5 Must See Movies This Holiday Season

It’s official – the now has smothered our city and there’s little left to do if you’re stuck in Toronto this holiday season but go fetal in a cocoon of blankets and sip eggnog to the soundtrack of your own tears. Perhaps I’m over exaggerating. Nevertheless, if your motivation levels are at a seasonal low, these five holiday movie releases may boost morale.

American Hustle

Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence – if the story line weren’t attractive enough the dashing cast could surely move audiences into the seats. Mastermind con man, Irving Rosenfeld (Cooper) and his sultry British partner Sydney Prosser (Adams) are force to work for the eccentric FBI agent, Richie DiMaso, played by Cooper. Into the world of the New Jersey underbelly they go, where hijinks ensue and their cover is constantly on the brink of being compromised.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Rob Burgundy has made appearances on local sports channels and the news as of late in order to ramp up the sequel of one of the most successful cult classics of all time – just in case your excitement hadn’t already plateaued. It’s been a decade in the making, but Ron, Brick, Brian, Champ, and of course the cinnamon scented, blue eyed vixen herself Ms. Veronica Corningstone are back. Piloting the mother ship on New York’s first ever 24-hour news channel, the misfit crew is sure incite that warm, jovial holiday laughter that only a stiff glass of scotch could before. Their formula for success is proven – 60% of the time it works, every time.

Her

While real people around the world get married to blow up dolls, pillows and characters from Nintendo games, it’s not entirely far-fetched that someone might fall in love with a highly advanced operating system. Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) becomes more than a little enthralled with “Samantha” (voice of Scarlett Johansen), an oddly empathetic and emotionally in-tune OS, after the collapse of his long-term relationship.

Hours

The recent passing of Paul Walker will make the gravity of this thriller set during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina all the more intense. Minutes turn to hours as Walker’s character, Nolan Hayes fights fervently to keep his newborn baby alive after the storm ravishes the hospital where his wife (Genesis Rodriguez) has just given birth. There’s no irony in the fact that Nolan fights through one life-and-death situation after another in this emotional rollercoaster of a movie.

The Wolf of Wall Street

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, a swindling penny broker who defrauded investors for more than $1 billion in the 1990s. The unlikely tandem of Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill are paired up alongside hard hitters like Matthew McConaughey, Jon Favreau and Cristin Milioti in this decade’s version of Boiler Room.

Photo of the Day: Chicken Chiang Mai

I'm going to one of the best Portuguese chicken joints in Toronto for dinner this evening – Churrasco Villa on Eglinton – and it got me reminiscing...

While I've never been to Portugal, I've indulged in my fair share of foul around the world. Perhaps one scene that resonated with me the most was a display of fried chicken heads in a market near Chiang Mai, Thailand. Not only was the ephemeral layout being picked through with hungry haste as the morning's visitors stocked up on snacks for the day, but what a presentation! From the strike of the blade across their necks to the crispy comb on the top of their heads, it was a sight to be heralded.

Of course, it made for a marvellously meaty breakfast alongside some suspect mystery sausage and a handful of mangosteen... I always eat a balanced diet...

In The Weeds: A Web Series About Foraging for Local Food

I have some truly fantastic friends who do truly fantastic things. Sometimes, when I'm lucky enough, I get to join my fantastic friends and help out with their fantastic endeavours.

While I wasn't an integral part of these In The Weeds episodes (my time to shine will come in the later ones) it gives me great pleasure to introduce this web series to the NTT community. It's a concept that touches all aspects of epicurean intrigue – foraging for local food, cooking off-the-cuff, and using fresh seasonal ingredients to create magnificent meals.

Put on your eating eyes and indulge in these three tantalizing first episodes of In The Weeds, conceptualized and produced by my fantastic friend, Abigail Ainsworth of Butternut Productions...

Photo of the Day: Barrio Coreano

Feast your eyes on the exquisitely tender grilled octopus taco with wasabi salsa from Playa Cabana's new Bloor Street location – Barrio Coreano.

Read why it's a worthwhile diversion from the standard kimchi and bibimbap dealers along the K-town strip...

FIRST LOOK: Barrio Coreano

Ford Focus Electric: Is It the Right Car for You?

If nothing else, the Ford Focus Electric is intriguing. It’s a car that doesn’t dwell on its output power, carrying capacity or chichi styling. After all, it runs on a 23 kWh liquid-cooled/heated lithium ion battery and can be recharged using a standard 120V household power outlet.

Prior to picking up this all-new, all-electric version of the ever-popular Ford Focus, while I was intrigued, I was also somewhat skeptical. Could my love for stiff European handling be satisfied by an electric powertrain? Could my propensity to prefer the friendly cockpit design of many Japanese automakers be fulfilled by the Michigan manufactured machine? Would I miss the grunt of an internal combustion engine as it roars into high gear?

In brief – there were elements of the classic car that I missed, new features that were a delight, and others that I know are destined to improve. After four days behind the wheel I felt that it was less of a question of what was right or wrong with the Ford Focus Electric, but who was right or wrong for the Ford Focus Electric.

The thing is deathly quiet at startup. A couple times I even found myself unsure of whether I’d engaged the engine, or simply just the internal power. Magically enough, that sweet silence never ceased. Both on city streets and the major highways, the Focus Electric was undoubtedly the quietest car I’d ever driven. If only the low end of the Sony sound system packed a littler more punch, or the MicrosoftSYNC system let me play my USB loaded tunes, I would have had all the noise I ever wanted.

The Focus Electric claims to hold up to 110 km worth of highway charge, however I could never seem to get it above 88 km after plugging it in – a process that can take up to 18-20 hours on a 120V system. (The Leviton 240V charging station starts at $849 before taxes and installation, and can complete a charge in roughly 4 hours). This is the first con that became apparent to me. Pushing its high rpm, single-speed transmission was glorious. No more nail-biting passes or laggy automatic shifts – the Focus Electric responds when you want it to… and when you don’t. At high speeds or sustained points of acceleration the kilometers drop off the blue-hued dash monitor at an alarming pace. A 2 km drive can cost you over 10 km worth of charge depending on how you drive it.

Ford’s regenerative braking system – used in its full line of hybrid and electric vehicles –will save you precious kicks. It’s what makes this car excellent for the city dweller, and anxiety inducing for the highway hero. Simulating the engine braking of internal combustion engines, the regenerative breaking system recovers some of the energy of the motion and stores it in the battery to improve fuel economy. Basically, the car capitalizes on stop and go traffic, but falters in a fast paced highway jaunt.

While I received range anxiety for the first time in my life, (if you’re a chronic golfer or a lover of the long weekend roadtrip this car ain’t for you – not to mention the limited cargo space) I found that the drive was more thrilling than expected. The driver’s seat was comfortable and sporty, the steering was responsive, and the acceleration was unhampered.

With charging stations running at a couple dollars an hour and located across the core of the GTA, the Ford Focus Electric makes for an excellent second car for the environmentally and economically conscious city dweller. It starts at just over $35,000, and with the ability to refuel in your garage at the end of the evening and the green tax credits, downtowners likely won’t feel the pocket pinch.

Environmentally speaking, it’s like driving on a cloud… though clouds probably have far more pollutants. Its electric design is not just quiet and comfortable, but produces zero carbon emissions. Many of the car parts are also made from recycled materials (like the cloth upholstery) or plant fibers and oils (the seat cushions), and the battery is fully recyclable.

While it may not be the ideal ride for me at this point in my life, a week behind the wheel of the Ford Focus Electric foreshadowed the future with far less petroleum-fueled vehicles. Our roads will be quieter and our air will be cleaner. And when range and recharge times begin to regulate themselves, I might just be partial to putting my pennies towards an electric car of my own.

Sansotei Ramen

If it's not dumplings or cheese, noodle soups are my one true food fetish!

...and red meat....and spice...and pork products...Shit. This example started to fall apart on the figurative plate pretty quickly.

Regardless of where a comforting bowl of noodle-laden, boiling-hot broth falls on my list of food favourites it will remain a go-to item at any hour of the day. After writing a review for blogTO a couple months back at, then newly opened, Sansotei Ramen I returned with fellow food-feind and View the Vibe colleague, Adam Mazerall  for a second sampling of the goods!

Accompanied at the table by chef and owner Michael Zhang, we talked about the importance of freshness, food-fads around the city (the ramen invasion et al.), and why one should not shy away from slurping up your soup when dining at his shop! Sorry, grandma.

Take a look at the View the Vibe video blog below!

Chashu Don (pork belly on rice)

MUSH HAVE OFF-THE-CHAIN Zangi (deep fried chicken Karaage)

Tonkotsu Ramen

Miso Ramen

We were the last ones there. Don't expect it to ever look this empty!

Sansotei Ramen

179 Dundas St. W
Toronto, ON M5G 1Z8
647-476-3833

M-Sa: 11am-10pm

One Winery. One Restaurant. One Fine Affair!

Adjusting back to 'the real world' has been quite the adjustment. After 4.5 months away and nearly a decade of frequent moves and gleeful transience I've returned home to Toronto with relative permanence.

With my inhibition-less galavanting on hold and a need to replenish the coffers I've found myself a steady job and re-immersed myself into a city that I do truly love and enjoy. Lucky for me (whether through quality networking skills, the right timing, or a lacklustre background check) I've begun work with a stellar company—View the Vibe (www.ViewtheVibe.com)—headed up by an exceptional and passionate woman (Nicki Laborie)—that allows me to attend awesome events, such as this one:

The Argento Wines event @ One Restaurant in the Hazelton Hotel

Treated to an evening of fine wine by Silvia Corti and a miraculous meal, curated at one of the masterful Mark McEwan restaurants; here is a little taste of the evening's affairs!

Read my View the Vibe event writeup here!

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/40663002?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0&amp;badge=0&amp;color=c39900" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/40663002">Cerca del Cielo (close to the sky)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/argentowine">Argento Wine</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Lamb Empanadas

Beet Salad w/ goats cheese and sweet pea mousse

New Argento Bonarda, 2011

Pan Seared Salmon

L to R: Beef Short Rib w/ thyme frites, Tenderloin w/ chimichuri, Pico de Gallo

L to R: Cabrales Blue Cheese, Running of the Bulls, St. Jorge, Don Panchego

Ode to my second home: Sky Dragon

It's been a long time coming! I've probably gorged myself with steamers full of Sky Dragon dim sum dozens of times since I started blogging about food. In fact, Sky Dragon is almost undoubtedly my most frequented restaurant of all time! Without exaggeration, I've probably dined at The Sky more times than Tim Hortons, Starbucks and McDonalds combined (not that I ever ate there with any consistence). But I digress. 

Sky Dragon is more than just a traditional cart service dim sum spot on the top floor of Dragon City Centre, at the southwest corner of Dundas and Spadina, in the heart of Toronto's lively Chinatown--it's a tradition amongst my friends and my family, a place where I feel comfortable and at home, and a dim sum eating experience that is largely unparalleled in this city. I know this all sounds like a cheesy advertorial, but my feelings are genuine. After so many great memories, and of course great meals, writing this review was the easiest and perhaps most pleasurable of my 'ill-ustrious' career.

I've often joked to my friends that this is the place that I'll hold my wedding some day. And if I can find a wife that will agree to it, then it is REALLY meant to be! Wedding or not, Sky Dragon will always be my first love.

Thanks, Sky, for all the great times!

Read my blogTO review of Sky Dragon here.

It's all in the details. Such a touch of class.

Crispy fried egg wontons with shrimp and chive

A magical spread of fried shrimp balls and coconut shrimp

Ham Sui Gok

Honey garlic beef ribs

Puffy shrimp rolls

Fried smelt (duo luan yu)

Preggo innards. Eating unborn fish babies is delicious!!!

Seamed snow pea shoots

Fried taro stuffed with minced pork

Stuffed crab claw

I swear, I don't know these white people!

Sweaters and soups--Hello, fall.

Looking to heat up as the weather cools down? This northern style Chinese hot pot restaurant on Dundas West does the trick despite the cold-looking interior.

Read my new blogTO review of North-East Chinese Restaurant!

The first feat is getting fed

Originally composed on: Day 3: April 20, 2012: KTL Commuter Train en route to Shah Alam, Malaysia.

Indulging in those things that bring one great joy, under normal circumstances, is exponentially heightened when done in new and interesting settings. Yoni (one of my closest friends and former expat travel companion in Korea) arrived two nights ago and it's been a pleasure to catch up with an old friend after so long. Despite our collective indecisiveness, especially when it comes to our food choices, we are always guaranteed to eat well--and eat lots! Yesterday was no exception.

The meager breakfast I ate at the hostel, while Yoni caught up on some sleep, forged a furious hunger as midday approached. Given our close proximity to Chinatown and the prominent Chinese influence on the Malaysian food culture, venturing towards there for lunch was not a difficult decision. On our constant search for street foods, local staples and unknown culinary concoctions, we shunned several simple looking food vendors and restaurants. A Lonely Planet derived hunt for a local food court proved fruitless. Yet, in the end, alluring aromas of cooked chilies and curries forced us (ever so willingly) into a busy hawker centre off of a crowded back alley.

Squeezing past sunglasses stands and singlet vendors we arrived in a brightly lit open court and the glory that turned out to be the Tang City Food Court. Tables tightly packed into the centre. A ring of small kitchenettes and cutting boards. Large menu boards, mostly in Chinese characters with some photo's thrown in for good measure. And a cacophony of bowls clinking, chopsticks picking, proprietors shouting orders and general chatter filled one's ears. The scents were tantalizing, my mouth was watering, my stomach was hollering.

Yoni made a quick-time decision and ordered a curry noodle bowl with chicken and coconut milk. It was sweet and mellow with clams, slicked pork, tangy pickled sprouts and a splash of key lime.

After settling for what turned out to be a delicious, yet decidedly unadventurous, plate of satay chicken and beef from the hostel the previous night, as my first "real" meal back in Asia, I knew I had to do it up proper! Requirements included: spice, soup, noodles and something I'd never seen before.

Along came Ma La Ban Mee: a bowl of bright, steaming auburn broth, minced pork, fried fish, shitake mushrooms, green onion, fish balls, bean curd and a heap of fresh handmade noodles. The noodles had a perfectly chewy, dumpling-esque texture. The minced pork was sweet and soft; combined with the salty crunch of the tiny fried fish, they balanced out the spicy edge of the molten broth. Though outside temperature was already forcing the sweat to bead off my forehead, this fiercely delicious bowl of broth  made my melon as moist as the soup in the bowl. Everyone loves a good sweat in the morning!

I'd been lusting for this meal for what seemed like a lifetime. This was perhaps one of the most wholly satisfying, simple, but superbly fantastic things I'd ever ingested!

The setup and the standards are now high. There is no doubt, however, that this meal will be matched many times over the next few months. Let the never-ending food crawl continue!!