Shiso Tree Cafe

I know a lot of my friends like to go all the time but although I go to J-Town all the time, it was only a few weeks ago that I finally went to try Shiso Tree Cafe. It's where Japan meets Italy where pasta are incorporated with Japanese flavors.

There was a drum set, I assume there's live performance at night?!

 For an additional $7, you can upgrade your pasta to a set with Soup of teh day, Salad , garlic toast and a slice of cake.

 Since we were only there for Lunch, we skipped the combo but our pasta still came with a salad

 Nori Fries $6

~ fresh cut fries tossed with homemade Wafu dressing & Japanese Seaweeds

 This tasted amazing, definitely a lot better than I expected with the flavorful. The nori was very crispy and fresh which is you would think it's among the definition of nori but you would be surprise at how many places have them soggy which makes it incredibly difficult to tear through when it's in bigger sheets. Love how they left the fries skin on and was very crispy and was perfect with the touch of Wafu dressing

Playa Cabana

I am always on the lookout for a good Mexican meal and seeing an Instagram picture of Playa Cabana (@PlayaCabana) burrito, it was so colorful and pretty that I just have to try it :D We arrive for a late Saturday brunch and it was still half full and I can totally expect it to be bustling in a few hours, def a neighborhood gem. When we drover by, we almost miss the place since it's nestle among other houses.

The place is rather small with a small kitchen next to the bar

Single Amber Agave Margarita $8

This was perfect, with just teh right amount of tart, sweet, salty (salt rim) and alcohol ;)

Flower-y

I usually only stick to basic black tights but just fell in love with this flowery pair when I saw it at UO on sale 2 for $20.... when I bought it, I have no idea how to style it at all and this is probably the easiest way I can thing of... when in doubt, pair it with all black (^_^)

Any other suggestion how to wear such a bold pair of tights?!??

Outfit Details :

Top & Skirt - H&M; Tights - UO; Shoes - Jeffrey Campbell from Little Burgundy;

Bag - Danier

Momofuku Noodle Bar

David Chang's Momofuku Noodle Bar (@momofuku) finally open in Toronto last month with much anticipation but since the opening was only announced an hour or so before their lunch opening, there wasn't a lineup that day. I have never tried their NYC location and I really got nothing to compare to but since we were craving for some ramen that day, we headed over for dinner on their opening night.

David Chang himself warned and ask not to judge a restaurant on it's first week of opening so I was bombarded by people telling me that when I mention on twitter that I didn't like it at all (>_<)

I understand that there's kinks to work out etc when a restaurant first open but when none of the components are good, it's BAD....

So it's up to you if you should disregard my comments and just look at the pictures... 

but let's just say, I haven't heard one good thing from friends since then and it's been more than one month since they open

 I personally found the seating a tad uncomfortable and non functional at all with nowhere to put your bag or coat (no idea how this will work for winter where everyone would have bigger coats)

 Sat where all the action was ;)

Strips + Studs

I find that a striped tee goes with everything although it does make me slightly top heavy, notherless I still love it and I probably have 3-4 of the same color with different necklines.

Pair it with a pleated skirt here to sort of contrast the horizontal strip with the vertical and I just love my new oversize clutch (black and gold is my fave color cobination) as a statement piece here.

Our neighbour kitty decided to join in, she always roam around, if it was mine

I would be scared taht it will get lost

Outfit Details :

Top, Belt & Necklace - H&M; Skirt & Wedges - UO; Clutch - ASOS;
Sunnies - Prada 

Emma's Country Kitchen

Have been hearing about Emma's Country Kitchen (@emmacountrykitc) on twitter for a while and one Sunday, we decided to head there for Brunch when no specific cravings pop up.

Nothing much in terms of decor, very simple with the kitchen at the back but there was quite a few thoughtful touches throughout the place such as the vintage bottles as vases, red checkered fabric as displace case backdrop and the cutlery chandelier. 

When we got there it was packed and the only table lefts was the smaller bar tables at the front.

Iced coffee and fresh squeeze orange juice

Emma's Benny $13

~ warm & fluffy buttermilk biscuit top with house cured peameal, poached eggs and smothered in mousseline sauce w/ a side of griddled red skin potato

The poached egg was perfectly cook, the mousseline / hollandaise sauce was just as perfect and love the fresh fluffy biscuit. I could easily devour anything on this plate on it's own but having everything together in one bite is just heavenly.

Food Truck Eats #awesTRUCK2012

A year ago, Suresh Doss transformed Toronto street food scene like no other into something other than hot dogs, into something trendy with  Food Truck Eats (see my postof the forst events here & here). Last month, I was lucky enough to attend the 1 year anniversary of Food Truck Eats at Evergreen Brick Works where all the food trucks compete for the top spot in these 8 categories and here are the winners (drumroll please) :

People's Choice ~ Gorilla Cheese

Best New Truck ~ Dobro Jesti

Road Warrior ~ El Gastronomo Vagabundo

Best Dish ~  El Gastronomo Vagabundo's Tempura Cod Taco

Best Concept ~ El Gastronomo Vagabundo

Best Popup ~ Fidel Gastro

Best Design ~ Rome'n Chariot

Best Graphics ~ Blue Donkey Streatery

Eat St. host James Cunningham was there to cover this first ever Southern Ontario food truck awards

Apart from the 7 food truck finalist, there was also 6 pop-up vendors and 3 surprise food truck which we didn't got to try since they open way later (Fidel Gastro, Stuff & Gourmet Gringos)

I was lucky enough to get a media pass which started an hour earlier and which also meant no line up; so I immediately head to the one food truck who usually have the longest line up =P

Just so you know, I didn't eat all that by myself... I shared everything with Justine (@foodigatorJ) and then later with Ben who joined us an hour later with his VIP ticket (AYCE for an hour).

 Gorilla Cheese (@gorilla_cheese)

 Love them, I make sure to line up for their cheesy goodness at every event.