playdate

Quince

Quince is one of those restaurants that I've passed by dozens of times and never really thought about checking out.
Not sure why, it looks appealing enough with a nice clean and simple exterior and warm and inviting interior- yet I never felt the mojo.
That is until last fall.
I was in the area (Yonge & Eglinton) and couldn't figure out any where else to eat so we decided to give it a go.
We were pleasantly surprised.
Eight months later I can still recall a rabbit terrine that was so delicious.
The menu is seasonal and changes frequently, so I was looking forward to sampling some nice fresh spring flavors.
An obvious spring choice is asparagus.
So I started with the Wood oven roasted asparagus wrapped in Serrano ham with Montfort shaved  toscano cheese $10
It was quite nice and actually something I might try making at home as it was a nice simple way to start a meal.
I then moved on to the Wood oven roasted Halibut & Fennel, black olive tapenade, roasted red pepper & chili puree and parsley oil $24.
It was okay.
I probably would have enjoyed it more if our neighboring table hadn't poured an entire bottle of Dolce & Gabana cologne on before heading out for dinner.
What's with people who wear so much perfume anyhow?
Can't they tell how over powering they smell. jeez.
And to be fair I have been fighting off a bit of a cold all week, so I really wasn't into eating out in the first place, but we had a free babysitter so it felt like a waste to just stay home and have a bowl of chicken soup.
which really is what we should have done.
But all in all Quince is a nice little bistro.
Good clean seasonal food.
Proficient service.
decent atmosphere and not over the top expensive.
Though our second visit wasn't as good as our first, I'm sure we'll return again.

Quince restaurant
2110 Yonge St.
416.488.2110

Baby Talk

Here at Playdate, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our editor's new bundle of joy. HBM has been working on through it, and is counting the minutes at this point, if she hasn't already delivered by the time I hit publish. She's not alone, either. There are plenty of other bloggers out there who, right this very moment are gestating siblings or settling in with their new additions, and that's just among the ones I know.

Absolutely Fabulist

Okay, I'll admit it, I'm a bit of a product whore.  It's partly due to the fact that I'm an actor, and it's important casting-wise to make sure that I'm putting my best face forward, and partly due to good old-fashioned vanity.  Whatever the reason, though, I've tried many MANY different skin and hair products.

It's been awhile since I've been ready for my close-up, though, Mr DeMille.  An endless winter and too many sleepless nights have run roughshod over my looks, and I feel the need to do a little spring cleaning. Here's what I can't live without when I need a pick-me-up..

Fire It Up

We had our first official, all-family barbeque blowout on Saturday, capping off a day of festivities in advance of Mother’s Day and my little Bee’s third birthday.

I loves me a barbeque. It has become a weekend tradition at our place, with friends and family knowing that they are welcome to come ‘round pretty much any weekend of the warm months and fire it up with us.

Or I should say, with Chris, as I don’t actually do any of the bbqing. (That’s just one more reason why I love having them.)

#3 -- Lorac Gloss Stick

Last week your faithful Addictine was strung out on a new job high and missed a post. This week I'm paying the price. My favourite lip gloss ran out.

I even went so far as to get the lip brush out so I could dig out every last ounce of delish lip goodness. Pshaw, you say. It's just lip gloss. A dime a dozen. But I swear to you that Lorac Gloss Sticks are no ordinary lip gloss.

Composting for Beginners

Each morning you throw out a coffee filter and a handful of used coffee grinds.

Your weekend breakfast feast of bacon and eggs leaves behind a pile of broken eggshells.

The kids have an apple for a snack, but leave the core for you to pick up.

I’ve got news for you:  those coffee grinds, egg shells and apple cores are packed full of nutrients that will make awesome food for your garden if you change your habits.  Rather than throwing your kitchen scraps into the garbage, start a compost pile!

This month our focus is on greener gardening, and composting is arguably the simplest way to green up your gardening habits.

Continue reading "Composting for Beginners" »

Piercing my illusions

I pierced my navel 13 years ago when I was 25 years old.

I had just been dumped by my long-time boyfriend. I had cried off a good ten pounds of excess weight, was working out like a mad woman and was in the best shape of my life.

It was a painful but exhilarating way of confirming my emancipation. “I am hot. I am fearless. I am embarking on the next chapter of my life.”

Shooting for health (and thinner thighs)

Before I get into my wrap up on the last four weeks I spent participating in the President's Choice Healthy Eating Challenge I'd like to direct your attention to the name of this column.

It's called Shooting for Hip.

Emphasis on shooting: as in aspiring towards, trying, struggling, seeking, working on it, giving it a go, taking a crack at it, etc.

Diva though I may be, I have never pretended to be the picture of hipness (hipitude?) and after four weeks of "shooting for" it, I am not the picture of health either.

But I have learned a few things.

Pressure is not cool without Bowie and Queen

Am I the only person who liked the Will Ferrell movie Kicking & Screaming?  Although I'm a huge Ferrell fan, I generally find his movies to be, in essence, simply overextended Saturday Night Live skits  (With notable exceptions:  Elf and Anchorman).  But this one amused me, despite it's portrayal of coffee as an evil personality-changing drug. Mmm, coffee is your friend...come on over to the dark side...oh, um, er - sorry I digress.

Hey Baby, What's On The Menu?

When my daughter Bee was about seven months old, I introduced my exclusively-breastfed first child to her first solid food – delicious, nutritious, homemade organic sweet potato mush. It was an exciting event, with the mess to prove it, but it marked the end of what crazy me actually considered the easiest part of infanthood. To be sure, until that afternoon, my child had been the ultimate in portability – have boob, will travel.

Although I was happy to usher Bee into this new chapter of life, to be honest, I was not all that psyched about having to worry about packing food for her when we left the house. So we took it slowly with solids, and eventually, like every added dimension of parenthood, we got used to it, and I think, got pretty good at  it.

Introducing May's Challenge: Greener Gardening!

Do you have a garden or grow plants? Do you use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides in your garden?  Do you buy lots of plants every season that are sold in plastic pots?  Do you grow food?

These are the kinds of questions we’ll be looking at this month here at BlogHers ACT Canada.  I have to admit, I’m kind of pumped!  This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. There are entire weblogs that focus on these topics entirely, and there are some I visit quite frequently, and will recommend to you.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Continue reading "Introducing May's Challenge: Greener Gardening!" »

Do you have a garden or grow plants? Do you use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides in your garden?  Do you buy lots of plants every season that are sold in plastic pots?  Do you grow food?

These are the kinds of questions we’ll be looking at this month here at BlogHers ACT Canada.  I have to admit, I’m kind of pumped!  This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. There are entire weblogs that focus on these topics entirely, and there are some I visit quite frequently, and will recommend to you.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Continue reading "Introducing May's Challenge: Greener Gardening!" »

Province Set To Collect Race Data

The Ontario education ministry has put out a research contract for bid. In this contract, the ministry is investigating means of collecting student data about race and ethnicity at both the elementary and secondary levels "for education purposes". The project description also states that any collection methods must obey privacy laws and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Provincial privacy laws define ethnic and racial details as personal information, requiring authorization and detailed explanation of reasons for collection as well as proper protection.

Spring Stories

It's spring - at last! And who doesn't love spring? The snow melts away, the temperature rises, animals and plants come out the greet the new-found sun, and our moods lighten palpably after the long schlep through winter. Our kids can run freely now, and shed some layers. They have great fun splashing in puddles and testing out boots and umbrellas long tucked away. They know spring is special, but they might not twig to all the wonderful changes happening around them.

Why not celebrate the spring renewal with some great stories, and open their eyes to how truly miraculous the season is? Here's a good start:

Two's a Charm

Our friends Her Bad Mother, Mrs. Chicky, and Mrs. Chicken are expanding their families from child to children and we're here to honour that transition from pseudo-sanity to total and utter madness with a virtual baby shower.

Here's how you can participate:

nice sausage

I love eating out, but sometimes it's nice to just pick up a few extra special items and crack a good bottle of wine at home.
Yeah, I know this is supposed to be all about restaurant reviews, but sometimes it's nice to just stay home or even better, picnic and patio season are almost here and to me, there really isn't anything better than eating outside.
One of my favorite things to bring on a picnic, is a good smoked sausage.
Smoked anything for that matter.
I just love the taste of earthy smoked meat.
Specifically, venison salami.
Love it.
Hickory, cherry or mesquite smoked....yum.