DSM [DEAD SEXY MAGAZINE]

With Mother’s Day just around the corner (Sunday, May 9, 2010), DSM has put together a list of some of the best establishments in town to show mom how much we appreciate her.  Not only is mom the quintessential caregiver whose three letter title we all learn as infants, mothers are the stuff that dreams are made of.  Mom is the first person we run to when sick and downtrodden and the one whose home cooked meals we all yearn for when we find ourselves far from home and country.  This Mother’s Day, why not show mom how much we appreciate all she has done for us by taking the time out to celebrate her special day in high season.  From traditional fare to fusion flare, DSM has provided enough options listed below to satisfy all types of mothers – from the traditional to the avant-garde.

The Old Mill Inn Restaurant

A Bloor West Village institution, the Old Mill Restaurant is part Jane Eyre, part Victorian England meets the South Kingsway. Set on a beautiful promontory overlooking the Humber river valley, this age old Mill has been a local landmark for over a hundred years. Locals love to flock here for the traditional Sunday brunch and this Mother’s Day the Old Mill Inn Restaurant will be treating our favorite grande dame with a menu worthy of an English monarch.  With a Mother’s Day Brunch menu that includes hearty breakfast sausage, served with bacon and eggs, cheese blintzes and rice pasta followed by a sumptuous seafood buffet of shrimp, crab salad and poached lobster, mom will dine like a royal. This is topped off with a charcuterie of meats: roast beef, lamb, pork tenderloin and a buffet of cold cuts and salads.  Brunch is finished off with a royal dessert of buttery chocolate fountain served with coffee and tea.  Mother’s Day Brunch at the Old Mill Restaurant will be served from 10:00am -3:00 pm and reservations are highly recommended. $48.50 per person for the brunch menu. 

The Old Mill Inn. 21 Old Mill Road, Toronto, ON M8X 1G7. (416) 236-2641. www.oldmilltoronto.com

The Drake Hotel

Known for attracting the young and well dressed and for hosting some of the best live shows and venues to be found in town, the Drake Hotel does not disappoint even on Mother’s Day.  Catering to the ladies-who-lunch, think Lee Bouvier meets Betty Draper and you’ll find mom will love the authentically urban look and feel that the Drake has to offer.  On offer is a prix-fixe brunch that can be had anywhere in the hotel ($28.00 for two courses), and that includes scones, lobster scramble, and smoked trout latkes. If seated in the lounge area, be sure to tell mom that urban crooner Big Rude Jake will be on hand to belt out a serenade-like tune. The Drake is also offering a special Mother’s Day Buffet Brunch that will be served in the Underground ($32.00 per person) and that offers a wide variety of hot and cold dishes, including deviled eggs with pickapeppa mayonnaise and hand-carved bourbon roast sirloin of beef. On top of that, there’ll be David Chow’s Famous Bake Sale for dessert. And as if to compliment the sweet taste of pastries, Meaghan Smith will be playing a live set of her poppy, folky, roots sound. Oh-la-la mama! 

The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M6J1J3. (416) 531-5042. www.thedrakehotel.ca

Tundra

One might not thing of Tundra as the sort of place to take mom out on this most special of days, but what better way to celebrate mom and Canadian heritage at its best?  It’s often been said that Tundra represents Canadian cuisine and décor at its finest. With artwork reminiscent of the best of the Group of Seven, there is enough to admire on the walls to bring back the serenity of glorious days spent basking in the summer sunlight of the great northern lakes and eagerly anticipating walking home to a fantastic home cooked meal – all courtesy of mom of course.  Tundra’s Mother’s Day Brunch menu represents a true Canadian taste mother can feast on, such as maple miso wild striped bass and heirloom beet salad with white balsamic vinaigrette and orange segments. Reservations are set at $39.00 per head, however the specially prepared meals are sure to warm mom’s heart as easily as the northern lights setting over lake Huron.

Tundra Restaurant, 145 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 4G1‎. (416) 860-6800.

Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner

How often does mom get to dine at a restaurant whose helm is steered by one of the true master’s of the Canadian kitchen? Dining in a Jamie Kennedy restaurant is not just an experience, it’s an act made in heaven!  Toronto’s own iron chef extraordinaire and culinary wizard never disappoints and neither should you – treat mom to the very best and rest assured that by bequeathing her with two hours spent in the mother ship that is Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner, your sure to make mom proud and happy.  On offering is a Mother’s Day Brunch for a reduced rate of $40.00 per person (compared to what the Gardiner usually charges, this is a steal!). This affords one not only a table at the Gardiner, but also the chance to be treated to a wide array of specialties including leek and blue cheese tart and beef brisket in a beer and onion sauce, among other morsels. Desserts are dressed to the nine with an array of offerings that would make even the faint of heart dizzy.  Reservations are strongly recommended. 

Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner, 9 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1M1. (416) 362-1957. www.jamiekennedy.ca

Mitzi’s

Ah Mitzi’s! So goes the sigh of many who have frequented this Parkdale gem and those who have lingered too long and tasted a morsel of her charm.  Known for its staunch neighborhood clientele and famous for having amassed a devoted flock of followers from far and wide (I dream of it even from the quayside café’s of Croatia!), Mitzi’s is something of an institution. Part neighborhood diner-part/part grandma’s kitchen, Mitzi’s makes a long Sunday slumber all the more worthy.  To walk in is to enter a world long gone, one where warm and loving smiles are followed with “coffee or tea while you wait?” Such is the domesticity of Mitzi’s that you truly feel as if “everybody knows your name.”  Named after the legendary Hollywood actress Mitzi Gaynor (one time dance partner of Gene Kelly and Bing Crosby), Mitzi’s is the absolute perfect spot to treat mom to a generous portion of urban love and comfort in the form of food.  Tucked away on a leafy tree-lined corner of Sorauren Avenue, stumbling upon Mitzi’s is like finding a Faberge egg in the midst of an attic (be careful not to miss it as you ogle the spruce trees and steeple of the Greek Orthodox Church on the other side of the street). Don’t be fooled however – Mitzi’s is one of the best spots in town.  From the friendly and eager staff (ask for the lovely Carla) to the weekly menu that features fresh pancakes, French toast, omelettes and sumptuous egg concoctions. You never know what you’ll get until you arrive and, if you don’t arrive early, you and mom will be utterly disappointed. Try your luck and if that doesn’t work, linger till they can’t say no! Brunch items are offered individually with average prices ranging from $12.00 - $15.00 dollars per person,

Mitzis. 100 Sorauren Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6R 2E2. (416) 588-1234‎. www.mitzis.ca

Auberge du Pommier

This famous Oliver and Bonacini restaurant represents one of the best that Toronto has to offer and its dining room represents the perfect background for a Mother’s Day feast.  Show mom your devotion by treating her to some classic and well prepared French dishes that would make even Julia Childs proud.  With Mother’s Day brunch served from 5:00pm to 9:30pm, Auberge du Pommier will be serving le mere from its a la carte dinner menu.  The choices are wide and mom is sure to find something she likes, whether it be Pan Seared Wild Bass on Lentilles du Pay with Noisettes of Foie Gras, Pearl Onions and Jus du Viande ($36.00) or Slow Roasted Loin of Lamb and Gigot Braise on Parsnip Puree with Honey Glazed Turnip and Pommes Lorette au Jus de Cuisson ($41.00). Vive la France, et vive le mere!

Auberge du Pommier, 4150 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M2P 2C6. www.oliverbonacini.com

Lai Wah Heen

If all of the above do not rock the taste buds, why not surprise mom with a choice that is always a crowd pleaser – Dim Sum! Who said Dim Sum was only meant to be an after hours club wake up call or a family affair following a Sunday morning after worship? Urban and suburban moms will love nothing more than being treated to a game of guessing as the effervescent carts displaying the signature round bamboo boxes rich with wares are wheeled by one after another. Known for their artful presentation and meticulous choice of ingredients, Lai Wah Heen is an experience not to be missed. Indeed, the solarium-style glass wall and twelve-foot ceilings serve as the perfect setting for the original collection of Chinese calligraphy and mom can also be ensconced in a VIP room that provides private dining in maple-paneled seclusion. Whether it’s for an intimate dinner, dim sum or a sumptuous Mother’s Day Brunch banquet, Lai Wah Heen delivers a dining experience reminiscent of China and Hong Kong - right in the heart of Toronto! The Mother’s Day menu is featured as part of the regular Lai Wah Heen Dim Sum menu.

Lai Wah Heen‎, 108 Chestnut Street, Toronto, ON M5G 1R3‎. (416) 977-9899. www.laiwahheen.com

written by Mirella Marie Radman

images via supermarketHQ*

In Montreal people seem to work to live and not the reverse so what better way to enjoy life than to indulge in the city’s chocolate offering? Our pick is Chocolat Geneviève Grandbois. With a few locations across the city, this chocolatier is a pleaser.

A selection of tin boxed chocolate yummies line the walls as well as in the display case where you can pick and choose. We particularly like the Chai “infusion of black indian tea with ginger, black pepper, star anis and cardamom”, Caramel à la fleur de sel “an amber caramel flavoured with vanilla and enhanced with fleur de sel” and Érable “maple or maple butter with maple syrup added, combined with pecans caramelized in maple sugar to be exact” - quintessentially Canadian.

Montreal is like our little “Paris” in Canada but where everyone speaks English as well as French. If you head into Old Montreal and wander the meandering cobble stone streets you’ll find cafes, pattiseries, clothing boutiques and galleries. I’m sure you can convince you’re self that this Bell Provence is the next best thing to France.

Read about our Montreal coverage here.

Writer Rick T.

Photographer Sergei Yahchybekov

Las Vegas is known for gambling, entertaining shows and larger than life hotels. Everything is bigger and brighter in Vegas and this multi-tiered glass chocolate fountain is no exception. Designed by Montreal artist, Michel Mailhot, the fountain easily captivates and mesmerizes passerbys in the Bellagio Hotel. Can you blame the gawkers? Nearly 2 tonnes of melted chocolate (dark, milk and white) cascade down staggered glass half shells from a height of 27 feet. Apparently the Guiness World Records has certified it as the world’s tallest chocolate fountain.

The display is part of chocolatier Jean Philippe Maury’s boutique. Once you can pull your gaze away from the fountain, we suggest you pick up some tasty bonbons, chocolate orange pound cake or chocolate cocoa truffles.

Writer & Photographer Rick T.

Photographs of chocolate trio courtesy of Jean Philippe Maury.

We did say that we would blog about chocolate and related things so here we go…

Cupcakes are still all the rage and why not? These cousins to the full blown cake make great snacks and can be so purdy. Pictured here is the Downtown Cupcake Brown which is made of devil’s food cake filled with sour cream chocolate ganache topped with fudge frosting and fresh grated dark chocolate. Who can resist that?

How about the German Chocolate Cupcake? “Devil’s food cake filled and iced with German chocolate icing, topped with a dollop of fudge frosting and a pecan.” Only available Wednesdays.

The cupcakes were born in the kitchen of Cupcake Jones in Portland, Oregon. We love, love the cupcakes that come out of this west coast favourite. Not only is the cake portion moist and the topping decadent, the jumbo size contains an equally sinful filling! Each day of the week is dedicated to different flavoured cupcakes so check their menu online to see what’s in store.

Oh since we are on the topic of cupcakes we think the Velvet Painting and What’s Up Doc? are irresistible even if they don’t contain chocolate.

Writer Rick T.

Photographs Cupcake Jones

MoRoCo Chocolat is an essential stop when we’re in Yorkville -Toronto’s upscale shopping destination. It’s one of those places that you either know about or stumble upon as it’s tucked away on Yorkville street. It makes the discovery even more delicious.

The front room of this chocolate boutique is decorated in pristine white with splashes of colours from their deletable “gems”. The elegant, upscale space feels like a modern Parisian bijouterie especially the glass encased French macarons. These delicate confectioneries are handled with white gloves and are gently removed from a sliding draw like precious jewels. Our pick is the Cassis flavour.

MoRoCo is more than a chocolat shop. The back salon offers full dining options where most dishes are infused with, you guessed it, chocolate! Non-chocolate influenced items are also available and equally tasty such as braised lamb tacos or Salade Niçoise.

During the warmer months, MoRoCo’s opens their chic Alice in Wonderland-inspired patio. It’s a great place to enjoy one or two of their Frozen Valrhona Chocolate Martinis.

Read the full article in Dead Sexy Magazine.

photographs by Jenny Gao

From our hometown of Toronto, Canada, we introduce you to Soma chocolatemaker. Located in the historic Distillery District, Soma’s chocolate artisans create tasty treats made from Fairtrade and organic cocoa. Soma’s philosophy of producing chocolate in small batches insures tight quality control. The result is superb chocolates, truffles and cookies.

Soma started in a small shop in the Distillery District and over a short period expanded to their current larger space a few buildings down. We love the Chocolate Lab where the curious can gawk at the chocolate making process as it unfolds.

You can also find a yummy selection of house-made gelato and sorbets in time for spring/summer.

When in Chicago, one of our favourite pitstops is Vosges Haut Chocolat. A graduate of reknowned gastronomy and hospitality institute, Le Cordon Bleu, Owner/Chocolatier Katrina Markhoff personally selects the ingredients that go into Vosges creations. The melding of east and west is apparent in the flavour selection of Vosges products - especially in the truffles.

A DSM must have is Mo’s Bacon Bar. I know it sounds weird but we guarantee when you chomp down on this baby, it will be love at first bite. Talk about smokey-salty-sweet heaven!

We also highly recommend the Bapchi’s Caramel Toffee and the Organic Peanut Butter Bourbon bar. For you Easter chocolate fanatic types there’s the Bacon and Egg-a dark chocolate half egg filled with bacon and caramel.

Ok so we like salty and sweet…sue us!

P.S. if you happen to find yourself in Chicago’s O’Hare Int’l airport while in transit, go to Concourse B where you’ll find a Vosges boutique to get your chocolate fix for the road!

There are a lot of interesting choices. The friendly staff are more than happy to give you a sample if you don’t know what to choose or better yet pickup up the Mix ‘n Match Mini Candy Bars for a tasting of six of Vosges’ 0.5oz delights.

VOSGES also has boutiques located in New York City and Las Vegas

images courtesy of Vosges Haut-Chocolat*

@ DSM, the consumption of chocolate in April isn’t reserved just for Easter. It’s a month long affair…actually it’s a year-round affair but we’re going to just focus on April for now.

Every few days we’re going to try to blog about our favourite chocolatier or something related to these beautiful, delicious treats that are crafted from the fruit of the Theobroma cacao tree. Yes we can be scientific-y when we want to be.

First on our list is a personal favourite, Frederic Blondeel Chocolatier in Brussels. This cute chocolate shop is located in the Brussels Fish Market. Opened in 2006, the shop offers not only fine chocolate but also jams, biscuits, coffee etc.. You have to try the drinking chocolate served with a piece of milk chocolate feuillantine. Simply decadent.

Below from left to right:

• CASSONADE WHITE truffle gianduja hazelnuts
• STARFISH WHITE white chocolate
• GREEN CAYENNE PEPPER MILK ganache lemon grass -  cayenne pepper

Writer Rick T.

Photographs DSM

queenwestrandompress:

KFC has introduced a new way to make you large and in charge - the Double Down!

Why didn’t anyone think of using chicken as a bread before! The Double Down contains two pieces of chicken with some bacon slapped between them, two slices of cheese and a mayonnaise-mustard sauce.

1,228 calories!

Ugh.

I DARE you to eat this! ;)