508. Canoe | Vegetarian Tasting

When Anouk was here, one of our major dinner plans was to my favourite restaurant...Canoe! I am sure you all know by now that it's my favourite restaurant in Toronto. Everyone I know who has been there loves it as well, so I knew I had to bring her there to try. Also I think it's the best place to bring visitors so they can see the perfect views of Toronto from above. If you go to Canoe, I recommend one of their tasting menus rather than ordering a-la-carte. That way you can try more things, and everything is amazingly presented. It also feels more like an experience rather than just dinner. I had the vegetarian tasting menu there with my sister a couple years ago, when I brought her there for her birthday dinner. (You can also see on that post, Anouk commented saying she wanted to try it and now she finally has! lol) I've also been here for a dessert tasting before.

Here was our menu for the night. We had the vegetarian menu but they also have a regular one with meat as well as a vegan tasting menu. I think it changes with every season. So this one is for summer..I'm sure they will release their Fall/Autumn one soon (which makes me sad to think about as I don't want summer to end yet!)


It rained when we arrived which ruined the view a bit; as Canoe is on the 54th floor, we were in the storm clouds and couldn't see a thing outside for some time. But by the end of our dinner the rain had stopped an incredible sunset came out.

I had the "Peach Julep" cocktail which consisted of: Maker’s Mark bourbon, sugar, peaches, Amaro Trevisano and mint

They make their bread from scratch. It is seriously the best bread I've ever had in my life! It's so soft and tasty. They brought out three baskets in total for us lol. & the dip is soooo good. I forgot what it is..I think a hummus of some sort.


Amuse Bouche: Tamarack Quail Eggs


First Course: Okroshka This is a type of Russian soup. Probably my favourite out of everything. It was so beautiful I almost didn't want to dig in and drink it. It has: radish, dilled cucumber, purple potato and hen's egg. I'm not sure how they made it pink...possibly from the radish. Looking at the ingredients at first, I didn't think I'd like it but the combination of everything worked really well together.


Second Course: Ontario Burrata I really love burrata dishes. This one was delicious and very creamy. I loved the presentation as well. I just found it to be quite a large portion, which can be a good thing I guess. It was just extremely filling. It has: unripe strawberries, arugula, k2 milling crisp and smoked canola oil.


Intermezzo: Watermelon (quite self explanatory!)


Third Course: Canadian Barley RisottoWith whey poached baby carrots, nasturtium, marinated tempeh and Monforte dairy cheese. This was delicious as well. The texture of the risotto was perfect.


Fourth Course: Classic Canoe ButtertartIt seems this is the standard dessert for their tasting menus. While this was delicious, I don't think it's one of their best desserts. From my dessert tasting as well as the numerous other times I've been there (sometimes just for a dessert), I've had the opportunity to try probably 12 or more different desserts..so I'm quite experienced in that area hahah. I was only able to finish about half as I was way too full by that time. Then they brought out these lavender shortbreads which I unfortunately didn't have any room left for.





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Destinations for a Relaxing Holiday in the UK

I love travelling but most places I've been before have been large cities and urban areas. I also love small villages and countrysides though for their beautiful scenery and relaxed pace of life. I hope to go on more relaxing holidays in the future to get away from the daily stresses of life, unwind, and recharge.
In England, I have only been to London but I've always wanted to explore the rural areas around the country as well (the Cotswolds is very high on my bucket list). This post is sponsored by Great Little Breaks, featuring some of the top destinations for a relaxing holiday in the UK.

When the time comes for a holiday in the UK, it can be incredibly difficult to decide what kind of break you want. You may want to explore one of the many incredible cities and spend your time sight-seeing and soaking up the atmosphere, whilst there is also a temptation to have a relaxing and therapeutic break. Whether it is a romantic break for two or a solo trip, there are many fantastic holiday options for those seeking relaxation.

North Yorkshire: As the largest county in England, North Yorkshire is an area with many great places to explore and home to several beautiful National Parks. There are fabulous hotels and incredible manor estates to stay at, many of which offer fine dining in spectacular surroundings. (Photo: Mike Kipling)

Surrey: Often referred to as the “Garden of England”, Surrey is an area of natural beauty which makes it a terrific place for a relaxing holiday. You can go on leisurely strolls in the countryside or through one of the many scenic villages to take in the sights, before retiring to your hotel for spa treatments, fine dining and complete comfort. (Photo & header photo: Visit Surrey)

Hampshire: An area of breathtaking natural beauty combined with quaint and charming seaside towns makes Hampshire one of the most beautiful counties in all of England. It also has a rich history, being the birthplace of both Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. There is plenty to keep you occupied in Hampshire, but you may find yourself simply unwinding at one of the many luxurious retreats. (Photo: calxibe)

Shropshire: Nestled between the West Midlands and Wales, Shropshire has a handful of charming towns and is one of England’s most rural and sparsely populated counties. This makes it a quiet and secluded area perfect for relaxation and recharging your batteries. After exploring the Shropshire Hills, there are a number of magnificent country hotels and manors to unwind in. (Photo: Barry Samuels)

These are just a few of the many places in England to visit, for those looking for a relaxing holiday. Before making your booking, it is worth contacting specialists in the industry such as Great Little Breaks. These companies can find discounted accommodation and extras that include breakfast, spa treatments, complimentary bottle of champagne, and more. This will ensure that your break is special and that you feel de-stressed and rejuvenated when it's time to head home!

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507. Recent Life

As I mentioned in a previous post, Anouk came to visit Toronto for a few days this week! We had a lot of fun. I showed her around some of my favourite places in the city and I got to be a tourist of my own city, visiting places I haven't been in years. Here is a quick post with a round up of photos from where we went as well as the previous week. I'll make separate posts later on for each place.

Today we went to Casa Loma! I haven't been here since I was young so I barely remembered anything. It felt as if I was visiting again for the first time. I really enjoyed it.



Dinner & drinks at Cactus Club


Dinner at CN Tower's 360 Restaurant


An un-named cocktail bar we accidentally stumbled into (while searching for a different restaurant)



Dinner at Canoe!

Dinner at Scaddabush. I'm aware most of this post consists of dinner posts so far lol. We came here the first night she arrived. It's one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Toronto. When I came back from Capri a few months ago, I developed quite an extreme obsession with Caprese salads (and Italian food). Scaddabush has the best Caprese Salads I've had from any restaurant in Toronto so far. I get it every single time I come, along with the penne bolognese. So good. We came here for dinner/Caprese Salads that night since the last we saw each other was in Capri.



A couple months ago I was thinking of moving to a new place but I've since decided to renovate my place rather than move, since I love where I live and would rather be able to design my place exactly how I want it. This whole process is extremely long and involves quite a bit of effort though..I can't wait until everything is completed, which should be around the end of October (hopefully). Last week my dad & I visited some places to pick out the materials. Here are a few photos. I don't want to reveal too much though. I rather post the whole look when it's all done!




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506. Anacapri | Snapshots

This is going to be my final post from my Italy trip (which I have dragged out for way too long already). I was going to say I saved the best for last, but I actually don't have a favourite post or set of photos. I enjoyed the entire trip so much. But here is one of my favourite posts, in which I will show you around Anacapri. I'd say it is more the quieter and residential side of the island. We came here on our final day in Capri, which was a perfect end to that trip because Anacapri was really relaxing and we ended with the most stunning views from the top.

As some of you may remember, I met with Anouk during my few days in Capri. This week, she is visiting Toronto! I'm still posting about our trip from months ago while she has already done several other trips already lol..and now we are meeting again. So it's fitting I finally end the series of posts from our previous trip. It has been a lot of fun so far and I've been showing her around some of my favourite spots.

To get from Capri to Anacapri, we had to take a little shuttle bus crammed full of people. The drive was really scenic and filled with adrenaline (kind of). The driver went pretty fast and there were a lot of windy turns along the edge of the cliff. When we got there, we found it to be really empty. I think partly because it was a Sunday (?) and also tourists usually go to the other part of the island.



We first came to this gallery/villa with beautiful interiors


Some statues they discovered inside the Blue Grotto. The blue grotto is so beautiful and magical. I can't imagine how surreal it must have felt for the first people to go in and discover it, along with these statues.




Then we went to the Church of St. Michel, known for its hand-painted tiled floor








To get to the second level, we had to go up this scary narrow spiral staircase




I wish I had put something beside for comparison, so you can see how HUGE these were



At the Villa San Michele, former residence of Swedish physician and psychiatrist, Axel Munthe. He wrote an autobiography entitled The Story of San Michele, which talks about his life and how he built his dream home in Capri. After visiting, walking around the gardens and taking in the stunning views..I have to say it is also my dream (vacation) home now. It's so peaceful there and the perfect place to get away from the world.





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