vi pei, oh my

no question about it, this girl loves brunch. and discovering a delicious brunch spot within walking distance from home is quite the finding! the whole (quite critical) group was in agreement: we will definitely return to vi pei bistro (formerly vi vetha)

EC, BC, JW, CS, RK and i went to vi pei in the yonge and lawrence area, on a beautiful sunny march day (a tease by mother nature). there was lots of cousin-chatter and smiles all around. the service was great and the food was fantastic. the menu offered creative options for typical brunch food, plus some interesting specials. the menu was extensive, making it difficult to choose what to eat. all in all, everything was plentiful! the restaurant itself has a plain decor, but what vi pei lacks in atmosphere, they more than make up for with lick-your-plate brunch.  

brunch:

eggs nova 
poached eggs on english muffin over smoked salmon with hollandaise.
served with salad & home fries

salmon omelet
fruit smoked salmon, capers & green onion
with salad & home fries  

3 cheese omeletprepared with asiago, cheddar & mozzarella cheeses
with salad & home fries

eggs benny special
two poached eggs, smoked salmon, brie and hollendaise
served with side salad and homefries

french toast special
brie-stuffed french toast with caramelized
peaches, strawberries and bananas (WOW)
bacon and sausage

note: get there early... the place was buzzing and full by 11.
looking forward to next time!

lady of brunch

during the last few days of our two-week vacation, NA (of 'where the locals go') and i finally carved out some time to hit up the queen east hotspot, lady marmalade. 
although it was a dreary january day, the air was light and cheery inside the bustling restaurant.
lady marmalade, while itty bitty in size, offers a wide range of unique dishes, catering to the ever-changing leslieville crowd. from hipsters and hippies to families and yuppies, lady marmalade had everybody smiling (once they were seated).
tip: be sure to get there about an hour before you want to eat. this place is busy everyday of the week. even on a thursday morning, we waited close to an hour.
enjoy.
recommendation? yes.

warm coffee on a snowy day

we both ordered the eggs benny..

it was a tough call between the good morning poutine, but in the end,
NA ordered the “cochinita pibil” yucatecan pulled pork & citrus marinated red onions

i ordered the roasted vegetables & aged white cheddar
i could have done without the (overdressed) salad

what's brunch without a side of bacon

until next time!

high societe!

had a fabulous lunch last week at toronto's la societe. summer clothes and girlfriends on hand, we arrived for our reservation and were promptly seated in a room of luxurious furnishings and rich aromas. 
the menu did not disappoint. all the ladies were tempted by at least a few dishes each. it being a summery saturday morning, and a little on the early-side, lots of coffee was consumed among the catching up and laughter. our waiter was extremely attentive, always ready with a fresh carafe of java, and a smile.

1 of.....many coffees

many delicious options

bistro breakfast

eggs benedict florentine

quiche du jour-brie and asparagus

a definite recommendation. treat yourself to an elegant and delicious brunch in yorkville. you won't be disappointed.

nothing quite like the saturday market

i headed down to toronto's incredible st. lawrence market saturday morning. it is a definite "must see" on any visit to toronto.
the whole market was pulsing with an amazing energy-early risers of all ages and backgrounds, coming to enjoy the market vibe.
i loved all the fresh fruits, veggies, breads, cheeses and meat, in addition to the vendors selling a variety of unique items,
check it out!

freshly ground coffee was perfection (and needed at such an early hour!)

lots of cheese, many samples

wide variety of fresh, ontario-grown and exotic fruit

just think of how much tomato sauce you could make!

which way to the beach?

olive you

make your way over to the market. you won't be disappointed!

novembrrrr recommendations

a few pics from the past couple of weeks.
phone ended up in the toilet so i lost a bunch of beauty shots.
hope you enjoy the few from this weekend.

saturday started out with a good read and a latte.
i definitely recommend 'the forgotten garden'. a wonderful book.

tried a brilliant restaurant in leslieville for dinner. 'hello my name is leslie jones'
it had an excellent atmosphere and the food was incredible and fresh.
loved every bite.

we enjoyed: pureed carrot and broccoli soup with feta cheese as apps
                     a mushroom risotto
                     stuffed eggplant with goat cheese and fresh veggies.

1182 queen st east. don't miss out.

lovely fall colours. have to sneak it in.

happy sunday.

welcome!

welcome to the first installment of beauty in the world.
there is so much fun that surrounds us in our day to day lives. we often look right through it. it is time to look around and appreciate the beauty and fun all around us.
this blog is going to be a space to share some of my favourite things around me, most often through photos: celebrations, food, children, seasons changing. life. 

smile. be happy. enjoy. 

brickworks in toronto. kiddies learning about living green.

fresh cheese. nothing better. 

grabbed the last of the morning moon. what a treat.

fresh coffee on a brisk saturday. life is good.

thanks for stopping by.