Toronto Restaurants

Hilton Garden Inn, one of the fastest growing brands that is part of the Hilton Family of Hotels, today announced the opening of the 224-room Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Downtown, in Ontario, Canada, representing another addition to the brand’s growing collection of more than 400 Hilton Garden Inn hotels across North America, Europe and Central America.

The newly constructed Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Downtown is operated by 92 Peter Street, Inc. under a license agreement with a subsidiary of Hilton Hotels Corporation and managed by Easton’s Group of Hotels, Inc.

“Hilton Garden Inn is a brand that was created with the cost-conscious traveler in mind. We provide value and consistency with a great hotel stay,” said Adrian Kurre, senior vice president – brand management, Hilton Garden Inn. “The opening of the Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Downtown property shows that more and more travelers are looking for a lodging option in the mid-priced category.”

The Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Downtown is located in the heart of Toronto’s Entertainment District and only steps to the city’s financial, business and shopping districts. The evolution guestrooms are spacious and feature the Garden Sleep System® bed that allows guests to adjust the firmness and softness of the bed and ergonomic Mirra® chair by Herman Miller. The 28 deluxe evolution guestrooms boast the same as well as a fireplace and whirlpool.

The new hotel also features complimentary wired and WiFi Internet access in guestrooms and public space; a 24-hour, complimentary business center; the Pavilion Pantry® offering a selection of tasty snacks and microwaveable meals, beverages and sundries; a restaurant offering cooked to order breakfast and dinner; room service during dinner hours; a comfortable lounge with a television and fireplace area – an ideal place to enjoy a cup of coffee or unwind with a cocktail at the end of the day; two meeting rooms offering 1,070 square feet of flexible meeting space; and an on-site guest laundry facility.

Evolution guestroom accommodations and features include: the Garden Sleep System® bed; 37” LCD, high definition flat screen television; clock that allows guests to play their MP3 player; a “hospitality center” with a microwave oven, coffee maker and mini refrigerator; a sitting area with an easy chair and ottoman; a hairdryer; and an iron, ironing board and in room safe.

Business-oriented features of the guest rooms include: a spacious and clutter-free work desk; ergonomic Mirra® chair by Herman Miller; adjustable lighting; electrical outlets at desk height; and two speaker telephones equipped with data ports and voice mail.

Travelers looking to keep up with their fitness routine can enjoy the complimentary workout facility featuring Precor® state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength training equipment; Stay Fit Kits® that are available for complimentary check-out and offer a selection of core, Yoga and Pilates exercises that can be done in the privacy of the guestroom; or take a dip in the indoor swimming pool and whirlpool.

“The Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Downtown’s close proximity to Toronto’s major corporations plus financial and business districts makes our hotel an ideal location for the corporate traveler. The hotel is also ideal for the leisure travelers with us being located right in the heart of the entertainment district and only minutes to Toronto’s main attractions, most popular restaurants and theatres,” said Robert Roy, hotel general manager.

The Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Downtown participates in Hilton HHonors®, the only guest rewards program that offers Points & Miles® and No Blackout Dates on rewards stays. Members of the Hilton HHonors guest reward program can Double Dip® to earn both points and miles for every stay at more than 3,000 Hilton Family hotels worldwide. And with No Blackout Dates or capacity controls, as long as a standard room is available for purchase, members can redeem HHonors points for the stay.

The Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Downtown address is 92 Peter Street, Toronto, Ontario CANADA M5V 2G5; phone: 416-593-9200; fax: 416-593-9202. The hotel is situated off the Gardner Expressway at the Spadina exit and is located 24 kilometres from the Pearson International Airport and 7 kilometres to Toronto City Centre Airport.

The Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Downtown is convenient to attractions such as the CN Tower, Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre, Royal Alexandra Theatre, Princess of Wales Theatre, Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Direct Energy Centre. Nearby corporations include CBC, RBC, MTS Allstream, Citi, CICA, Deloitte, Aon, AIG, Bell, Telus, Ernst and Young, PWC, Marsh, Bank of Montreal, TD and CIBC.

Hilton Garden Inn is the award-winning, mid-priced brand that continually strives to ensure today’s busy travelers have everything they need to be most productive on the road — from complimentary wired and Wi-Fi Internet access in all guestrooms and PrinterOn mobile printing to the hotel’s complimentary 24-hour business center to one of the most comfortable beds you will ever experience with the Garden Sleep System®. So whether on the road for personal or business reasons, Hilton Garden Inn offers the amenities and services for travelers to sleep deep, stay fit, eat well and work smart while away from home.

If you’re a visitor to Toronto and you have 48 hours to explore our city during the Film Festival or any other time, here’s the scoop on the hottest hangouts for a lavish weekend of wining, dining, shopping and celebrity-spotting.

FRIDAY
6 p.m.: Get dolled up and decked out for pre-dinner martinis at the Avenue bar (www.fourseasons.com) at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto’s posh Yorkville district, which is celeb-central during the film festival.

7:30 p.m.: Walk a few steps to the Hazelton Hotel (www.thehazeltonhotel.com) and have dinner at chef Mark McEwan’s latest restaurant One (www.onehazelton.com), which opened during last year’s festival.

See and be seen on the lush 80-seat patio and feast on lobster spoons, foie gras with apricots and chocolate, and BBQ rib ravioli. Also try a vintage port digestif or the chef’s signature Marky Mark gin and tonic cocktail.

10 p.m.: Have a nightcap at The Roof Lounge on the 18th floor of the Park Hyatt hotel (www.parktoronto.hyatt.com) where you’re almost guaranteed to see Canadian and Hollywood A-listers in town. Sip on rich pinot noir in front of the fireplace or step out on the terrace for a view of the CN Tower, the signature structure on Toronto’s skyline.

SATURDAY
9 a.m.: Head to the TIFF box office (www.tiff07.ca/boxofficeinfo/tickets) at the Manulife Center to purchase tickets for a gala screening of one of the 312 international features and shorts playing during the 10-day film festival. The box office opens at 7 a.m.

10 a.m.: Go shopping in the ritzy Bloor-Yorkville neighborhood, dubbed the “Mink Mile” — Toronto’s closest equivalent to L.A.’s Rodeo Drive or Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. Be sure to check out Hazelton Lanes shopping centre (www.hazeltonlanes.com) and Canada’s one-and-only luxury department store chain Holt Renfrew (www.holtrenfrew.com) and its World Design Lab to find avant-garde local designers.

1 p.m.: Nibble on a light lunch of bison tartar and watermelon marinated in sparkling wine at the iconic yellow-painted Sassafraz (www.sassafraz.ca), a favorite film festival haunt, which was destroyed by a fire 18 months ago but has since been renovated to its former bright and airy glory.

3 p.m.: Stroll over to the Royal Ontario Museum (www.rom.on.ca) and don’t miss the famous Michael Lee-Chin Crystal addition which features a newly launched dinosaur exhibit and its star attraction, a 25-metre (85-foot) long Barosaurus named “Gordo,” the largest dinosaur ever to go on permanent display in Canada.

If you have time after the ROM, head across the street to the Gardiner Museum of ceramic art (www.gardinermuseum.on.ca), one of Toronto’s best examples of modernist architecture.

Both museums also house restaurants and hot spots C5 (www.c5restaurant.ca) and Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner (www.jkkitchens.com).

6 p.m.: Dine at another no-expense-spared foodie favorite, Greg Couillard’s Spice Room, to indulge in cuisine such as African Berber lamb and Indian tandoori shrimp.”

9 p.m.: After dinner, arrive at the Visa Screening Room at the Elgin Theatre (www.heritagefdn.on.ca) in time for a red-carpet gala premiere or a film at another venue depending on availability.

12 a.m.: Hail a cab back to Yorkville for drinks and dancing till the wee hours at Amber (www.amberinyorkville.com) and show off your moves on the dance floor of the all-white lounge.

SUNDAY
10 a.m.: Depart the film festival hub and explore Queen Street West to see Toronto’s edgier side. It’s worth the long walk between University and Beaconsfield Avenues to take in the hundreds of funky fashion boutiques, craft, textile and interior design stores and antique shops, as well as the landmark MuchMusic (www.muchmusic.com) headquarters and Gladstone Hotel (www.gladstonehotel.com).

1 p.m.: Stop for brunch on the rooftop patio of the stylishly revamped Drake Hotel, with custom designed rooms by local artists, fine dining restaurant, cafe, bar and basement dance club. Feast on a quirky menu of fried chicken with herb waffles and chili-cheese fries with fried eggs and freshly squeezed juices.

3 p.m.: Spend the rest of the day walking around The Distillery (www.thedistillerydistrict.com), Toronto’s recently revitalized historical district, which boasts the largest and best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America. Sample exotic chocolates at the SOMA Chocolatemaker (www.somachocolate.com), browse the local art galleries and make your last stop at the acclaimed Mill Street Brewery (www.millstreetbrewery.com) and sample their selection of handcrafted drafts.

Diversity of race, religion and lifestyle help define and set Toronto apart from other world cities. Toronto is home to virtually all of the world’s culture groups and is the city where more than 100 languages and dialects are spoken, so it comes as no surprise that almost every type of ethnic cuisine represented here.

However what was a surprise and did leave me in hysterics though was driving by this West End Toronto Restaurant last week.  

A little closer photo, taken on Evans Avenue  just east of Islington.

I can see the menu now, sweet and sour gyros, General Tso’s Souvlaki, Kalamata Duck and Stir Fried Feta.  What’s your suggestion?

Steak enthusiasts in Toronto and throughout the GTA dont have to fly to Chicago, New York or Calgary to find fantastic steaks.  There exists throughout Toronto classic American chains such as Morton’s and my personal favourite, Ruths Chris, Canadian franchises such as Canyon Creek and The Keg in addition to local restaurateurs who all take the pursuit of selecting and preparing the best possible cuts for each of us to enjoy.

Torontotonians are used to value size and tenderness above all, but the local focus has shifted to luxurious marbling and the kind of deep  flavour that can only come from long dry-aging. Toronto has suddenly become one of the best places to order a piece of beef. Here are five of the finest according to Toronto Life.

Thuet
Never one to take half-measures, Mark Thuet recently instituted his own beef program, contracting farmers to raise cattle to his (very well-marbled) specifications, visiting in person to hand-pick the best of the lot, then butchering and dry-aging the animals himself. The 60-day rib-eye ($45), served with seasonal veggies and frites, is astounding.

Cowbell
Before opening his fresh-and-local-focused neighbourhood bistro this past summer, chef Mark Cutrara spent four months as an apprentice at The Healthy Butcher (page 116). He buys half a cow directly from the farmer every week, dry-aging it for about 30 days, butchering it himself, and serving the entire beast, from nose to tail, in various menu choices. All that work pays off, in some of the city’s best steak frites ($25–$32). 1564 Queen St. W. (at Jameson Ave.), 416-849-1095.

The Drake Hotel
Chef Anthony Rose wowed critics in New York with his inventive, ingredient-driven cooking, but he says he never saw truly top-quality beef until he got to Toronto. All his steaks come from Kerr Farms, an organic outfit. With beef this good, Rose says, a chef shouldn’t get in the way; he seasons it ever so lightly (if at all) and sears it to perfection in a cast iron pan or over the grill ($39). Wows all around.

The Fifth Grill and Terrace
From a steak menu that includes prime Kobe beef and chateaubriand for two, chef J. P. Challet’s dry-aged Canadian bison rib-eye ($42) is an inspired choice. It’s leaner than beef, but also sublimely flavourful, framed with a thick fringe of glorious fat. Challet sears it on a flat-top plancha, then rests the meat in a special oven, in a beurre monté that amps up the flavour.

Langdon Hall
The phrase “worth the drive” was created for places such as this country inn, where chef Jonathan Gushue consistently whips up some of the province’s most remarkable meals. Hand-selected from Canadian stock and dry-aged for a minimum of 40 days by Cheese Boutique’s Agim Pristine, Langdon Hall’s rib-eye steak ($45) is easily one of the tastiest pieces of meat money can buy. One recent recipe saw Gushue cook it briefly sous vide with Islay scotch whisky, Szechuan peppercorns, thyme and butter, finishing it in a searing-hot pan. And with meat as well flavoured as this, Gushue says, he always serves truffles or garden-fresh root vegetables. “You’ve got to pair it with something that came from the earth.”

Best Steaks Toronto Restaurants

Steakhouses, pubs, burger joints and other Father’s Day Restaurant in Toronto ideas

He’s the guy who put his life at risk teaching you how to drive, helped you open your first chequing account and interrogated you on your whereabouts after your endless night on the town. And, he spent summer after summer stationed at the barbeque, grilling dinner for the fam. Give your pop a rest on Father’s Day and let someone else burn — err, cook the meat for a change. Steakhouses, pubs, burger joints and other Father’s Day resto ideas.

Wings at Duff’s
Duff’s wings are meaty and delicious and dad will love them no matter what his tolerance levels is — mild to Armageddon (if he’s man enough to handle the heat). Let him order his favourite pitcher of beer to wash it all down. But make sure he’s not wearing his good clothes, it’s gonna get messy.

Lamburger from C’est What
Beer-lovin’, music-appreciating dads will love C’est What. The pub has more than 35 beers on tap, not to mention whiskies from around the world — and a delicious lamb burger. The relaxed space in the historic century-old building in the St. Lawrence Market area has a charm that will appeal to down-to-earth dads who like to rock out to local bands.

Lobster at the Lobster Trap
The Lobster Trap has made its home on Avenue Road for 30-plus years, specializing in … you guessed it. The red beauties are brought in from the Maritimes daily so you know they’re fresh. Lots of other seafood options, though, if lobster isn’t your dad’s thing.

All-Star Burger at Golden Star
Take dad for a trip back to the ’60s (if he can remembers them). Golden Star in Thornhill is always worth a visit, even for downtown dads who balk at going north of Bloor for burger. Open for more than 40 years, the joint serves quite possibly the best burg in the GTA, in an atmosphere that’s suspended in time.

Duck at Rosewater
If you’ve got a fancy father who only dines out in Toronto’s most upscale restaurants, take him to Rosewater for the white-gloves experience. The roasted duck breast from Quebec is served over a bed of pumpkin risotto and sided with richly textured Berkshire pork belly. Perfectly Canadian and it’s fall-apart tender.

Steak at Harbour Sixty
Dads who love a great steak and a glass of wine will appreciate a trip to Harbour Sixty, a fave with big shots, sports figures and local celebs. Make sure you’re both dressed to impress — and that you’ve got lots of room on your credit card.

Pulled Pork from Phil’s
The taste of Phil’s smoked meats (coupled with the intoxicating smells) may have the power to convert vegetarians. There aren’t a lot of places in this city that do justice to good, Southern-style BBQ, except the one that’s consistently voted the best amongst by who know their meat. Dad will have no trouble diving right into their messy, delicious sandwiches.

Ribs at Beerbistro
It’s not just the beer selection that’ll wow your dad. Beerbistro has a tried-and-true menu, with lots of options to go along with the specialty beers. Try the great burger or the lamb ribs and spend the rest of the afternoon bonding at the bar, sampling great beers from Germany, Belgium and beyond.

Also:

If the thought of meat makes dad want to run in the other direction, there are plenty of cool vegetarian and vegan restos to take him to. The family-friendly Junction is now home to Rawlicious, a cool cafe with an organic menu of smoothies, soups, salads, wraps, pastas and pizzas. Dad will leave with plenty of zen to spare, not to mention a healthy, raw-food glow.

Toronto Restaurants

Question: What should the standard Toronto restaurant tip be?

Answer: 15 per cent after tax.

I came across this great post in the Toronto Star today where they claim we’d be surprised how controversial the issue is. Not among servers, who rely on tips to bump their incomes above minimum wage. For them, 15 per cent net validates their good work, while 20 per cent recognizes greatness.

It’s the diners who grapple with gratuities. Many is the time that my guests lean in as I’m filling in the credit card slip and, in the same manner as a shy teen inquiring about birth control, ask how much I usually tip.

The awkwardness of the question points to more than just a math problem. Despite our sophisticated restaurant scene, we lack clear tipping guidelines. And this doesn’t even begin to address the thornier questions, such as, is it okay to withhold a tip for bad service? And are women really that cheap?

I polled servers and managers representing dozens of Toronto restaurants, from luxe temples of gastronomy to funky vegetarian diners, to find these answers and more. First off, are tips obligatory?

“Absolutely not. It’s your right as a customer to get good service,” says Bianca Meijer, a server at Forest Hill’s Sotto in the Village.

Then why impose a minimum gratuity, usually 15 per cent, on large groups?

As it turns out, getting good service and recognizing it are two different things, especially when the alcohol is flowing.

“Seemingly they’re having the time of their lives but then they leave an insult tip of 5 per cent,” says Zoltan Szabo, a sommelier and restaurant consultant.

Yet servers often don’t levy the group service charge because they’re holding out for a better tip.

“My service, hopefully, has been satisfying enough that they would want to tip me maybe even 20 per cent,” explains Brette Gabel, a server at Fresh on Bloor who views service charges as “rude.”

Another myth is that women don’t tip well and “women over 50 are demanding hags,” in the words of one server. Not according to Armando Ferreira of Acqua, who has been a fine-dining waiter in Toronto since 1972.

“It used to be like that, in the early ’70s. But women have climbed in the corporate world and are very considerate tippers. I no longer give the cheque to the gentleman but leave it in the middle of the table. Often, it’s the woman paying.”

Then who are the bad tippers? One server, who used to wait tables in Saskatchewan, said “farmers.” Others point to twice-a-year diners unschooled in restaurant etiquette.

“Just tell me when you sit down that you’re only going to tip me 5 per cent. Then the expectation is clarified,” one veteran says of his cheapskate customers.

But for sheer cluelessness, look no farther than tourists, especially Europeans accustomed to service compris. (It’s inexcusable to be ignorant of local customs but, before we get complacent about our generosity abroad, remember the joke: What’s the difference between a canoe and a Canadian? Canoes occasionally tip.)

Studies have shown little things help boost tips. Cornell University’s hotel and restaurant school found that a brief touch on the shoulder added as much as 5 per cent to a server’s income. Diners also leave a couple of extra dollars to waiters who introduce themselves, make eye contact and write “thank you” on the bill.

Then there’s the perverse matter of attitude. A radio documentary, This American Life, showed that a superfriendly waitress lost $50 a shift compared to her aloof colleagues.

The idea, said staff at Chicago’s Lula Café, was to be efficient. And limit smiles.

“If (diners) already think you’re having a good time…why are they going to tip you for having fun?” explained one.

Still, there will always be lavish tippers. One Toronto server remembers the $10,000 tip from a high roller celebrating his birthday with $60,000 worth of vintage French wines.

As for those times when service is a disaster, front-of-house workers say, let the tip reflect that. Leave nothing and talk to the manager.

“You are not obliged to tip at all if you don’t receive the service you expect,” Szabo says.

Rather than take it personally, the Toronto servers polled expect the odd bad night to balance out the good ones.

“When we’re working the floor and see the kitchen’s backed up and our table is waiting 47 minutes for their appetizers, we must take that with grace,” Szabo says.

Back to the initial question: How much to tip?

The 15 per cent guideline, including alcohol and tax, is fair.

My Toronto Restaurant

Leslie Gibson is in the midst of an L.A.-esque moment at her new College Street restaurant. Three years ago, the former co-owner of Xaccutti decamped to L.A., where she had been running celeb-centric restaurants Bella, Parc, and Shag. Hearing that her old space had become available, she knew what she had to do.

In its early years, Xacutti was the place to be, drawing hipsters and later wannabes who would tool over from the ‘burbs in their Land Rovers. Alas, Chef Brad Moore closed Xacutti at the beginning of the year and re-located, if only temporarily, to Eleven Restaurant (which has since changed to The Garden @ eleven). With the Xacutti era over and the space vacant, Gibson was back in town, in her old space, revamping it into her own pastel-hued restaurant.

Fast-forward a few months, and the space is now a breezy addition to College Street; Grace Restaurant is a delicious blueprint for any major restaurant aiming to go casual. Gibson has taken the idea of the modern eatery and layered it - albeit, unintentionally - with every L.A. allusion it could carry - beginning with the canopied exterior that marks its spot on College.

Gallagher may have come up in the strictest of kitchens, but Grace captures a relaxed style and tumultuous atmosphere that may have been his real calling all along.
Named after Gibson’s grandmother – who “graduated from U of T in 1926, and married a farmer” - the restrained, elegant space harks back to its Ellipsis days with pastel walls curving above the leather banquettes, all the way up to the double-height, tinplated ceiling.

Using natural-fall hardwoods and dark leather, Gibson, with designer Patty Cuccia, outfitted the space with iconic items such as wide dinner chairs of dark wood and tanned leather, puffy, cream-hued banquettes, and unadorned plank tables. Walls are lined with vintage photos from a private collection.

Chef Dustin Gallagher – who has climbed the gastronomic ladder, finishing a six-year tenure as sous chef under Chef Susur Lee, practices haute “Modern Farmhouse” cuisine at Grace, a contemporary style “mixed with traditional flavours inspired by family gatherings and Sunday dinners.”

With this new form, he loosens up stylistically and there are no food pyrotechnics, but the food remains exceptional. Just fresh, ingredient-driven dishes, blatantly evident of his farmhouse intentions. He skillfully balances flavours and textures in dishes such as a camera-ready asparagus salad. Mini potato and soft-boiled egg slices are placed over crunchy asparagus with olives and tomato. It’s a simple charmer.

His homemade gnocchi gets treated with porcini and oyster mushrooms. A classic chicken pot pie sports a mysteriously delicious and impossibly light crust. Many will appreciate the crowd-pleasing, sweet-spicy barbeque short ribs with coleslaw and roast sweet potato.

This Farmhouse business succeeds by infusing homespun favourites with chic twists. Desserts, too: A apple tart and maple ice cream is very much in keeping with the venerable restaurant’s homegrown modus operandi.

Now that Gibson has reclaimed her space to lift it above its baser instincts, the room resembles the earlier generation Ellipsis (not a trace of Xacutti remains). But instead of being semi-suave and hedonistic, Grace is an unhurried and inviting space.

Grace Restaurant
503 College Street, Toronto, ON
416-944-8884

Toronto Restaurants

BURLINGTON, Ont. — According to a Sun Media report, Gordon Ramsay, the British chef known for his expletives and outbursts on his various television shows, says he is negotiating to open a restaurant in Toronto or Vancouver. During an interview Sunday at an appearance promoting his cookbook “Gordon Ramsay’s Fast Food,” he said that “hopefully before I fly off Wednesday, I will get a chance to look at the property in Toronto, but it’s not in a hotel.”

Ramsay, 41, has opened a number of restaurants, many of which are in hotels around the world including Tokyo, New York, Ireland, Dubai and Paris. He has received nine Michelin stars for his culinary creations in three of the London restaurants.

The book signing in Burlington, a bedroom community west of Toronto, drew about 300 fans, including about 80 who arrived Saturday at noon outside the Indigo Bookstore to get in line to catch a glimpse of their favourite chef.

Punctual as befits his perfectionist personality, the six-foot-two Ramsay turned up dressed casually in blue jeans, a T-shirt and size 15 sneakers to meet a group of student chefs who had prepared appetizers for their idol.

“When you finish your training, contact me and I may be able to get you a job,” he said to the four students.

Then for the reporter he launched into a mini-tirade about how parents who allow their children to become obese should be fined accordingly.

“It is going to be a matter of time before it is passed by governments where parents will be held responsible for overweight children,” Ramsay said. “Parents must stop giving in to their children and stop feeding them crap.”

He praised his colleague Jamie Oliver for trying to change what British children were being served for their school lunches.

“Jamie was brilliant by making every parent feel guilty about what their children are eating at school,” he said.

On the subject of eating imported produce rather than consuming local, Ramsay said he “gets frustrated when I see chefs use asparagus 12 months a year.”

“My motto is if it isn’t in season, don’t cook it.”

He said one of his chefs made a strawberry cheesecake for last Valentine’s dinner and “I flipped my lid and asked where they came from. I was told Lebanon and I was livid.”

Ramsay admitted he is a perfectionist and “I want it right.”

“So whether you are spending $25 a plate or $50 a plate you will get a meal that is absolutely perfect.”

Infamous for his four-letter words when appearing on “Hell’s Kitchen,” and “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares” on Food Network Canada, a new show “The F Word” will have its premiere this fall.

“My swearing is something I must cut back on,” he said, “but it’s an industry language.”

“If you were at a hockey match and were eavesdropping on the conversations by the players on the ice you would be horrified.”

He doubts that people watch his shows because he uses colourful language.

“Unfortunately, however, when you film for 10 hours you get edited to 45 minutes and it’s constant f, f, f.”

For all the food fanatics out there, traveling is essential, if you want to taste everything the world has to offer. That is why we have rounded up the most resounding symphonies of flavor, the most colorful dishes and the tasties bites. Here is your guide to the fascinating, international cuisines.
10. Lebanese Cuisine

The Lebanese cuisine is the place where you can taste all the goodness the Middle East has to offer. Foods are generally Mediterranean, high on vegetables, little meat and full of flavors. Perhaps the most famous dish worldwide is the appetizer mezze - a selection of dips, pickles, salads and nibbles with Arabic bread. It also includes an abundance of fruit, fresh fish and seafood and little animal fat. The country is also famous for the Arabic sweets, Tripoli being referred to as the “Sweet Capital” of Lebanon.
9. Greek Cuisine

With a significant influence from the Turkish and Italian cuisine, the Greek cuisine is a focused around olive oil, vegetables and herbs specific to the Mediterranean region. Eating in Greece is a different experience from Greek restaurants in other countries - gyros for example is considered by Greeks junk food. Restaurants now offer an authentic eating experience, being up to date with the latest culinary trends and stocked up with regional specialties. The Taverna and Estiatorio are widespread, being the places where you can find affordable authentic cuisine.
8. Spanish Cuisine

For a lighter approach on food, we turn to the Spanish cuisine, containing a variety of meat and fish, as well as vegetables. It is also influenced by the seafood available from the surrounding waters. Spanish cuisine uses the most oil among all Western and Central European cuisines. One of the most popular drinks in Spain that goes perfectly with its national dishes is sangria, a drink made of wine and fruits.
7. Japanese Cuisine

Known for its seasonality of food, aspect and quality of ingredients, the Japanese cuisine is rapidly becoming a trend worldwide. White rice and soybeans are the ingredients you should expect to find in almost any dish. According to Michelin Guide that ranks cities worldwide for their restaurants, Tokyo is the most delicious city, with 150 top-ranked restaurants, as opposed to Paris and London that have 148. Apart from its capital, it is fascinating to uncover the local cuisine throughout Japan.
6. Mexican Cuisine

Known for its varied flavors and spices, Mexican Cuisine is a result of the Spanish conquistadores’ interaction with the Aztec culture. Most of the Mexican food we eat today is a delicious combination of ancient traditions, Aztec, Mayan and Spanish. The French also had their part in the story, adding baked goods such as sweet breads and the bolillo. You can easily choose the restaurant you are going to eat in by popularity: restaurants with good food usually attract all the customers. There are also exotic options for your menu, such as iguana, insects, rattlesnake, deer and even spider monkey.
5. Thai Cuisine

Many people say Thai food alone, with its balanced mix of hot, sour, bitter and sweet, is a good enough reason to visit the country. The foods are characterized by the use of fresh herbs and flavors, such as lime juice, lemon grass and fresh coriander. Similar to many Asian cuisines, rice is the main component in Thai foods as well. You will often come across nam pla, a strong fish sauce, shrimp paste and noodles. If you’re looking to get a kick of out your lunch, you should try the raw beef, fermented fish paste or deep fried insect larvae mostly present in the Northeast, where eating insects in fairly common.
4. Indian Cuisine

One of the world’s most sophisticated and diverse cuisines, only one part of the Indian cuisine is known to the world. The Indian food served in restaurants worldwide is North Indian, also known as Mughlai or Punjabi. There are other 3 categories of Indian cuisine: South, East and West. The foods are mostly vegetarian, but many include lamb, goat, chicken meat and even fish. Indian cuisine is usually very spicy so in order to enjoy the food, start slowly and in a few weeks you’ll get accustomed to the flavors. Meals are usually eaten without cutlery, while seated on the floor, but these traditions are starting to change for the restaurants oriented to the Europe or the US.
3. Chinese Cuisine

Originated in various parts of China and now spread throughout the world, Chinese cuisine is now eaten by a third of the world’s population every day. The cuisine is easy to create, economical and tasty. Most of the food is prepared in bite-sized pieces because the Chinese culture regards knives and forks as weapons. Usually, every person at the table is given a bowl of rice while the other dishes are shared by everyone at the table. Some dishes are cooked from endangered species, such as facai moss while others from meat you would want to avoid such as dog.
2. Italian Cuisine

Perhaps one of the oldest in the world, the Italian cuisine can be traced back to the 4th century BC. It became what is today along with the discovery of the New World, that brought potatoes, tomatoes pepper or maize on the list of ingredients. An Italian meal is structured into several sections: antipasto (the appetizer), primo (pasta or rice dish), secondo (meat course), dolce (dessert). Italy is also famous for over 400 kinds of cheese, including the famous Parmigianino Reggiano, and 300 types of sausages.
1. French Cuisine

Starting with the Middle Ages that brought rich banquets to the French Revolution, where refined techniques were used, French Cuisine can be called in the 21st century “haute cuisine”. It is as popular as the poetry or French arts, a meal at a restaurant comparing to “a sort of theater you can eat”. Pastries are a large part of French cooking. Cheese and wine are also a major part of the cuisine, being perhaps the most famous of all. The modern restaurant has its roots in French culture so restaurants are bountiful, but as for recommendation before deciding on one. In Paris alone, there are over 5,000 places to eat, with prices and menus to suit anyone’s taste.

While my Top 10 may differ from yours, I’m sure that we can all agree that with Toronto’s diversity, we are fortunate enough to have restaurants with all of the above cuisines, and more, from which to explore and enjoy!

World Appetites for oil and grain have put higher food prices on the menu — literally.

Wholesale restaurant food prices rose 7.4% in 2007, the largest increase in three decades, according to the National Restaurant Association, an industry group. That’s even bigger than the jump consumers are seeing at the supermarket, where grocery prices have gone up 5.3%, per the Consumer Price Index.

Blame a combination of inflation and surging demand for commodities in developing countries, say the financial experts. Oil prices hovering above $100 a barrel haven’t helped, adding to shipping costs, as well as energy bills for on-site storage and cooking.

The end result might be sticker shock the next time you dine out, from haute cuisine to McDonald’s — which has re-branded its Dollar Menu in many locations as the “Dollar Menu & More.” Industrywide, average menu prices increased 3.7% in 2007, according to the National Restaurant Association. The group expects similar increases this year. Because consumers are also facing high grocery prices, restaurants have a little more wiggle room to raise prices without losing customers, says Regan.

Still, restaurants must eat other costs to avoid unsettling consumers’ appetites, points out Paul Olson, a research analyst in Minneapolis with Restaurant Finance Monitor, an industry publication. They may be reducing portion sizes, finding creative uses for preparation scraps such as meat trimmings, or simply replacing loss-leader items like steaks with profit-heavy pastas and salads. “They’re going to do their best to hide these changes,” he says. “It’s not going to be very noticeable to most consumers.”

To counterbalance rising costs, restaurants also are offering more promotions to tempt consumers into a night on the town. Savvy consumers can easily trim their bill by 50% or more — without forgoing the filet mignon in favor of a cheap pasta dish. Try these six tips to spend less:

Reserve a Table

Planning ahead can yield significant savings, if you book the reservation through one of these two free sites:

DinnerBroker.com: Up to 30% will be deducted from your bill, depending on the restaurant and time of your reservation. A 5:30 p.m. table at Boston’s highly rated (and pricey) Sel de la Terra, for example, would net you a 15% discount. Each reservation also earns 100 reward points, which can be redeemed for gift certificates at any of the site’s more than 1,000 partner restaurants. Redeem 1,000 points for a $10 certificate.

OpenTable.com: Earn 100 to 1,000 points for each reservation. Redeem 2,000 points for a $20 gift check to use at any of the site’s 8,000-plus partner restaurants.

Clip Coupons

Scan your local Sunday newspaper, pick up the free penny-saver publication and sort through the coupon packs in your mailbox, says Mary Hunt, founder of Debt-Proof Living, a consumer advocate in Paramount, Calif. Hunt also likes the widespread Entertainment Book, a series of regional coupon compilations. The Denver edition, currently $15, offers 20% off the city’s popular Cork House wine restaurant and two-for-one medium pizzas at Domino’s, among other deals. “Use it once or twice, and you’ve recouped the cost,” she says.

Join the Club

Sign up for restaurant email lists and reward programs, which come with extra deals and exclusive coupons. Join the birthday club at Cold Stone Creamery for a complimentary ice cream sundae on your big day, plus coupons year-round. Sign up for T.G.I. Friday’s e-club, and get a coupon for an appetizer on the house. You can also join its free reward program that nets you 10 points per dollar spent, with 5,750 points worth a $15 gift certificate. (A new loyalty club will debut in April.)

Pay With Plastic

“Credit-card companies are offering more dining rewards as food prices go up,” says Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com in North Little Rock, Ark. “It’s another hook they can use to get you interested in a card.” Citibank Professional cardholders get 3% back on restaurant spending, as does the Capital One No Hassle Miles for Dining and Travel card. But be sure to read the fine print. The Chase Freedom card offers 3% back each month in three categories where that consumer spent the most. Although restaurants are a category, it only includes fast food and quick service retailers.

No matter which card you carry, consider signing up for the free Rewards Network program to earn airline miles, college savings or points on every dollar spent. Cash rewards are also available for a $49 annual fee. Just use your registered cards when dining out, and rewards will automatically be posted to your account.

Mind the Specials

Take note of when restaurants host promotional discount nights such as “Taco Tuesday,” “Early Bird Specials,” “Restaurant Week” or “Kids Eat Free,” advises Tawra Kellam of Wichita, Kan., founder of Living on a Dime, a frugal living newsletter. These little-advertised specials can easily cut your bill by 50%. Each Tuesday at the Lone Star Steakhouse, for example, the purchase of an adult entree means two kids ages 12 and younger can eat for free. Entrees on the kids’ menu generally cost $4 to $6 each. (Tuesday is also the day you’ll get the best value for your money when dining out.) For more deals, check out the city-by-city lists at MyKidsEatFree.com and Unthirsty.com.

Give a Gift Certificate

Save up to 50% by purchasing discount certificates online. At Restaurant.com, a $25 e-gift certificate goes for just $10, whether you’re dining at New York’s pricey Luca Restaurant or more humble Big Nick’s Pizzeria. The catch: Each has restrictions, such as night of the week or number of diners. Read up before buying. It’s also worth checking eBay or swap sites like CardAvenue.com, CertificateSwap.com or Swapagift.com for unwanted items. Prices are closer to face value, says Kellam, but buyers can generally expect to save $5 on a $25 card. Right now, one Swapagift.com user is asking $200 for a $250 certificate to foodie haven The French Laundry in Napa Valley.