samuraiya
Member Since: August 14, 2007Reviews
La Bamboche
One of my favorite patisseries in Toronto. It's off of Yonge Street, just south of Eglinton. This is actually a branch of La Bamboche from Japan, so what you'll find are Japanese styled French pastries. In short, that means impeccable... +
One of my favorite patisseries in Toronto. It's off of Yonge Street, just south of Eglinton. This is actually a branch of La Bamboche from Japan, so what you'll find are Japanese styled French pastries. In short, that means impeccable presentation with wonder flavour. I've tried most of their small cakes and I'd recommend any of their chocolate mousse, the rare cheese cake, and any of their fruit mousse cakes. However, the sacher torte, mont blanc and strawberry shortcake leave much to be desired. It's also a good idea to go on a weekend since that's when the display cases are filled with the most variety of pastries. I went there on a weekday once, and there weren't much to choose from. The staff at the front seemed a bit clueless though. It took them a while to figure out what's actually available when I tried to order a birthday cake. But, trust me, if you can get pass the frustrations with the front of house staff (they are well intentioned and courteous, though not very effective), you won't be disappointed with the cakes & pastries. One thing to remember when ordering a birthday cake though, get an 8 inch instead of the 5 or 6". You'll be glad you got the bigger size because it's impossible to resist cutting yourself an extra few slices. -
Dessert Trends Patisserie-Bistro
If you'd ever considered dessert with your breakfast, this place is for you! Dessert Trends Patisserie-Bistro serves up interesting sandwiches, omelettes, salads, and pancakes etc. for brunch. I've been here twice. The first time, I had their... +
If you'd ever considered dessert with your breakfast, this place is for you! Dessert Trends Patisserie-Bistro serves up interesting sandwiches, omelettes, salads, and pancakes etc. for brunch. I've been here twice. The first time, I had their smoked chicken sandwich with asparagus and swiss cheese, which I really enjoyed. The second time, I went with the snow crab quiche, but that was a bit on the oily side. There are so many different options to choose from though, that I think I'd have to go back again and again just to test out everything on their menu. Everytime I go, I'd want to try their country style baked duck egg with chorizo, but, would never be brave enough to do so in the mornings, maybe next time! All the talk of food aside, the atmosphere is the thing that I love the most. Its bright and airy interior makes it a great place to wake up at on those lazy weekend mornings. And being able to choose from a myriad of beautiful little desserts to go with your breakfast is not bad either. Dessert Trends is actually famous for their little cakes and pastries. My favorite so far is the white chocolate passion (yes, the cloud-ike white chocolate mousse with tarte passion fruit is quite the deadly combination). The waitresses are also very friendly. It's also amusing to see the gold prize winner of the prestigious World Culinary Competition, Chef Don, walking around in the front of the house, making sure everything is fine and actually cleaning, while he's not busy at the back! -
Niagara Street Cafe
This restaurant is located in the King West West area, on Niagara, just south of King St. It's one of my favorite restaurants in Toronto for many reasons. Firstly, the ambiance is perfect. There is a really nice outdoor patio in the front for the... +
This restaurant is located in the King West West area, on Niagara, just south of King St. It's one of my favorite restaurants in Toronto for many reasons. Firstly, the ambiance is perfect. There is a really nice outdoor patio in the front for the summer and the interior is super cozy and very romantic. It is just off the beaten path enough to avoid the loud pub & club crowd. The waiters are amazingly helpful and charming (very good looking too!) I went with my bf without a reservation and they accommodated us and didn't rush us at all during our dinner. The chef works only with local organic produce and meats, therefore the menu changes with the seasons. The food is delicious, simple and elegant. The portions were fine by me, but the bf complained that they were too small for his appetite. I'd love to go back for another dinner, probably with my girlfriends. It's such a charming little spot and it's one of those places where you'd really get to know the owner and the waiters after a few lovely nights of eating and drinking there. Reservations are recommended. -
Toba
Love love love this restaurant. It's a perfect little spot in the Front street/St. Lawrence area. It has all the charms of a small european bistro with the exposed brick walls, long dining room and comfortable aged wooden tables and chairs. The... +
Love love love this restaurant. It's a perfect little spot in the Front street/St. Lawrence area. It has all the charms of a small european bistro with the exposed brick walls, long dining room and comfortable aged wooden tables and chairs. The decor and ambiance is decidedly low key and very laid back. It's a great place to go either for a date or just to catch up with friends. Though I love the atmosphere of the restaurant, it is the food that makes me want to go back. Most memorable was the crisply seared arctic char sitting on a bed of mashed sweet potatoes and surrounded by delicately flavoured fish broth. There's nothing fishy about this dish! It's just a lovely balance of textures and sweetness. Their crab cakes are also a must try. My friend ordered it as an appetizer, but what was served was a main size plate of three crab cakes stacked atop a bed of salad greens. The cakes were crispy on the outside and smooth on the inside, while still retaining the texture of strands of real crab meat. I highly recommend this restaurant for those who are looking for a small charming spot that serves up great ambiance with some very very delicious and interesting food. Dinner for two (appetizer, main, dessert, wine) was around $110, which is average for this caliber of cuisine. -
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original
This primer is great. Not only does it keep the eye shadow in place and prevent creasing, it also brightens the colour of the shadow. I recently attended an outdoor wedding (29 degree celsius), and my eye makeup pretty much stayed in place the... +
This primer is great. Not only does it keep the eye shadow in place and prevent creasing, it also brightens the colour of the shadow. I recently attended an outdoor wedding (29 degree celsius), and my eye makeup pretty much stayed in place the whole time. I have oily skin, so that's pretty impressive. One thing to remember when putting this primer on is to blend well over the entire lid or else you'll get patches of brighter colour where there's a thicker layer of primer. -
Elixir Organic Spa
After reading the reviews, I decided to try out this spa for a mani & pedi. The esthetician was really nice and gentle. However, my only complaint was with sanitary procedures of the spa. The tools used for the pedi & mani looked a bit rusty... +
After reading the reviews, I decided to try out this spa for a mani & pedi. The esthetician was really nice and gentle. However, my only complaint was with sanitary procedures of the spa. The tools used for the pedi & mani looked a bit rusty. And the nail files and foot scrubber are reused. The foot cream was taken straight out of the jar even though the esthetician had been rubbing my foot with her hands. I haven't had any itchiness or infections, so, it probably isn't a huge problem. But, for the price of $30/mani & $60/ pedi, I'd expect more rigorous sanitary practices. -
John Steinberg & Associates
After being orphaned by my previous hairstylist (she moved to London, UK *weep*), I've been on the hunt for a new hair dresser. It's always hard to find someone who you can click with, understand your style, and can in the end deliver a good cut... +
After being orphaned by my previous hairstylist (she moved to London, UK *weep*), I've been on the hunt for a new hair dresser. It's always hard to find someone who you can click with, understand your style, and can in the end deliver a good cut. So, I tried out the John Steinberg Salon. I know, it's pretty well known in the city. But, there aren't many reviews written about it. First the ambiance: the space is really laid back without a hint of chichi pretension. Though the interior is a bit spare, it's actually a breath of fresh air to be in a space that focuses on the people rather than the decor. I especially like the way they use the walls as a gallery space for local artists. It definitely keeps things fresh. Now to the service: I had my cut with Debbie and she was great. She was equal parts serious, friendly and professional. And I loved the cut she gave me. I went in with a couple of pictures of hairstyles to show her the direction I'd like to go in and she really listened and delivered. I have pin straight hair and she actually managed to give it wavy/shaggy textures! So, for the price of $60 (including tax & tip), I was beyond satisfied. Will definitely go back. I'm so glad I found a hairstylist I can stick with! YEAH! -
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