L'espresso Bar Mercurio

L’Espresso Bar Mercurio 321 Bloor Street W 416 585 2233 My grandson and I were brunching. The weather is phenomenal and we wanted to be outdoors and we wanted to enjoy excellent food. Fortunately this neighborhood spot is within walking distance. I could have jumped. For years Bar Mercurio has been a family run restaurant. It is an institution at St George and Bloor. I love being greeted by a family member and made to feel so welcome. The food is always superb. Several years ago the family dared to take over a very large space across the road. Brother Joe tends to spend most of his time at Bar Mercurio. Sister Theresa superbly manages the L’Espresso Bar Mercurio. It is a morning lunch place. The space is enormous but so effectively divided that you feel privacy at your own table. The enormous outdoor patio is widely used during the warmer months. I still have my ambition to host a family dinner in the small but elegant private room. My grandson commented that it was hard to believe we were on Bloor St. The patio has a country outdoor feeling. This restaurant is a big favorite of the university crowd. I was having a small dinner party at home in the evening so wanted to enjoy a lighter lunch. The Salad Nicoise was ideal.($13.00) The mixed greens were perfect. Small crispy pieces of green beans, tomatoes, eggs and olives were plentiful. A large scoop of tuna was placed on top and it all was enhanced with the citrus olive oil vinaigrette. On many occasions I have enjoyed the Beet Salad prepared with arugola, beets, pear, walnuts, shaved asiago, and a citrus olive oil dressing. The Smoked Trout salad features smoked trout, baby spinach, roasted peppers, tomatoes, light aioli and a lemon olive oil dressing.($13.00) My grandson is a hearty diner. He opted for the Prosciutto Panini. ($15.00) The olive fougasse bread looked so delicious. The thin slices of prosciutto were packed into the large portion of bread. A choice of sides is offered with a panini. My grandson chose a Caesar Salad. Sweet potato fries and arugola salad are other options. The Eggs Benedict are a house specialty. Smoked salmon or black forest ham is offered. The eggs are medium poached and served with an herb hollandaise sauce. The roasted herb potatoes are so tasty. The exotic creation is served on ciabatta bread.($14.00) Breakfast diners can enjoy the Home Made Granola prepared with fruit and almonds. It is served with French yogurt or milk.($8.00) This is my neighborhood gourmet restaurant. I have dined here since it first opened. It is a popular spot and always busy. The service is friendly. Our server, Louisa, was so helpful and willing to please. The pastry counter greets you as you enter the restaurant. Oh My! I have tasted many of the sweets and can’t even pick a favorite because they are all so good. I do love the Biscotti. Many of the desserts are gluten free. L’Espresso Bar Mercurio continues to enchant the neighborhood. The food is consistently wonderful.

Turn me on, dammit!

Turn Me On, Dammit! I’m thinking of moving into TIFF Bell Lightbox. I spend so much time there because they dare to bring in unusual well executed films. You may not like them all but each film is superior in some way. You can go without nay previous knowledge and feel confident you are going to see a film of great quality. There are 5 cinemas and the viewing is perfect in each auditorium. This film from Norway is a delightful tale with many layers. 15 year old Alma is attractive and lives in a small town in Norway. She is coming to terms with her sexuality. In fact she is somewhat obsessed. She masturbates at every chance. The film opens with the sounds of Alma pleasuring herself on the kitchen floor. The dog stares quietly and it is actually quite humorous. Alma has a ‘prickly’ relationship with hr mother although you feel the two really love each other. Her mother is obviously very annoyed when she receives a large bill for payment because Alma was having phone sex. Alma blatantly tells her mother she is horny. There is always the neighbor who is looking out of her window and watching what is going on. In fact she makes notes of everything she sees. Alma has two close friends. Saralou, a chain smoker, talks about moving to Texas to fight against the death penalty. Ingrid is constantly smearing her lips with gloss. She is humorless and doer. Alma and Artur eye each other in class and seem to have an affinity for one another. One day he exposes his penis and rubs her thigh. Alma makes the big mistake of telling her friend who then tells everyone. Of course the talk spreads and she becomes a laughing stock. She feels alienated. Artur denies it. She becomes known as ‘Dick Alma.’ This is before social media. Yet, we can see the damage of spreading gossip and making fun of someone. All of this deeply affects Alma and her relationship with her friends. Alma is coming to terms with her sexuality. She is also maturing and trying out new experiences. The film does an excellent job of portraying the young characters and making them all so believable. Everyone seems to learn a few lessons and Alma matures in the process. Apparently this is a first feature film for Jannicke Systad Jacobsen. Her previous work has been with documentaries. This is a fine film. The cinematography was also noteworthy. There are many views of the school bus traveling around mountainous roads. The scenery is lovely. The film seems to be in muted tones which give a delicate look to the young people. Alma looks like an angel at times. At other times we see her drinking a lot of beer, smoking and often masturbating. It is never crude. The director has taken pains to portray these maturing students in a believable way.

The Five Year Engagement

The Five Year Engagement I went to visit a friend at St Joseph’s Hospital. After driving around for 45 minutes without finding a parking spot I decided to keep driving to the Queensway Theatre to see a film. I predicted I would then find a parking spot on my return visit. I arrived at the cinema to discover the Globe had printed the wrong time for the movie. I was exhausted by the time I found a seat and began to relax. I actually missed the opening but it didn’t require a lot of brains to figure out the plot. This is a delightful, light hearted, predictable film. Emily Blunt and Jason Segal are refreshing and adorable. Violet (Blunt) and Tom (Segal) are in love and planning their wedding is a top priority. Tom is a sou -chef. Violet has plans for a post doc education. Tom’s Jewish heritage and Violet’s protestant background provide a lot of humor at the engagement party. Violet’s sister Susie becomes pregnant with Tom’s buddy Alex. They marry in a beautiful ceremony that makes Tom and Violet a little jealous. Susie and Alex eventually have 2 children and Tom and Violet are still working on plans. When Violet is accepted at a post doc course in Michigan the troubles begin. Imagine moving from San Francisco to Michigan? (Especially during winter) Problems develop in the relationship. Violet loves all her courses and Tom struggles to get a job. This is an American movie so the ending was predictable from the beginning. You could say that the delight of the film is the process of the darling couple finally realizing their hopes and dreams. There is a lot of humor. I also could relate to a young couple trying to work out all the problems. Waiting so long for the wedding added stress and more problems. I wanted to yell out,”Elope” It is the summer season for films. This means that all the good films will be held until the Film Festival in September. The summer months are traditionally very dry for good new films. You are guaranteed a laugh or two and it is entertaining. It is a break from all the negative news I hear every day.” In the end it is lighthearted and definitely not thought provoking.

Pizzeria Via Mercanti

Pizzeria Via Mercanti 188 Augusta Ave. 647 545 6647 I am on a mission to try every restaurant on Augusta Ave. It is such a hot spot. In the daytime the Kensington Market is alive with purchasers of produce. In the evening something magical happens. The street comes alive. There are restaurants of all types. Now that the weather is pleasant the outdoor patios are alive and bustling. The restaurants are open all day but it is in the evening when there is a special buzz on the street. My grandson and I have been trying to discover the best pizza in town. We are willing to go anywhere. I think the journey is now complete. This is the best pizza. I met my grandson and his lovely girlfriend friend at this new spot on Augusta. It was only opened in February. How did everyone find it so quickly? It was crowded but the place is fairly large and everyone was comfortable. We loved the window seating so we could watch all the action on the street. Gabriela was our delightful server and most accommodating to our queries. I noticed on the blackboard that a Marguerita Pizza and an Arugula Salad are featured at lunch for $10.00. You can bet I will go back for that. Each pizza is presented with olive oil, basil and parmesan. The dough uses only the finest Caputo Tipoo flour from Italy. The sauce is prepared with San Marzano tomatoes. Pizzas are baked for only 90 seconds at 900 degrees. The Gran Padano cheese was first made by monks at an abbey near Milan. The best ingredients are used and that is one reason this place has a winning combination. The Pizzas can be ordered white or red. The server was most gracious about allowing me to order the Vegetarian Pizza with a red sauce.($14.00) The grilled eggplant, zucchini, red peppers and mushrooms were plentiful. The crust was flavorful and crunchy. Every bite meted in my mouth. Delicious! Do ask for their homemade chili oil to enhance the flavor even more. My grandson loved his Broccoli e Salsiccie Pizza. Sausage, sautéed rapini and fior di latte made this a winning choice.($15.00) His lady friend equally enjoyed her selection of Funghi Pizza with a bountiful amount of mixed mushrooms. ($12.00) I’m told that there will be a choice of whole wheat crust in the near future. Parmigiana D’ Melanzane is offered if you fancy an eggplant dish.($10.00) Canneloni/ Lasagne are also on the menu.($10.00) I noticed several people dining on Pasta dishes. Primi Piatti, Antipasti Vari,Ensalades,Dolci. It’s all there. Chef Romolo brings his skill and flavors from Salerno, Italy. H

Bernie

Bernie I can’t believe how much I laughed (out loud) during the film. I still have a smile on my face. This film was hilarious. I almost missed it because I am not a fan of Jack Black. I now suggest you go to see the film because of Jack Black. He is a riot. In fact all the cast is superb. Shirley MacLaine and Mathew McConaughey each add humor to this delightful tale. It is told in a documentary style. The action takes place in a small town Carthage., Texas. Jack Black plays the part of Bernie an assistant funeral director. He lives alone and is loved by all the people in town. He leads the church choir. He gives care and attention to the deceased as well as the family members. He helps everyone and seems to be able to do everything. He sings. He directs the local theatre group. The action starts when Mr. Nugent dies. Mrs. Nugent (MacLaine) is a mean, stingy, bossy, unkind woman. Nobody likes her. Even her own family is estranged from her. She has a lot of money. Bernie visits her following the funeral. Over time she begins to soften and likes Bernie’s company. In fact he almost becomes her slave. She bosses him around. For a while she changes and becomes more attractive. Bernie and Mrs. Nugent travel all over the world. Bernie takes over her finances. He buys a plane. He lives a life of luxury but still gives much of his attention to the town’s people. MacLaine is fantastic as the angry mean widow. I have a feeling she had a lot of fun in playing this part. Throughout the film the various characters living in the town are interviewed. Wherever did they find that cast? They are a riot. Bernie is bossed around so much by Mrs. Nugent that he cannot take it anymore and shoots her. The DA gets called into action and charges Bernie with the murder. McConaughey also provides humor in the way he plays the part. The people in the town turn on the DA. They want Bernie free. This could have been a silly farce. The acting is so great. Guaranteed you will have a laugh. The documentary approach is so novel and works well. This was a great surprise and a lot of fun. It is clever, original and very creative.

Le Paradis Brasserie

Le Paradis Brasserie / Bistro 166 Bedford Rd 416 921 0995 In an era where the world is changing much too quickly it is so comforting to have some stability in life. Le Paradis has been an institution on Bedford Rd for years. I remember dining there when it first opened and have continued to enjoy the exquisite French food. It does not change and that is good. The menu items change daily but the consistency of the quality never falters. This is traditional French food. Reservations are a necessity because Le Paradis is a thriving business at lunch and dinner. Lunches are served from Tuesday to Friday. Dinner is available every evening. There are three sections to the restaurant. It doesn’t matter because requests are not made. You sit where there is room. The superb food can be enjoyed everywhere. The patio is now open in the front as well as a larger patio at the back (quieter) A lengthy row of tables is on the main level. Go up several stairs and there is a large room. Go down a few stairs and another room is available. Our server was fantastic. We ordered a bottle of wine. Before opening she recommended a better tasting wine. She was so right. She was knowledgeable about the menu and was happy to spend time answering our queries. Two of the diners ordered the Duck Soup. It was passed around and all agreed that the flavor was very special. On my last visit I enjoyed the Blaff a la Martiniquaise.($17.00) Mixed fish, calamari & shrimp are braised with a spicy tomato, habanero and citrus broth. It was a sensual experience. I was about to order it again until I noticed that one of the specials being served on this evening was Swordfish. That is one of my favorites and not too many restaurants serve it. I didn’t need a knife. My fork cut it easily. The flavor was superb. It was tender and perfectly prepared. The light flavorful rose sauce was completely devoured with the fish. The fish sat on a ball of tasty bulgar infused with vegetables. This was a winning combination enjoyed by two of the guests. The Pave de Boeuf au Poivre ($18.00) was cooked exactly as the diner requested. The top sirloin was topped with a peppercorn sauce. She also raved about the frites. Apparently the home made mayonnaise and red sauce were extraordinary. On former visits many of my dining companions have ordered the Foie de Veau a l’Ancienne.($16.00) I’m told it is the best liver in town. Seared Provini calf liver is prepared with veal & onion reduction & bacon. The other dining companion at our table ordered a special of the day, the Sweetbreads. He was so satisfied. We were all delighted and very full but you cannot leave this place without trying a dessert. We shared two of their outstanding treats. The Lemon Tarte is the best. It is lemony, ‘tart’ and creamy on the palate. It is always a winner. The Crème Brulee was equally delicious. I was glad I could walk home to digest my wonderful feast and work off some of the calories. Le Paradis is always consistent. The food is flavorful and nicely plated. The service is friendly and efficient. All of the above and it also extremely economical for outstanding gourmet dining. What more could anyone want?

Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster

Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster I have been so anxious to see this film. As a child (I hate to give away my age) I remember Edwin Boyd being chased by the police behind our family house on Davisville Ave. Earlier this year the film was picked as one of the 10 best Canadian films for the year. It also won the TIFF prize for the best first Canadian feature. It is written and directed by Nathan Morlando, who worked on the script for many years. He has done an amazing job. The acting is superb. I especially enjoyed some of the old news clippings and radio announcements. Does anyone remember announcer Lorne Greene? I even saw a street sign for Davisville Ave. The cars, houses and dress style were all so realistic of that time. I have to confess to a darker side of my character. I almost wanted Edwin Boyd to get away. Edwin Boyd was a notorious bank robber and the number one wanted man of the day. What a character. He was charming. He adored his wife and children. Even when he was robbing a bank he would smile and charm the tellers. His trade mark was to darken his eyes, pull his fedora hat down low and jump over the bank counter. Once he even did a dance on the top of the counter. How could you resent such a charming character? He was captured once and put in jail. In the Don Jail he met other ‘tough characters’ and 4 of them became known as The Boyd Gang. They escaped. (twice) The robberies continued until the inevitable happened and they were caught. It is a riveting story. It is well told. Unfortunately robbing banks is not an ideal way to live your life. His family paid a big price. The other members of the gang all had women who enjoyed the luxuries that the stolen money offered them. That rich lifestyle was short lived and they all paid a big price. Bravo to this excellent Canadian film that tells a story that would captivate anyone’s interest. It is all the more meaningful for anyone who grew up in Toronto.

Cardinal Rule

Cardinal Rule 5 Roncesvalles Ave 647 352 0202 A West end Designer Diner I don’t know this area at all. I was on my way to visit a friend at St Joseph’s Hospital. At dinner the previous evening one of my guests remarked that his daughter owned a restaurant at Queen and Roncesvalles. I didn’t know the name or number but decided to play detective. The name appealed to me and the menu looked great. I was pleased to learn that 2 young women operate this ‘funky’ place that the web calls a ‘new joint’. It just opened in April. The web also labels it a ‘designer diner’. I like the fact that the food will appeal to all diners including vegetarians and vegans. The menu is creative. Brunch seems to be a big seller on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am- 4:00 pm. They have even been featured on You Gotta Eat Here, a food Network program. How exciting for me to discover this little gem. Unfortunately it was not my friend’s daughter’s restaurant. It was lunchtime but I had not eaten. I was thrilled with the Classic Breakfast.($9.00) 3 eggs of any style are offered with sausages and bacon. I declined the meat. Two crusty potato latkes are included as well as good quality whole wheat bread. I was so pleased to hear the server state to a client that they don’t serve white bread. Hurray! The eggs were creamy and perfectly prepared. I thanked the chef for the excellent eggs. She told me that egg preparations and especially omelettes are the last item on the cooking school agenda because they are actually difficult to prepare to perfection. This young chef has it right. The Vegetable Pannini ($8.00) is prepared with sweet red peppers, Portobello mushrooms, zucchini, spinach, pecan crusted goat cheese layered with pesto and served on my favorite black olive ciabetta. Doesn’t it make your mouth water? I am coming back for the grilled Cheese Sandwich served on multi grain. Oka, mozzarella and old cheddar are the ingredients.($7.00) The Maki N’ Cheese was featured on the Food Network. Imagine cheesy macaroni pasta rolled sushi style around tasty ingredients, breaded with panko crumbs and fried.($8.00) I wonder if I asked nicely if the chef would tell me how it is done. How creative! The Mushroom Pappardelle is prepared with wild mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and papardelle pasta with a sage garlic sauce.($12.00) I found this creative gem by mistake. That made it all the better.

The Five Year Engagement

The Five Year Engagement I went to visit a friend at St Joseph’s Hospital. After driving around for 45 minutes without finding a parking spot I decided to keep driving to the Queensway Theatre to see a film. I predicted I would then find a parking spot on my return visit. I arrived at the cinema to discover the Globe had printed the wrong time for the movie. I was exhausted by the time I found a seat and began to relax. I actually missed the opening but it didn’t require a lot of brains to figure out the plot. This is a delightful, light hearted, predictable film. Emily Blunt and Jason Segal are refreshing and adorable. Violet (Blunt) and Tom (Segal) are in love and planning their wedding is a top priority. Tom is a sou -chef. Violet has plans for a post doc education. Tom’s Jewish heritage and Violet’s protestant background provide a lot of humor at the engagement party. Violet’s sister Susie becomes pregnant with Tom’s buddy Alex. They marry in a beautiful ceremony that makes Tom and Violet a little jealous. Susie and Alex eventually have 2 children and Tom and Violet are still working on plans. When Violet is accepted at a post doc course in Michigan the troubles begin. Imagine moving from San Francisco to Michigan? (Especially during winter) Problems develop in the relationship. Violet loves all her courses and Tom struggles to get a job. This is an American movie so the ending was predictable from the beginning. You could say that the delight of the film is the process of the darling couple finally realizing their hopes and dreams. There is a lot of humor. I also could relate to a young couple trying to work out all the problems. Waiting so long for the wedding added stress and more problems. I wanted to yell out,”Elope” It is the summer season for films. This means that all the good films will be held until the Film Festival in September. The summer months are traditionally very dry for good new films. You are guaranteed a laugh or two and it is entertaining. It is a break from all the negative news I hear every day.” In the end it is lighthearted and definitely not thought provoking.

Big Chubby Burger

Big Chubby Burger 269 Augusta Ave. 416 340 9398 My friend and I had just seen a very disturbing film at the Hot Docs Film Festival. We decided to walk up Spadina Ave into Kensington Market to look for a place to eat. It was a beautiful evening and we needed to work off the angst from the film. Kensington Market changes in the evening. I had no idea there were so many little eateries. They were all packed with outdoor diners. The neighborhood becomes vibrant in a different way in the evening. There were so many different types of food and restaurants. We were starving and every place seemed to be full. We saw the sign for Big Chubby Burger and we felt compelled to enter. This is not fine dining in the elegant sense. It is certainly fine dining from a food perspective. One wall is a blackboard where guests are encouraged to write remarks. Another blackboard lists the many types of hamburgers that are available. I didn’t even mind forgoing my ‘de rigueur’ glass of red wine. All the hamburgers are prepared with quality ingredients. You order at the counter and the food is presented at the table. The hamburgers are served on a metal pan that looks like a cake pan. A checkered cloth covers the pan. This is simple décor and a modest place. The food was amazing. We both delved into our food with ecstasy. We both ordered the Vegetarian Burger.($7.00) Not one but two large ‘meaty’ patties were placed on a delicious good quality bun. Garlic mayo, tomatoes, pickles and lettuce are all part of the deal An Indian Burger offers beef, bacon, goat cheese, curried sauce and mango chutney.($8.50) A Mexican Burger offers beef, sautéed onion, chipotle, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and avocado.($8.50) I’d like to see someone tackle the Big Chubby Burger. ($11.00) It is filled with beef, fried egg, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, sautéed onion, green pepper and mushrooms. I get a smile on my face thinking about it. Every day there is a special burger offered. Home made fries and a drink are included. Sunday is the Buffalo Chicken Strip special.($9.50) Wednesdays feature is a Bacon Cheese Burger.($9.50) You can always add to your order. Sautéed vegetables or mushrooms, onions, pepper and jalapeno are only $1.00 extra. Sweet Potato Poutine is offered in a medium ($8.00) or large size. ($10.00) This is such an economical place to bring the family. Kids Specials are offered. A Junior Burger with home fries and a drink is a great deal.($6.00) Grilled Cheese Sandwich with fries and a drink will please most kids.($7.00) We had such a good time and loved every bite. The chef works so hard in his open kitchen and produces delicious burgers in a variety of ways. The restaurant is open from 11:00 am – 10:00 pm daily.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel After a week of intensive viewing of serious documentary films I couldn’t wait to see this lighthearted story. I have been anticipating it for a long while. The previews were all so tempting. I would see any film with Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. They are both absolutely wonderful. What great entertainment! The film opens by introducing us to the main characters. They are all seniors living in England. They all face health or economic problems. A brochure promises them a great experience in retirement living at the Marigold Hotel in Jaipur India. Maggie Smith steals the show in my opinion. She is a crusty, biased, bigoted old lady. She is in a wheel chair and not willing to try anything new. She has agreed to go to India because it offered her cheap hip surgery. You can just imagine the culture shock she faced. Judi Dench needs to get away. Her husband has died and she has just discovered that he has left her nothing and she is going to have to sell her home. Another couple is in retirement and is shocked to see the pathetic apartment they are able to afford. One single man and another single woman hope to discover love. The hotel is not what has been promised. It is unkempt and dirty. Birds even fly out of a room. One room doesn’t even have a door. The interpersonal relation of the group makes for a good story. The characters all begin to discover themselves and to make the best of the opportunity. Throughout the film you are treated to the sights and sounds of India. It is wonderful. The traffic jams and the crowds are so real. There is romance and intrigue. There are complicated personal relationships. It is a bit ‘over the top’ at times. It didn’t matter. It was such fun. There is a lot of humor and each character in the story has a personal tale to tell. John Madden has done a great job as director. He is best known for Shakespeare In Love.

Omni

Omni 2793 Bathurst St. 416 783 2091 When any of my family visits from Israel I look to entertain at a kosher restaurant. I have dined at Omni on many occasions. The food was always delicious but I missed the availability of having a glass of wine with dinner. My son-in-law was in town. My Toronto family and our visitor were invited for dinner. What a pleasant surprise. The total establishment has been upgraded. The simple elegance makes such a difference. What a treat to see white tablecloths and candles on each table. Omni is the most original concept. Part of the establishment is a fine jewellery store. The newly designed partition creatively separates the jewellery display from the restaurant. What fun! Pick up a little bobble and then dine in style. The menu offers many choices. Being a kosher restaurant it offers dairy products only. There are so many choices. Anyone could find something of delight. The bread is baked on the premise. My favorite is the multigrain. It is fantastic. We demolished all the bread on the tray in no time. Three of the guests ordered Salmon Fillet.($22.00) The salmon was a choice portion. The vegetables on the side were perfectly cooked. A choice of potatoes or quinoa was available. All the guests were delighted. One diner had the Farfalle a la Vodka with spinach and mushrooms.($17.00) It was a large portion served in a white bowl. The pasta was perfectly prepared and the rose sauce with a hint of vodka sauce was so tasty. I love tuna and will travel to the end of the city for a feast of this tasty fish. Not many restaurants dare to offer tuna because it is difficult to prepare properly and it is expensive. The Peppercorn Tuna was fantastic.($25.00) The grilled vegetables compliment this perfect dish. The presentation made it all so tempting. Everybody had to have a taste and all agreed that this was a winning plate. Omni opens early in the morning. During the breakfast and lunch time the white tablecloths are not present. However the food choices are amazing. The Marrakesh Omelette is prepared with mixed vegetables and a hot chili sauce.($9.99) A Breakfast Burrito offers scrambled eggs, mushrooms, onions, peppers, spinach and cheese wrapped in a whole wheat wrap.($9.99) The Portobello Mushroom Soup is available daily and a must to try.($5.99) Baguettes and Paninis are a great early days selection. The Grilled Vegetable Pannini is piled high with roasted red peppers, zucchini, eggplant, mozzarella cheese and choice of grilled eggplant or sun- dried tomato spread.($9.99) We were having such a great time so decided to continue our fine feast and celebrate with a shared dessert. The White Chocolate Cheesecake was a great choice.($7.00) The Biscottis are my favorite. A gluten free biscotti, low fat biscotti and granola biscotti are all available In the past I have also ordered catering from Omni. Their food is always fresh and delicious. We loved the upgrading of Omni. The food was always great. The changes mean that you now dine in style with superb food. Omni is open from 7:30 am – 9pm from Sunday –Thursday. Friday it closes at 3:00pm for Shabbat and opens after sundown on Saturday evening.

Seven Grams Espresso Bar

Seven Grams Espresso Bar 131 Avenue Rd 647 351 1317 Imagine getting excited about a coffee shop. I was taking my (98 yrs young) aunt out for a little stroll. We walked by this coffee shop and I suggested we stop in for a café. It is a relatively new shop on the Avenue Davenport strip. I couldn’t imagine this place being a hustle of activity. It is such a charming spot. There are now tables outside. The fist level has several comfortable lounge chairs. The downstairs has more tables and chairs. Go up several steps and you are at the upper level with the food preparation and many more tables. The art work is striking. It is creative and adds a whimsical touch to the charming place. It is the kind of coffee house where you want to lounge around and sip a good cup of java while indulging in a special sweet. Congratulations to Heran Choi, the director, for being so creative and smart to open this tasty little venue. The coffee was extraordinary. I had a Cappuccino that was superb. My aunt thought her Coffee was very special. All the available drinks are posted on a blackboard. The Lemonade Tea seemed to be a specialty on this day. We shared a Cranberry Biscotti. Most of the sweets are prepared on the premises. There was a variety of Cookies, Pastries and Squares. They all looked so inviting. I was especially attracted to the Sandwiches prepared on multigrain bread. Several of the clients were indulging and it all looked so delicious. Bagels are also available. This may be a coffee shop but it is extra special and worth a little stroll. It is just north of Whole Foods and across the road from those very special flower shops. Make it an excursion. I plan to go back and sample one of those sandwiches. Just thinking about that cappuccino makes me want to go right now. Who would have thought that a coffee house would thrive at this location? Just watch the continual stream of clients coming and going. This is a little gem.