The thing about Claudio is that he is a rebel – with a cause: to amaze and thrill his ever growing fan-base just by being true to himself, and cooking what appeals to him. Getting on a bandwagon is not for Claudio. The man is the leader of the band. We all believed, that with molecular gastronomy at Colborne Lane he had reached the pinnacle of Cool in this city. Uh-uh. Move over Colborne Lane, you have a new sibling. Origin – the name says it all. Claudio has deconstructed all the joys of youth and presented them to…
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Sara Says
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Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan (March or April in Gregorian calendar); the first month of the Hebrew calendar's festival year according to the Hebrew Bible. These holy days and festivals commemorate the biblical event of the Hebrews' escape from enslavement in Egypt. In the narrative of the Exodus, the Bible tells that God inflicted ten plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Hebrew slaves. The Hebrews were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of…
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The French Connection Blind Wine Tasting with Zoltan Szabo at the Cosmopolitan Toronto Hotel
On a brisk Friday evening in November, I sat, warm and cozy, under rosy lights in the Cosmopolitan Toronto Hotel on Colborne Street. I had been invited to a playful night of blind wine tasting by prominent Toronto sommelier, Zoltan Szabo. The game was to not only pick the grape, but also discern between Canadian and French wines, as well as to pick which wine had been paired to which course of the 10-course tasting menu set in front of us.…
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Looking around Danforth, we are surprised to see that Greek Town is expanding its horizons. Mambo offers Cuban food; the Red Violin will blow you away with its Brazilian band and dancers who know how to shake their feathers; Embrujo Flamenco is Spanish to the core - try the authentic tapas. One of the latest additions is the very cool The Local Company. A large and modern space, the Clientele which fills every seat on weekends are dressed to thrill and bent on having a good time. There's a vast mezzanine for private parties. In March they offer a…
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It’s a long and winding road to the fountain of youth, but the wise ones have mapped out a plan that is simple, direct and effective. The plan consists of two words: diet and exercise. If all the dietary food plans created were laid end to end, they might encircle the globe. Who can choose? Who has the time to meticulously buy the groceries, weigh and measure the food and last but not least, do the cooking - three times a day. And what about snacks? Read on my friends and find salvation. Licious Living www.liciousliving.com has…
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The Chinese New Year in Hong Kong is the world’s largest Chinese New Year celebration; a time when locals and visitors alike mark the occasion with a unique fusion of ancient customs and up-to-the-minute fun. The two-week celebration includes a spectacular parade, exciting fireworks, gorgeous flower markets, fast-paced sporting events and interesting themed tours. The arrival of the Year of the Tiger will be celebrated in the parade by a total of 40 performing groups from 14 countries and regions, and will include 14 elaborately-decorated floats, 13 international and 13 local performing troupes. Of course the arrival of the…
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Again, it begins: snow, sleet and black ice. Like migrating birds, we answer the call of the South: blue sea, white sand and stone crab, snorkeling, scuba diving and Pina Coladas under an ocean front umbrella. We want to sail, sky-dive and walk the beach at seven a.m. In Canada’s South (Mexico and Florida) they wait for us, knowing we will be there. They call it “high season” when prices are doubled and tripled. Airlines too, enjoy this “high season.” Ah me, it’s a compromise we make for living in the best country in the world. For…
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Canada's Greatest Culinary and Wine Adventure
On the evening of Thursday, November 19, 2009, the top chefs in Toronto went head-to-head, competing for the coveted Gold Medal Plate victory. And what a beautiful competition it was. The South Hall of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre was transformed into a glittering ballroom. 2008 Toronto Gold Medalist, Chef Patrick Lin of Sen5es Restaurant, greeted VIP guests to an array of perfectly constructed canapés that set standards high. I first encountered a filo cone filled with juicy, pink slices of Peking duck, hoisin sauce and sprouts.…
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Windows, 32nd Floor, Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto, Ontario
The view of the city skyline from three directions at Windows was beautiful, and the room rang with the sounds of celebration as the third annual edition of DINE Magazine was launched.
During the evening, the several hundred people listened attentively to what “Sara Says…” “I was on the west coast recently, and I watched the wild salmon struggling upstream on route to their spawning grounds. One fish caught my attention, and I looked that little salmon in the…
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Sara Says Archives
About Sara
Award-winning restaurant critic and food/travel writer, Sara has eaten her way through much of the free world, and written about it in the Toronto Sun, Financial Post and National Post newspapers, four best-selling cook-books, and as contributing editor at Flare, enRoute, Elle, and Weekly Scoop magazines, and Fodors Travel Guides. Former Vice-Chair of the Ontario Film Review Board, and instructor at Ryerson University School of Continuing Education; her experiences have culminated in DINE magazine, as Publisher and Editor in Chief.
