For each day I was in Toronto, I have had to recover here. Thankfully we were up to so much while I was visiting, that I could share the trip with you as I came back to life sleeping and resting back on the east coast.
One truth I learned during my visit to Toronto is there is no other place in the universe like it. I think this alien agrees with me.
Oh Patty King, how your burned my mouth off with your famous “doubles”. Two pancakes stuffed with chickpea curry that pushed me to my foodie limits. My mom uttered the words I heard throughout my trip from many other people, “It isn’t normally this spicy.” Small consolation as my eyes rolled back inside my head while we sat and ate on her balcony.
They were so good though. A total foodie rite of passage, devouring your soft yet spicy pancake sandwich while tears welled up in my eyes.
Market Bakery, you had the worst cookies I have ever come across on this planet. Your store is pretty but I think the cookies I bought must have been at least a year old. Blech!
Kensington Market, I will miss your wild foodie spirit!
And I finally come across tomatillos in real life, not just on TV.
I will miss going out for countless Asian dishes with my sisters.
Like Shanghai noodles with my sister Shannon at Spring Rolls on Yonge Street.
Go shopping and come across an alien cookie jar at Teatro Verde.
Visit Cake Town Cafe with my sister Jamie.
Best scones I have ever had or made. So moist and fabulous, OMG, these were ridiculously good.
So many foodie places to visit, explore and delve into. I came home overwhelmed but inspired.
It wasn’t until I moved away from Toronto after graduating university that I found out how much the rest of Canada hates it. I did not have to go far before the nasty comments started.
I grew up here and had a hard time fitting in. I never felt at home and back then, I could sense danger in every corner.
The last time I was in Toronto I sensed a bit of a shift and this trip absolutely confirmed it. Toronto has become nicer. Seriously nicer. I don’t know how many times I saw people helping others out, giving directions, smiling, being courteous and overall… nice. You still have lots of problems and the core of the people are tough but I like that. I consider myself one of those people. I have Toronto in my bones.
Perhaps it is the chronic condo living downtown now, the giant groceries stores, pharmacies… Downtown is becoming more of a community than it ever has before and could I ever notice a difference. People cared. The city was clean. The customer service was excellent. I could not have been more impressed and happy.
While I was away hanging out with my sisters, we worked on our Sister Summit and did tons of brainstorming. When it comes to my foodie blog, I have big stuff coming up that I am really excited about and hope you will be too. Thanks Jamie and Shannon for the blogging inspiration!
It was great to take a break from cooking in my kitchen to eating out but it is time for my foodie life to go to the next level. I hope you join me! More to come soon…
What a wonderful trip you had! I like seeing Toronto through your eyes!
I lived and worked in Toronto for 35 years (Queen and Bay) and didn’t once find it dangerous and loved every minute! Unfortunately we couldn’t afford to retire there so headed north…
Glad you had fun and I love seeing it all again in your posts.
Thanks Debra! So glad I did a good job as a tour guide. That was what I was going for.
Amelia, I was in an area the evil Paul B. used to snag girls and we had a few neighbours that were murdered so the threat of violence was very real for me. I am glad you didn’t feel that way all those years. Retiring there is tough, it’s true. So glad you enjoyed my posts! My pleasure.