How do you spend your Thursdays?

One of the highlights of my week these days is spending my Thursday afternoons at the Dufferin Grove Farmer's Market. It's great because my flex schedule allows me to make it there early and spend a good hour perusing all the stalls and getting my groceries for the week, and then having dinner on the grass and doing the girl talk with my friend D. She makes a great market-going partner, because she's able to tell me what herbs grow well indoors, and provide me with the names of vegetables I've never seen and gives me tips on how to cook the veggies Inever known how to cook or eat...like Japanese Turnips (deliciously fresh)! 

I'm also feeling pretty good about my market meat purchases given my inner struggles around being such a carnivore (ie: ethical meat practices), and like that I can get gluten free treats that are both savoury and sweet!

And...I even enjoy all the hippie babies and kids running around. Family friendly can be pretty alright once in a while.

In a city as big and anonymous as this one, this is a nice way to see the same faces once a week, support the small and local, and ensure that you get your weekly dose of organic freshness.

Plus, go now and you're in time for tomato season!

Best Bite to Grab: Veggie Roti (or Fish sandwich if you like fish)

Best Drink: Sorrel Juice

Neat & Unique Finds: Fresh Lavender

Yet to try: The Clay and Paper Theatre's Circus Performances that start at 6pm 

S.

Meat Meat Meat Meat Meat

Who's in the mood for nonstandard animal parts hitting their breakfast plates? Anyone?

The Hoof Cafe is the new cafe from the owners of the Blackhoof charcuterie across the street, both on Dundas W.

Don't even bother, Vegetarians, this is not for you (you could order the french toast. But you should really order the jam and bone marrow donuts). But for you omnivores out there, you really ought to eat here for brunch!

Included on the menu: pig tails and grits. Yes, literally, tails of pigs. But slow cooked, tender, and then formed into a rectangular brick and fried to form a crispy shell. Served atop a creamy, flavourful sea of grits, on which sit poached eggs, braised green onion, and a crispy chip-like flourish.

And baked beans and links. Sounds simple enough. But how often do you find tender tongue in your baked beans? And actually like it? The sausage was full of flavour too, and complimented the fried eggs and crispy fried kale.

Have a hankering for something sweet? How bout brioche french toast? How bout instead of a pat of butter, you have that with seared foie gras. What? Topped with fresh berries, mint leaves, creme fresh, and nuts. Bonkers!

For the lover of the unconventional, you will appreciate the Hoof Cafe, especially since they do everything so well. If you are too squeamish to eat tongue, the suckling pig benny was a popular item when we looked around (suckling pig being under a year old, so it's extra tender).

5 pig giblits out of 6.

e

¡Viva España!

Ole Ole Ole Ole!

La Furia Roja brought home the cup on Sunday, and we took to the streets to celebrate!

What I love about Toronto during the World Cup?  Little Italy temporarily turned into Little Spain, and Holland fans threw on some red and joined in the fun.

In Toronto, everyone wins!

e

Why go to Little India for street food when......

...you can get barbecued corn with masala to your heart's content in Bloorcourt Village all summer long?

Where: Global Supermarket (Bloor Street, corner of Concord, 1 block West of Ossington)
What:   Corn on the Cob
Cost:    $2
Why :   Because bbq'd corn on the cob is delicious, nutritious, and extra special when rubbed with salt, lime   and Indian spices.

Another point for this hood!
S.