Omni

Omni 2793 Bathurst St. 416 783 2091

Can you imagine dining in style and shopping for exquisite jewellery at the same place? I love the concept. Java and jewellery is the original purpose of this establishment. Both parts of the business are always busy. I have had lunch and dinner here on many times. I have also enjoyed their catered food. This is a kosher restaurant. When my family visits from Israel we rush here to enjoy a gourmet kosher meal.

On this occasion I was at a meeting with 10 people. One of the members of the group was kosher so we decided this would be our meting spot. The menu is amazing and the food is extraordinary.

The bread is baked on the premises. It is multi grain with a crunch. I could eat a whole loaf by myself. We actually asked for more bread because it was so tasty and enjoyable.

We shared a Bruschetta ($6.99) while waiting for our dinner to be prepared. Toasted French Baguette is topped with fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil and herbs.($6.99) the Spring Rolls were an excellent appetizer and devoured them immediately.

Portobello Mushroom Soup is available daily.($5.99) One of the dinner guests has enjoyed it here on past visits.

I usually have the Salad Nicoise ($14.99(because they prepare it with fresh tuna. The platter is beautifully arranged and the salad items are fresh and crisp. The chunks of fresh grilled tuna are moist and melt in your mouth.

I adore tuna and most restaurants do not serve this splendid fish. It is expensive and must be prepared perfectly. Grilled Peppercorn Tuna should ideally be served rare because one second too many and the fish becomes dry. The fish was outstanding. It was served with a side dish of quinoa and crisp barely cooked fresh vegetables. A small dish with three serving sauces was placed on the table. The mustard sauce was my favorite. The tuna didn’t even require a knife. I could cut it with a fork. I was delighted with every bite.

The Indian Vegetable Curry is served with fried tofu and rice pilaf.($15.99) Eggplant Parmigiana Towers are rounds of breaded eggplant layered with cheese and homemade marinara sauce.($!4.95)

Sandwiches, Baguettes and Wraps are on the menu. The Open Face Brie Baguette features lightly melted brie with sliced apple, arrugula and brown mustard.($12.95) Portobello Mushroom supreme Panini is prepared with succulent grilled portobello mushrooms toped with mozzarella cheese.($11.95)

Larry,our server, was excellent. He presented all 10 dishes to the right patron. He was helpful and kept the water glasses filled. He was always attentive even though he was also serving the many other guests.

Don’t leave without dessert. The Cheesecake ($7.00) is the best. It is topped with caramel praline or chocolate. Every bite dissolved on my tongue. Wow!

Chocolate Pot Au Crème was prepared with sweet cream and served with a biscotti($7.00) and the Rotating Trio Dessert plate ($!0.00) looked too good to eat. Needless to say it was devoured in a few seconds and totally enjoyed. The Chocolate Brownie was dense and full of a deep chocolate flavor.

We accomplished our purpose in meeting. We also agreed that we had enjoyed a delicious meal.

Burlesque

Burlesque

From beginning to end it was great fun and wonderful entertainment. Have you seen a picture of Cher lately? The woman is 60 years old. Her face is full of plastic and who knows what all she has done to her body but she does look great and can still belt out a song.

Stanley Tucci plays the role of the co-owner of the club. He is funny and delightful in the role. Kristen Bell and Julianne Hough are two of the fabulous dancers at the club.

Christine Aguilera is the star of the show. She is adorable. What a gorgeous body! That girl can belt out a song like nobody else. She can also move that body of hers. It is pure show biz and I loved it all.

Christine Aguilera plays the role of a young woman who arrives in the big city looking to be in show business. She wanders into the burlesque house looking for a job. Cher, the owner, gives her a job as a server. One evening something happens to the music. All the dancer/singers had been mouthing the words to the music. Our young heroine steps up to the stage and belts out a song. It had a real wow factor. She mesmerized the audience. This is the beginning of a career.

One could comment that it doesn’t ring true because the burlesque house is in deep debt and about to be foreclosed yet the dance numbers get better and better.

No matter. I just suspended belief and listened to the great singing and adored all the dance numbers. I marveled that anyone could fit into those skimpy costumes and look so great.

My answer to doubters would be that opera usually portrays overly dramatic ridiculous stories and we all love it.

Like any good Hollywood film there has to be a love interest. She is wooed by two men. One is very rich and offers her everything. The other man is a bartender at the club. He is so cute and such a loving person. Guess who ultimately wins out?

This is great fun. I enjoyed the music and the costumes. It is holiday time and it is the season to be entertained.

Made in Dagenham

Made In Dagenham

I love a story with a strong female character. It is even better when the story is historically true. Sally Hawkins is absolutely fantastic in her role of Rita O’Grady. The time is 1968 in Dagenham, England. Rita worked on machines in the Ford car company. The conditions were poor. The women worked long hours in a hot environment. They often worked the machines only wearing their underwear. Rita is upset because she realizes the women are being paid inferior wages.

Rita starts agitating at work and with the union. She makes speeches and organizes the women. As a result of her action a major strike took place at the factory. Over a 1000 people go out on strike and plant is closed. Executives were called from the United States to help break the strike. The men in leadership tried everything to get the women back to work.

The strike caused a lot of hardship both emotionally and economically for many families. The film does a good job in showing family problems and introduces us to a variety of characters involved in this struggle. A female member of the government, Barbara Castle meets the women and takes up their cause. She realizes that even in her position she is feeling isolated because she is working in a male dominated environment. The struggle eventually leads to a bill offering equal pay to women.(1970)

This is an amazing film. I enjoyed watching the different types of women pull together for the common cause. There is a lot of humor but I also realized the dedication and commitment the women showed. It was funny when Rita yelled out.” It is about fairness not whether you have a dick.”

Rita is a strong character. She is tough. She speaks out whenever necessary. At times a member of the audience applauded after she speaks forcefully and stands up for her rights. Her marriage was threatened. She was threatened by the union leaders. You watch the transformation of the men and the women in reaching the positive goals.

There are also secondary issues explored that relate to women’s issues. A male teacher in the school hits the students. Several women complained and he eventually was removed.

I enjoyed the scenes of the wife and her Ford executive husband. She was university trained and obviously intelligent women. Yet, when she was home with her husband she became the dutiful ‘little woman’.

There is something here for everyone. It is a true story and interesting from beginning to end. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sally Hawkins gets a nod for an Oscar.

Cantine

Cantine bistro & bar 138 Avenue Rd 416 923 4388

Brunch, lunch or dinner you are going to feel like a star. This is a neighborhood restaurant that makes everyone feel welcome. The large comfy chairs at the entrance are great for a drink or a light meal. They set the tone of feeling comfy in a familiar setting. The tables at the back are well spaced. I noticed new art work on the walls. We all agreed that we would love to have the slate floor in our residences.

After a long hiatus four women met here for a get together. We were so happy to see one another and delighted with the food.

Owner, Joey, checks in with the patrons and makes sure everything is satisfactory. Our server was a most attractive charming young lady. She was very attentive and helped to make the visit special. She knew the menu and the wines and we appreciated her assistance with our choices.

I like the menu because it offers delicious choices for easy dining or a complete dinner.

At lunch I love to have a Salad. In fact I don’t even look at the menu anymore/ I know that the Seared Tuna Salad is absolutely the best in town.($15.95) Seared rare tuna is served with a wassail drizzle. Mixed greens and lots of cherry tomatoes are served on the side. There isn’t anything better than this. The tuna really melted in my mouth. The wasabi mayonnaise on the side was perfect. The greens were so fresh and flavorful. Love at every bite!

The Salad Nicoise was popular with the other guests.($11.95) Tuna, green beans, tomato, boiled potato, egg and artichoke are served with mixed greens and a house vinaigrette.($11.95) We all agreed to meet again and have more of this gourmet food.

All the Pizzas are baked on delicious Manoucher bread and served with mixed greens. Bianca is a pizza with spinach, goat cheese, boccocini, fresh rosemary, olive oil and peppercorn.($$13.95) Roasted Red Peppers & Eggplant Pizza is a composition of black olives, tomato sauce, and mozzarella.($12.95)

The Grilled 8 oz. Cantine Burger is a house specialty.($9.95) It is served on a toasted egg bun with Yukon gold fries or green salad. For a little extra you can add a variety of toppings.

In the past I have enjoyed the Spaghettini with Tiger Shrimp. ($14.95)The pasta is tossed with roasted tomato, lemon, garlic and olive oil. ($14.95) It is fantastic.

Omelettes are also special. They are served with Yukon fries or green salad. Roasted Red Pepper, Chicken Sauteed Onion is a delicious combination. Spinach, Mushroom and Cheddar Cheese is a great lunch dish. All Omelettes are $11.95)

Hearty eaters can enjoy Grilled Italian Sausage with mushrooms, onion demi, mashed potato and sautéed vegetables.($12.95)

Grilled Atlantic Salmon Filet can be enjoyed with mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables.($14.95) Steamed Mussels & Frites are served in a tomato broth or white wine shallot and lemon combination.($14.95)

I love the atmosphere. The service is so friendly. I always have a great dining experience. It is a fun people watching spot. The place is always busy but you can hear your own conversation.

There is a reason I keep returning.

Love and Other Drugs

Love & Other Drugs

Do you enjoy watching explicit sex scenes? Do you like viewing beautiful nude bodies? Are you fans of Ann Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal? Then keep reading because this may be a film you will enjoy. I thought it was good fun. At the same time it did have some interesting takes on the pharmaceutical industry.

Jamie (Gyllenhaal) is a drug salesman. He is also a big player with the women. He seduces everyone and especially those that will help him get ahead in his career. He stops at nothing to get his drugs promoted with the doctors. He even takes a competitor’s drugs from the doctor’s shelf and throws them in the garbage.

The vagrant that camps out near that bin becomes a happy character. I’m sure that the competition between drug salesmen is tough and overly competitive. That really does come through.

Jamie sees the gorgeous Maggie (Hathaway) in a doctor’s office. He pretends he is an intern and goes into the office with the doctor for the examination. The smile on his face when she exposes her breast is really something. Maggie has the beginning signs of Parkinson’s.

Maggie and Jamie begin a tryst. Both are very firm that they do not want a serious relationship.

Jamie becomes more successful when he gets the Viagara account. Jamie and Maggie make magic together. She tries to stop the relationship when the Parkinson’s advances. She doesn’t want him stuck with a person who is unable to walk or care for herself.

There is a lot of humor (and silliness) with Jamie’s brother. He is overweight and quite unattractive. He bunks in at Jamie’s place. Obviously he is awe of Jamie’s sexual capabilities.

Jamie always has a perpetual grin on his face. No wonder. Ann Hathaway is so stunning and the two have many nude scenes together.

The story is more than a romp in the hay. The competiveness of the drug companies is actually upsetting. They force their drugs on the doctors and bribery helps them to do it.

Maggie goes to a Parkinson’s convention. There were a lot of laughs but underneath the seriousness of the disease came through. The patients are taught to live with what they have and that life is beautiful.

Award season is around the corner. In my opinion this little fiasco isn’t going anywhere. It did provide some laughs and I was entertained.

Cravings

Cravings Asian Cuisine 3393 Yonge St 416 322 2200

If you are craving the best Asian food this is the place. It was a perfect locale to meet my friend who lives in the northern part of Greater Toronto. I live centrally. The subway took me there in no time at all. I like the physical surroundings of this restaurant. It is well designed and has clean high tech lines. It is a busy restaurant but I have never found it to be noisy.

We opted for the 3 course Lunch Special for $12.95. Isn’t that ridiculous? The food is amazing. There are so many choices. My friend started with Hot and Sour Soup. I had a Vegetarian Tom Yum Soup. It was hot in temperature and full flavored. I enjoyed the broccoli, mushrooms and tofu in the soup. For the second course my friend chose the Spring Roll and I had scrumptious Vegetable Tempura. Yummy! We were already getting full. The tempura was absolutely fantastic. It was not greasy. It was crispy and the flavor of the vegetables came through. The spring roll was also enjoyed. My friend had Kung-Po Chicken for the main course with a side dish of rice. I enjoyed my Pad Thai vegetarian style.

That was a lot of food for such a minimal price. There were many options in each section of the fixed price menu.

I usually order from the main menu.

The Shrimp Tempura Udon is my favorite.($11.00) A very large bowl of hot soup is filled with many delicious vegetables and noodles. A side dish with mouth watering tempura makes for a completely satisfying meal.

If you are craving wok you will be tempted with the Thai Basil. A spicy sauce is mixed with vegetables. You can add chicken, shrimp, or eggplant.($13.00)

Spicy orange Beef is battered and deep fried and then stir fried with a spicy tangerine flavored sauce.($11.00)

Vietnamese Yellow Curry can be mixed with vegetables, chicken, beef or shrimp.($11.00-$13.00) Sushi and Sashimi are listed with a variety of options. Yaki Uudon offers Japanese style fried udon noodles with chicken and shrimp.($12.00)

The décor is very aesthetic. There are enough options on the menu to satisfy any culinary desire. This is a very economical place to dine on very delicious food. I have eaten here on numerous occasions. I will continue to return for more of the best Asian food.

Black Swan

Black Swan

I had no idea what the film was about and thought I was going to see a lovely film about ballet. This is a dark thriller. At times I could not look at the picture. It is even brutal at times. It is also magnificent. Nathalie Portman is guaranteed a bid for an Oscar. She is absolutely fantastic

Natalie Portman plays the role of Nona. Nina is a rising star in the ballet company. She is trying out for the lead in the new production of Swan Lake. She seems to have mastered the role of the white swan. The director battles with her to show the emotion and passion needed to portray the black swan.

She is battling many omens at the same time. Her mother is a dark character that has a mean hold over her daughter. It seems as if she gave up her ballet career in order to have Nina. She can’t let go of Nina and ‘smothers’ her. She needs to know where Nina is at all times and is demanding about attention.

The director also has a strange hold on Nina. He fluctuates with a tough teacher stand. He also has a twisted sense of sexuality. It is obvious that he has bedded several of the ballerinas. He encourages Nina to discover her body so that she can show passion in her dance. He touches her and pushes her to her limits

Mila Kunis plays the part of Lilly, the understudy. She is a very sexual dark character. She leads Nina to drinking, sex and drugs. Is she trying to get the lead part in the ballet? Are all the action scenes between Nina and Lilly real? Some are in the mind of Nina.

I couldn’t believe that Winona Ryder was the actor playing the part of the retiring ballerina. She has a small role but it is very powerful. Was she forced out of the ballet by the tough director?

There is much tension in the film. It builds to a dramatic crescendo as Nina falls into a mental state. This is also a thriller. You don’t know what is going to happen next.

At one moment you are watching superb ballet dancing and listening to the exquisite music. The next minute can be a startling action. Sometimes it is real and other times it can be a fantasy in Nina’s mind.

Some scenes are brutal to watch. Others are sexually charged. You are in for quite a ride on this film. I predict many Oscar nominations for this awesome film.