My suggestion for your New Year's resolution in 2014!

Just an idea...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Kendall & Co: from Christmas ornaments to big ticket items

I was looking for Christmas stocking stuffers and ornaments when I entered Kendall & Co. I found a fantastic collective gift idea!

Kendall & Co is an interior design company with a shop which always carries a small selection of great home decor gifts. This year, their Christmas window was filled with lovely glass ornaments (collection items sold around $20) so I entered to see what they had in store (227 Carlton, west of Parliament on the south side).

Further into the boutique, I found more cute ornaments: an evergreen in a miniature Mason jar ($12), tiny lumberjacks cutting down an evergreen in a glass ball ($22), little glass birds to use as salt shakers ($10).

On my way, I saw an amazing centrepiece, the perfect idea for a collective gift in the price range of an iPad: a gorgeous porcelain Italian palace which turns out to be a biscotti jar with six tea or coffee cups, cream and sugar bowl and a serving tray, all in one! It retails for $550. Apparently, it took them months to receive this order. (It's the kind of gift idea for people who got together last year to give an iPad to their mom!)

There's also the $200 Italian palace which turns into 6 large plates/bowls (perfect to serve pasta) and a serving bowl. 

I also noticed a wine cooler made out of glass, good for four bottles ($99), and surreal Falcon candlestick holders ($45). A real conversation piece. Made out of cast aluminum in aged-zinc matte grey finish, Kevin from Kendall & Co. told me it may be spray painted to personalize it to your liking.

Also read:

TOP-10 Christmas stuffers from Labour of Love (across the street from Kendall & Co.)

 

TOP-10 Christmas stocking stuffers from Labour of Love

I love Cabbagetown!
Last week, I delivered more copies of my walking guides Toronto Urban Strolls 1 and 2 to Labour of Love on 242 Carlton Street. (They are always well stocked with my walking guides!) So I got a chance to sift through their Christmas merchandise. That was fun!

I'm a big fan of their jewelry selection (read about my shameless story on how I got the Labour of Labour neckless I wanted for Christmas) but they also carry plenty of options for $20 and under.

Here's the list of my TOP-10 cool finds to put in Christmas stockings (or to give as hostess gifts) as seen at Labour of Love:

1) If you're the one who ends doing this sort of chore at home, you'll love this one.  The whole store is peppered with such quirky quotes, which adds to the fun of browsing. (Prices vary according to size, this one was $12.)

2) Sooooo cute! Miniature Mason jars as shot glasses ($20 for a set of four)

3) I fell in love with this one. You can get a porcelain Fortune cookie with a hole in the back ($5) and combine it with a little red book filled with Fortunes to fit in the cookie ($15). In A year of Fortunes I read clever quotes such as "That thing you feel guilty about? The other person doesn't even remember."

4) For a personalized gift, in thin colourful boxes, you'll find little porcelain trays marked with any letter of the alphabet, to store jewelry or change ($12). 

5) More reading, lots of it, for wine lovers. My favourite: "The secret of enjoying a good wine: 1. Open the bottle to allow it to breath. 2. If it does not look like it's breathing, give it mouth-to-mouth." ($15)

6) I think people will have a blast with this Photo Booth kit of accessories ($20). Once, the graphic artist husband of a friend organized a party and as a souvenir, he wanted to take the photo of every guest. It normally feels awkward to me to purposely stand in front of a camera but not this time. He had drawn all kinds of accessories for us to choose from. The photos were great! (You can see a sample at the end of this post.)

7) A friend of mine has the regular magnetic poetry kit on her fridge and each of her guests always ends up playing with it at one point during the party. This one focuses on cocktail vocabulary ($15).

8) Now, for kids, Sardines, a lovely observation game the whole family won't mind playing. It involves sardines in bikinis. What's not to love? ($20) 

9) Old-fashioned fun in a little box. In it, you'll find a string and the instructions for 18 different string games. ($15)

10) Adorable little boxes to store money, or a ring? or a neckless? ($2/small one, $5/big one)

Also read about what I found at Kendal & Co. across the street from Labour of Love.

Christmas ornaments over our heads at Labour of Love.

Photo done with my friend's props at a party.
Click on the image to access torontofunplaces.com.

TOP-10 hostess gifts at Soma Chocolate

Do I have to?
Do you have to bring a hostess gift to dinners or parties? No! And your true friends will accept you empty-handed. But sometimes, when you'd like to contribute to the meal but the hostess won't let you, an edible hostess gift is a good idea.

I visited Soma Chocolate at The Distillery this week (during the Toronto Christmas Market) and noticed many options that would be just perfect as hostess gifts. (Update: This post was written in 2014. In 2015, the Christmas Market goes on from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20.)

They look very pretty. They're top quality. They're decadent. Your hostess will either offer them as a fabulous finish to her great meal, or she will put them away, to be savoured on a special occasion. Either way, she's bound to be pleased.

TOP-10 hostess gifts at Soma 
(in no particular order)

1) Wild fennel chocolate twig
This intriguing dark chocolate treat does include wild fennel! A definite conversation piece at $12.

2) The Birch chocolate branch

My favourite! It looks beautiful! Soma had a custom mould sculpted to capture the birch details. It is filled with a Pistachio Crisp filling (whatever that is, must be good) and costs $25.

3) A bowl of Sospiri (flavoured meringues)

Sospiri means "little sighs". The $10 assortment of meringues comes in four flavours (beet, sweet corn, walnuts and raspberry), and is served in a bowl of papier maché.

 4) Limited edition for X'mas bars

Don't they look pretty? The Xmas Cake Bar includes cranberries, orange peel, hazelnuts and warm spices. The slice of dried pineapple looks amazing. The 100g bars are $8 each.

5) Wild cherries in Peruvian chocolate

Yum! You can't go wrong at $7.50 for a bag. Better take two.

6) Roasted white chocolate bar

They say each bar was torched individually. And the packaging is really cute. They're $8 for a 100g chocolate bar. (They could be combined with Soma's gingerbread animal-shaped cookies.)

7) Mix for very thick and spicy hot chocolate 

This is the Mayan mix to recreate at home the thick hot chocolate Soma serves in its store. Big kids hot chocolate at $26 a 500g bag.

8) Sculptural chocolate truffles

They're $2 a piece. My favourite shape is this cone infused with natural Douglas Fir oil. On Soma's website, they write: "Think eating chocolate in a Canadian Pine forest". I think it is a good idea to buy one for each guest at the dinner so everyone can experience the same taste.

9) Mixed box of chocolate truffles

The Spicy Mayan Dome is gorgeous, but then, there's the Aged 8 Years Balsamic Vinegar Truffle, the Caramel Kiss Truffle, the Bergamot Truffle, the... (all $2 a piece).

10) The Fruit & Nut Collection

The pretty $30 box contains six different chocolate bars: dark chocolate with slow roasted almonds, with Seville orange, with Australian ginger, and milk chocolate with candied lemon, with wild cherries and with slow roasted hazelnuts. (Are you hungry yet?) 

TOP-10 favourite things at Toronto Christmas Market 2013

The Toronto Christmas Market 2013 goes on until December 15. It is utterly charming with the tall Christmas tree, Santa in high spirit and teasing everyone, music all around, and lamp posts and little lights throwing a yellow glow over it all. (Update: In 2015, the Christmas Market goes on from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20)

Here are my TOP-10 favourite things about the market this year (in no particular order). If you intend to visit with kids, read this post on Santa at the Toronto Christmas Market. 

1) Peeping through the windows
Toronto Christmas Market is a great excuse to visit the Distillery. The Victorian vibe of this historic district perfectly suits the event. When it gets dark, the brightly lit indoors contrast beautifully with the austere brick walls of the buildings.

Looking inside Balzac's Coffee from the main plaza.

2) Glass Christmas ornaments

There are plenty of vendors selling food but several booths really put Christmas in the Christmas Market. At the Christmas on the Beach booth (on Trinity Street) you'll find a vast assortment of glass ornaments. I didn't know these colourful ornaments were made out of glass until I watched a video in this booth. No wonder they're so fragile! 

3) Wooden Christmas ornaments
In addition to lovely tree ornaments at Euro Living booth (across from the Brick Street Bakery), I saw small 3-D cut-outs and nativity scenes, a piggy bank cut in a log, an apple with a secret drawer, beautiful wooden hearts, tiny scenes in a match box and more.

4) Original Christmas treat... for dogs
"Dogs are people too!" said the lady in the middle booth on Trinity Street. She'll carrying edible Christmas cards for dogs!

5) A new take on the Twelve Days of Christmas

In the middle of Santa's Lane (Gristmill Lane), discover the quirky series of books by Troy Townsin. His most popular title is A Moose in a Maple Tree (also available in French). Sing "and a moose in a maple tree" to the tune of the Twelve days of Christmas to get the idea. There's also the Night Before a Canadian Christmas and Canadian Jingle Bells, in books and CDs and T-shirts.

Related posts about things at The Distillery: 

TOP-10 Christmas stocking fillers at Bergo

TOP-10 hostess gifts at Soma

6) Maple Syrup candles

You'll find another truly Canadian gift idea in Santa's Lane. Look for the booth with trademark maple syrup tins. Look closer. They are maple scented travel candles with a wooden wick (which means the candle crackles like a little fire when you light it!). This booth belongs to gallery/shop Len (located at 698 Coxwell Avenue, just north of Danforth).

7) Candles in a vintage Mason jar

The first booth in Case Goods Lane offers candles in genuine vintage Mason jars. (The thick wick ensures they burn to the bottom of the jar.) 

8) Outdoor patios with heaters and fires

I've check and the heaters in the outdoor Beer Gardens section truly warm up the place. Also check the large fireplace in the outdoor patio of über cool Mexican restaurant El Catrin in Tank House Lane. 

9) Old fashioned brass band

The Salvation Army's brass band walks around the site to spread the joyful sound of Christmas.

The Scat'r Bugs on the main stage

10) Christmas shows a cappella on the main stage

On the Market's main stage, near Balzac's Coffee, we get to hear top quality a capella singers throughout the event. 

I strongly suggest you attend the amazing performances of the four a cappella signers of Cadence. They will perform Sunday December 8 at 12 noon and at 1:30 p.m. Check this video to get a taste of what Cadence has in store for you. 

Nathalie's walk around The Artisan Bakery

UPDATE APRIL 28, 2014

The Artisan Baker closed for good in January!!! Sad news...

I suggest grabbing some food to go at Delica Kitchen across the street at 1440 Yonge, and take it to the park in the walk described below. 

I have the perfect friends to bring along for a decent walk towards a decadent place such as The Artisan Baker. 

Yannick and Lionel are the two French guys behind the website YummyBaguette.com, listing all the yummy shops where you can find chocolates, pastries, coffees, teas, and other treats in Toronto. 

Last spring, we decided to visit The Artisan Baker, located at 1423 Yonge, just south of St. Clair.

Related post:

Fitbit, the walking gadget my techie friends made me discover during this walk.

Our starting point was Yonge and Front Streets (because it is near Yannick's place) but I'll describe a 7-km loop around The Artisan Baker going no further south than Carlton Street.

The Artisan Baker was a great brunch destination! I loved the decor and the wide selection on the menu. Their glassed window was very inspiring. Lionel and I had a tartine, accompanied by a soup or salad, and they were both delicious. We were truly impressed by the presentation of Yannick's Canadian Breakfast.

Now, let's burn some calories
After a wholesome meal, we resumed our walk towards the Rosehill Reservoir. From Yonge Street, you can take Pleasant Blvd. or Rosehill Avenue eastbound to access the reservoir. 

We crossed the park to see the pretty garden on the south-east corner. Going down, past the playground, we took a nature trail to get to the David A. Balfour Ravine.

Walking along the river towards the south, we eventually reached Mount Pleasant Road, where we turned right to get to Bloor Street. We then went west to go down Church Street, making sure to stop at the spectacular Loblaws in Maple Leaf Gardens (at the corner of Church and Carlton).

From there, turn right (west) on Carlton to Yonge and walk northbound back to The Artisan Baker. Altogether, the 7-km stroll should take you less than two hours, excluding your tour of Maple Leaf Gardens.