The other day I  received an invitation to go to the opening of Briscola Trattoria and I was delighted to accept. I  knew that Charles Khabouth, who is the founder and CEO of  the hospitality empire INK and  and Toufik Sarwa, the owner of Amber in Yorkville, would collaborate and develop, yet another successful venture.

I was not disappointed. The space is cozy and very inviting. I liked the whole layout….the intimate booths, the communal wood tables, and the interesting light fixtures too. (I noticed..LOL).

As for the food: I’m in love with the deep fried olives.

Not only did I enjoy all the appetizers, I enjoyed a few glasses of wine..(which means that I maxed out at two) and chatted with the lovely @geekigirl @christinallison @racboutique and @theFlist.

Always fun to meet new and old twitter friends at events. Plus it’s great to be able to support new restaurants too.

I really hope you get a chance to visit Briscola Trattoria soon.  They are located at 501 College Street and open 6 days a week. For further info please click here: Briscola

Recently I noticed that my running shoes were looking a little worn. OK…a lot worn.

So I went to the Running Room to get a new pair. Naturally I missed out on the Groupon for the Running Room, but that’s another blog post.

Every time I buy running shoes, I tell the clerk to “please bring me three pairs of size 8 running shoe to try on. I don’t need to know the brand or the price. I really just want to find  a good FIT“.

So she brought me out three pairs. Here’s what I thought of each running shoe.

Pair number 1: firm all around the foot, lots of padding, and a good fit

Pair number 2: very wide, nice padding and a good fit

Pair number 3: totally weird feeling. It felt  like my foot was on an incline.

I walked around a bit and then took out my (beloved) visa to buy the winning pair.

What did I buy? The Saucony 8. My old pair were the Saucony 5.

What on earth took me THREE YEARS to buy a pair of running shoes when Im at the gym USING them 5 times a week.?

Can’t wait to use them. Do you think I will run faster? HA. Time will tell.

I grew up in a family that loved apples. I grew up eating McIntosh, Granny Smith, Empire, Cortland and even Russet apples.

My love for apples continues…it’s a quick healthy snack and apples can be turned into healthy desserts too. (keep reading)

Recently I became aware that the McIntosh Apple is celebrating it’s 200th anniversary in style!!

The Ontario Apple Growers will be hosting the  Winter Apple Ball! This event  is going to take place on Monday Feb 21 from 11 – 2 at the Westin Harbour Castle in the Metropolitan Ballroom.

For further info click on the link. All the info about this fabulous event will be there.

In honour of the McIntosh Apples’ birthday, I decided to make baked apples for dessert tonite.

I think my family is kinda tired of yoghurt and blueberies with sprinkled granola.

Here’s how simple the recipe is:

INGREDIENTS:

Apples (I used McIntosh but I’m sure this would work with other varieties. Infact other varieties might work better)

butter or margarine (a few tablespoons)

cup brown sugar (a few tablespoons)

cinnamon

pecans and walnuts (optional)

(sorry I didn’t measure…I grew up in a kitchen that didn’t measure anything. My mom is awesome though).

RECIPE:

1. Core apples (simple..well kinda. LOL) I have a apple corer to assist with this step.

2. Mix the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon (nuts are optional)

3. Stuff the apples with the mixture.

4. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes

VOILA…a dessert that barely took 5 minutes of preparation, required barely any ingredients and is YUMMY.

If you notice in the photos, there’s little bits of orange sticking out. A few years ago, I brought back from Israel, dried orange peel from an incredible store called Eden Teva. I’ve been storing it in my freezer and every once in a while I add it to a few dishes that I make for color and flavor.

Happy 200th Anniversary to the McIntosh Apple!!

News Flash:  I am going to be in the Toronto Star on Wed. Feb. 2nd, and I’m so excited about it that I’m blogging about it before the paper arrives!!

Here’s how it happend:

10:00 a.m. I receive a text from @savvari asking me if I am working from home due to the snow and to email her contact at the Toronto Star if I’m interested in being interviewed.

10:14 a.m. I send an email to her contact explaining that I’m a food sales rep who drives thru the GTA to visit accounts. I also write “clearly won’t be on the roads tomorrow” and leave  my name and phone number

10:17 a.m. My phone rings and it’s Francine Kopun from the Toronto Star!. She asks me a few questions and even though we have never met ,we get along famously over the phone. She also asks me if I would be interested in being photographed for the article. I reply “no problem” (as I said this I realize that I have no make up on and my hair is in a pony tail).

I then visit some accounts and while I’m at Shoppers Drug Mart on Dufferin, I ask beg the clerk at the make up counter,  if she would kindly put some make up on. Thankfully she agrees!! (phewww).

12:51 p.m I received a phone call from Rene Johnston, who is a photo journalist at the Toronto Star. We agree to meet at Leslie/Eglinton as he wants to take some shots of me in Sunnybrook park

1:30 p.m. Rene and I meet at the designated location.  He is so charming that I immediately forget that I am about to be photographed for a major newspaper.

He takes photos of me inside the car, outside the car, while I’m driving, while I’m parking etc. While he is busy clicking away he says “sex and chocolate” and of course I immediatlely smile and laugh. He’s a true professional.

2: 31 p.m. I send an email to Francine to tell her that Rene was awesome and that both of them make my day brighter!!

2:32 p.m. I send an email to @savvari (Sandy) thanking her for putting me in contact with Francine.

3:20 p.m. I received an email from Francine with the copy she has written for the article. (you will have to read the Toronto Star…I’m so mean, eh?)

I’m now blogging about this at 10:00 p.m .and there is STILL no snow on the ground.  But I know it’s on the way….right?

Once again, many thanks to Sandy, Francine and Rene (and twitter too)!!

Lately I’ve been shopping a lot on Ebay. I’m not quite sure what took me so long to get introduced to Ebay but I’m so glad we are now friends!!

In the last month I have purchased: a charger, an iPad screen saver, a Belkin arm band for my iphone and just last week I won the auction for a Canon Rebel EOS. Hooray!!

Oh yeah..I bought this chair too. I was tired of blogging in bed and I didn’t want to blog at a desk either. Here’s the story how the chair was purchased. I was trying to kill time while waiting for @HeatherLochner to meet me for lunch and Structube was right next door. So I wandered in…saw the chair and pulled out my visa. (I’m decisive, can you tell?)

Lunch was a little more expensive than I planned. However I am happy. Really happy.

I’m kinda sad that I cant’t afford the new Michael Kors bag but hey…I’ve got my chair and my new camera. Happiness.

I went to the Interior Design show on Thursday nite and walked thru aisles and aisles of beautiful furniture, textiles, art, carpets, kitchens and more. Everything was stunning. I truly didn’t know where to look first!!

It was also the first time I brought my new camera with me to an event!! I am now the proud owner of a Canon EOS Rebel. So allow me to share with you a few pictures.

Don’t you just love how the designer made sure  you had easy access to your favorite wines!!

I’m also in love with this fireplace.

The Jenn-Air booth featured some pretty fancy ovens and I have to say, I fell in love with Boiled Bronze!! I’m predicting that OPI is going to name a nail polish this color too.

Came across this display of tulips and thought “I WANT THIS”.

Last but not least, I stumbled across this wallpaper by RollOut and was impressed with their unique designs. How cool.

This show is awesome . Period.

In another life, (i.e many many years ago), I was a special events coordinator. I spent my days looking at flower arangements, tablecloths and menus.

Many years later, I still like readng about the latest trends, so I continue to read a magazine called Biz Bash. A little over two years ago, I was reading through it and saw an article that Susan Murray International was open to the public. I quickly grabbed the phone to make an appointment. I went to the showroom and within two minutes knew the table cloth that I wanted. I’m kinda decisive. Have you noticed?

It’s not every day that I rent tablecloths, but we were hosting 40 people for a Friday nite dinner and a Saturday lunch on the occassion of our sons’ barmitzva.

It’s been two years since that occassion and because the Interior Design Show is taking place this coming week (Jan 27 – 30th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre) I was in the mood to visit the showroom again and see the latest trends in table cloths.

I was not disappointed. Susan Murray still sets the tone for unique tablecloths, accessories and fabrics.

She was recently the supplier for the Giller Awards (which is a huge event)  but is happy to rent 4 table cloths (which is what I needed).

So don’t hesitate to give her a call and visit the showroom. HINT.

Contact Info: Susan Murray International, 15 Canso Road, (416) 243-9284

As you know I’m a sales rep , and while visiting accounts on Eglinton Avenue West, I noticed a new store . So  I took a few minutes from my job to walk in. (shhh don’t tell my boss OK?)

Two Moms Baked Goods, had a location on Bathurst, but recently decided to open a retail store (Smart move. Me. Thinks). The facility  is nut free and kosher (dairy)!! Two Moms Baked Goods also develops and sells SafeSnacks which are nutritious and nut free snacks that’s sold at many schools, camps, hospitals and stores across the country.

As I walked thru the store, I sampled a biscotti (or two) and it was delicious. I also took pictures (does that surprise you?)

Last year, my daughter went to a birthday party at their old location as the birthday girl had a peanut allergy. This was the perfect place to host a birthday party for her. The girls baked their own cookies and when it was time for pick up…..you could tell that everyone had a great time!! (ie PROUD smiles and white boxes to show off what they had baked).

I love the entrepreneurial spirit of these 2 moms!! They also offer a range of baking classes  as well as programs on PD days.

So next time you are looking to an order a nut free birthday cake or bring cookies to the school…you know who to call. Right?

Two Moms Baked Goods,  970 Eglinton Avenue West, (416) 783 -7200 or send them an email to info@twomomsbakedgoods.com

My last post was about baking assistance.

This post is about fashion assistance.

I need both!!

How timely that I received an invitation to get “BETTER STYLED“. How could I say no?  I always need help when it comes to fashion coz Im overwhelmed by choices, have no time to get to the malls, and cant seem to focus once Im in a store.

Better Styled offers:

• individual attention
• parking..(which isnt so easy these days..have you noticed?)
• appointments according to your schedule..weekends, nites, mornings, etc.

I made an appointment to meet Erin recently, and was immediately impressed when I walked thru the doors of her office. We sat down in a beautifully decorated room and she asked me a few questions about my “style”. (style? whats that?).

Then she disappeared into her back room..and came out with exactly what I needed.

Erin was awesome..she listened to my fashion problems and then came up with solutions. (like a fashion magician).

I walked out with 2 scarves and a piece of jewellery to compliment a dress I own. I really needed those three pieces but would have never bought them without the guidance of a professional like Erin.

For woman like me (i.e. have no time, and cant seem to make choices once Im in a store)…Erins’ service is invaluable.

For further information, please visit her website at BetterStyled or just call her and make an appointment like I did….416 485 5100 x225 . She can also be reached by email at erin@betterstyled.com.

Snakes and Lattes opened up a few months ago and received a TON of press.  All good.

It’s a genius concept: Hang out and play board games while drinking lattes!! Sounds good to me. They even have a liquor licence. (added bonus)

Notice there are no MacBooks in the picture. People are actually TALKING to each other. Just like in the old days.

When I received an email from LivingSocial for an opportunity to buy $30 for $15 of food and drink at Snakes and Lattes Board Game Cafe, I immediately  scooped up two certificates. One for my daughter (who is 11) and one for my son (who is 15).

What a great place for them to hang out with their friends on a Sunday!!  They have tons of board games to select from i.e 1,500 board games.

While the kids played, I had a chance to chat with the owner Ben. He told me this type of concept is popular in France and he thought that Toronto should have a similar place too. (smart guy). We even played boggle. Just Kidding!!

The concept is so popular that they are already expanding and adding more seats.

If you are looking for something to do over the holdiays, please visit Snakes and Lattes, 600 Bloor West. You will have a great time. Promise.

One more thing: sign up on their facebook page for lots of  inside information. (hours, special events, announcements, etc) They have 3,281 facebook fans which I think is pretty neat seeing as they just opened up.