| She tours Toronto's neighborhoods
by public transit....
To get to know the real Toronto, you have to explore its neighborhoods.
The beaches, for a walk along the boardwalk and to explore antique
shops, quirky stores and restaurants in the area; Kensington Market,
for a true sense of the city's rich multicultural mix; Greektown
on the Danforth for a taste of the Mediterranean and great nightlife.
College 
Street and Corso Italia (St. Clair Ave. between Dufferin and Landsdown)
for traditional Italian shops and sidewalk cafes and trattorias.
Best solo-friendly tip to take all this in: buy a one-day pass from
the Toronto Transit System. It's only $6.50 for unlimited travel.
Sally Armstrong, Homemaker's Editor-in-Chief
A cooking teacher's
favorite Moroccan restaurants...
I teach Moroccan cooking but when I don't feel like doing it myself,
I eat at Boujadi (220 Eglinton Avenue East) or Kensington Kitchen
(124 Harbord Street). The hospitality at Boujadi is wonderful and
the ambiance at Kensington is delightfully warm. At night it is
candlelit and in the summer you can enjoy their backyard patio.
Both these neighborhood restaurants are very suitable for the solo
diner and both are reasonably priced.
Ettie Benjamin Shuken, food stylist, caterer and cooking teacher
Thai on Queen
West
I enjoy Bamboo (Queen West at Soho) Great cold Thai spring rolls,
pad thai, good wine by the glass, cold beer, and funky music. What
else do you need?
Rita Zekas, Entertainment Writer, Toronto Star
Best elegant dim
sum in town...
Lai Wah Heen is a typical Hong Kong style Chinese restaurant serving
the best quality dim sum meal in Toronto. The Chinese way of culinary
appreciation involves the presentation, smell and taste of food.
This venue offers even more -- elegant ambiance and service. Steamed
shrimp dumplings, Steamed Rice Flour Rolls with seafood or meat
and Fried Spring Rolls are the basics on the menu. But Lai Wah Heen
also offers specialty dishes such as Fried Lobster Roll with Mango,
Fried Emu Dumpling and Steamed Yunnan Ham & White Cabbage Dumpling.
They are priced from $3.30 to $4.80 per dish or $1.80 a piece for
the house specialties. You might have to wait a bit as all dishes
are prepared only after ordering. This ensures the impeccable taste,
freshness and presentation of your food. Remember the magic of dim
sum -- the more people at your table to share, the more dishes you
can try. Lai Wah Heen Chinese Restaurant is on the 2nd Floor of
the Metropolitan Hotel, 108 Chestnut Street, Toronto.
Karisa Lui, Senior Marketing Executive, Hong Kong Tourist Association
Dim sum in Chinatown...
I hope you will try Golden Country Restaurant located at 466 Dundas
West. This is where I meet my friends to eat dim sum the way I ate
it in China. There is much variety and the prices are good.
Lily Lee, Toronto Student
Dining 'round
the world in Toronto...
Three ethnic restaurants I happily recommend are The New Rag Nager
(649 Yonge St., Bloor subway) for Indian, Mai Thai (2364 Yonge St.,
Eglinton subway) for Thai and The Pantheon (407 Danforth Ave., Chester
subway) for Greek.
Sally Armstrong, Homemaker's Editor-in-Chief
Yummy Korean in
Koreatown...
One of my favorite Toronto spots is Koreatown (Bloor St. W.) between
Bathurst and Christie St., Bathurst Station Subway Stop). It's only
a few blocks long, but the place is full of herb shops, acupuncture
centres, and Korean restaurants. A popular staple in most restaurants
is the Kalbi savory marinated Korean beef ribs, often grilled at
your table. Great with several side plates of tasty vegetables.
Fangie Lao, Membership services, Tourism Toronto.
Break up your
browsing with pizza...
Queen Street West is an interesting strip to browse and browse and
browse...lots of "prop" and antique shops as well as interesting
funky clothing stores. Feet getting sore? Need some recoup time?
Stop in at Teronni's (720 Queen West corner Bathurst) for delicious
10 inch, thin crust, wood oven pizza that is a perfect pick-me-up.
Ettie Benjamin Shuken, food stylist, caterer and cooking teacher
Best French toast
in town...
My favorite female-friendly spot? Butler's Pantry Cafe serving the
best French Toast in Toronto! Expect thick slices of fresh bread,
delicately coated in warm maple syrup, heaped with fresh fruit and
a dollop of whipped cream! Scrumptious! (Must be enjoyed with a
large bowl of Café au Lait). Their homemade salad dressing
is a well-guarded secret. The Jambalaya -- also a must-try. Pop
in for heavenly desserts after a movie at the Revue Theater or a
walk in High Park. The funky wait staff, a whimsical tea pot collection
and overflowing community bulletin board add to it's unique charm.
Line-ups are brief and magazines are available for those who must
wait. Window seats are prime perches. The owners support local artisans
by featuring monthly exhibits and, they allow artisans to keep all
sale proceeds. (371 Roncesvalles Avenue, Streetcar #504)
Tara Wilkinson, Photographer, Director of Public Relations, Choice
Hotels Canada
Italian from a
travel editor's point of view...
My favorite lunch spot is Caffe Volo on Yonge Street just a couple
of blocks south of Bloor. It's a funky little place where a woman
alone feels quite comfortable. You can even cozy up in a corner
with a book, glass of wine or coffee and spend a few hours there.
In summer there's a side patio which is great for Yonge-Street-people-watching.
Food is southern Italian and is just like your Italian mamma would
make if you had an Italian mamma: fresh soups, tapenades and bruscettas,
calamari, sandwiches bursting with goodies, gorgeous salads, delicious
pastas and tantalizing little pizzas. For your special occasions
they make luscious cocktails, or you can settle for a beer or carafe
of wine.
Anne Wallace, Editor-in-chief, Travel Scoop.
Italian from a
tour leader's point of view...
A few years ago I came across a great little restaurant that was
so friendly, I always go back -- Oro Restaurant on Elm St. The atmosphere
is modern, the owners Domonic and Connie are a friendly Italian
couple. They often come by your table for conversation about anything
you may mention from the weather to the food. Chef, Oscar Turchi
creates authentic Italian dishes that are incredibly delicious and
true to the flavors of my home village in Italy. I'm so tired of
those Italian want-to-be restaurants who's menu is dictated by price,
not flavor. Last time I was there I even got some cooking tips from
Oscar, great conversation from Domonic and super food. When I need
to dine along, I like to treat myself and be in the company of good
people. This one I highly recommend.
Lynn Ogryzlo, Tour Operator
A favorite of
mine in Little Italy...
Ellipsis on 503 College Street offers great breads and interesting
sandwiches, good omelets and French toast. They're opened for dinner
but I've only eaten brunch and lunch there. I prefer the main dining
area rather than the new add-on part with patio. Ellipsis has a
very soothing atmosphere -- I call it a cross between a French country
cafe and a sanitarium. Perfect for winding down!
Ettie Benjamin Shuken, food stylist, caterer and cooking teacher
Very, very Vietnamese...
I just discovered Dai Nam, a small Vietnamese restaurant (221 Spadina,
just south of Dundas). Expect basic tables and chairs, but a menu
that goes on forever. I had a seafood soup that was full of big
chunks of seafood, and a broth flavored with fresh lime juice. My
friend had another dish served atop vermicelli noodles, underneath
was a small salad with fresh mint in it. Very impressive and very
reasonable -- you can have a complete meal under $10.
Debbie Hubner, Travel Industry
Still to come, Toronto women's best
health and beauty secrets. Click here.
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