blogTO:Best of Toronto Feed

The Best Onion Rings in Toronto

Bryce — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:30:00 -0500

The best onion rings in Toronto prove that the formerly fast food staple can be refined into something more than just an occasional stand-in for French fries. Broadly speaking, the key parameters for an onion ring are the cut, the coating, and the seasoning. Some people prefer the relative crispiness of a thin-cut ring versus the meatier thick cut. On the topic of coatings, the big choice is between a doughy batter or panko breaded rings.

The Best Panini in Toronto

toddhofley — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:15:00 -0500

The best panini in Toronto are as different from one another as they are tasty, running the gamut from compact, grilled little packets of flavour to enormous, "there's no way I can eat that in one sitting" sandwiches that impress the eye as well as the tastebuds.

But before I get to the lowdown on the top 12: a language lesson.

The Best Soup in Toronto

rickmcginnis — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:15:00 -0500

The best soup in Toronto is the perfect comfort for a cold winter day. And even though the weak light of spring is finally in view, there's still plenty of time to enjoy a bowl of soup in its perfect context - when there's a damp chill in the air outside. Soup might be the most elemental meal of all, a dish so simple and nourishing that it's sometimes treated like medicine.

The Best Pet Stores in Toronto

elizabeth — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:00:00 -0500

The best pet stores in Toronto can be found in almost every neighbourhood in the city. There's no denying Torontonians love their pets, every popular retail block seems to have a handful of specialty boutiques with products and services dedicated to pampering your precious fur baby. As a creepy cat lady in training it comes as no surprise to me that the majority of these shops go to the dogs, as there are plenty of spots to get your pup clipped and coiffed, massaged and photographed by a professional (my cat Nigel assures me he is not interested in any of this!).

The Best Huevos Rancheros in Toronto

Bryce — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:26:00 -0500

The best huevos rancheros in Toronto takes lovers of the Mexican breakfast staple from Parkdale to Leslieville and points in between. But it's still a rare find in the city with most brunch places preferring to stick to more proven offerings like eggs benedict, pancakes and waffles.

But done correctly, huevos like this really hit the spot. How can you not love a dish that combines the heartiness of eggs and beans with the hangover-subduing power of spicy salsa? Layer in guacamole, fresh tortillas and perhaps even some corn bread and you have something worth waking up early on the weekends for.

The Best Fries in Toronto

toddhofley — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:41:00 -0500

The best fries in Toronto pay homage to the simple potato which was cultivated, worshiped and considered divine by the ancient Incas beginning in 750 BC. It was the belle of the ball for some 18th century French aristocrats and we all know what happened several times in Ireland because of their obsession with it and its refusal to grow.

But according to historians it wasn't until sometime in the early 19th century that anyone had even thought of cooking them in fat. Whomever that genius was (the French and Belgians both claim the honour), I thank you. Deeply.

The Best Croissant in Toronto

guest — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:50:00 -0500

The best croissant in Toronto is a tasty variation of a recipe perfected in France in the late 17th century. Luckily our city isn't shy on French patisseries, which means chances are a hot, crescent-shaped wonder is often within reach. Done poorly, a croissant is filmy, overly crunchy, stale, and heartbreaking. But done well, there aren't many baked goods more satisfying, or that better reveal the talent of the pastry chef.

The Best Hakka Restaurants in Toronto

maria — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:14:00 -0500

The best Hakka restaurants in Toronto may not be the best looking restaurants in the city, but what they lack in decor, they make up for in flavour. Each restaurant is basically a sparsely decorated room with a smiling fat Buddha statue in the entrance, a lucky kitty next to the cash register, and kitschy posters of mainland China decorating the walls.

But this no-frills approach to decor isn't a big deal. Because you don't go to these restaurants to look at what's hanging on the walls. You go to eat. And eat, you will. Generous, heaping portions of delicious Indian Chinese fusion will satisfy even the pickiest of palates and keep you full for days.

The Best New Restaurants in Toronto, 2009

Frank — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:29:00 -0500

The best new restaurants in Toronto all have a few things in common. Kitchens for one. These restaurants also apparently share a common thread of lunacy in their restaurateurs. I mean you'd have to be madder than a March hare to open a restaurant at the very bottom of the current economic trough, in a year more notable for restaurant closures and downsizing operations than for new places to nosh.

The Best New Design Stores in Toronto, 2009

Briony — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:32:00 -0500

The best new design stores in Toronto offered something of an international battle royale in 2009. Canada had a strong showing with two crafty stores (Bluebird Handmade and Wise Daughters Craft Market) making the cut.

Japan made a play via Cubeshops and its Asian quirkfest, while the Scandinavians and Europeans continue to dominate the decor market, with Mjolk's sleek chic, and a nod to the multi-use pieces at double-store Bullfrog & Limitless.

The Best New Fashion Stores in Toronto, 2009

Briony — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:30:00 -0500

When it comes to the Toronto fashion scene, 2009 was the year of the homegrown designer - almost half the stores on this list are mainly stocked with Canadian lines.

The demand is there for local talent, and designers are obliging--the stores on this list have everything from vintage fabric earrings (Coal Miner's Daughter) and recycled leather purses (Imelda and Black Daffodil) to handmade tees (Shared) and Lundstrom LaParkas (eleven).

The Best New Cheap Eats in Toronto, 2009

Bryce — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:35:00 -0500

The best new cheap eats in Toronto can just about be summed up in one word: sandwiches. Gourmet burger places continue to open all over town, but they're up against some stiff competitors who really know their way around a panini press. That being said, there are a few outliers on the list this year, proving that Torontonians crave a good poutine or bowl of ramen just as much as they love tasty stuff on bread.

The Best New Brunch Restaurants in Toronto, 2009

lauren — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:57:00 -0500

Brunch in Toronto -- the fork in the road where breakfast meets lunch, where the hungry and/or hung-over turn to satiate their weekend cravings for fat, starch, and caffeine. A little bit of breakfast, with a dash of lunch -- who could ask for a more perfect culinary melding of the minds?

Everyone has their go-to, tested and true, good 'till the last drop Toronto brunch spot. But 2009 has seen some impressive new contenders enter the ring, new slingers of hash who are eager to prove their eggs the benniest, their homefries the tastiest and their pancakes the fluffiest in Toronto.

The Best New Cafes in Toronto, 2009

Tim — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:02:00 -0500

Cafe culture in Toronto has experienced something of a renaissance over the past few years. 12 months ago I couldn't get over what a banner year 2008 had been with the emergence of cafes like Zoots, LIT, Crema and Broadview Espresso. Little did I know at the time that 2009 would be even better.

From Leslieville to Dundas West and beyond, great little cafes are sprouting up sometimes two to a block. Free WiFi, fair trade beans, latte art and soy milk have become what seem like basic offerings at this point. And why not? Many agree that Toronto is a city that runs on coffee and thankfully there are plenty of entrepreneurs out there to show us how much better it can get than the generic Timmies or Starbucks offerings.

The Best New Bakeries in Toronto, 2009

Tim — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:16:00 -0500

Toronto is blessed with bakeries, and even though we lost a good one (Queen of Tarts) last month, overall 2009 was a banner year. We now have more options to buy the stuff we were always looking for (pies, cupcakes, bread) as well as the goodies we never realized we were missing (custom cookies, vanilla conchas, gluten-free scones).

It's no wonder so many of us pack on the pounds during the winter months. Sure, there's the cold weather, baggy clothes and cravings for sweets and comfort food; but with so many buttercream and hot-out-of-the-oven wonders available in neighbourhoods across the city, Toronto's bakers make it much easier to stick to the 100 mile diet rather than the latest low calorie one.