Bar Mercurio

For over 35 years Bar Mercurio has been the’ king of the block.’ It is a family run establishment that has very high standards. The little patio outside beckons on a sunny day. It feels is as if you are in an authentic small café in Italy. The morning coffee drinkers can be seen outside (and inside) reading a paper and sipping their café. At lunch and dinner the place is always filled. And no wonder. As soon as you enter you can hear the soft sounds of the jazz that continually plays. The giant vases with beautiful flowers always decks the bar area.

I love it when Nona (grandmother) is at the restaurant. She still makes the wonderful ‘melt in your mouth’ Gnocchi. They melt in your mouth and the gorgonzola sauce is a delight to the palate. Her tomato sauce served with pasta is her secret recipe. On Sundays her fabulous home made doughnuts are found at the sister restaurant across the road L’Espresso. Siblings Theresa and Joe keep the place moving. I love watching Theresa at work. I am sure she has eyes on the back of her head. She seems to know everything that is going on but is never flustered.

My dear friend Bea had a special birthday. I invited her and friend Anne for a lunch at Bar Mercurio. Champagne and tidbits on my balcony and then a short walk to this wonderful restaurant. I love the table in the window because it offers privacy from the other tables. It gave us a chance to dine in style in a quiet atmosphere.

Bea opted for the Beet Salad. Orange and red beets were nicely nestled on fresh assorted greens. The goat cheese and seeds made for a flavorful dish. I enjoyed the same choice.

Anne took my suggestion and enjoyed the Fettucine Funghi. I had that dish only a few weeks before and it reminded me of being in Montepulciano Italy. The flavor was wonderful. The pasta was al dente.

Three Omelet dishes are on the menu. I almost chose the Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese.

The Pizzas are always special. That was always my grandson’s favorite when we came here weekly. He was a student at UTS across the road and every Wed. we had a visit and a grand lunch at Bar Mercurio.

The Lemon Tart Brulee was superb. Tart lemon in a shortcake crust with a caramelized topping. Wow! A sugar cookie was placed in a scoop of whipping cream and a few pieces of fruit graced the plate. What a way to end a fine lunch!

The prices are reasonable and the food is always tasty and beautifully presented.

Mother and Child

Annette Bening is a very good actor and is superb in this film. She plays the part of a sad angry woman. She lives with her aging mother and works as a physiotherapist in a clinic. She is quick to anger and speaks her mind. At the beginning of the film she is doer and plain. We learn that she had given up a baby girl for adoption 37 years before. Obviously this act has eaten away at her soul for many years.

Elizabeth ( Naomi Watts) is a stunning smart lawyer. She was an adopted child and is resentful for her past. She has the opportunity to be an executive lawyer in a firm. She plays people for what she can get from them. Let’s just say she is very sexually active. I would call her ruthless and heartless even if she is accomplished in her field. Samuel L. Jackson plays the part of her boss and subsequent lover. I found myself smirking at this most improbable twosome.

We also meet a young couple that wants desperately to adopt a baby. The mother to be (Lucy) is an interesting character. At times she can be sweet and charming. We also see another side of her. What really is the relationship with her and her quiet husband? We do learn the answer to that in the film.

All the lives become connected in the story. The ending will be satisfactory to many viewers. Parts of the story are contrived and take away from the good acting. It was interesting to see various aspects of a child being given up for adoption. There is a lot of pain from the mother, child and prospective parents.

Side Car

I get such a rush when I try a new restaurant. When that place is good I really do get excited. I don’t know what I did to be invited by Michael and Doreen for dinner but I happily accepted. I love the College St strip and thought I knew most of the restaurants in this area. What a complete surprise and what a delightful discovery. I should have known that this was a successful restaurant when we saw the place was filled before 7:00 p.m. During the week there is a $25.00 fixe prix and it offers amazing choices. On this weekend we enjoyed the regular fare from the menu.

Michael began with a Romaine Hearts Salad. Ricotta crostini, double smoked bacon and Caesar dressing are combined with the crisp greens.($9.00)

I saw many items that I would have liked but decided on trying two appetizers. The Shrimp Tempura was outstanding.($!2.00) There were so many shrimp. They were beautifully plated on a large grape leaf. The dipping sauce was delicious. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and so tasty. It was enough for a whole meal.

Doreen ordered the Crispy Oven Roasted Chicken. ($18.00) It was a large portion nestled on garlic mashed potatoes with green asparagus. She told us it was superb.

Michael ordered the Cauliflower Risotto.($!6.00) I had a taste and had to be restrained from taking his plate away. The flavor was so delicious. I would go back tomorrow for that same dish if I could. It was the best I have ever tasted.

My second appetizer was the Roasted Beet Salad. Red and orange beets were beautifully flavored. Crisp, perfectly cooked green beans and frisee were topped with dill goat cheese mousse.($10.00). It looked so appealing and it was all so flavorful.

Atlantic Salmon is served with Swiss chard, honey mustard glaze and butter sauce,($18.00)

I was so tempted with the Fettuccini with Black Tiger Shrimp, tarragon and shrimp broth.(18.00)

We were all raving about the food and how filled and satisfied we were. Doreen suggested the Flourless Chocolate Cake and we didn’t even blink before ordering one portion to share. I have never tasted such a delicious cake. It was dense. It was so chocolaty. It was outstanding.

The place continued to be busy all evening. I had an amazing meal and so did the others at the table. I loved watching the exotic food arriving at the tables.

The service was exceptional The owner came over several times to make sure everything was in order. It certainly was.

I just had a surprising gourmet experience s at Sidecar. They have been in operation for 2 years. It is managed so well and the servers do a great job.

This was a winning combination. I am still licking my lips and can’t wait to go back. I hope it will be soon. After dinner we delighted in a little stroll on College St. It was fun to look in the windows of the other restaurants. This street is ‘chock a block’ with restaurants. No restaurant was as busy as Side Car. It is a pleasant room and everything was working well. What a delightful to way to spend an evening.

Mid-August Lunch

It has been a long time since I have seen a great foreign film. I laughed. I enjoyed every moment. How refreshing. The characters are all so real. This Italian film does it all right.

Unfortunately the film is playing at the Royal. This is my favorite cinema in town. The seats are comfortable. All the films are of top quality. I could safely go to any film shown here without knowing anything about the film. The theatre is used for editing films during the week. The theatre is only available in the evening and for one showing on the weekend. The films don’t stay too long. If you get a chance to see this film, run do not walk. Hopefully it will move to a more central theatre and be made more available during the day.

Gianni is the most ‘delicious’ man. By the way Gianni Di Gregorio is the actor, writer and director. He is outstanding. He looks after his aging mother. She is quite a character. The lines and wrinkles in her face are numerous. She wears a wig like hair do that is quite ridiculous and her lipstick is often fiery red. She looks like a caricature. Gianni is so good to his mother. He reads to her in the evening and prepares wonderful meals. The problem is his financial situation.

His landlord offers a way for him to pay his rent. The landlord asks him to take his mother into his apartment while he vacations. Not only has the mother arrived. An aunt also becomes installed in the house. Gianni makes them all welcome. He cooks for them and makes sure they all have their numerous pills.

A third guest also is delivered to his apartment. Gianni makes the best of the situation and it lends itself to comedy and great entertainment.

This is so obviously a foreign film. Why can’t the Americans make films like this?

There was nothing complicated. It didn’t require any thought. You simply spend 75 minutes with a group of characters. It is such fun. Of course there were English sub-titles but I loved listening to the Italian. The Royal Cinema has done it again.

Lolo

I was given the choice of any restaurant I wanted. My family was driving down from their country cabin near Collingwood. They live in the Lawrence Yonge area. I suggested Lolo because I love the food and it is a convenient place for my family.

I have dined here numerous times and have always loved the food. In the evening there is a $25.00 fixe priz. Three large portion courses are offered with numerous choices in each category. When I enter Lolo’s I immediately inquire if the Lemon Tart is on the menu for dessert. It is the best in the city and I absolutely crave it. The Flourless Chocolate Cake is also a big winner.

I am getting ahead of the game. We came for brunch on Mother’s Day. They only had a 2:30 p.m. slot available and we were happy to accept it.

Louis Ourique is a master chef. Everything comes from the kitchen picture perfect. I salivate on every bite. I am happy to say we were not disappointed on this occasion.

Alex and my son Ray shared the Carrot-Apple Puree Soup.($7.00) It had a rich color and was thick and tasty.

The ‘boys’ followed this with their main course. Alex opted for the Penne with Spicy Sausage, roasted peppers, leeks and tomato sauce.($16.00) Alex has a healthy appetite. The foccacia bread was demolished in no time and he thoroughly enjoyed his pasta lunch.

Ray ordered the Seared Atlantic Salmon.($19.00) It was a thick piece of moist salmon served on creamed mashed potatoes with fresh vegetables and a sauce verte. I have had the salmon here on so many occasions and always marvel at the full flavor and moistness of the fish.

Kathy enjoyed the Porcini Mushroom Ravioli.($19.00) The brandy- chive cream sauce looked so tasty.

I had a wonderful plate of Linguine with Tiger Shrimp. I passed on the scallops and mussels. The tomato sauce was rich and flavorful. The shrimp were plump, plentiful and very tasty. ($20.00)

I do recommend the Salad of Grilled Pear, arugula, asiago,walnuts and pear vinaigrette.($9.00) I have also enjoyed the Thinly- Sliced Beets with arugula and goat cheese.($9.00)

Nobody leaves hungry in this fine establishment. My problem is always in choosing from so many options.

We were happily satiated but I was not going to pass on the Lemon Tart. We also shared the Apple Desert with a caramel sauce. The scoop of ice cream at the side must have been home made. It was truly the best I have ever tasted.

This was a memorable Mother’s Day. I was with my wonderful family. I had superb food. My out of town family had all called. I had a perfect day.

Chef Louis, you have not lost your touch. Than you for the gourmet food.

Babies

I have been busy all week seeing films at the Hot Docs (documentary film festival. The films are free for seniors and students before 5:00 p.m. I have seen memorable films from Ireland, Finland and Israel (2). I love documentaries because they broaden my horizon and I learn so much. I learn about different life styles in different countries. It is an educational enjoyable experience.

I could have seen one more free film today but then my readers would not have any reviews. There is no point in writing about a film that you will never see.

Babies opened the festival and I knew it was going to be released. I couldn’t wait to see this most unusual film.

We meet newly born babies from four different countries, Namibia, Mongolia, Japan and the United States. In some cases we see the actual birth. What differences! In Africa the young woman had no medical assistance and the surroundings were very primitive (by our standards) The baby born in San Francisco had all the high tech of a modern hospital.

The film follows the first year in the lives of these children. The camera work was outstanding.

The African mother seemed to do nothing but feed her children. Her large breasts were certainly well used. At one point she was feeding two different children at the same time. It was humorous to see the American child feeding from a bottle. The African child was drinking from dirty water on the ground and eating dirt. Nobody seemed to care.

I was fascinated with the Mongolian child who was wrapped so tightly in a blanket and then the blanket was tied with ribbons.

In Mongolia and Africa the babies were growing up surrounded by animals. This led to some humorous scenes. One little boy was sitting in a basin of water. An animal came up from behind and started to drink the water. The children played freely with the animals. In one scene a chicken climbed up on the bed where the tightly bound baby was resting.

The food was also a fascinating topic which greatly varied from country to country. We witnessed a scene of several young boys from Namibia all eating from one large basin. They simply took the food in their hands. It was a gruel mixture.

At no time was there judgment of any of the mothers or cultural standards. The film merely portrayed the variety in birthing and rearing children in four different countries. It was obvious that the mothers loved their children. The American parents almost over indulged their child. They were constantly doing things with her and communicating with her. The African and Mongolian parents left the children on their own a great deal. The children bickered amongst themselves and there didn’t seem to be any interference. Children bit and pulled hair. They pushed and shoved. This obviously is a common trait that knows no geographic local.

The film then shows the children a year later. They all seemed happy and were growing up nicely. The director apparently had no goal of preaching or judging. He simply wanted to show the tender moments between children and parents. HE wanted to show that there are different ways of child rearing

Filming must have been an arduous task. The director traveled to four countries and filmed over from before birth until the children were a year old. I imagine it was difficult also for the parents having a camera so close for such a long time. The movie is outstanding.

Not a word was spoken and yet so much was shown.

Please Give

would rather not write about this film because I did not enjoy it. I went to the cinema because it had received very positive reviews. I didn’t like the people and I did not enjoy their interaction. Frankly, I wanted the film to end. So maybe I missed the point. Maybe I am stupid. I was not engaged. The film was a selection for the Sundance Film Festival and also an official selection at the Berlin Film Festival.

Kate and Alex are a married couple. They operate a second hand furniture store. They buy furniture from recently deceased people and then charge excessively high prices. She also has a very giving side. She hands out money to people on the street. Kate is played by Catherine Keener and does a great job. She was the only redeeming factor.

Kate and Alex are waiting for the next door neighbor to die so they can buy her apartment. Alex is sleeping with other women. I do have to admit that from time to time he shows some sensitivity. One day he surprised his daughter with a present of a shirt that he thought she would like.

The lady who lives next door is a cantankerous grandmother. She speaks her mind to everyone and does provide some humor to the story. She has two granddaughters. Rebecca is a loving granddaughter who visits often. Rebecca’s sister, Mary, is not a nice person. She is obsessed with her tanning bed. She does not like her grandmother and speaks rudely to her when she does visit. I really disliked her when she was stalking the girlfriend of her ex.

There is some character development and some of the issues are resolved. It wasn’t enough to keep my attention.

I know I will be hearing from many that loved the film. I wish I had enjoyed it. I go with the intention of having a positive experience. It didn’t work this time.

The Trotsky

I saw this film in the fall at the Toronto Film Festival. I do recall thinking it was very funny and well executed. I take great pride in Canadian films that are well done. Jay Baruchel is fantastic. He plays the role of Leon Bronstein who sees himself as the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky. At one point he goes to work for his father and tries to unionize the business. His father punishes him and he is forced to leave his elite private school and attend a public school.

The schools scenes were hilarious. The Principal is played by Colm Feore who is wonderful in the part. The staff is totally opposed to Leon Bronstein and they constantly are at loggerheads with his antics.

He tries to get the students to go on strike and to unionize. He claims that the teachers are unionized and the students also ought to have that opportunity.

I did laugh at the scene when Leon is interviewed on TV by Ben Mulroney. An American audience might miss that local aspect but the film does raise universal questions.

It is delightful and I hope it has a good run.

You don’t know whether to laugh at poor Leon or to feel sad for his geeky character. He has trouble winning over the girl of his choice and you can understand why that happens.

It is entertaining and a well produced Canadian film. Bravo.

Bedford Academy

Not too many people can step outside their living quarters and walk to a restaurant in less than 2 minutes. I love it. Yolanda and I had not seen each other for a long time. We certainly needed time and quiet to catch up on all our activities. It is amazing how much we have to chat about. Yolanda loves pubs and we decided to go to Bedford Academy. It was quiet. The service was phenomenal. Cassius was not just a good looking man. He was attentive and charming. He was also very patient with all our inquiries.

On a sunny day the patio in front and at the side of the building are very busy. There is a real pub flavor inside with the dark wood bar and floors. I like the atmosphere. I have eaten here several times and have found the food to be very good.

It is perfect for a lunch or a light dinner. There are many salads from which to choose. Yolanda opted for the Warm Goat Cheese and Portobello Salad. ($12.00) Crisp mesclun greens are topped with grilled portobello mushrooms, sunflower seeds and crusted goat cheese. The sun-dried vinaigrette was just enough to give a zing to the mixed ingredients.

Spicy Calamari Salad uses the mesclun greens as a base and tops it with spicy grilled calamari and a fresh basil, lemon-olive oil vinaigrette.($12.00)

The Panzarella Tuscan Bread Salad is a favorite of mine. Torn foccaccia is seasoned with garlic and olive oil. Ripe tomatoes, diced cucumbers, finely sliced red onion, torn basil leaves and kalamata olives are combined and served with grilled chicken and just a hint of red wine vinegar.($12.00)

I opted for a Caesar salad.(Yummy) I asked for a scoop of tuna on top. No problem. I felt very satiated ant overly full. The small size was only $6.00 with n additional charge of $2.00 for the tuna. I thought that was most reasonable.

The Southern Sweet Potato Fries are so yummy. The chipotle mayo is the perfect accompaniment. ( 5 are only $1.10)

Malena

An unbelievable experience in gourmet dining! This newest trendy spot in town has only been opened for a little over a month. Every table was filled. The bar was packed. There was also a large crowd waiting for a table.

The place is designed with the finest taste. The hanging lights and magnificent mirrors give the feeling of grandeur and space. In reality the place is not that large. There are two rows of tables on each side of the room. The central aisle is bustling all evening with talented servers carrying plates of exotic food and pleasing the patrons. Our server was Zinta. She is also the sommelier. She was quiet spoken but it was so obvious that she was well informed about the wine and the food. She was also charming and attentive.

We spent much of the time conversing with that adorable romantic couple sitting beside us. We watched the plates being delivered to the 8 women at the next table. We were so grateful that they spoke quietly and didn’t overpower our own conversation.

I am so fortunate that I have a new friend, Fransi. She adores good food and is always willing to have a gourmet experience. She is now living in the same building as I am so it is fun and easy to try new restaurants.

Fransi started with a special order of Oysters. They were served on a lovely tray filled with rock salt. The presentation was so appetizing. Zinta explained where the oysters originated and what the sauces were all about. Little dishes of a variety of sauces were at the side.($19.00)

I was so pleased with the Rocket and Watercress Salad.($12.00) The greens had that fresh peppery taste and I loved every morsel. Toasted sesame was on top and served with lemon vinaigrette.

This is a very esoteric menu. Smoked Halibut cheek Cakes are prepared with horta, shallots and lemon cream.($13.00) The darling couple at the next table really enjoyed this dish.

Ionian Seafood Soup has a tomato broth base and is enhanced with grilled ciabattaa and olive oil.($!6.00)

Grilled West Coast Octupus was a popular item this evening.($14.00) It is served with minted cous cous, trilya olives and Greek yogurt.

I was anticipating the Swordfish that I had read about in an excellent review of this new restaurant. On this evening three fish were offered. I had to be urged to try the Stealhead Trout. It was grilled and perfectly moist and flavorful. The zucchini on the side was also grilled and drizzled with lemon. Every bite was exotic to the palate.($25.00)

Fransi ordered the Porgy Fish. It was served whole with the same zucchini sides.($30.00) We hardly had time to eat. We were ‘oohing’ and ‘ahing’ throughout the meal and so busy watching all the action. Each plate came with a little tray of three side sauces. The citrus marmalade was outstanding. The sauces really added to the flavor of our chosen fish.

The Spot Prawn Risotto looked so appealing when presented at the next table.($29.00)

Muscat Glazed Lamb Ribs are served with chick pea and red cabbage salad.($27.00)

We shared an order of Quebec Cheese with fresh figs for dessert.($8.00)

This is an event place. Every bite was a gourmet experience and the entertainment is watching all the action in this most popular spot.

The Boulevard Cafe

Alex has a regular gig on Thursday evening. It is convenient for both of us to meet for dinner. Boulevard Café is his favorite restaurant and I also love it. I have been a patron here since they first opened and that was many years ago. I love the subtle blend of Peruvian flavors. The menu definitely has a South American trend. I have dined here for brunch, lunch and dinner and have never been disappointed. In fact I always leave stating that I must return very soon. The large patio is always busy in the warmer months.

It was pouring rain, cold and damp. Nothing could dampen our spirits as we met at this favorite spot.

We didn’t even have to look at the menu. We both knew we were going to enjoy our Anticuchos. I would call this the signature dish here. Charbroiled brochettes are marinated in wine, herbs and spices and served with salad and garlic rice or potatoes. It is the best. Alex chose the Chicken Anticuchos.($16.95) There were so many large moist sections of delicious chicken. Alex also loved the sauce that was great for dipping the tasty morsels.

I love the Shrimp Anticuchos. ($18.95) The shrimp has that wonderful barbecue taste and they are plump and tasty. The potatoes were too delicious for words. I had to eat them all. My side sauce was tasty and I dipped both the shrimp and potatoes in the sauce. I really enjoy the dressing on the fresh salad. It had a slight tarragon flavor.

We were very contented patrons and very full.

On many past visits I have chosen the Peruvian Plate.($12.75) The salad features a variety of steamed vegetables on a bed of lettuce. The spicy tarragon dressing is bliss to the palate.

The Creole Salad is also a favorite. Boston lettuce, garbanzo beans, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion rings, avocado and hard boiled eggs are also served in the spicy tarragon sauce. Not only is it healthy fare but also absolutely delicious.

Specials are posted on the board. They have a definite Peruvian taste. There is always a fresh fish and an enchilada dish. The Vegetable Chowder Soup was very popular on this cold evening.(cup $3.75 bowl $7.00)

At lunch time sandwiches are offered. They are enormous in size and served with greens and Yukon fries.

The Butfarra de Salmon is delicious with smoked salmon, gruyere cheese, grilled zucchini, roasted jalapeno and sweet peppers on grilled rye with caraway. ($11.95)

The Vegetariano offers aurugula, cucumber, alfalfa sprouts, tomatoes, hard boiled egg, avocado, grated carrots and spicy mayonnaise on whole wheat bread.($10.95)

The Grilled Spinach Sandwich is prepared with fresh spinach grilled with feta cheese and mozzarella with red onions on whole wheat bread.($11.95)

Everything is delicious. Everything is nicely plated. The service is friendly.

The Boulevard Café is an institution on Harbord Street. It has been there for a long time with good reason. What a treat!

Mao's Last Dancer

Sensational, artistic, emotional and powerful! The dancing was absolutely wonderful and you have a front row seat. It is all the more powerful because it is the true story of ballet dancer Li Cunxin. Li lived in rural China during the 1970’s. His initial training was in his home area. The communist leaders deemed him to have talent and sent him away to a boarding school to study ballet. At first he was smaller and weaker than the other boys. One of the instructors called him names. He was determined to get stronger and practiced harder than anyone and became an outstanding ballet student.

The ballets at that time were influenced by the politics of the day and so we are able to watch communist inspired drama. It was fascinating. I also learned much about the communist political power and action of the day.

Chai Cao was selected to play the part of Li. He is magnificent in every way. He is handsome and a great dancer. When he leaps into the air I lose a heart beat.

Li is invited to come to the Houston ballet as a guest for 3 months. You can just imagine the culture shock he faced and the film tells the story well. Li thrives at the ballet. When his three months is up everyone in the film (and I think in the audience) panicked. Li marries hoping to be able to stay in the United States.

A very emotional scene takes place at the Chinese consulate and I sat on the edge of my seat wondering if he would be able to stay.

The ending is very emotional. I made sure I left before all the lights came on. The Kleenex business will soar on this film. It was fascinating to read about what happened to all the leading directors and dancers in this story.

It is a heart tugging story. Best of all is the dancing and choreography. Spiritual for sure! I think I need to go back and see it all again. Bring the Kleenex.

Letters to Juliet

I loved every minute of this delightful romantic story. Some will find it ‘very light’ in strength. The scenes in Tuscany were worth the price of admission. The cinematography was splendid.

Vanessa Redgrave is a fine actress. I love listening to her deep voice and how she enunciates words. Who doesn’t want a little romance in their life? She plays the part of Claire who returns to Verona in search of a long lost love.

Amanda Seyfried has one of the leading roles. She is so beautiful and perky. She plays the part of Sophie. Sophie works for an American paper as a fact checker but wants to be a writer. She goes to Verona with her ‘icky’ boyfriend. He is a restaurateur and is only interested in food and purchasing items for his restaurant. He definitely hasn’t opened his eyes or his heart to Sophie.

Sophie visits the balcony famous for Romeo and Juliet. The women from the town would write letters and paste them on the wall. The letters were bemoaning the problems in their love life. Sophie metes up with a group of delightful women who have the job of answering all the letters.

Sophie discovers a letter that had been hidden in the wall for 50 years, Claire ( played by Vanessa Redgrave) had written the letter when she had fallen in love with Lorenzo. She was young at the time and did not follow her heart. She left him and returned home to England.

Now 50 years later she returns to Verona when Sophie answers her long lost letter. Claire arrives with her pretentious, arrogant grandson. They set out to find Lorenzo.

Many humorous scenes are portrayed as they follow the winding roads of Tuscany in search of Lorenzo. Sophie goes along for the adventure. She constantly keeps notes so that she can write the story on her return. Claire and Sophie become very close. It doesn’t take much imagination to guess what happens with the silly grandson and Sophie.

Ridiculous and incredulous for sure. I didn’t care. I was enthralled with the scenery and Vanessa Redgrave.

I had a great time and loved the romance in the air.

Fressen

My nephew had just returned from a 4 month volunteer job in Peru. My granddaughter, Hayah, is leaving to go back to Israel. Alex had a few hours in between gigs. My brother even drove in from St Catherines. We all met for a Sunday brunch. You can just imagine all the conversation. Everybody was asking questions and each person had so much to contribute.

My nephew and I love this place because it is vegetarian. I guarantee that anyone can find delicious food here. I have had brunch/lunch here several times in the past and I always have been excited by the tasty food, great choices and artistic presentation. One suggestion is to order cold tapas to share or have as a lighter lunch. One is $6.00 or 3 for $15.00

We shared the Marinated Olives. Three types of olives are marinated with fresh herbs and spices. Spectacular.

The Jicama & Mango Salad offered shredded jicama and mango marinated in lime, chilies, herbs and olive oil tossed in peppery arugula and almonds.

Our third choice tapas was the dish of Spicy Red Lentils Balls. Pureed red lentil balls are mixed with parsley, red peppers and mint.

My granddaughter, Hayah ordered the Pancakes for brunch.($10.00) The spelt and barley pancakes were beautifully rolled on the plate with a stick of fresh tarragon on top. Hayah said they had a nutty flavor and were far more flavorful and tasty than a regular pancake. Stewed fruit nicely balanced the taste of the pancakes.

Alex chose the Tofu Sandwich. The bread was a very high quality multi grain and the sandwich was enormous in size. A seared tofu slice was served with tomatoes, lettuce and tempeh. A huge portion delicious roasted small potatoes and a green salad were offered for only $10.00. Those potatoes were amazing and we all ate far too many.

My brother enjoyed the Avocado Sandwich with sliced tomatoes, tempeh, lettuce and also served with those fabulous potatoes and greens.($10.00)

My nephew, Nathaniel and I opted for the Tofu Scrambles. We both have enjoyed this in the past. It was so delicious. Marinated tofu is scrambled with peppers, asparagus, and corn and served with a tortilla. There were also small slices of bread to enjoy the side of mashed avocado. A scoop of black bean dip and some salsa were part of this enormous portion of fantastic food. How do they do this for only ($10.00)

Last visit I enjoyed the Corn Fritters. Seared sweet potato and corn fritters are filled with shredded celery root, sweet peas and fresh herbs.($10.00)

The service is warm and friendly. The plates are beautifully garnished. Even more important the food is so tasty. The chef has a way with using an appropriate amount of herbs and spices.

This is healthy food. It is also delicious and very reasonable. What a fun spot on trendy Queen St West.

Armida

This opera made such an impression that I couldn’t remember the name later in the day. How embarrassing when I stated I had just come from an opera and a friend asked me which one.

This production is a first for the Met. I applaud them for trying new operas. I don’t have to love them all. I feel it expands my horizons and I do want to experience a variety of operas. This is the last opera of the season. You can catch the encore May 22. I do admit that the third act was wonderful and I was glad that I hadn’t left like many of the audience.

I can’t wait to sign up for next season on August 27. I still get a thrill every time the technician says, “ Maesto to the pit.” because I know I am in for a thrilling cultural experience.

I delighted at the close up of the French horn player at the beginning of this presentation. The camera zoomed in on his fingers. I could see every whisker on his face.

Renee Fleming was the diva on this occasion. I will see any performance that she is in. She is beautiful, a great actress and her voice is magical. I was not disappointed in her performance in Armida. It all looks so effortless and she makes every note tug at my heart. She was interviewed during the intermission. Renee explained that the bell canto roll is very demanding and she must pace herself. It looked effortless to me.

I enjoyed listening to the director, Mary Zimmerman give details about this production.

During the intermission we saw excerpts from the future productions for next year. I look forward to the Robert Lepage production of a Wagner opera. We were told that it is a faithful retelling but using modern technology. I can’t wait.

The Met Operas live by satellite are the best cultural bargain. You watch the performance from the best seat possible. You see everything at a close range. The performers are the best of the Met and it is always a thrilling experience. It is also extremely economical.

The High definition performances are growing in numbers. The National Theatre in England has started showing productions by satellite and I am told it is amazing.

Cantine

What a consistently great restaurant. No wonder it is always bustling. The lunch crowd kept coming and coming. The menu is varied and offers so many delicious choices.

I have dined here many times and it is always excellent. My problem is in choosing something because I want it all.

My ‘delicious’ granddaughter is in town from Israel and my sister was our host for this tasty lunch. Hayah is a most interesting young lady. She coaches the Israeli Debating team and often is called upon to be a judge for debating contests around the world. She is charming, intelligent and so much fun. We wanted this lunch to be memorable.

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Hayah ordered the special salad of Cajun Salmon on a bed of Spinach. The rectangular white plate was a perfect background for the glistening spinach. The Cajun salmon was meaty, perfectly spiced, tender and thoroughly enjoyed.

My sister chose the Salad Nicoise. This is always a winner. The greens are so fresh and the vinaigrette was tangy and perfectly anointed the fresh greens. The green beans were perfectly cooked and served with little potatoes, egg and artichoke.($11.95)

I opted for the Seared Tuna Salad. This restaurant knows how to grill fresh tuna and whenever I see it on the menu I make that my selection. The meaty tuna was so flavorful and perfectly cooked. I loved every morsel. The greens had a wonderful vinaigrette and it all tasted as if the salad had just been picked in the garden.($!5.95)

The restaurant is noted for their Grilled 8 oz. Cantine Burger.($9.95) Yukon gold fries or green salad are part of this great deal.

In the past I have enjoyed the Spaghettini With Tiger Shrimp.($!4.95) The pasta is tossed with roasted tomato, lemon, garlic and olive oil. This is one of my favorite dishes.

The Sour Cherry Pie with ice cream was tangy and tasty. We also shared a Biscotti with chocolate chips. We were satiated, happy and content.

It was a perfect lunch and we had a wonderful time.

I love the food at this restaurant. We complimented our server. We watched how hard she worked and how professional she was. Being a good server is a difficult job and she really enhanced our lunch.

Joe Bersani is the owner of this restaurant. He seems to know all is patrons. He greets them and makes sure that everybody is happy.

I assure him that everybody is happy at this great restaurant. I can’t wait to go back.

The Back Up Plan

I’m actually embarrassed to say I went to see this film. Last week was the Jewish Film Festival. Next week is the Hot Docs Film Festival. My granddaughter from Israel is currently here for a week. She was spending the afternoon with other family. I actually was at loose ends and decided to walk to the cinema. This was the only film I would even consider. All of the above is still a poor reason for going to this second rate film.

Jennifer Lopez is definitely not a great actress. She plays the part of Zoe. She runs a pet shop. She is unmarried and sees time slipping by. She desperately wants a child. She goes to a doctor for artificial insemination. It was a funny scene with her and the doctor.

While trying to catch a cab in a rain storm she meets the adorable Stan. They begin a relationship. The artificial insemination works and Zoe has to tell Stan she is pregnant.

Stan needs to decide if he wants to continue the relationship. The only good part of the film was looking at Stan. He was such a darling. He ran a farm. He had a shop selling gourmet food. He planned a date with Zoe in a secluded garden. The garden was filled with candles and the table was elegantly set. How romantic!

There are many silly scenes. This is not a deep plot and no thinking is required. You probably won’t even want to discuss the story after the film. You may want to go for a drink and fine food to make up for a ‘nothing’ film.