Crop Top + Midi Skirt [OOTD]

Outfit Details:

Dress (Top+Skirt) - ASOS; Bag - Kate Spade; Shoe - Just Fab
 

Being a food blogger and not much time to exercise means I can't really do the crop top thing (ahem fat) but got this detachable set on sale at ASOS, so I thought I would give this a try. It has snap buttons that can convert this into a dress and just in case the crop top doesn't work, I can still wear it as a dress or the skirt with a regular top.



I still am not comfortable with crop top but love the bold pattern here and love skirts with pockets. The pattern is so bold and busy that I decided to pair it with a nude pair of heels.

What you thing?!

 

Tab Payments [Copacabana]

Tab (@tabpayments) is the brand new mobile payments app for dining, with it you'll never have to wait for your bill ever again.

I bet everyone have been there, after a lengthy dinner or meal, you felt tire and just want to leave but your server was nowhere to be found. With a lot of restaurants being understaffed, this comes in very handy. It's a free app that's available on iPhone and Android, so just download it and set up an account. All you need to do is enter your name and credit card information plus a picture of yourself so that your server can recognize you.

Use my promo code TABCHEUNGB1F to get $10 off your first meal (^_^)

 Plus they already have an amazing selection of restaurants on board, including Portland Variety, Playa Cabana Hacienda, The Chase, Hudson Kitchen, The Happy Hooker just to name a few...

(see the complete list here)

 



Pay with Tab in three easy steps :

1) Check in - Create or Join a Tab

2) Tell Your Server - "I'm paying with Tab"

3) Enjoy Your Meal - Tab takes care of the rest

No more waiting for the bill and then the credit card machine anymore, just leave whenever you want. The app also include bill splitting feature and the name + picture of your server on your tab.

 

The Good Son [International]

You know I am a big fan of Top Chef Canada and last season I have been rooting for Chef Vittorio Colacitti but unfortunately he didn't win. But lucky for us. he opened up The Good Son (@thegoodson_TO)

Chef Colacitti previous resume includes some pretty well known places like Lucien, George and Didier, if he learn anything form those places I am sure this will be an amazing meal.

Love the gorgeous space with all the dishes and coocoo clocks hanging on the wall. Love how it's divided into different area with the leather wingback chair by the front and more industrial metal highchair to the 18 seats harvest table at the back near the kitchen. Love that the table are very well spaced out, no bumping into each other.

 

 

Jerk Shrimp $13

~ Crispy Potato, Green Mango, Fresh Peanut

This just look so pretty, perfectly crispy potato shell and a yummy perfectly cook shrimp against a sweet juicy mango salad. It was so good even without the fiery jerk aioli but that completed the dish.

Twisted -Toben Food by Design [Pop Up]

Executive Chef Toben Kochman of Toben Food by Design Catering is launching a new catering division call "Twisted" (@TWISTEDTFBD). To celebrate, they are hosting a 5 day pop-up restaurant at 2nd Floor Event (Aug 6-8 & 12-13) and we were lucky enough to be invited to the Media Preview on the 1st day.

Inspired by global street style fare, Twisted will be putting a twist on classic fine dinning by bringing the best from places that the chef traveled to; Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Jamaica, South America to Europe. As per Chef Toben, it'll be a menu that takes you on an international culinary adventure.

Our evening starts with hors d'oeuvres and an assortment of drinks from wines, beer, signature cocktails, liquors to non alcoholics drinks to choose from.

 

Organic Salmon Tataki Cones

~ w/ Avocado-Lime Mousse, Toasted Sesame Seeds, Pickled Ginger, Wasabi Vinaigrette

This was delicious, perfectly crispy cone with cold yummy tataki with the perfect amount of sour from the lime mousse and heat from the ginger wasabi.

Cantonese Fried Rice Croquette

~ w/ Pickled Chili Aioli, Fresh Chive, House Chinese Sausage, Farmer's Vegetable

Felt just like a rice croquette, couldn't really taste/make out the Cantonese Fried Rice flavors.

Cucumber-Thai Basil Martini

 ~ Dillon's Distillery Gin, Mint, Pickled Chili, Fresh Cucumber, Thai Basil-Wildflower Honey Syrup

Love this cocktail with just a hint of heat, very refreshing



Hudson Kitchen [American - Brunch]

Went back to Hudson Kitchen (@hudsonkitchen) for Brunch this past Saturday for a girlfriend's Birthday (see my last post here). With their patio opened, it's a really nice place for brunch but unfortunately since we were a large group we had to sit inside.

Compare to dinner time, the place is not as packed and busy as you would expect. I also thought the atmosphere gives out a totally different vibe from day to night.

 .
Bloody Jose $7

Basically a Caesar with tequila and a splash of red wine; had a bacon version here that I really like so I thought I would try this one. Love it, just the perfect spiciness and subtle flavors without any strong alcohol flavors hitting you.

 



Buttermilk Pancakes, Bananas, Chocolate, Bourbon Syrup $12

It was delicious but really nothing special about this. Just a really made pancake.

Taste of Toronto [Event]

Two weeks ago from July 24th to 27th, the Taste Festival finally arrive to Toronto. Happening in 21 other cities worldwide and considered the world's greatest restaurant festival, we finally get our very own Taste of Toronto (@tasteoftoronto).

Held at the historic Fort York, over 50,000 dishes were served to more than 19,000 food lovers and bought out 17 of the city's most notable buzz-worthy chefs.

Can't help but love the white tents with the beautiful green backdrop with the restaurant and vendors putting in their own personal touches.

The admission price was rather high at $30pp in advance and $39 at the door but it meant a less crowded space with no line ups. I went to the Saturday afternoon session and I didn't had to line up for any of my dishes. The currency of the events were called "crowns" where you load to a festival card and scanned for easy payment at each booth. The dishes at each booth costing 6, 8 or 10 crowns (1 crown = $1) There's no refund but love how all the unused crowns on the cards goes to  

Second Harvest.

 Barque Smokehouse (@barquebbq)

Barque Rack O'Bama: Baby Back Ribs

~ (rubbed, smoked, basted,basted...) served w/ a potato, corn, candied smoked bacon salad and pickled vegetable

Smoked duck tacos 

~ w/ pickled radish, carrots, crispy fried chicken skin, and hoisin BBQ sauce on a flour tortilla

 JaBistro (@JaBistro222)

Oshizushi

~ blowtorched and pressed sushi w/ shrimp, makarel, salmon

 Being our fave sushi place, we just have to had this although we had them many many times.

Christmas In July by ClutchPR [Event]

I was lucky enough to be invited to ClutchPR's Christmas in July at the Beverly Hotel where some I got a preview of some Canadian Brands holidays' gift items and I go to do it while enjoying some food & drink.

The Perth Soap Co. (@theperthsoapco)

Started by two friends with a dream of making a cleansing bar that was luxurious in look, smell and performance, they teamed up with a Perth soap manufacturing facility that's over 100 years old.

They currently carry 3 scents: Milk & Honey, Moroccan Spice and Rosemary Mint. They all smell so amazing and my favorite being the Rosemary Mint, I was lucky enough to get a gift bag from them and let me just say that I can smell it all the way back home. Can't wait to try them.

Carnivore Club (@carnivorechief)

A monthly subscription of curated cured meat from around the world, I have been tempted to join since I first saw it last year but was not willing to commit but I found out that they do have a one month membership for people like me. And for the holidays, they will have these two special boxes, at extra cost you will get that month's items in either the cute wooden box or this temperature controlled cigar box.