Sometimes you need a coffee, and sometimes you need a solid lunch; Le Gourmand offers you both! Located just south of Queen, on Spadina, it is a cute little café that doubles as a small, high-end grocery store.

Interior

The décor is a stunning mix of mid 20th century luxury den and quaint French bistro. The hardwood floors and electric fireplace are complemented by old photos and paintings that adorn the soft-toned walls. There are dark wooden shelves stocked with jams, oils, vinegars, syrups, chocolates, and preserves that make great hostess or housewarming gifts. The comforting feel of the place always draws a crowd, but there is plenty of seating to go around.

Beverages

Coffee-wise, they have either the Black Gold or the French Roast, which are sure to please even the most critical coffee drinker. You can also get all your typical espresso-based drinks, from lattes to macchiatos. But Le Gourmand offers much more than your average coffee shop.

They have not just one but several hot chocolates to warm you up on a cold day. There is a white hot chocolate, a caramel chocolate, a couple of dark varieties, and even a Nutella version!

Food

Le Gourmand Selection

But drinks are just the beginning. Le Gourmand’s signature treat is the freshly baked cookie. They are constantly pulling fresh batches of chocolate chip, peanut butter, and oatmeal raisin out of the oven, so you are guaranteed to get one that is soft and warm. The chocolate chips will still be melted as you bite into it!

If you are on a health kick, that’s okay too! There is an abundance of freshly made soups, salads, quiches, and sandwiches to choose from — and delicious bagels and baguettes to go along with them.

They also offer breakfast options, such as steel-cut oatmeal and burritos. Or, if you come before 11:00 A.M. on a weekday or between 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. on the weekend, they will happily whip you up an omelette or some eggs just how you like them.

And because Le Gourmand doubles as a grocer, they have many products to fit your every cooking need, as well as some delightful beverages and snacks that you don’t see anywhere else.

Whether it’s a healthy lunch you are looking for or just a quick pick-me-up, this little café is sure to hit the spot. Le Gourmand is home-cooked decadence at its finest!

Contact

Email:
Address, Phone:
152 Spadina Ave., Toronto
416 866 2127
www: www.legourmand.com

Operating Hours

Mon–Fri: 7am – 8pm
Sat: 9am – 6pm
Sun: 9am – 5pm

The Action:

Several open houses and private showings at this detached, two-storey house created a frenzy of activity in the quiet, Upper Beach community. On the day offers were reviewed, it was sold to a buyer with family in the area.

Gainsborough RdToronto

What They Got:

A 24- by 124-foot lot provides the base for this 1,320-square-foot house that underwent a modern makeover with new Thermopane windows, storm door and wiring installed in the last three years, as well as stylish slate floors, custom vanity and original cast iron tub for the sky lit bathroom amidst the three bedrooms upstairs.

Entertaining areas consist of living and dining rooms with French doors and hardwood floors, a rare, sky lit family room off the kitchen with a wood burning fireplace and sliding doors to a deck with bench seating, a flagstone walkway and fenced garden.

Off the mutual driveway, a separate side entrance leads to a 560-square-foot basement with a recreation area and full bathroom.

The Agent’s Take:

“It’s detached in a neighbourhood where most are semi [detached], so that was a very attractive selling feature,” says agent Julie Kinnear. “It had a little family room off the back that was cute, very sunny and bright.”

The view of a supermarket’s parking lot across the street wasn’t ideal, but the area’s wealth of amenities was. “It was so close to everything, like transit, good schools and the Beach,” Ms. Kinnear adds. “There’s a lot of upside to it and it’s only getting better.”

Published in the Globe and Mail, Thursday, Feb 02

Gorgeous fully renovated detached home in Tarragon Village section of the Annex! 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, dug down basement , parking!  Hot new listing next week!

Crazy Stupid Love review

Just answer the following skill testing question for your chance to win!

One correct answer to the following skill-testing question will be drawn:

Contest closes on 15th February, 2012 at midnight

W2264220

Happy New Year! Just a quick note to let you know how we can help you or someone you introduce to us.

Anna-Ly was referred to us this Fall by a fellow realtor to help in the sale of her beautiful home. She was so thrilled with the overall experience she wrote the following to us:

“I just want to say a big THANK YOU to the entire team for such a smooth, quick and profitable transaction!!! I have already been spreading the word on your successful team. The process was so quick and efficiently executed. The team approach is the best I have seen! Though you were recommended by a Royal LePage agent, your success rate speaks volumes. Anna-Ly”

We were delighted for the opportunity of getting to know Anna-Ly and help her housing dreams come true including receiving 106% of list price for her home in such a short time. Always a great compliment to be referred and entrusted by one of our peers in the industry!

Guiding you home,

The Julie Kinnear Team
Your Real Estate Consultants For Life

P.S. Who’s the next person you know who would like a smooth, quick and profitable experience when selling their home? Be sure to give us a call to discuss how we can help them.

There has been a trend in some coffee shops towards mass production. The food is made in a factory and shipped out to the various locations. Because the sandwiches and baked goods have to last longer, they are pumped with additives to extend their shelf lives and are then left to sit in a refrigerator for days on end. But Dark Horse Espresso Bar is a different breed of coffee shop entirely. They favour all that is natural, and it shows in the taste and value of everything you can purchase from them.

There are several locations you can visit in Toronto. Two of them are along Queen Street, and the third is just North of Queen, on Spadina, in Chinatown.

Interior

Dark Horse Espresso Bar
Interior by Matt MacGillivray

There is no plastic or artificial feel when it comes to Dark Horse. For example, the Chinatown location features exposed brick, wooden pillars, and natural-looking tables and chairs. All this is complemented by elegant chandeliers that hang from the ceiling and bouquets of flowers that adorn the room. And instead of the dark dinginess and florescent lighting you find in many chain cafes, this particular location has an entire wall of windows that lets the natural light shine in. The cafe has two floors. The larger of the two features long tables that allow you to spread out and get work done or strike up a conversation with someone new who happens to be sitting beside you. The second floor is a smaller, more intimate space with individual tables that allow for catching up with an old friend or a quiet business meeting.

Food

They have some delicious food options to choose from, such as whole grain muffins or fresh-pressed panini. They also offer yoghurt parfaits, a soup of the day, and several inventive baked goods. In addition, they cater to different food needs, so they even have some vegan options available.

Beverages

When it comes to beverages, nothing else compares. Many of the people who work here are trained in latte art, so your beverage will likely be adorned with a delicate flower or inspirational heart. And they don’t load the drinks up with chemicals as they do in other coffee shops, but rather invite you to sweeten your coffee with a more natural option such as honey or brown sugar.

You can certainly order your drink and food to go if you are in a hurry, but if you have the time, I would definitely recommend sitting down with a warm beverage in a real mug and soaking in the relaxing atmosphere. Dark Horse Espresso Bar is truly a unique coffee experience!

Contact

Email:
Address, phone:
684 Queen Street West, Toronto, 647 352 3512
682 Queen Street East, Toronto, 647 436 3460
215 Spadina Ave Suite 102 Toronto, 416 979 1200
www: darkhorseespresso.com

Operating Hours

Queen Street West: Mon-Fri: 7am - 7pm, Sat-Sun: 8am - 7pm
Queen Street East: Mon-Sun: 7am - 7pm
Spadina Ave: Mon-Fri: 7am - 7pm, Sat-Sun: 8am - 7pm
 

front2

Basia Bulat (pronounced BAH-sha boo-LOT) was born in Etobicoke (now part of the City of Toronto), Ontario, in 1984. Beginning with piano at an early age, Bulat soon progressed to ukulele, guitar, saxophone, banjo, flute, and (perhaps most iconically) the autoharp.

Both she and her brother, Bobby, were involved in various bands in their teenage years, and this musical interest persisted when Bulat left Toronto for London, Ontario to attend the University of Western Ontario. During her time in London, Bulat became more seriously involved in music and had her own program on the campus radio station.

In 2006, Bulat stayed in Montreal for a few months, and it was there that she recorded a number of songs with the help of a studio owner named Howard Bilerman. Although Bulat had, at first, no intention of distributing this proto-album for public consumption, Bilerman eventually had it released by Rough Trade Records in 2007, first in Japan and Europe and then in North America. Along with many praise-filled reviews, this debut album (entitled Oh My Darling) was nominated for a Polaris Prize in 2008.

Since that time, Bulat has toured the United States, Australia, Europe, and Canada, and has released a second album, Heart of My Own, in 2010. When not touring, she lives in Toronto.