Right now, I’m craving bread. Maybe it’s because I had a lackluster bagel this morning on the way to work, or the fact that I managed to skip the entire weekend without any. That’s unusual because something from the market always ends up on my kitchen counter. Read the rest of this entry »

Toronto is going overboard with this cupcake obsession. LA might have rejuvenated our obsession with mini cakes a few years ago (New York then followed, with the celebrity status Magnolia Bakery) but we’re taking it to the next level. A new store is opening literally every month, with fresh new faces taking new approaches to the classic treat. The obsession reached a peak last year as we saw these sweet treats everywhere from fashion show parties to the schools. So naturally, at Spotlight we profiled the obsession. We spoke about 7 places in the city where you can get cupcakes and how each one was different. The readers loved it, mail poured in like a flood.

That was last year, but only a few months ago. Since then, a half a dozen new stores have sprung up. This is during the winter too, imagine that. The Cupcake Shoppe on Yonge and Eglinton is no longer king as many have come to claim the throne of Cupcakeland.

So we’re back on the road. It’s a tough process you know — driving to all these fine little boutiques — mostly run by aspiring pastry chefs with their daughters and sons running around the kitchen. We’ve started tasting cupcakes from the new breed, and might I say we’re impressed! The obsession has climbed to a whole new level with….well, I can’t spoil it just yet. Our fingers are still sticky, face full of crumbs, sweet frosting between our teeth. The cameras haven’t stopped rolling, the opinions are still coming in.

Part 2 of the Cupcake Diaries in the near future.

There were a few days in both January and February that tested my health and appetite. Most of the tests came from all the Winterlicious experiences. A dozen sittings of fusion-this-and-that in under 2 weeks can’t be healthy for anyone. Then there were the group dinners, and cooking lessons. Food, food and more food. Well there were also lots of photos. You could never get sick of those, regardless of how many plates are placed in front of you. As a result of this gastronomic overdose, I’ve noticed that my cooking patterns have changed recently. The dishes that come out of my kitchen are simple, very rustic and require very little exertion. Here’s a new favourite. A simple but very tasty Spaghetti adorned with roasted cherry tomatoes. Here comes a sea of red photos. Read the rest of this entry »

Okay okay, there’s a perfectly reasonal explanation as to why I have been quiet on this blog. Blame it on food. The Toronto Winterlicious festival is on right now and I’ve been attending many dinners to check out the festival. The festival wraps up this week, and maybe after that I’ll get some breathing room. I’ll also be able to get back to the gym routine and also be able to go out and take some photos. In the meantime, you can read all about my escapades on Spotlight.