http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36556 From 2:30pm to 5:30pm every day (except December 24, 25 and 26), tea is served at Victoria’s Restaurant in the hotel. The Nutcracker Afternoon tea is CDN $39 per person and offers delicate finger sandwiches, some of which are duck confit and smoked turkey, gorgeous pastries, including the mincemeat crumble tart and finally, my favourite, warm scones served with imported Devonshire cream and homemade strawberry preserves. And of course, there’s the tea. Only in December, you can choose the Nutcracker tea, which is infused with hazelnuts and vanilla or the Gingerbread House tea, a black tea with ginger root, nutmeg, vanilla, licorice, cinnamon and allspice.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36556 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35875 located anywhere in the city at any given time. And while they are all the rage, locations are often announced at the last minute.
The best way to find out where any of the city’s gourmet food trucks are located is to visit
www.torontofoodtrucks.ca, or follow the trucks on Twitter via @ontfoodtrucks.
Items served from these trucks are not strictly hamburgers and hotdogs. Options include fish tacos, Southern barbeque, brisket sandwiches, eggplant manicotti, lobster, and empanadas, just to name a few.
There’s lots of ethnic food to be had, including the Blue Donkey Streatery, specializing in
Greek cuisine, with items like souvlaki, gyros, fried calamari and feta fries, all under CDN $10; Gourmet Gringos offers tacos, arepas and homemade empanadas; and Fidel Gastro sells unique items such as the Sloppy Jose: cola braised brisket with home style baked beans and a roasted corn aioli, Sgt. Slather: BBQ pulled pork, guacamole cream and crushed tortilla chips and Cheekita Cheekita: beef cheek with pineapple salsa.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35875 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35783 On the western end of Danforth Road, between Broadview and Chester, the area consists of health stores, juice bars, yoga studios and many shops devoted to naturopathic medicine and holistic healing. Known as The Carrot Common, www.carrotcommon.com, this shopping area consists of an organic grocer, vegetarian food emporium, juice bar, wholistic dispensary and other shops selling non-GMO and environmentally safe products. Also in the vicinity, there are some great restaurants, pubs and clothing stores.
Going further east, the area between Chester and Pape is referred to as Toronto’s “Greektown” with plenty of fruit markets, loads of authentic Greek restaurants to suit any budget or taste, specializing in either grilled fish or meat, several bakeries showcasing baklava and spanakopita in their windows, as well as lounges and bars that are open very late.
And finally, between Pape and Woodbine, you will find a mix of Italian bakeries, Asian grocers, some more pubs, and a large assortment of great North African restaurants, all run by local families. My favourite Ethiopian restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner, is Lalibela, www.lalibelaethiopianrestaurant.com. I highly recommend the coffee ceremony after any meal. For Moroccan, I prefer Walima Cafe, www.walimacafe.com, which offers great tagine dishes and incredible appetizers.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35783 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35459 Nadege is also the name of the owner: a pastry chef, chocolatier, confectioner, ice cream maker, traiteur, artist and baker, with experience running Michelin award-winning restaurants in France.
The space has a beautiful outdoor patio, where you can enjoy one of many delicious sandwiches, including smoked turkey with cranberry sauce, or even a pastry with coffee or tea.
This is the place to go to for a gourmet indulgence. Desserts and sandwiches may be a little pricey, but worth every single penny.

Nadege is open every day, beginning at 8AM.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35459 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35458 For meat lovers, the house made fennel and pork sausage with scrambled egg on cornbread, balsamic onion compote and a side salad is sure to please. On days when I’m not so ravenous, I go for the lemon dill scramble which comes with a buttery brioche, smoked salmon and salad. The salade nicoise is also a lovely choice, especially if I’m brunching later in the day; it comes with seared ahi tuna, fingerling potatoes, eggs, olives, anchovies, French beans and a champagne vinaigrette.
The real reason I come here, though, is for the desserts. The master pastry chef, Donald
Duong, is a classically trained French chef who has won numerous awards, having made cakes for the Queen, the Pope, the Canadian Prime Minister and several other dignitaries. The desserts and cakes are all works of art that are as delicious as they are beautiful. Rows and rows of lovely creations line the glass counter: mini cheesecakes, tarts, cakelets, I can never resist them and have also tasted most of these creations. Happily, though, different desserts rotate every few weeks, so I always get to try something new.
If you’re not able to make it for weekend brunch, I recommend visiting this place for a great cup of coffee and a splendid dessert. Afternoon tea is now also being offered in the newly renovated space upstairs, with the mandatory fresh scones, croissants and clotted cream, as well as other delectables, like melon and prosciutto sandwiches, pineapple and watermelon gazpacho, and various petit fours.

Brunch is available on weekends, starting at 10 AM. Please note this place is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35458 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35457 This spot is renowned for its great food as well as its famously long line-ups on the weekend. Having been forewarned, my friend and I arrived on a Saturday, a few minutes before the 10AM opening and within minutes, there were at least 10 people behind us.
Saving Grace is a very small restaurant in what used to be a residential home. The small, high- ceilinged room seats about 20 people at closely placed tables. Servers were constantly smiling and attentively serving customers in this bright and airy space with whitewashed walls and sparse décor. No one seems to mind the close quarters or long line ups, though, because this space is all about the food.
Serving brunch seven days a week, the menu consists of a variety of egg dishes, French toast, sandwiches and salads. The chalkboard on the wall always lists the specials of the day. After careful consideration and much thought, I ordered the savoury french toast, which lived up to my expectations. Made with melted Gruyere, baked apples, and caramelized onions, the flavours were spectacular and I also enjoyed the large salad that came with it. My friend ordered the pancakes with fruit, which was also a hit. Four small, dainty pancakes came served with sliced fruit and maple syrup: not too filling and just the right amount. The freshly squeezed juices were also delicious: the pink grapefruit is not overly tart, and the pear and ginger is perfectly refreshing on a hot summer morning.
I was seriously impressed with the food and am already planning my next appearance, but I haven’t decided whether I’ll have the Old White Cheddar Sandwich, which comes with bacon, tomato, avocado, lettuce and rosemary mayo on a toasted whole wheat raisin bread or the Rajasthani scrambled eggs with spicy red onions, tomatoes, chickpea masala, and spicy paratha.

Saving Grace is open for brunch at 10AM on weekends, and 9AM weekdays.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35457 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35158 Located in front of Toronto City Hall, join Torontonians as they leave their office towers for the lunch hour to grab items such as pulled pork sandwiches, empanadas, oysters, jerk chicken – you get the idea – all while taking in free live music featuring Canadian artists playing music from around the world.
How to get there: Take the subway to Queen (Yonge line) or Osgoode (University line) and walk on Queen St.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35158 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35156 Summerlicious runs from July Friday, July 6 until Sunday, July 22.
Several new restaurants this year are sure to draw a crowd, especially Colborne Lane, www.colbornelane.com and La Societe, www.lasociete.ca, both great spots for food and value.
There is usually a mad rush to secure reservations, especially in the evenings, so call soon.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/35156 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34923 The boardwalk, stretching for hours, has some of the best views of Lake Ontario, with buskers and artists selling their goods on hot summer days. Located 15 minutes via streetcar east of the downtown core, the area’s main strip is Queen Street East, which has antique shops as well as specialty and one-of-a-kind boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and pubs. Visit Licks Burgers, www.lickshomeburgers.com, located at 1962 Queen Street East for a quick bite. A local institution for the over 30 years, I’ve been eating burgers and ice cream here for decades and am never disappointed.
The boardwalk goes through four different beaches, two of which are certified for cleanliness and swimming: Kew Beach and Woodbine Beach are always filled with sunbathers as soon as summer hits. I’ve taken many long walks on the trails, and on a few occasions, I’ve walked from the east end of the city to the west end, in about roughly four hours.
There are parks near the boardwalk as well, with trails, a playground, water park, boat launch and a marina.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34923 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34821 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34821 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34131 While some of the cheese and deli sold is locally produced, most of the products are imported directly from Italy. The cheese sold here is some of the finest. My mum will only buy her beloved parmigiano reggiano here and I really love the taleggio and gorgonzola, always fresh and tasty.
The deli meats are great too, and you can have a panino, or sandwich, made right before your eyes. The lady behind the counter can fill up a freshly baked bun with whatever your heart desires: prosciutto, mortadella, marinated eggplants, salami, etc.
My mum and I always try to get here before lunch, so we can head to the back of the store where there is a very modest dining area serving some of the best homemade Italian food. The place is usually filled to capacity, so getting here just before noon is a must. Whether it’s a veal sandwich with tomato sauce and roasted red peppers with mozarella, two sausages with rapini or dandelion on the side, lasagna with salad, homemade ravioli, and even Italian wedding soup, there is no skimping here. Portions are generous, the food is superb and the price is great - lunch will cost roughly $10 or so.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34131 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33990 Everything in the restaurant is made from scratch, including breads, salad dressings,
condiments, and ice cream. The menu changes every few weeks, all while taking advantage of local produce and the best available seasonal ingredients. The restaurant promotes local, sustainable food and is an advocate for the Slow Food Movement.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33990 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33573 The restaurant is full of energy and may be a bit louder than the usual resto, but this is all part of the experience. Seating is at communal tables and you can even ask your server for items not on the menu, which has a spice scale from mild to 20 chilis. I once ate next to a fellow who was eating his green curry with 11 chilis and he couldn’t stop crying. My spice scale is 4 chilis.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33573 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33571 During the event, major restaurants from across the city offer a special three-course fixed price menu, some at very large discounts from their usual pricing. Ranging from $15, $20 or $30 for lunch and $25, $35, and $45 for dinner, the meal includes a starter, an entrée and dessert, with drinks and gratuity extra.
This event has grown from 35 restaurants participating in its inaugural year 10 years ago, to 175 participating this year. Reservations are accepted beginning January 12 – make them early to avoid disappointment. In fact, be armed with three or four restaurant choices as you may not get your first pick.
Depending on which reservations you choose, this event can be a great value, as some of the restaurants participating have starters costing near $25. My favourites – for food and value – are Auberge du Pommier, Canoe, Kultura, and Mistura.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33571 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32870 According to the Guinness World Records, PATH is the largest underground shopping complex linking 28 km (17 miles) with over 1,000 shops and services. Once a year, the PATH hosts the world’s largest underground sidewalk sale. The underground system also provides a great haven from the elements, with heating in winter and air conditioning in summer.
I love taking the PATH in the cold, winter months, where I can walk without a coat for miles at a time. I must admit, it can be a bit confusing getting around, but that’s all part of the fun.
Wandering around, not really knowing where I’m going on a lazy day, browsing shops, sitting in a café, it’s all great fun when the weather outside is dreadful.
To help you get around easier, each letter in the PATH is a different colour and represents a
direction: P is red and represents south, orange, A, directs pedestrians to the west, blue, T, directs them to the north, and the H is yellow and points to the east.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32870 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31629 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31629 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31265 The recipes in this vegan organic restaurant contain no gluten, meat, dairy or refined sugar, but they are anything but boring. I’m actually hoping they will come out with a cookbook soon.
Some of my favourites are the Pad Thai, containing kelp and zucchini noodles with lettuce, peppers, carrots, onions and cashews, all coated with a lovely thai sesame sauce, making this a lighter and cooler version of the pad thai everyone is familiar with; the Pasta Bolognese, a great spin on the classic dish, is also very good: also made from long strands of spiralled zucchini, along with a fresh tomato marinara sauce and “neat balls,” a mix of nuts, seeds and vegetables, all packed into tight little balls of delicious goodness.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31265 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31147 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31147 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29852 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29852 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19356 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19356