I am a big fan of The Oscars. Every year I try to watch all of the best picture nominees that interest me and usually, I’ve crossed off 1 or 2 before they are even announced. This year however, I found myself playing catch up, having seen none of the nominated movies with only a few weeks to go before the awards. I promptly organized a couple of Tuesday movie nights to rectify the situation. Conveniently, Winterlicious was also underway. Early dinner reservations at La Societe was perfect before walking over to Cineplex Varsity.

Atmosphere: La Societe is located in the heart of Yorkville on Bloor St. I still remember when the space used to be a fancy Chinese restaurant before transforming into the opulent French bistro it is today. Stepping into the restaurant felt like stepping into a different decade and city altogether; from the mosaic floor with gold lettering to the stunning stained glass ceiling. We were settled in a spacious leather booth and I loved having the extra room for my backpack and camera bag. My friends and I were casually dressed or dressed for work, but I could see the restaurant welcoming a wide range of attire.

Service: Overall, service was okay. Since we had plans to watch a movie after, I was paying close attention to the time and was happy that all of our courses arrived speedily from the kitchen. The one hiccup was a delay in our bread basket arriving. I mainly noticed because I was waiting to get some carbs in my body before I sipped my wine as I hadn’t eaten very much that day. Since our reservation was pretty early, 5:45pm, a server came by to apologize and let us know that the bread was still being warmed up. On a normal day, I wouldn’t have even noticed.

Food: From the three appetizer choices, all 3 of us opted for the Winter Squash Soup with toasted pumpkin seeds, caramelized apple and brown butter. The soup itself was warm, thick and wonderfully creamy. In the center of the bowl was a mound of caramelized apple that was covered by the soup. Digging in with our spoons, we were all surprised by the unexpected punch of sweetness. I didn’t love the two component separate, but stirred all together, the caramelized apples mellowed out and was quite tasty.

For entrees, two of us chose the Steak Frites, myself included, while my other friend tried the Pan Seared Salmon. The steak was at least 6 ounces and cooked perfectly medium rare, just as I had ordered, with a dark char on the outside. My knife cut through the steak easily and each bite was tender and juicy. The side of fries were crispy, lightly seasoned with herbs and served with ketchup and mayonnaise. All together, a very satisfying dish.

While all three dessert options sounded delicious (Lemon Tart, Chocolate Cremeux, and Creme Brulee), our table unanimously went for the La Societe Classic Creme Brulee. I always delight in breaking into my creme brulee with my spoon and making sure each spoonful of custard has a piece of the sweet, crystal layer. At La Societe, the custard was creamy and sweet, a perfect texture just before solid. The sugar topping was caramelized with just a touch of burnt, which added a depth of flvaour without being bitter.

After wine, tax and tip, my dinner added up to just under $80. For a normal dinner out, this was on the pricier side. For a nice dinner out, pretty on par. Overall, I enjoyed my Winterlicious meal at La Societe and would return to try out their regular menu in the future.

With 4 days left to go until Christmas, I have to admit that I am very very behind on my holiday shopping. Instead of wading into the crowds at malls, I’ve been getting into the Christmas spirit with cocktails, courtesy of the InterContinental Hotel in Yorkville. This year IHG is celebrating the holidays with 4 unique, drinks at each of their Toronto and Montreal locations available throughout December. I stopped by Proof Vodka bar, located inside IHG Yorkville to sip the festive cocktails and forget about my outstanding shopping list.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

The 4 festive cocktails featured seasonal herbs and spices like cinnamon, cranberries, thyme and rosemary infusing each glass with a bit of holiday cheer. Each cocktail was priced at $14. My two favourite drinks (because there was tie) were the Red Moon, a great simple mix, and the Santa Claus. I loved the vanilla flavour in the Santa Claus and the touch of bubbles from the champagne.

• Elf Juice – dark rum, apple juice, lime juice, dash of bitters
• Santa Claus – vanilla vodka, cranberry juice, sparkling wine
• Red Moon – red wine, bourbon, simple syrup
• Naughty or Spice – rum, bitters, lime juice, cream, triple sec

To accompany our liquid meal, we nibbled on a delicious assortment of food from Proof Vodka Bar’s menu. There was a great selection of charcuterie and cheeses that were ordered individually. Each order was served with a spoonful of honey (amazing) crunchy crostini, fresh figs and plump blackberries. From the seafood section, we tried the crispy calamari, crab and avocado and citrus mussels. The calamari was lightly battered and an excellent dish to snack on and very shareable. I also really enjoyed the perfectly ripe avocado and well seasoned crab meat.

I’d 100% trade an hour at the mall for an hour sipping a glass of Elf Juice. If you’re already done your shopping, congrats! A festive cocktail would be a well earned reward.

When I visited Paramount Fine Foods at Don Mills for their opening, I had the chance to taste bites of popular items from their menu. Even in sample size, the creamy hummus and savory saj wraps were crowd pleasers and quickly snatched up. For me, the samples whet my appetite for more. So when Paramount invited me to visit their Yorkville location to check out some new menu items, I was more than happy to oblige.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Atmosphere: Located in the heart of Yorkville at Bay and Bloor, Paramount Fine Foods was compact with natural wood decor and an open kitchen. The restaurant was full of diners when my friend and I arrived at 7pm, and included students, families and couples. This location was full service and many diners lingered over their food to chat.

Food: Dinner began with the Yalla Special, a plate of fresh cut fries topped with chicken shawarma and doused in garlic and tahini sauce. Being a big fan of both sauces, I loved this dish. The crispy fries were the perfect base for the strong flavours in the topping and the savoury chicken. Next was the Mezza Plate, a trio of dips including hummus, moutabal (roasted eggplant) and tabbouleh. Served with the dips was a basket of pillowy pita bread. Of the three, my favourite was the creamy hummus, which was rich and thick. I also enjoyed the fresh tabbouleh, that was a nice contrast to the other two heavier dips.

For our mains, we ordered two platters to share, the BBQ Shrimp Plate with basmati rice and the Tabliyeh Chicken Saj Shawarma with fries. Both platters had a healthy portion of carbs and was very filling. I found the shrimp under seasoned on their own, but a quick dip in the tangy sauce served alongside boosted the flavour. As for the chicken saj wrap, I liked how the thin tortilla was toasted, adding a crunch to each bite. The wrap also had a good amount of filling, and the chicken was tender and flavourful. After finishing the Yalla Special, we still managed to polish off most of the fries, they were that good.

No meal at Paramount would be complete without a few squares of their delicious baklava, or a box full.

My first encounter with Caplansky’s was actually at their Pearson location before I flew to Europe last April. While I was unfamiliar, The Hubby was well acquainted, having worked near their College St. location at one point and we decided a smoked meat sandwich was the perfect way to say “brb” to Toronto. We were right. So when Caplansky’s contacted me just a month later to stop by their latest Yorkville location, I eagerly replied yes..

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine

Walking into the new deli location, I was welcomed by the man on the mustard labels himself, Zane Caplansky. After grabbing a fountain drink, I jumped right in line to fill my plate with sandwiches, fries and latkes (after photos of course). The restaurant was self-serve and will have a fully stocked AYCE mustard and pickle bar. The main dining area was dominantly white with an accent wall decorated with a playful pickle and mustard wallpaper.

While the sandwiches were the star of lunch, I also enjoyed the fresh salads and fries. The latkes served with apple sauce were a unique side option, but I do prefer my potatoes more crispy. When I think Caplansky’s, I immediately think of their smoked meat sandwiches. A thick layer of thinly sliced, fatty smoked meat, served between two pieces of buttered rye bread. I squeezed on a liberal amount of mustard before biting into the hefty sandwich. My only wish would’ve been for a thicker cut of the smoked meat.

I also had a chance to try the BBQ brisket and smoked turkey sandwiches and really enjoyed the turkey. This was lighter compared to the smoked meat but still had a lot of flavour.

Back in 2014, I had dinner at Cafe Boulud during Summerlicious and thoroughly enjoyed my meal. Thus I was surprised when Cafe Boulud shuttered their doors in June 2015 to undergo a full redesign in both aesthetic and food. Walking into the Cafe Boulud for this year’s Winterlicious felt like an entirely different restaurant. The space was unrecognizable from it’s previous incarnation. Reminiscent of a cozy French bistro with long booth seats and deep leather chairs, gone were the pop-art paintings, replaced by simple framed pieces.

Atmosphere: Being Winterlicious, Cafe Boulud was filled to capacity. We arrived early for our 5pm reservation, the first dinner seating and waited with a growing crowd of like-minded early birds. Complimentary coat check was available, which I took advantage of. Our table was across from the long brass bar and i watched the bartenders prep for a busy night. The dining space was warm, intimate and tables well spaced out. Perfect for date night. Diners were dressed from casual to suit and tie.

Service: This was the first time in awhile that service was lovely and added to my meal experience. Our server had a friendly, genuine smile, chatted with us about the menu and was patient as The Hubby snapped pictures. Bread crumbs were cleared before our first course (I always love this touch!) and we never sat long with an empty plate.

Food: Cafe Boulud’s Winterlicious menu offered 3 choices for each course. For appetizers, The Hubby ordered the charcuterie while I opted for the tuna tartare. The tartare was well seasoned, fresh and I liked the accompanying light yogurt sauce. In comparison The Hubby’s appetizer was more savoury and rich with a pot gold, aka chicken liver mousse. I would’ve been happy if the entire dish was just that amazing mousse.

When it came to entrees, I liked The Hubby’s pick more than mine. He chose the roasted lamb leg while I tried the seafood bouillabaisse. Thick slices of lamb was served in a pool of spiced yogurt with grains and parsley salad. The lamb was tender and not too gamey. My bouillabaisse had saffron potato, clams, mussels and a thick slab of grilled fish. The seafood was very fresh and cooked well. I especially liked the sweet, chewy clam. The fish soup base however, had a very strong flavour that was overpowering.

Both desserts we ordered were quintessentially French, comforting and so good. I had the bucket of freshly baked madeleines. The cookies were still warm, moist with a touch of lemon. I let The Hubby have a one, maybe even two, but they were hard to share. Besides, he had his own savarin, a moist cake soaked in rum topped with mango, pineapple and chantilly cream. I did eat half of his savarin as well.

Overall, I felt the redesign of Cafe Boulud gave the restaurant character. The space felt like no other in the city and my winterlicious meal was still stand-out. I’m looking forward to trying their regular menu and d|bar’s famous Monday Charcuterie nights.

Since having high tea in London, I’ve been enamoured with the concept. Sipping tea while munching on scones and clotted cream is a pretty awesome way to spend an afternoon. While most hotels in Toronto only serve tea from 2pm-5pm, the Tea Room at Windsor Arms offers Twilight Tea with seatings at 5:30pm and 6pm; perfect for 9-5’ers.

Atmosphere: While the decor in the Tea Room is refined, elegant and traditional with a fireplace and heavy armchairs, I was comfortable and relaxed. Dark walls and white linens created a stark, modern contrast in the room that housed an impressive chandelier. Conversations were contained at each table and was little distraction. My friend and I visited on a Tuesday night and only 4 tables were occupied. Each corner of the room was set up to accommodate larger groups.

Service: There was one server taking care of all the room, who was quiet and unobtrusive. Once we settled at our table, he took our tea orders and provided steeping instructions on the pots arrival. He also described each sandwich and petite four when our tower of treats arrived. While we were quickly offered our first refill of hot water, while we lingered, the server was busy clearing tables and we weren’t comfortable asking for a second.

Food: When I’m at tea, I’m really there for the clotted cream and scones, then the tea and then the sandwiches and petite fours. Based on these priorities, Twilight Tea at Windsor Arms scores well. On scones alone, they’d be top notch.

Separated by types, the selection of tea in their menu was impressive in its breadth. I ended up choosing a Japanese green tea while my friend went with Snow White, a white tea with apple. Each place setting had a personal strainer and rest. Our meal started with a slice of quiche that was savoury and cheesy but seemed like it was made much earlier in the day.

For a table of two, we were served two bites each of every sandwich type. The portion size was plenty for us but I have seen larger squares. Each bite of the rolled up creations were fine, the bread a little soggy. I liked the salmon the best and would have loved an airier bread. The goat cheese tart was soft, strong in flavour and more satisfying.

I did love the perfectly flakey scones. A generous portion of clotted cream was served along with fresh currant and strawberry preserves. This was my favourite part of the meal. The scones were dusted with powdered sugar, the cream was rich and the preserves tart. After these, we were pretty full and only nibbled on each of the remaining sweets. There was no real memorable bite of the petite four and we were so satisfied by the scones that this wasn’t disappointing.

For my visit to The Windsor Arms Tea Room, I was able to grab a Groupon, making the total cost for two ~$85 vs $120 normally. I would come back based on the discounted price (for the scones!), but the full price is more daunting.

Of all my summerlicious picks this year, I was most excited for dinner at Cafe Boulud. Due to scheduling conflicts, I had to move this reservation 3 times, but I was determined to make it and the meal was worth every effort. Cafe Boulud was, hands down, my favourite summerlicious menu this year.

Atmosphere: Located in the Four Season hotel in Yorkville, Cafe Boulud’s decor was contemporary, modern and decorated with paintings of pop culture icons. The space was open with lots of natural lighting provided by the full glass walls. Our reservation was for 5:30pm on a Sunday and the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable while still refined. I’m adding Cafe Boulud to my catalogue of special occasion and fancy brunch restaurants.

Service: Our server was friendly and attentive. Each dish was accompanied with a detailed description as it was served. Service was surprisingly quick with our meal only lasting an hour and a half. There was no lull between courses and plates were cleared right away. We didn’t linger over our food that day since The Fiance had a flight to catch early Monday morning and we appreciated the efficiency. This was especially nice as we didn’t feel rushed at any point.

Food: After placing our order, two amuse-bouche bites were served. The squares were crispy chickpea, topped with a pepper sauce; a yummy start with a mix of textures. For appetizers, I ordered the tuna tartare while The Fiance has the Terrine of Lamb Leg. I fell in love with my tartare; the crisp beans, rich olive oil, soft baby potatoes and fresh tuna were amazing. Every bite was perfect and I didn’t want to share. The Terrine of lamb leg was also good, not very gamey but meaty. Presentation of both dishes were pretty.

Sticking to fish that night, I had the BC Pink Salmon for my entree while The Fiance ordered the Beef Brisket. Both dishes were delicious with their own merits. My salmon was flakey and soft, perfect to my liking. I loved the nuttiness from the fresh raw radish and the spice from the raw slices of jalapeno. The entire dish was light and summery. While the brisket was a heavier protein, the flavours were still fresh and light with the grilled watermelon, kimchi leek and airy crispy rice topping. The brisket itself was tender, juicy and a generous portion size. Usually, The Fiance and I swap plates half way through to sample each other’s entrees. This time though, our own orders matched each of our palettes so perfectly that we were both less than eager to switch.

Dessert consisted of a Peach Sundae and Chocolate Cake plate. I loved that both desserts were rich and indulgent without being overly sweet or dense. The creme fraiche ice cream was airy and highlighted the freshness of the peaches. The toasted marshmallow ice cream was amazing, not as good as Gregg’s but close. I also liked the use to dark chocolate.