winds their stately way to dead ends ...

When I came down from Rosedale

I could not school my mind to the manic streets before me nor the courtly ones behind.

- Dennis Beynon Lee, OC, MA

Opportunities to hear this lovely poem:

Foodies Gaslight Stroll: Rosedale & Yorkville Village

Sat. March 26th, 2011

Sat. April 30th, 2011

Sat. May 28th, 2011

Sat. June 18th, 2011

Sat. July 9th, 2011

Sat. July 23rd, 2011

Sat. August 27th, 2011

Sat. October 1st, 2011

Reserve your spots now to avoid being disappointed! Space is limited!

http://TorontoWalksBikes.com or info@TorontoWalksBikes.com

Happy Nowruz or Persian New Year whether you're Persian or not!

2011-03-19T16:06:00.002-04:00

I love New Year. In fact, I love celebrating New Year three times: New Year's Eve on December 31, January 1st, then Chinese Lunar New Year Eve and Day (February 2nd & 3rd, 2011) and Persian New Year (March 20th, 2011). Yes, I celebrate Persian New Year even though I'm not Persian, but I'm an honourary Persian through my brother-in-law.

I love Toronto's rich tapestry of diverse cultures as we keep embracing new immigrants who bring with them unique their customs, traditions, and best of all, their delicious food and drinks. I truly believe Toronto still lives up to its name given by one the First Nations tribes, the Hurons. Toronto refers to the "Meeting Place" because of the land between present-day the Don River, the Humber River and Lake Ontario. It was about four hundred years ago that the various tribes met to trade. Over the centuries, we've seen influx of immigrants from around the world settle and make this beautiful metropolis their new home.

Born and raised in Toronto in early 1960s, as a CBC (Canadian Born Chinese) I've always savoured embracing another culture's holidays in general, and their foods and customs wholeheartedly! Spring time gives us so much to celebrate - re-birth of the Earth, March Break (do we hear all the kids cheering in the background?), St Patrick's Day, Persian New Year and more to come!

How many of us ended up as honourary Irish, cooking something "green", and maybe dropping by Irish pubs in Toronto? Mind you, I did kiss the famous Blarney Stone while cycling solo in Southern Ireland in 1988, so that very act makes me more Irish than your average folk! I feel very Irish, as I led my Kensington Foodies Roots Walk wearing a green sweater. I even had guests sampling the beautiful and delicious Guinness Cheddar Cheese instead of the usual Maple Cheddar Cheese, all in the name of Saint Patrick! As a matter of fact, on St Patrick's Day I treated myself to homemade omelet with the remaining Guinness Cheddar and Persian Flatbread dribbled with Summer Blossom honey from Ontario! A beautiful way to meld several cultures.

On Sunday, exactly a week prior to Persian New Year I went up to Yonge/Finch area with hubby to soak up a bit of the excitement in preparing for the festivities. I was exhausted after my tour, but nevertheless, I instantly perked up upon arriving at one of my favourite Persian grocery stores. Hubby's always amazed how I go instantaneously from tuckered to alive like a firecracker, or Energizer Bunny Rabbit!

Outside of the store, we're greeted with the first New Year items for decoration: Sabzeh - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in tray (transfer to dish when you get home) which symbolizes Re-Birth. If you carefully, you can see that inside, right by the window, they had an array of white, pink and purple Hyacinth plants.

Next item is the fish tank specially brought in for this holiday, as they sell a lot of gold fish and fish bowls! As I watch the elderly gentleman (hired just for this week) carefully scoop out required fish into the clear plastic bags, I couldn't help but think of a Jerry Seinfeld episode where Elaine and friends can't find their car in the mall after Elaine bought gold fish in a bag! I'm sure no one had problems finding their car, as this is a tiny strip mall within the Persian/Korean neighbourhood!

The special Nowruz cookies and other treats are in!

Nugets flavoured with Rosewater and walnut

I felt like Noah as I ordered the cookies and kept saying "Two" and pointing at everything on the cookies table. Yes, hubby and I went to the gym several times this week to make up for "tasting" each type of treats I ordered. Sigh!

So if you're invited to a Persian New Year's eve party tonight or New Year's Day party tomorrow, you now have an excellent excuse to pop into any Persian shop today (be forewarned: it will be like a mad house like Chinese New Year's eve in any Chinatowns in Toronto) and pick up as a "hostess gift" a plant (Hyacinths or Tulips) and or a box of pastries.

Happy Nowruz where ever you are and whether you're Persian or not! On that note, this little CBC is going to try another Persian New Year cookie from this box we picked up and then go visit my Persian family members! Happy Nowruz or Persian New Year! So how are you celebrating and participating in in the New Year festivities?

Love What You Do

2011-02-22T03:45:00.000-05:00

TIFF Bell Lightbox on Family Day

As I stroll up the ramp by the BlackBerry Lounge bar for the special screening of the Buster Keaton's slapstick silent movie classic, Sherlock Jr. in concert (featuring iNSiDEaMiND performing a new score), something made me stop dead in my tracks. At first sight, the quirky creatures in the mural caught my eyes. Then, I slowed down to read this inspiring quote etched into the metal bar above the mural, just visible enough thanks to the illumination. Next, I felt compelled to take a photograph of this mural with my BlackBerry, and e-mail it with this beautiful quote to share with my beloved husband.

BlackBerry Lounge's quirky mural & inspiring quote

Don't just like. LIKE is watered-down love. Like is mediocore. Like is the wishy-washy emotion of the content. Athletes don't do it for the like of a sport. Artists don't suffer for the like of art. There is no I like N.Y. T-shirt. And Romeo didn't just like Juliet. LOVE. Now that's powerful stuff. Love changes things. Upsets things. Conquers things. Love is at the root of everything good that has ever happened and will ever happen. LOVE what you do.

Ditto!
- Shirley Lum, who LOVES what she does as Culinary Historian, Entrepreneur, Tour Guide, Speaker, Writer & Organic Gardener!