The Yum Yum Factor

Last Saturday, I took The Kid to The Windup Bird Cafe for the first of two, free sushi making classes that Sang Kim is offering to bring awareness to about child poverty and food insecurity right here in our own backyard. It was a packed house with kids from the age of 6 up to 15 with the majority hovering around 11 years old  (my kid was the giant 15 year old of the bunch). What I loved most about this afternoon class was not the facet that he learned to actually make a maki roll, although I am thrilled that he now has an appreciation of just how finicky these things are to make. No, what I loved was the sneaky way Sang uses making sushi as a sort of metaphor to make these kids think about something a little deeper. After each roll is finished, he makes sure that they all eat the roll they just made, even if it was terrible. After everyone has eaten their roll, they go on to the next and at the very end, they all say they are now full and can't eat any more.  San...

It was a busy week. I took a lot of pictures. I love the weekends at McEwan's when everyone is giving away free samples - okay that steak wasn't free Private party at This End Up  on Saturday meant more of my favourite, tasty snacks ALL FOR ME! My first real cocktail at This End Up since I only ever go there for lunch. The Mutt. Oh, it will happen again. Mare Pizzeria at 158 Baldwin and opened about a week or so. Shack enjoyed a delicious breakfast slice in Kensington. Nice big slice for about $3 Fika , in Kensington is the prettiest, most feminine little girl's wet dream of a coffee shop I have ever seen. Oh, the coffee is good too but don't go on the weekend if you are in a hurry. These Atsuete Shrimp Tacos - one of my two recipes entered in a bit of a recipe challenge using Pulo Cuisine Sauces and Marinades These Shroomy Beef Keftedes are my first recipe for Mushrooms Canada using this whole blend and extend method! It...

After taking The Kid to his high school for afternoon parent teacher meetings, I left the east end and ventured back out to attend the media launch for The Windup Bird Cafe  at 382 College St, just west of Caplansky's. Even though this area of the city is my old stomping grounds, I couldn't picture where the restaurant was in my head and as I walked up to it, I almost walked right by. I realized that I could not, for the life of me, recall what had been in the space previously. All I knew was that whatever resided at this address before was NEVER this bright, cheerful and warm. Once inside, my table mates and I wracked our brains in an attempt to recall any of the actual businesses that might have occupied this spot and all we could remember were fuzzy recollections of sketchy coffee shops and eateries of unknown origin. This place is something new and fresh, more than just a place to grab a bite and I am looking forward to watching where they take it over time. 

The Windup Bird Cafe This has been another fun filled week of food and adventures what with three restaurant visits on Tuesday alone. I lunched at The County Cocktail, supped at The Windup Bird Cafe and joined the boys for a late night negroni at The Wren before coming home to bed. If you add in all of the lentil recipe testing, it was a full week of eating new things and man, am I stuffed.