Friday 13 November 2009

Daniel et Daniel serves the Prince of Wales

Photo courtesy Tom Sandler/Government of Ontario
During the royal visit to Toronto last week, Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were the guests of honour at an official reception hosted by the Ontario government at the Carlu. 400 people from the arts, science, academia, business and government attended. Since everyone wanted to enjoy the very best that Toronto has to offer, our own Daniel et Daniel catered the event.
Guests started off their meals with roasted tomato on crostini, blue cheese and caramelized pear tartlet with toasted walnuts, and carrot bread squares with peppercorn mousse pate and candied bacon. Main dishes included pork loin medallions on a warm Brussels sprout salad and braised lamb shank with root vegetable rosti and a Niagara Pinot reduction. Desserts featured pumpkin crème brulee with Niagara Stone fruit compote and mini pear tarts tatin with Ontario goats’ milk ice cream.
We didn’t want to startle the Prince so no one told him that Cabbagetowners eat like that every day. 248 Carlton.

Gourmet Burger is one year old

And to celebrate, they held a special lunch on Thursday – free burgers for everyone. The line of appreciative and hungry people stretched down the block from opening time at 11:30 am to the close at 2:30 pm. Over 400 people enjoyed their burgers … an inspired birthday party. 482 Parliament

The Epicure Shop
Patty is bringing back a sell-out favourite, six-year-old balsamic vinegar at the incredible price of only $3.99/each. As Christmas approaches, get one for your favourite chef – it’s a great gift. She also has specials this week on Quebec-made wild boar and apricot pates and she’s featuring homemade pies, cookies and cake squares for lunches, snacks and special desserts.

Sweet Creamery has a winter menu
Obviously, if you sell ice cream, then you need plan B for the winter. Emilio at Sweet Creamery (521 Parliament) has joined forces with Jose to develop a lunch, new pastries, cakes and specialty desserts. Every day, they’re opening at 8 am for breakfast: grab-and-go with a coffee and pastries. If you’re hungry at lunch, they have seven different panini and daily soups. For dessert, there are waffles with your favourite combo – whipped cream, gelato, ice cream, fruit salads and yogurt. Coming very soon – a special pastry service for parties, weddings and special dinners featuring cakes with decorative and seasonal icings. If you want a mouth-watering peek at their pastries, cakes and waffles, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEHXr8iGfXc&feature=player_embedded

Renaissance Yoga
Renaissance Yoga (391 Ontario) has made some changes to their Fall program schedule. The series, “Magic of the Moon, Part One: Menstrual Mayhem”, will now be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 27-29. The Winter and Spring programs for budding Ayurvedists are now posted at http://www.renaissanceyoga.ca/Ayurvedic-Lifestyle-Course.html Click there to learn more and to register.

The Shop at Riverdale Farm is now open for Christmas.
Come for the annual Christmas Preview Party, Sunday November 15 from 2 to 4 pm. The Shop offers fine gifts, books, decorations, handcrafts, toys, cards, preserves, soaps, fine arts and much more. Operated by the Friends of Riverdale Farm, the Shop is located in Simpson House at Riverdale Farm (Winchester and Sumach) and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.

A couple of quick Cabbagetown “Classifieds”
For sale – three Sunar Uniwall 5-drawer filing cabinets. One cabinet has a lock and a set of keys. $100/ea. Call Carly at (416) 964-0021, ext 10.
For rent – 170 sq ft of professional office space. Furnished with parking, air conditioning, DSL, kitchen facility available. Gerrard and Ontario. $750/mo. Call (416) 962-7540.

Sharon’s
Sharon (503 Parliament) is currently featuring a beautiful brocade jacket at $49.99 along with handmade jewelry from Montreal’s Christophe Poly (from $29.99 to 39.99). She also has a sale happening with silver and gold plated Israeli rings at $44.99.

JAMCafe
Av and Joe Atikian are hosting another in their highly popular comparison tastings featuring wines from two different regions. On Saturday November 21, they’ll be pouring Ontario’s VQA region along with a diversified international offering, all from the Vine Agency’s Portfolio. The wines will be complemented by Av’s own hors d’oeuvres. Saturday, November 21, 6 pm, 7 wines, hors d’oeuvres, $35. This is now a sell-out event so reservations are recommended: (416) 921-1255

The CYC Anthem
The kids at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre have created their own anthem. We’ve heard them sing it at this year’s Cabbagetown Festival. Last Spring, they performed it as a special welcome to Premier Dalton McGuinty when he visited the CYC. It’s a great piece of music and an enthusiastic tribute to a wonderful organization. The kids were filmed singing it a few days ago at Number 9 Audio Group (222 Gerrard East) – click here to watch and enjoy it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_z-v0YJZHc

The deals at The Deal Zone
Kyle wants to remind you that good bargains can be found right here in Cabbagetown. No need for you to run across the city to some big box store when he has better pricing at The Deal Zone (480 Parliament). His packages of eight rolls of Christmas paper are only $5.99 – that’s 40 to 50% cheaper than the big guys are offering.

CNH euchre tournament
On Saturday, November 14, Central Neighbourhood House (349 Ontario) is holding its second Euchre Tournament Fundraiser. If you’re a euchre player, you have a chance to win $80, $60, $40, or $20 in prizes and a chance to win in the 50/50 draw. The registration fee is $20 and proceeds from the day help to support CNH clients who receive assistance in order to live independently in their own homes. Call Rob Butler at (416) 925-4363 ext 119 to register.

This is our Newsletter #98.
Watch for #100 – we’re planning a contest full of handy, desirable, greed-inducing goodies. Many thanks for your patience while we've struggled through October - our holidays, a switch from Bell to Rogers and a few other distractions have meant that our schedule was unreliable. Now we're back in full swing.