Please Welcome YamChops.

What is YamChops? Well..they are positioning themselves as a vegetarian butcher!! Kind of a cool concept if you ask me. They believe that this is exactly the type of store that the vegetarian/ vegan /and flexitarian community is looking for. A store that offers great service, convenience, flavourful food and value.

All I know is I’m sold on their concept, marketing and what I saw when I visited!

Here’s what the store looks like (minus the paper – as they are now open for business)

Inside the store,…you will find prepared foods, cold pressed juices, refrigerated items, and plenty of shelf stable items that one does not usually see in a retail store. Plus there’s a small area where you can eat your lunch.

I had the opportunity to sample  Coconut Ba-Con and all I can say is “WOW”. I had no idea that coconut could ever taste THIS GOOD. There is no question that I will back to sample their Carrot Lox, No Pork Pulled Pork and to try their cold press juices as well. There is one juice in particular that has caught my attention..it’s called “Divine Blush – Carrot, Beet, Turmeric, Ginger, Nutmeg”.  Not sure I’ve ever had a juice with tumeric in it but I’m eager to try it.

Wishing Michael and his team..only the very best with their new adventure. I have no doubt that YamChops is going to be a welcome addition to the food scene in Toronto.

For more information:

YamChops 705 College St (3 blocks East of Ossington), Toronto  Tel: 416-645-0117

Hours: 11 am to 7 pm daily

Twitter; @YamChopsTO

Facebook: www.facebook.com/YamChopsTO

Instagram; YamChopsTO

Website: www.yamchops.com

Disclosure: YamChops is a client however all opinions are my own.

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I had one of those days. You know, the type of day that included 3 amazing events!! Here’s what my day looked like.

The day started off like this…

8:00 am – Started off my day with a Farm and Food Care Media Tour.  I love (love) this tour and have been attending this tour for the last 3 years. Over 50 people (food writers, bloggers, cookbook authors, food stylists, etc)  met off the highway for a “tail gate” party featuring coffee and fresh baked goodies.

8:30 am – Bus Departs

9:15 am – We went to visit Burnett Farms in Orangeville. At this stop, we learned about the diversity of grain farming in Ontario. It was also fascinating to learn that there are four generation on the Burnett farm today! They own 800 acres of crops and grow corn, soybean (both GMO and Identity Preserved), seed soybeans, canola, wheat and seed barley.

11:00 am – Bus Departs

Noon – Gourmet Taste of Ontario Lunch that was Catered by the Black Birch Restaurant. The (delicious) menu included;

Sorrel & Spinach Soup with Cider Infused Barley and Creme Fraiche. Hockley Valley Beer Braised Ontario Corn Fed Beef Ribs with Mushrooms, Mashed Potatoes & Roasted Asparagus. Dessert: Honey and Yogurt Semi-Freddo with Rhubarb Compote and Barley Cookies.

1:30 pm – Bus Dparts

2:00 pm – We visited the Schaus Land & Cattle Beef Feedlot in Alliston. At this stop we got up close and personal  with 3,000 yes- that’s right – 3,000) of Canada’s top cattle.  To my surprise, these cows were so quiet!! Not to mention…well taken care of!

3:45 pm – Bus Departs

5:15 pm – Arrived back in at the bus stop

5:15 pm to 6:45 pm – Drove from Trafalgar Road/401 to Avenue Road and the 401 so I could attend the the first Sip & Savour Farmers Market. I spoke to the organizer who told me that 1000 people had visited. I was thrilled to hear that. Sadly I got there at the last 15 minutes and many vendors had sold out or were packing. However I still managed to buy some gorgeous Kale and some sausage. This market will take place every Thursday from 3 pm – 7 pm at Avenue Road/Old Orchard Grove. (just south of the 401)

8:00 pm – I drove the Element Vaughan Southwest Hotel (6170 Highway 7) to attend a super intimate event that was designed for Starwood Preferred Guests. There was a reception followed by a performance by Mayer Hawthorne. The evening was FANTASTIC. I loved the atmosphere they created and the performance was outstanding. Stay tuned for another blog post about this hotel!!

11:30 pm – returned to my apartment to get some much needed sleep. What a fabulous day I had!

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I’ve just returned from a “girls night out” where we checked out a new restaurant that is conveniently located right next to St. Lawrence Market. It’s called  Market Street Catch. Please note that the owner  also owns Buster’s Sea Cove which is located inside of St. Lawrence Market.  This is code for “this will be a great place to order fish”.

I love the fact that it’s an open kitchen and you can see the fish that’s going to be in your meal!!

As for the menu – it’s listed on the wall. Here’s PART of the menu. Not sure why I only took one photo ..forgive me!

I couldn’t decide what to order so I asked the manager. He recommended the grilled octopus and he was right – it was perfectly grilled. Not chewy  or tough at all!! I ordered it on a salad but you could order it with fries too.

My friend, ordered the fish taco and she was pretty happy with her meal too.

Next time you are in the mood for fish – this would be an ideal restaurant.

For more information:

Market Street Catch, 14 Market St, Toronto ON 416 363 2020

Twitter: @marketst_catch

Facebook: www.facebook.com/makretstreetcatch

Website: www.marketstreetcatch.com

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My road trip adventures continue but this time my  adventure was in a cozy Hyundai Elantra.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to like driving a sedan but it turns out that I loved it. It handled well, had all the right bells and whistles and still had the power I needed to accelerate. Not to mention…a very smooth ride.

I drove the Elantra (happily) all the way to Ste. Anne’s Spa.…which is just east of Toronto. In a little over an hour I was happily staring at these beautiful grounds.

After touring the property, we checked into our STUNNING and SPACIOUS room. This was a real treat for me to actually stay overnight as previously I’d only been for a day visit. Please note, that my last visit was two years ago and there has been numerous renovations and upgrades. ie newly decorated rooms, new gym, and a new gluten free bakery too.

I was treated to 3 beautiful meals (which I enjoyed in my robe) and afternoon tea as well (which I enjoyed in my robe).

One of the perks about staying at  Ste. Anne’s is that IT”S PERFECTABLY ACCEPTABLE TO BE IN YOUR ROBE AT ALL TIMES. Yup – I wore my robe for 24 hours and it was DA best feeling. I’m actually kicking myself that I didn’t buy it. (note to self: next time)

The only disadvantage to wearing a robe for 24 hours is that it prevented me from taking out a bicycle to enjoy the rolling hills that surround this property!!

Naturally I enjoyed a spa treatment as well. My tummy was happy (due to the delicious food) and now my skin was happy too due to the seaweed body masque that I experienced.

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The other day, I received a last minute invite to check out the Grand Opening of Touhenbokus Ramens’ newest location at 2459 Yonge St. I didn’t mind at all, as I live about  2 km’s away and was curious to visit. You see, I was invited to the Grand Opening of their first location (261 Queen St) where I indulged in some ramen – but  this particular invitation was inviting me to sample their tapas and cocktails. I was intrigued to say the least. (ie …no ramen?)

When you enter the restaurant, you immediately notice the “more upscale” decor than their Queen W. location. I really think they did a great job with the space…just the right amount of classy and hipster. (does that make sense)?

I then found out that there’s TWO menus. A lunch menu (with ramen options) and a dinner menu that will be served after 5 pm. (ie tapas and cocktails).

Indeed I sampled a cocktail that was off-the-chart-amazing.  It’s called the KINGYO (remember this) and it’s made with Shohu, mint, hot peppers and soda. What a unbelievable combination. I would order this again in a heart beat. Talk about refreshing.

I also sampled the food. Something tells me that I will be returning to try the Godzilla’s Egg! (see above menu)

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Here’s five reasons why I’m loving Cottage Life.

1. The sunsets are spectacular. Disclosure: I might have taken more photos of the sunset thanI did of my meals. Shocking!!

2. There’s a sauna at the cottage but it’s not your average sauna. It has a wood oven in there – and it takes over an hour to heat up the sauna. Nothing beats a “steamie” followed by a dip into the cool (errr….cold) water. This is a priceless experience.

3. I get to cook without having to go to the grocery store (every 2 seconds)  cause I forgot an ingredient!! This week I whipped up an eggplant dish – even though I forgot some key ingredients. Sometimes it’s great to improvise.

4. I also get the chance to create my own “signature” cocktails. This past weekend, I took these 4 ingredients..placed it into my Kitchen Aid Diamond Blender and bingo…da best drink ever. ps I froze the raspberries. I think @cocktaildeeva would be proud. (I think)

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I subscribe to a blog called  The Yum Yum Factor and while reading thru one of her latest posts, she mentioned a new grocery store called Adonis. Naturally I was intrigued and got into my car and drove out to Victoria Park and Eglinton to check it out. I also went online to read a bit more about Adonis as well. I learned that they are owned by Metro..from Quebec (6 locations)…and they now have two locations in Toronto. The store I visited is only two weeks old. Here’s what you need to know. The store is MASSIVE. Repeat – MASSIVE. Soon as you walk in, you notice the impressive fruits and vegetables. Then you start to notice the mediterranean food selection. ie. the selection of different cheeses and the AMAZING prepared food section. I bought a package of 3 of these pies for $5. Not bad eh? There’s even a bakery in the middle of the store that makes FRESH PITA. Now that’s pretty neat. (in my humble opinion) Of course I had to buy these two salads: Fattoush (on the left)  and Tabouleh (on the right). Please note that the prices are very reasonable!

I also bought 3 different types of cheese, fruit and vegetables, and oh yeah, an assortment of baklava. How could I not?

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Last week I had the chance to test drive a Hyundai Sante Fe XL and this week I had the chance to test drive a Hyundai Tucson. Can you see how happy I am to be driving a red car! Besides the colour, I seriously enjoyed this car as well. It was great on gas, had a spacious trunk and it was a pleasure to drive. Not too big..Not to small…It was “just the right” size.

What I really enjoyed the most was the extendable visor. I don’t know why every car doesn’t have this feature!

Naturally I wanted to go on a road trip with my (red) Hyundai Tucson,  so I decided to visit Ottawa to see my parents and to visit the Tulip Festival. What a great decision. I simply could not stop snapping photos of the tulips. Here’s a few of my favorites.

I also had the chance to visit the Canadian Museum of Nature. This museum was one of my favorites as a kid and it’s still one of my favorite museums as an adult. I love the building itself, the layout of the museum and all the exhibits too. Please put this museum on your radar!

It was also a treat to stay at the Albert at Bay Suite and Hotel. Not only is it centrally located but it has a FULL KITCHEN and a full LIVING ROOM AND DINING ROOM. I absolutely love this hotel and have been a fan for decades!

As you can see…Road Trip #2 was a success. Stay tuned for Road Trip #3 and more Hyundai adventures.

For more information:

Hyundai Canada

Canadian Museum of Nature 240 McLeod St 1 613 566 4700

Albert at Bay Suite Hotel 435 Albert St. 1 800 267 6644

Ottawa Tourism

Disclosure; I’m part of a Hyundai Ambassador program, however all my opinions are my own. Please follow my tweets; #HyundaiDriveSquad

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I love road trips. It doesn’t matter if I’m visiting Elora for the day or a weekend trip to Ottawa.  This year, my first “Spring” road trip was to the cottage, which is a good 3.5 hours north of Toronto. I was all too happy to test drive a Hyundai Sante Fe XL for this road trip. Lucky me…I had the chance to test drive a Hyundai Sante Fe last year so it was kind of cool to be able to compare the two of them. Here’s the blog post from last year.

As you can see, I was pretty happy when I saw the Hyundai Sante Fe XL. The first thing I checked out was the trunk as I knew we would be piling a lot of stuff into it!!

Here’s what the trunk looked like before we headed off to the cottage. Clearly the third road of seats went down to accommodate all the “stuff” we were bringing up north. This car was perfect for this trip!

The car performed beautifully all the way up to the cottage. We enjoyed the smooth ride, the power (um, yes..we did test out the acceleration) and all the bells and whistles.

As for the cottage…it was divine to be back up there after a 5 month absence. We enjoyed good food, good wine and the steam bath!

We were sad to leave the cottage but very happy to be back in the Hyundai Sante Fe XL for the drive back to Toronto.  This 7 passenger car is a true standout when you want space, style and power.

Please Follow me on twitter (@momwhoruns)  using the hashtag #HyundaiDriveSquad for more driving adventures with Hyundai.

Disclosure: I’m a Hyundai Ambassador however all my opinions are my own.

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The Good Press opened this week in the heart of Yorkville. I will tell you about their concept in a sec,  but first I want to tell you a GOOD story.

I was chatting with the owner  (Andew) about the different types of “cold press” machines and as he was talking…I was thinking “I know this guy”. When he mentioned the words ” my other location” – I asked him “what other location?” and he said “Sunshine Wholesome Market”. I then said “OMG – I met you 7 years ago when I was a food sales rep with Big Ups”.

What a small world!!

OK now back to the opening of the Good Press!! Here’s more info….

The Good Press offers a range of healthy options featuring: • Antioxidant-rich açai bowls • 8 oz. and 16 oz. selection of cold press juices • House-made nut milks

• Smoothies • Energy-boosting shots • Wraps and salads • Entry-level cleanses.

When I snapped a photo of these vegetables, I discovered from their friendly staff that these veggies are ORGANIC.

They also sell juice (in glass bottles) that have the cutest names with interesting flavour combinations. Ya gotta love it …i.e Pear Me the Details.

The menu is quite extensive – and takes up a good chunk of their wall. There is truly something for everyone!

Hope you get a chance to visit them one day soon!

For more information:

The Good Press 87 Yorkville Avenue Toronto

Hours: Monday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Twitter and Instagram: @goodpressjuice

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegoodpressjuice.ca

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