There was fresh, tender kampachi sashimi, and perfect East Coast scallops on the shell with mornay and gremolata. There was mushroom bibimbap and galbi that was bursting with umami flavour, honey crullers to die for, and delectable craft cocktails. Air Canada last night (Nov. 4) staged a fabulously tasty party at a fine event space in downtown Toronto to announce its 2024 Top 10 Best New Restaurants in Canada. All ten finalists brought one or two of their finest dishes for the media and general public to nibble on. It would’ve taken 10 reservations and a lot of Air Canada Read more
sushi
You absolutely adore the sun and sand of Hawaii and crave a Maui vacation this year. But your piggy bank is running dangerously low. So, what are you to do? My advice is “go anyway.” But keep your costs under control. A Maui trip can be reasonable if you follow a few tips from a guy who’s been a couple dozen times over the years. So, here are some sugge(Also, please visit responsibly. The scars from the Lahaina fires are still fresh. If you go, please don’t stop to take photos of damaged areas, and don’t pry into people’s lives. Read more
I had some wonderful visits in the U.S. and Canada this year, including a monumental train trip from Colorado to Utah, a wonderful six days in Prince Edward Island and great stays in Los Angeles, southwest Ontario, southern Florida and northern California. I also got to visit one of my fave islands, Molokai, and spent four nice but sobering days on Maui to see how they’re recovering from the devastating and still unfathomable wildfires. It wasn’t all pretty, but I had many a remarkable experience and more than a few great meals along the way. Thanks to everyone who helped Read more
Toronto holds down most of the top spots in the latest list of the top 100 restaurants in Canada, but Vancouver fared quite well, and Calgary made a big splash. Ten of the top 20 restaurants on the latest Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants List are in Ontario, with eight in Toronto. Vancouver had three in the top 20, all of them in the top 10, including number one and number three. Calgary had three in the top 20, coming in at positions 10, 12 and 18. Major Tom in Calgary, which was ranked 12th overall in Canada, was named best Read more
One of the coolest spaces in Toronto. And some of the best food in the city. If you haven’t been to Chotto Matte in the heart of downtown Toronto (Yonge and Front, inside the gorgeous Brookfield Place), you’re missing a terrific dining and sensory experience; one that doesn’t feel like anything else I’ve seen in the city. Step inside and you’re immediately surrounded by a wildly colourful interior that features what looks like a waving banner and a very cool bar. It feels to me like a bold marriage between South Beach and Shanghai. Which kinda makes sense, as Chotto Read more
