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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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